Little-known Honduras is the second biggest country in Central America and jam-packed with things to do.
Trekkers can choose between jungle, lakes, mountains or coast; water-lovers can swoosh down rapids, snorkel, swim or dive; bird-watchers can take their pick of the natural parks while history-lovers can potter around colonial cities or ancient Mayan ruins.
Honduras is also a cheap yet professional option if you want to learn to dive, with numerous dive-schools on the islands of Roatán and Utila. When you think you’ve done everything Honduras has to throw at you, head to the Caribbean coast for some me-time in the hammock.
The coastal lowlands are humid and hot, with temperatures ranging from 28 to 35°C plus. Central highlands are cooler.
Usually the rainy season lasts from May to October, although there is often a three-to-four-week dry spell in August. Hurricanes are most likely to strike the Caribbean coast of Honduras between September and November.
July 16th is the date of the all-night dancing competition and peak of the Garifuna Festival in Baja Mar.
Toncontín International Airport (TGU) - 6 km from Tegucigalpa
Buses are a cheap and easy way of getting around Honduras. Services labelled directo are worth paying for - they are much faster.
Rental cars are available in all the major cities. Cycling is not common. Bring your own bike and plenty of spares and get local advice about roads to avoid in Olancho – roadside robberies have been known.
Domestic flights in Honduras are relatively cheap.
Honduras has something for everyone when it comes to accommodation. It’s worth booking online for the top-end chain hotels.
Note that budget hotels often don’t have hot water and that motels usually charge by the hour…Double check that B&Bs do actually offer breakfast.
Homestays are common; most language schools can point you in the right direction or just ask around in rural areas. Campsites are scarce in Honduras but it is possible to camp in the national parks.
The national dish, plato típico, consists of beef, rice, beans, fried plantain, sour cream and a stack of tortillas on the side.Fried chicken is also common, while grilled fish is available along the Caribbean coast.
At Garífuna villages, you may be served variations, such as coconut rice and brittle pancakes made from pulped cassava roots.
As well as the usual vaccinations, a course of malaria prevention should be discussed with your doctor. Take plenty of insect repellent, plus a mosquito net. Sand flies often seem immune to DEET – instead locals use baby oil or Avon’s ‘Skin-So-Soft’ to deter them.
Don't walk at night in big cities or on beaches. Honduras still has some instability after the 2009 coup – avoid protests.
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