Honduras Travel - Visitors Guide to Honduras Vacation

Transcription

Sidewalkmystic.com
The complete, self-planning vacation
guide to Honduras travel
Honduras Vacation
Guide - Travel
Honduras
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This site will help you:
• plan vacation travel to Honduras - the mainland, Roatan (pictured), or
another Bay Island or,
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After vacationing and traveling in
various parts of Honduras, I wanted
to:
• present an honest and fair picture of
travel to Honduras,
• offer a web site without ads, and
• offer more travel information than I
had been able to find than when I
planned our travel to Honduras on the
web.
Two options for your vacation travel
planning convenience:
• If you are in a rush, start with the
quick-hit travel links or the 'search tool'
on the right or,
• When you have more time and are
ready to begin preparing a Honduras
vacation, perk a cup of Honduran coffee
and work through the site from the
Honduras travel topics on the left.
Take your time and become your own
Honduras travel guide. Come along
and...enjoy!
First question . . . Why consider
Honduras travel? (next section). Let's
begin to plan vacation travel to Honduras
...•
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Section I - Planning the Honduras
Vacation
Home: Honduras Vacation and
Travel Guide
Search Tool for Honduras Vacation
Why Vacation Honduras? Culture
Honduras Vacation Planning, Part
1
Where to Travel in Honduras
Length of Vacation
Map of Honduras
Travel Books for Honduras
Vacation
2
Honduras Vacation Guides
3
Accommodations,Hotels/Reservations
When to Vacation in Honduras
Festival Schedule throughout Year
Passports/Visas for Honduras
Immunizations and Medical Issues
4
Ways to Obtain Cheapest Airfare
Price Airfare to Honduras
Honduras Airport Codes
Current Weather in Honduras
Newspapers and Radio in
Honduras
Final Preparation-Honduras
Vacation
Section II Honduras on
Vacation
Travel Tips for
Honduras - Part 1
Restaurants
and Food
Hotels in
Honduras
Honduran
Airlines
Buses within
Honduras
1st Class Buses
Spanish Schools
in Honduras
Internet
Travel Tips for
Honduras - Part 2
Money Issues
Prices
Banks in
Honduras
Lempiras and
Dollars
Exchange
Rates for Lempiras
ATM's in
Honduras
Tipping
Shopping in
Honduras
Open-air
Markets
Department
Stores
Honduran
Music
Site Index
Section III - Reflecting on the Honduras
Vacation
Honduras Travelogue
Copan Ruinas
Roatan
San Pedro Sula
La Ceiba
Waterin' Place (Coxen Hole)
Santa Rosa de Copan
Frequently Asked Questions
Recipes - Honduras Food
Ceviche
Tortillas
Baleadas
Sweet Potato/Feta Salad
Ground Nut Soup
Simmered Beef
Platanos
Fish with Garlic
Black Bean Soup
Conch Preparation
Honduran Coffee
projecthonduras.com
Donate to Our Little Roses Home for
Children
Print the Entire Site
Links
About Me - Part I
About Me - Part II
Why Sidewalkmystic?
Credits
Packing suggestions for Honduras
General Packing Suggestions
Top 10 Places to Vacation in
Honduras
Flight into a Bay Island
Roatan
Copan Ruiñas
San Pedro Sula
Drive from San Pedro Sula to
Ceiba
La Esperanza
Gracias
Fútbol en Honduras
Santa Rosa de Copan
Honduras Maps
Honduras Flag
Specialty
Stores
Real Estate in
Honduras
Travel Tips for
Honduras- Part 3
Special Travel
Advice for Women
Health and
Safety while in
Honduras
Pharmacies
Physicians
Sand Flies
Safety
'Must-See'
Places
Top Five
Next Five
Copan Ruinas
La Ceiba,
Honduras
La Ceiba Themed Ideas
La Ceiba - Daytrips
La Ceiba
Honduras-A Day at
the Carnaval
San Pedro Sula
and Travel
Routes
The City
Best Honduras
Travel Routes
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Roatan - West
Bay, West End
and More
Roatan - Food
and
Accommodations
Roatan Diving
Health of the
Roatan Reef
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Honduras Food, Transportation, and
Spanish Schools
You are in Tips Section
Part 1 - Food, Transportation, and
Spanish Schools in Honduras
[This Page - Restaurants and Food, Recipes for Honduras food, Accommodations, Transportation, and
Spanish Schools]
Part 2 - Honduras Currency and Money
& Ways to Spend It!
Restaurants and Honduras Food
Part 3 - Health and Safety -Travel
Honduras
• Dining Out - Step out a little and move beyond the recommendations that you have
read about in all the Honduras travel books. How? A good place to start when looking
for food is by walking the squares or plazas of Honduras, branching out, and looking
for the places where locals are gathered.
◊ If your Spanish is limited, you are always safe in ordering plato typico. In Honduras,
this typically consists of refried beans (red or black), crema, rice, a very salty piece of
otherwise bland cheese, plantains (a fried sweet member of the banana family) and
corn tortillas.
◊ Plantains come prepared in different. I always ask for maduros (mature) and they
are the overly ripe ones you will see in the markets of Honduras. Often, on the north
coast, they are apt to serve them less ripe (verde). On the islands, I saw kids walking
around munching on boiled plantains.
◊ When in Tela, Ceiba or Roatan, the fresh fish is a must. Don't be so interested in
what kind of fish it is; merely asked for what was caught that morning. Don't forget to
try conch (pronounced 'konk' in English or caricol in Spanish). We had a conch ceviche
in Honduras that was out of this world.
Try the Beef
◊ Beef on the mainland is good but the range-grazed steer is a tougher cut than at
home. For me, however, the taste is superior. If you get to La Ceiba, Ricardo’s is an
excellent restaurant but be prepared to pay North American prices. Save room for
dessert and the coffee is magnificent.
◊ Avoid uncooked vegetables (particularly salads) and fruits that haven’t been peeled.
◊ You have to have fresh pineapple for breakfast. Every day. One problem. You will
never want to look at canned pineapple again.
(Note: In Honduran restaurants, a hostess does not seat you. Walk right up to the
Search This Site
Thoughts on studying Spanish in
Honduras from Stacey H, a Summer
2005 visitor:
"Thanks for your website, Dave.
Spent 2 weeks this summer studying
in Copán Ruinas at the Ixbalanque
school and had a wonderful
experience. The school directors,
Kathea and Amadea, are helpful and
wonderful and the instructors
thorough and interesting, and the
school experience includes visits to
surrounding areas, in my case a
village on the Guatemala border to
watch pottery being made, a visit
through mountain villages to a hot
springs, and another trip to a new
health clinic in a neighboring village.
Copán is a wonderful area to explore
and to practice - not many English
speakers there! I also had a positive
home stay experience." Read entire
table you would like and sit down. Honduran restaurants are beginning to establish
separate smoking areas.)
◊ Shop the market and look for fresh melons and fruits. Wash them thoroughly
before cutting into them. You probably won't find fresher produce any place on the
planet.
Want to Try Your Own Honduran Food?
You can't be traveling the roads of Honduras or Central America 12 months a year. So,
when you have a craving for some delightful dishes, visit our Honduras recipe section
and cook on!
◊ Drink the Water? Water is not safe to drink anywhere in Honduras. This goes for
the ice as well. Ask for agua purificada – purified water. I always
checked with the waitress to make sure it had been boiled. If it
seemed dubious, I asked for agua de botella (bottled water,
pronounced bo-tay-yah). You can find Aguazul bottled water
almost anywhere in Honduras. Grab an extra bottle for the bus trip.
Jump to Top Ý
Hotels
I am a bit fussy where my head rests at night. We typically paid $18-$45 per night,
taxes and surcharges included, for a clean, safe hotel room. A room with shared bath
facilities begins around $12; private baths (con baño privado) around $35 and up. At
the high end of the price spectrum, exclusive resorts such as the Lodge at Pico Bonito
will set you back $190-$225 per night.
• Always ask if the rate includes taxes and surcharges.
• Before entering the hotel, note where the street is. Ask for a room off the street. I
have no qualms about not accepting an unsatisfactory room.
• Make friends at the front desk. Hotel staff are indispensable when it comes to
directions, places to visit away from the “tourist scene,” areas that are not safe in
which to walk, suggested amounts for taxis costs, shops that have special items that
you need, good local restaurants, bus routes, soccer events, etc.
• Take answers with a grain of salt. In our travels within Central America and Honduras
was no exception; answers are always definitively provided even when surety doesn’t
exist.
• (Note: Honduras has two rates for hotels: the price for a Honduran and the price for
a tourist. They are not “biting” you. This is a practice of dual rates. It is buried in your
hotel bill so you aren’t aware of it.)
• Hotel/accommodation suggestions (criteria - moderately priced, clean, private
bath). I have stayed at these or recommend them based on good feedback from
others:
- San Pedro Sula, Hotel Ejecutivo. If you are transiting through San Pedro Sula,
Microtel is closer to the airport, convenient, and reasonable.
- Copan Ruinas, Casa de Cafe B 'n B and Hacienda San Lucas, up on the side of the hill
overlooking Copan (gorgeous). More Copan hotels here.
account on Copan Ruinas from
Stacey.
-
Santa Rosa de Copan, Hotel Elvir
Gracias, Guancascos
Lake Yohoa Area, Honduyate Marina
Tela, Maya Vista
La Ceiba, Hotel Gran Paris or Coco Pando
Roatan - West End, Posada Arco Iris; West Bay, Bananarama
Comayagua - Hotel Casagrande B 'n B
An extensive list of hotels and activities for all of the Bay Islands can be found at
www.tropicalrez.com or www.roatan.com .
Jump to Top Ý
Transportation
• Airlines within Honduras - Before discussing Honduran airlines, let’s discuss your
return flight home. In Honduras, you must reconfirm your return flight to Canada or
the States. You can do that before you even leave the airport. Elsewhere in the
country, travel agents will charge you 100
lempiras to make that call for you.
◊ Frequently scheduled flights - Between
Tegucigalpa, San Pedro Sula, La Ceiba, and
Roatan. Several airlines.
◊ Less frequent - Utila, Guanaja, Trujillo, and
parts of the Mosquitia.
◊ Sosa Airlines, Isleña Airlines (TACA owned),
and Atlantic Airlines all fly to different parts of
the country. Be advised -- If you are booked
into Honduras with a secondary destination, you will be flying a 15-passenger Isleña
flight, not a TACA flight.
◊ Our experience with Isleña was bad. They bumped us -- despite reservations and
being 2nd in line; at first they provided no information and then misinformation. They
were totally indifferent to us as customers. From my reading and discussions with
others, our experience isn’t isolated. We also used Sosa and were very pleased.
More thoughts on Honduras airlines:
◊ Scheduled flights within Honduras are price-regulated, so there is no need to price
shop. Schedules change often. Sosa Airlines has a site with a schedule of flights within
Honduras. (Sale means departs; llega is arrives and dias are days of the week).
Isleña/TACA does have a site that will give you an idea of frequency.
◊ Arrival and departure times are pretty loose. Carry a good paperback.
◊ Keep ~$32 back (in $s or lempiras) to pay the exit tax when you leave Honduras. At
the La Ceiba airport, they have added about a $2 tax when you fly out of the airport.
• Chicken Buses – To my delight, the standard-class buses in Honduras were better
than Guatemala (well, anything would be) and Costa Rica. Chicken buses -- aged,
transported North American school buses3 -- go everywhere and quite frequently.
They are very inexpensive.
It is best to print out the routes and
connections from San Pedro Sula and
Tegucigalpa before you leave home
(scroll to the bottom of the page for
each city's schedule). Keep in mind that
these routes may change. Other
schedules throughout Central America
are listed at the Magic Bus, Old Site.
◊ San Pedro Sula and Tegucigalpa have
numerous bus stations located throughout the cities. Be alert to which bus station you
need.
◊ When possible, find out if there is a directo (non-stop) bus. If there is, take it and be
prepared to stop 14 times en-route anyways.
◊ Easy on the liquids before bus rides. You may have a long wait.
◊ Carry small lempira bills so change doesn’t become an issue. Learned that one the
hard way in Guatemala.
• First class buses – Hedman-Alas has routes which link San Pedro Sula, La Ceiba,
Tegucigalpa, and Copan Ruinas -- with a connection through to Guatemala City for
those venturing on. Here is Hedman's schedule.
Hedman offers excellent service. Most recently, Hedman has added a bus that leaves
from the San Pedro Sula airport to the downtown office. All their buses have on-board
toilet. Hedman has its own separate bus stations in very secure areas.
◊ Note: As a foreigner, your ticket price is more than the posted price in the Hedman
station (posted rate is a price for citizens). Other buses have the same price for
tourists and Hondurans.
• Ferries - Ferries run daily from La Ceiba to Utila and Roatan (Guanaja once a week).
The port is located a few miles east of Ceiba. The trip to Roatan takes about 1.5 hours
and runs around $10. For those prone to motion sickness, the ride from the islands
back to La Ceiba is gentler. The ferry leaves in the a.m. for Utila and at 1.45 pm and
4.15 pm for Roatan. Always check the Honduras Tips magazine (available throughout
the country) for current times.
Jump to Top Ý
Speaking Spanish
There is no getting around that speaking Spanish will make your vacation richer and
easier. Earlier I listed an itinerary for those who don't speak Spanish. That specific tour
provides a vast exposure to different areas and cultures of Honduras while not putting
the non-Spanish speaker into too many jams (expect some - learn to enjoy them when
they do arrive).
Honduras has many schools to learn Spanish immersion style. Years ago, I 'dove
into' this approach in Guatemala for 4 weeks. Our instruction was one-on-one which
is superior to group instruction. After four weeks, I came home functionally
conversant in Spanish (and a bit brain-dead as well). It was a phenomenal experience
and has served me well ever since.
Honduras offers the advantage of being less expensive than other Central American
countries. Additionally, with fewer English speaking tourists in Honduras, you are less
tempted to revert to your first language after class.
I visited four Spanish schools and can recommend the first two just based on first
impressions and the interactions I had with staff.
• Ixbalanque in Copan Ruinas (see a Summer 2005 visitor's laudatory comments in
the right column above)
• Central American Spanish Schools in La Ceiba/Utila/Roatan/Copan Ruinas (I visited
the La Ceiba school)
• Centro Internacional de Idiomas in La Ceiba/Bay Islands
• Mango Spanish School in Tela (not visited)
• Conversa in Tegucigalpa (not visited)
and several others in San Pedro Sula and Tegucigalpa.
If you choose to study, I encourage you to do one-on-one rather than classroom.
Also, try and go in months other than June, July, and August. Schools are stretched
due to enrollment during the summer and your instructor might be an "add-on" rather
than a regular. You will pay about $225 per week for 4 hours of instruction and room
and board with a local family. By all means, consider it a good investment of your time
and money.
I would appreciate your feedback feedback on any Spanish language immersion
programs that you have attended in Honduras and how it went for you.
Internet Connections
High speed internet connections are available at cyber cafes throughout Honduras. Ask
at your hotel's front desk for the cafes with the fastest (DSL) connection. The Ceiba
area has the best speeds at the most reasonable price if you need to do more
significant internet connecting.
Next Section: Money issues can always be perplexing. Let's see if we can make
Honduras money easier for you. •
Tips
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Best Airfare to Honduras
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Roatan
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Tips - Getting the Best Fare,
Planning Part 4
• Fly Tuesdays through Thursdays if possible.
• Price the airfare on the net between
midnight and 5 a.m., Tuesdays through
Thursdays.
Don't believe
me? Try it.
• Know the
going rate!
• Have your
exact planned
dates in
mind. Grab a
good calendar off the net to help plan the trip
and book flights.
• If you see a bone cheap airfare13, buy it.
Once those few inexpensive seats are gone,
software automatically raises the price as loadfactor thresholds are hit.
Best net website for prices?
Lately, I have been using Expedia.com, listed
below. If you make your reservation through
the link below, Our Little Roses, an
Episcopalian home for girls in San Pedro Sula,
Honduras earns a commission. There is no
additional fee for using this link.
Think about bookmarking this page and using the link
for all your travels (any travel reservation you make,
'Plan the Trip'
Part 1 - Ideas for the Honduras
Vacation Theme
Part 2 - Honduras Travel
Guides
Part 3 - When to Travel
Honduras - Fairs and Festivals
Part 4 - Get the Best Airfare to
Honduras
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regardless of destination, earns the commission for Our
Little Roses). Share this page with your co-workers,
your fellow church members, etc. so that Our Little
Roses can benefit from the reservation. Give it a try
today.
New Expedia Home Page Link
Airport codes and current weather
(note: no scheduled flights into Copan
Ruinas)
City/Code
Weather
• SAP - San
Pedro Sula
San Pedro Sula 10day forecast
• RTB - Roatan
Roatan 10-day
forecast
• LCE - La
Ceiba
Ceiba 10-day
forecast
• TGU Tegucigalpa
('Tegus')
Tegus 10-day
forecast
Other Cities
Good Utilization of the Web
While you are on the net, check out
• Travel-to-Honduras. The site has
everything from activities to classifieds; diving
to volunteerism.
• The Caribbeantravelforums.com site has an
excellent list of links to a variety of forums and
sites on the Bay Islands and Honduras.
• AboutUtila.com - The only place to find
information on the web about Utila.
• Newspapers: There is one English
newspaper online, Honduras This Week. The
newspaper has an excellent archiving system
that is buried within the web site but this link
will get you there. Look up topics/areas that
are of interest to you. As well, Yahoo has an
index that provides an archive of Honduran
news in English.
Newspapers in Spanish include La Prensa (San
Pedro Sula), Tiempo (San Pedro Sula), and La
Tribuna (Tegus).
• Radio is available on the net from a variety
of stations.
Need Some Ideas on Where to
Start?
Rather than flounder around on places to
include in your trip, I have listed some of my
absolutely favorites areas to see in Honduras.
I have included an overview on each spot.
See if my 'Honduras Travel -Top Ten' interest
you as well. •
Top Ten Places for Honduras
Travel
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Roatan
Roatan Diving
Utila
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Honduras
Coffee
(Need itinerary to visit
the coffee growing
region of Honduras?
Jump to onsite
information here)
Honduras coffee brewing in the open market If I close my eyes, breathe in deeply, and
think back of our vacation, the first image
that comes back is the market at La
Esperanza, Honduras and the wonderful smell
of the Honduras coffee brewing.
It might come as a surprise to some but
coffee’s roots are not Honduras nor Central
American. The Spaniards brought the plant
with them, but not until
Site Index
Buy Honduran Coffee
Online:
Cafe Emaus - Organic coffee
(through the Emaus
Foundation) or
Cafe Welchez - Shade Tree
Grown
Honduras coffee Plantation
('Finca')Map (off-site)
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Great Coffee Links:
coffeereview.com
Ineedcoffee.com
Lucid Cafe
Sweet Maria's (my favorite)
Starbucks (hey, push what you
own)
Honduras Recipes
Honduras Coffee
projecthonduras.com
Links
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Weather
the 1700's. Coffee originated in the Ethiopia
area of Africa where the goatherds long ago
chewed the bean at night to stay alert.
When you ride through the Honduran
highlands, you are traveling through some of
the finest coffee country in the world. Keep
your eyes out for Honduran coffee; it is a
bush that is often planted in the shade of
larger trees. There are over 90 million
Honduran coffee bushes in cultivation.
Pictured here is an early, clear-cut coffee
plantation7 from the turn of the century.
Honduran coffee, most of which is a rich
arabica coffee, is used mainly by coffee
retailers as a blending coffee but Honduran
coffee certainly is good enough to stand on
its own (see Sweet Maria's excellent review
of a Honduras coffee from the Santa Barbara
area).
Honduran coffee growers have not been able
to “brand” Honduran coffee like growers in
other countries have. Walk into any grocery
store and you can find a can of coffee with
the tag line "100% Colombian coffee."
Guatemalan and Costa Rican growers have
pulled off the same type of branding in the
coffee boutiques. Honduran Coffee? Not
yet. (Sweet Maria's excellent site on coffee
has a good article on Honduras coffee).
A second variety of Honduran coffee is
robusta. It is grown at lower altitudes and is
an inferior bean. Much of it ends up in
instant coffee or inexpensive grocery blends.
Trivia? These robusta Honduran coffee beans
have twice the caffeine as arabica. In Costa
Rica, it is actually illegal to grow robusta.
That is how you keep quality up. So what
determines quality in Honduran or any
coffee?
Coffee Quality
Support the
Songbird
Foundation
The quality of coffee, not just Honduran
coffee, is determined by:
· The elevation. The higher the elevation,
the better the coffee. The Honduran
government, in an effort to “brand” Honduran
coffee, has become more particular about
labeling (and monitoring) “strictly high
grown” (sometimes called “strictly hard
bean”) coffee. The higher the altitude at
which it is grown, the denser the bean.
Strictly high grown coffee grows more slowly
than coffee beans grown at lower altitudes,
adding to the price. To meet the SHG (or
SHB) criteria, the coffee must be grown at
4900 to 6400 feet.
· The soil. The rich volcanic Honduran soils
are ideal for quality coffee.
· The climate. Honduran coffee grown in
shade is superior to the coffee grown in the
sun (one taste of a Vietnamese coffee reveals
this). Adequate rainfall (Honduras has little
irrigation to speak of) is critical for a
successful crop.
· When a bean is picked. Expensive
coffees are pricey for a
reason. To reach its
fullest maturity, flavor
and taste, a bean is
best picked at its “redberry”8 stage. Since
coffee beans don’t
ripen uniformly,
multiple pickings offer the best coffee bean
(rather than a one-time, 'strip the bush'
approach).
· And last, but certainly not least, the
very nature or quality of the coffee bush - the cultivar itself. You reap what you sow.
Coffee bushes will bear their first harvestable
fruit 3-5 years after being planted. Bushes
may last as long as 15-20 years. One bush
will average 1 pound of beans a year
(bumper crops are known as with any other
crop if all conditions are ideal that year).
Coffee does better in the shade although
large fincas (plantations) now plant suntolerant variants, row upon row in the sun.
Sun-planted coffee is a less sustainable
farming practice and introduces the intensive
use of chemicals (see below).
Prices for Honduran coffee in Honduras vary,
depending on quality. You can expect to pay
$.48 - $3.00 per pound. I picked up a couple
of pounds of coffee in the open-air market in
La Esperanza for $.48/pound. It had a very
“earthy” taste. The quality was about at the
level of the inexpensive Asian or West African
coffees that have flooded our markets in the
last year, driving the Honduran coffee grower
to his knees.
When buying Honduran coffee, look for one
that says, “Strictly High Grown, European
Quality (or Style).” There are excellent
coffees to be had. I enjoyed the coffee at
Welchez in Copan and also bought some Bella
Vista (Beautiful View). If you can’t find Bella
Vista elsewhere, know that it is available at a
shop in the San Pedro Sula airport.
Jump to Top Ý
Sustainable Agriculture
Practices
Historically, coffee was grown under the
shade canopy of larger trees15. Suntolerant bushes
have been
developed and can
be seen on
plantations (fincas)
that often stretch
for miles. Forests
are clear-cut for
their timber and
coffee is planted in
the sun. This type
of coffee production
employs vast
amounts of herbicides and pesticides and
devastates the earth, spills pollutants into the
water systems, and adversely affects the
fauna.
Efforts are underway to address this
devastating farming practice. The Songbird
Foundation has an excellent overview which
discusses the impact of coffee growing
practices on the farmer, the earth, and the
animals of coffee producing countries.
I encourage you to take a moment or two to
become aware and informed of the
importance of your decision on what type of
coffee you buy. You can make a difference.
Buy a coffee produced with sustainable
practices by small farmers who receive a fair
price for their work (know as Fare Trade
coffee).
More on Fair-Trade coffee can be found at
Transfair USA, the only independent, thirdparty certifier of Fair Trade practices in the
U.S. Excellent material is also available from
the Smithsonian National Zoological Park
website where they discuss the case for
sustainable coffee production.
How to Buy Shade Grown,
Organic and Fair Trade
Coffees
Honduran coffee is available for purchase on
line. Organic coffee from the Emaus
Foundation is now available online as well.
Proceeds from the sale help provide
secondary school scholarships for
academically motivated rural girls who live in
the La Libertad area. Café Welchez is a
shade tree coffee, grown at the Finca Santa
Isabel, and shipped from Miami. Try some.
Here are some additional excellent choices:
● Stone Creek Coffee - Wisconsin's finest,
served up right here on the net. Try the
organic Mexican or Peruvian Fair-Trade coffee
in a strong latte.
● Dean Bean's offers only Fair-trade organic
coffee (yes!) and is an old-fashioned "you are
the customer" type of place. I love the
feature where I can select and mix my own
roast. Prices are the best on the net.
● Churchill Coffee – Fair-trade practice;
portion of proceeds goes to Our Little Roses
Episcopal home for girls, San Pedro Sula.
● And for our Canadian friends, here is a fairtrade online firm out of Nova Scotia:
Justuscoffee.com. This recommendation
comes from friend Bob Chasen who vacations
up nort' near them.
Return to Home
Jump to Top Ý
Now, tons of coffee links:
Information / Reports
Coffee Universe
Coffee Research
Coffee Science
Coffee Science Information Centre
Coffee Quality Institute
Associations and Organizations
Anacafe - Guatemalan Coffee Association
Brazil Specialty Coffee Association
Café de Colombia
Coffee Association of Canada
Green Coffee Association of New York
International Coffee Organization
Deutscher Kaffee-Verband
Sindicato da Industria de Café do Estado de
Sao Paulo
National Coffee Association
Specialty Coffee Assosciation of America
European Coffee Federation
Specialty Coffee Assosciation of Europe
Interafrican Coffee Organisation
Eastern African Fine Coffees Assosiation
Food and Agriculture Organization of the
United Nations
Common Fund for Commodities
World Bank
PROCAFE is an association for the promotion
of coffee
World Trade Organization
Trading and Pricing
Commodity Futures Trading Commission
London International Financial Futures and
Options Exchange
New York Board of Trade
Bloomberg - Financial Markets, Commodities,
News
Green Coffee Trading, News and
Communication
Brazilian Mercantile and Futures
Tokyo Grain Exchange
International Chamber of Commerce
Commodity Futures Trading Commission
Coffee Trading and Information Services
Coffee Network
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I am glad that you visited www.sidewalkmystic.com. Thanks for visiting. Please
keep in mind that I am not a travel agent and can't "send some information on
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have but I am merely a fellow who visited Honduras, was taken by it, and wanted to
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Best Places to Visit in
Honduras
'Must-See Places'
The top 10 places to see in Honduras? Ask ten
people and you will get ten different responses.
Each holds in their memory a different picture of
Honduras. Tastes, experiences, preferences all
figure in.
Here are my “must-see” places, cities,
villages, or scenery from Honduras. I would
enjoy hearing about yours. I may be reached
through my email.
A Flight into one of the Bay
Islands
When you fly to the Bay Islands (Roatan, Utila,
or Guanaja) out of La Ceiba or San Pedro Sula,
you will be treated to the most spectacular view
of the richest blue waters of your life. The Bay
Islands boast of the 2nd largest barrier reef in
the world. One view of these azure waters
quickly tells the story why divers and snorkelers
from around the world find their way to the Bay
Islands.
Roatan – What’s not to like about Roatan?
Take off your shoes and visit the shops along the
beach of West End, stopping every 100 feet for
Weather
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Section:
First Five
Second Five
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Tegucigalpa (Tegus) - Our
journey didn't take us to
Tegus. In another section of
our website, Eric Timar offers
the highlights of travel to
Tegucigalpa, Honduras.
a soda, a Salva Vida (the Honduran beer,
literally Life Saver), or a coffee.
Visit Rudy’s for a smoothie and a chat with the
most hospitable man on the island. Take a
water taxi to West Bay (better yet, stay there for
the quiet).
Sit on one of the piers and watch the sun slowly
plunge in the west. Then, visit one of West
End's bars and take in some distinctive island
music.
Swim, snorkel, scuba dive, or sea kayak the day
away at one of the fine beaches at West End or
West Bay. Eat at the Lighthouse Inn (West End)
at about 3 p.m. when they aren’t so busy,
coaxing owner Miss Mavis out of the kitchen.
She is one of the finest storytellers you will ever
have the pleasure of meeting.
● Need up-to-the-minute info on Roatan? The
Bay Islands Voice is published bi-weekly and the
Roatan discussion group on Yahoo can keep you
informed.
● Day visitors from cruise ships - Wonderful
day-trip ideas are offered from Roatanonline.
More about West End, West Bay and Roatan on
sidewalkmystic.com
•
Copan Ruinas (often referred to by
tourists as just "Copan," which is actually the
name of the department, not the town) – No trip
to Honduras would be complete without a stop
at the ruins. Current projects under the
supervision of the Copan Maya Foundation are
listed here.
But what would Copan Ruinas be without the
ruins? It would be a delightful, charming city of
6,000 that is tourist-friendly while not being
overly “touristy.” Visit the market (immediately
behind the municipal building, off the square).
Spend time in the city square. Evenings bring
out entire families. Just slow down.
● After dinner, saunter over to the Welchez
Café (near the Hotel Marina Copan – same
owners) for the apple pie, ice cream, and
espresso coffee. Yep, I said apple pie and it’s
very good. Pick up several pounds of local
coffee to take home.
● In Copan, as elsewhere in rural Honduras,
make sure you look upwards each evening for a
sky amazingly awash with stars. Unbelievable
sight. No light pollution permits a view that is
unrivaled.
● Visit Macaw Mountain Bird Park & Nature
Reserve, an innovative tropical bird reserve in
western Honduras that cares for rescued and
endangered birds of the American tropics.
For more ideas on what to do in Copan Ruinas,
as well as arrange personalized tours, visit
Twisted Tours by Tanya.
San Pedro Sula – Maps of San Pedro Sula
are hard so you might want to print out this
map of San Pedro Sula.
Without a doubt, a visit to the Museum of
Anthropology and History is worth it. The
two-story museum is manageable. Arranged as
an inviting series of displays, you will walk
through the history of the San Pedro Sula valley,
the arrival of the Spaniards, the conquest, and
the interplay of the Spanish and Indigenous
cultures. Many of the displays have English
placards (more so in the 2nd half of the
museum) that enhance the time spent here.
Plan on about 4 hours to do the museum any
justice. Open Tuesdays - Sundays.
● While San Pedro Sula boasts a large open-air
market, it is over-stocked with $3 tourist items.
There are better open-air markets throughout
Honduras so there is no need to spend too much
time here. One part of the market not to miss
is the northeast corner where about 100 women
each has a small cooking area, making tortillas
by hand as they have been made for centuries.
San Pedro Sula residents come in for their daily
2-dozen ‘to-go.’
Road between San Pedro Sula
and Tela/La Ceiba – This leg of the
vacation is marvelous just for the miles and
miles of bananas, cacao, corn, beans, sugar
cane, pineapples, citrus and African palms. Like
no other region of Honduras, this area offers a
window into Honduras agriculture.
● The Nombre de Dios mountain range juts up
to the east and south of you as you travel
through the lush tropical region. Keep an eye
out for the llama del bosque (flame of the
forest), a tall tree crowned with gorgeous red
flowers.
(2nd Top Five cont'd on next page)
Top 10 Places
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Honduras: Tourism in-wait...
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Honduras tourism and culture are as "content-rich" as
any country in Central America. But with little information
on Honduras and its tourism in the news or on the net,
Honduras and its tourism sector unfortunately remain
under the radar for most North Americans. That's
unfortunate - - Honduras and its tourism have lots to offer
the traveler.
Honduras
tourism Why
Honduras?
●
Honduras
and its
growing
ecotourism sector have easily accessible, gorgeous
national parks; cloud forests; national reserves; and
botanical gardens - - all with remarkable scenery.
Each park offers great birding, hiking, photography
opportunities, water rafting near La Ceiba, kayaking or
sightseeing. Planeta.com has the best material on ecotourism for those who are planning green-centered travel.
As well, Ecoturismolatino.com has numerous articles on
ideas for eco-tourism throughout Latin America.
● Honduras has marvelous beaches on Roatan,
Guanaja, and Utila - - some of the finest in all of Latin
America and the Caribbean. These beaches are tourism
'gold' for Honduras. Go for the great scuba diving, the
snorkeling, the kayaking, the swimming, the long walks on
the beach. (The beaches are probably Honduras' tourism
best known destinations).
And no, there isn't any good surfing in Honduras. Try
Panama's Pacific coast, but take your own board.
● Honduras has the Mayan Ruins at Copan Ruinas An ancient civilization rich in culture comes alive alongside
its descendents. Planned infrastructure improvements will
only add to the Honduras eco-tourism growth in the Copan
area, a short 2.5 hour bus ride from San Pedro Sula.
● Honduras is a different culture, very unlike North
America, yet ever so close. San Pedro Sula and
Tegucigalpa are a 2.5-hour non-stop flight from New
Orleans, Houston, or Miami. As leisure time increases, ecotourism in Honduras can become a growing industry.
Make no mistake. Honduras is not Costa Rica and its park
system is no where near as developed as Costa Rica's.
Honduras does not have the variety of accommodations
near their parks as does Costa Rica. But for those desiring
a visit to nature at its purest, Honduras is a good choice.
● The Honduras people - a culture-rich mosaic
(Honduras tourism's richest gift):
◊ The Mestizo, mixed ancestry - European
and Indigenous
◊ Four major indigenous people - The
Chortí Maya along the Guatemalan border,
the Miskito of Eastern Honduras and the
Lenca people of western and southern
Honduras (and several smaller groups - the
Nahoas, Pech, Tawahkas and Tolupanes).
The fourth group is:
◊ The Garifuna of the North Coast; African
and Carib Indigenous backgrounds - - with
their own distinct culture and language - live along the North Coast (La Ceiba) and the
Bay Islands
◊ English-speaking Blacks on the
Caribbean coast and the Bay Islands, many
of whom trace their roots to the Caymans
◊ English-speaking Whites on the Bay
Islands who descend from the English and
Scottish, with a claimed buccaneer ancestor
or two thrown in for intrigue,
◊ Spanish-speaking descendents of the
Spaniards from the time of the conquest,
◊ Descendents of the Chinese and
Palestinians who came during the early
1900's.
● A Honduras Vacation is Inexpensive - Honduras
tourism offers a tremendous value for your dollar.
Transportation, food and hotel prices are as reasonable as
any place in the world. If you can get your PADI-diving
certification more inexpensively anywhere, please let me
know.
● Honduras is manageable - Unlike some of the larger
countries in Latin America, much of Honduras can be seen
in a two-week visit.
____________
With these thoughts in mind about Honduras tourism, let's
begin to plan the Honduras travel. •
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Honduras Currency and
Money - Lempiras &
Money Issues
[This page - Money Issues (below), Shopping, Honduras
Real Estate]
Honduras currency is called lempiras.
Honduran money is not that difficult. Let's take
the
unknown
out of the
Honduras
money
equation
right now
so that
you can
better
enjoy your
vacation.
Check Honduras Currency Exchange Rate Now US Dollar: Lempiras
• Banks – Buy your Honduras money (lempiras)
and cash your travelers checks (buy American
Express at home) at banks. When you arrive in
Honduras, San Pedro Sula and Tegus airports
have exchange cages. Buy enough lemps to hold
you until the next day, when you can visit the
bank.
Hotels and shops are going to charge you hefty
Weather
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Part 1 - Part 1 - Food,
Transportation, and Honduras
Spanish Schools
Part 2 - Honduras Currency
and Money & Ways to Spend
It!
Part 3 - Health and Safety
while Traveling Honduras
Search This Site
commissions to exchange for Honduras currency.
It makes no sense to stand on the curb with a
money-changer (quite legal), flashing 3,500L
(lempiras) in Honduras money.
If you see a bank without a line, jump in it while
you can and buy your Honduras money. Banks
are slow, but safe. Major cities offer full banking
services if you have a command of Spanish and a
lot of time. Take US $s to Honduras. I didn't
see a Canadian $ or a Euro once in Honduras
(visitors tell me that this remains current advice,
May 2004).
• Cash – Use good judgment on handling
Honduras money. If traveling with another
person, each person should carry half of the
traveler’s checks and half of the currency.
◊ Make sure you have plenty of currency in 100and 200-lempira notes. The 500-lempira note
(~$30.00) if often difficult to cash.
◊ Have sufficient smaller notes (1, 2, 5, 10, and
20’s for buses, tips, etc.).
◊ Take along a $2 calculator. It will come in
handy when your hotel bill runs 2451 lempiras
and you need to know how much that is!
• Lempiras and Dollars - Many of the shops
and restaurants on the Bay Islands will accept
dollars as Honduras currency in addition to
lempiras. Always ask in advance. Lempiras are
'cash du jour' on the mainland, the only currency
you will see.
• Exchange rates - Honduras money and
exchange rates fluctuate daily between the
lempira and the dollar. Overall, the lempira has
taken a beating against the US dollar (because of
commodity prices and fiscal policy) in the last
year. Numerous sites exist to help you with
current exchange rates for all currencies, to
include US $s, Canadian $s, and the Euro.
• Best site for exchange rate: Oanda, mainly
because I can print and clip a nice, small cheatsheet (about the size of a credit card) that I can
throw in my wallet before I leave.
• Cash belts – Buy one at any luggage store.
Keep your passport and extra Honduras currency
and loose cash in it. Put the day’s anticipated
money needs in your front pocket. Nothing
more.
• ATM’s – Some have reported problems with
ATMs. (Jul 2004) -- A Siguatepeque resident
states that the machines function without
problems in Tegus, San Pedro Sula, and
Siguatepeque. On occasion, there is no cash
available.
Those with recent experience are encouraged to
let me know so that the information here remains
current. Thanks.
If you are insistent on using that ATM, you can
locate them for VISA and MasterCard, by city.
• Tipping – Some books will encourage you to
keep tipping to a minimum in Honduras and Latin
America. Implicit in that suggestion is “you don’t
need to ruin it for the next North American that
visits after you.” Well, I choose to tip with
Honduras money (dollars, while stronger, may be
inconvenient for the recipient although you won't
find anyone turning them away).
When to tip and how much? (Again, this is on the
heavy side, I know).
◊ First, check your bill. Often, there is a 10%
added in.
◊ I generally tip 15%, depending on the service
at meals.
◊ I leave 2% of the cost of an evening’s lodging
on the dresser for the maid (local Honduras
currency). Overdoing it? I don’t know but the
small amount means 3-4 pounds of beans, rice, or
corn for the home of the person who is serving
you.
Consider:
◊ Bellhops can be invaluable allies. I tip (again,
with Honduras currency) them early in a visit,
posing questions before they slip out of the room.
If he (and they are all he's) has a good feel for
the city, find out what days and times he works.
The information they can share is worth the
money. If I go out early for coffee and pastries
(pasteles), I buy some sweets from the bakery
(panaderia) to share with the night staff and
bellhops.
• Prices - Traveling in Honduras is as
inexpensive as it gets. Your Honduras money
goes a long, long way. Utila and Roatan are
among the cheapest places in the world to
become PADI certified in diving. Food and hotels
are extremely good values for your money. Prices
double from the mainland as soon as you step off
the plane on Guanaja, Roatan, or Utila.
Shopping
• Open-air markets (Mercados) – Markets are
wonderful places to shop, but as well, are
fantastic places to people-watch. Every town,
regardless of size, has a market. Hondurans, like
all Central Americans, shop daily for their needs.
You can find everything from coffee to nutmeg;
used tires to machetes.
◊ Many North Americans haggle over prices in the
markets. I don’t. Not my style. You decide for
yourself. I remember watching a European
woman bark at a young Guatemalan girl in a shop
on Roatan, all to reduce a price by 12 cents.
◊ If the price is outrageous, merely turn away. If
the merchant wants your business, the price will
drop to an appropriate amount.
• Department Stores – If you arrive in Honduras
and go “whoops, I should have brought
___________,” not to worry. There are modern,
well-stocked department stores in San Pedro Sula
(two malls), Tegucigalpa (one mall), and La
Ceiba. I had no trouble finding some needed
clothing in La Ceiba’s department stores at very
reasonable prices.
• Music - When you are in the larger cities, stop
in a music store. Grab one of Guillermo
Anderson's tapes. Anderson is the pop singer in
Honduras. We particularly like his Pobre Marinero
but they are all good. If you forget to stop, you
can always order them from home. I have used
this site and received the CD's in a very timely
manner.
• Specialty Stores - Shopping
◊ Hats and straw weavings; hammocks – Santa
Barbara
◊ Woodwork – San Pedro Sula or El Progreso
◊ Leather goods – San Pedro Sula or Tegus
◊ Cigars – Santa Rosa de Copan and larger cities
◊ Handicrafts - Pech Indigenous crafts, El
Carbon, Olancho. Others: Valle de Angeles, near
Tegus or Casa del Sol in San Pedro Sula at the
Multiplaza
And don't forget:
◊ Coffee – anywhere but I am particular to the
coffee in Copan and Santa Rosa de Copan. Keep
your eyes open elsewhere for a $2.50/pound
variety. In another section, I more fully discuss
Honduras coffee.
◊ Knick knacks – San Pedro Sula Market
◊ Tunu (bark/wood) products – Trujillo and the
department of Gracias a Dios
◊ Pottery – Lenca pottery in La Campa (near
Gracias), ceramic cooperative, pictured to the
right
• Real Estate - If you are anything like me, the
minute you hit the Bay Islands, you begin
dreaming about owning a piece of this paradise.
Roatan is an absolutely remarkable, charming
place and it is easy to fall in love with it. While I
didn't 'take the plunge' and buy real estate, some
visitors do. A couple of thoughts:
◊ Real estate prices are only going to go up on
Roatan. The island is on the verge of being
'discovered.' The 'secret' is out. Cruise lines are
now docking weekly in Coxen Hole; sailing ships
from Playa del Carmen moor every week in West
Bay. All these new visitors take note of the same
thing you do -- gorgeous beaches and reefs, a
welcoming people, reasonable real estate prices
without any taxes to speak of, a wonderful
climate, a low cost of living.
◊ A real estate agent who really knows the island
is worth his or her weight in gold. I had the good
fortune of meeting one, Larry Schlesser, a
resident of West Bay and owner of Roatan-Real
Estate. Larry and his wife roomed next to us in
Copan. I took an immediate liking to this
personable fellow. Maybe it is our shared
Midwestern roots, but I heartily recommend that
you contact Larry if you are at all considering real
estate. Visit Larry's site thru the graphic link
below:
• Buy a Purse - Years ago, I saw the old men of
rural Guatemala carrying woven purses (called
bolsa or bolso de bolsillo). I bought one and have
been liberated ever since. What an ingenious
idea! Sunglasses, toilet paper, travel book,
notebook, pen, comb, Imodium, etc. all in one
place! You can buy a bolsa in any open airmarket. Now, if I could make that step in North
America.
Next Section:
Being away from home is
always just a tad anxiety producing. Let's
minimize that by talking about health and security
matters. •
Tips 1 | 2 | 3
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Roatan Diving Overview
by
Laura Radford
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Roatan, located about 30 miles off the coast of
Honduras, has a reputation as being one of the
world's top dive destinations. Roatan is home to some
of the most luxurious all-inclusive dive resorts.
Roatan also has more budget boutique dive operators
than you can shake a bang-stick at.
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Cost?
The island, whose economy is sustained by Honduras
tourism and fishing, is perfectly equipped to
accommodate all of a diver's desires. The backpackerdiver can rent gear and dive from any of the very
reasonably priced operators out of the village of West
End, on the island Roatan in Honduras. Most of the
operators charge about $25-$35 a dive but lower the
price after several dives.
Many thanks to Laura
Radford for her articles and
photos on Roatan diving and
Honduras.
Laura would be glad to
answer any of your Roatan
diving and Honduras diving
questions. She may be
reached here.
Dive Boats
The dive boats range from small, open ponga-types
that hold no more than six divers to larger
powerboats. The smaller boats stick close to the west
end while the larger boats access the more remote
sites.
How About Safety?
Nitrox is widely available as are dive computers.
SCUBA courses are offered at nearly every shop,
most are PADI, and range from resort courses all the
way up to dive master and instructor development
courses. Doctors specializing in dive medicine and a
world-class recompression chamber are located at
Anthony's Key Resort.
Gear? Need to Bring Mine?
Snorkeling gear can be rented at all dive shops and
some restaurants and gift shops. West End also
provides other things necessary to divers such as
beer and t-shirts. The shirts sport all the favorites
such as pirates, great whites, diver-down flags, and
skeletons but some unique designs are also
available. In addition to the very tasty local
beer, there is also a wide variety of specialty drinks
(try a Monkey La-La).
Jump to Top
The Water Itself
Water visibility is consistently a hundred feet year
round although it can dip to about 80 feet at times in
the rainy season. Water temperature averages in the
low eighties but can dip into the high seventies in
January and February.
What Makes It Unique?
Why is Roatan's diving so good? The island, nearly
forty miles long and about three miles wide, is
actually the top of an underwater mountain range
called the Bonacca Ridge. The ridge includes the
other Bay Islands, Utila and Guanaja, and the many
smaller keys and islands nearby.
Roatan is surrounded on all sides by a living coral
reef containing nearly every species of coral growing
in the Caribbean Sea, including several species of
rare black coral, and sponges of all colors and
shapes. Some barrel sponges located off the east end
of the island are the approximate size of large
refrigerators.
The Reef
The reef, home to such beauties as seahorses, queen
angel fish, stoplight parrot fish, blue tangs, and fairy
basslets, slopes gently from shore providing excellent
snorkeling and diving from nearly any point on the
island. The reef stretches out to sea then drops off.
Literally. Roatan is famous for its wall dives and
nearly all dives are wall dives if you swim far enough
out. Many crevices, chimneys, and caves punctuate
the reef creating an impressive and varied
topography.
The reef's walls vary from inclines leading to sandy
bottom at 30-200 feet, to sheer cliffs plummeting
dramatically into the abyss. And I mean abyss.
Roatan is on the edge of the Cayman Trench that
provides clear water from the depths as well as a
variety of pelagic animals such as whale sharks,
turtles, dolphin, and rays. The trench plunges
thousands of feet right off the west end of the island.
In fact, the deepest tourist submarine in the world is
located in Half Moon Bay next to West End. For about
$500 it will take you to a depth of 3000 feet.
Laura Radford is a writer and a PADI-certified SCUBA
Instructor. In 1995 after completing an MFA in Creative Writing
she moved from Alaska to Costa Rica where she taught diving
and lead SCUBA tours. She later returned to her home state of
California where she worked as a high school English teacher.
Currently Laura is working as a freelance writer and is traveling
and diving in her free time, which is most of time. She was
drawn to Honduras by the extraordinary diving off the Bay
Islands but was lured to mainland by Honduras’s natural beauty
and fascinating history.
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Frequently Asked Questions - Honduras Travel
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Every week, I receive emails with a variety of questions. I thought it might be helpful to
list the most FAQs:
Q. Can you tell me what immunizations I should take prior to my visit to
Honduras?
I believe this is an important issue that is best asked of your personal physician, your city
public health nurse, or a medical professional. I know what I took in preparation but that
may well be inappropriate for you. Tons of information is provided by the CDC. Odds are
that your doc will follow the shots recommended by them.
In another section of our site, I include more suggestions on maintaining good health
while traveling in Honduras.
Q. How much should I budget for on a daily basis?
This is a tough question. Visitors to this site are backpackers all the way through folks
who stay at all-inclusive resorts. My wife and I are somewhere in the "middle" of that
spectrum. I budgeted $100/day for our room, traveling expenses, meals, rafting, special
entrance fees, etc. Our actual expenses didn't
even come close to that and we came home with
plenty to spare.
I need to add, we are not big shoppers nor heavy
drinkers. Hard alcohol and wine are expensive
(local rum and beer are not).
Backpackers can get by on $15-20 per day if frugal
and traveling with others. Dive resorts at the high
end on Roatan and Guanaja can start at $200 per
day and on up. You will find many options between
those extremes. Here are some of my hotel recommendations.
Q. What time of the year should I go to Honduras?
QuickHits for Vacation
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Recipes - Honduras
Roatan
San Pedro Sula
Santa Rosa de Copan
Spanish Schools
Tegucigalpa
Tourism
Travel Guides - Honduras
Travelogue
Weather
Tell a friend about this travel
Tough question again. What are you after? Diving? Well, the rainy season begins in
October and runs through mid-January (but don't hold me to that!). On the North Coast
and the Bay Islands, you can expect a thunderstorm any day of the year. The North Coast
is hot and humid all summer.
The Western Highlands (Copan, Gracias, Santa Rosa de Copan) are tempered by the
altitude. The dry season in the highlands is January through May.
Q. When is the Carnival in Ceiba?
La Ceiba is renowned for its Carnival (Carnaval in Spanish), with many saying it is the
second best in all of Latin America. Music, food, dancing in the street, a wee-bit of
imbibing, and parades. It usually falls the last two weeks in May but you really, really,
need to check with someone in Ceiba, say your hotel, for specific dates. Get those
reservations way early, though. Rooms go fast
Q. I have never been to Latin America. What might I expect in Honduras?
● Events/schedules/time for bus departure occur when they happen, not a moment
before. If you need a fixed schedule where everything must "go down" when you want it
to, you are going to be disappointed. Hondurans are not as time conscious as we North
Americans are. Sit back and relax. Vacation, remember?
● You will be visiting the most hospitable people that we have encountered in all of our
trips throughout Mexico and Central America. Make an effort to speak Spanish, even if it
is just, "gracias" or "buenos dias."
● On the mainland particularly, you are going to see many rifle-toting guards, policemen
and -women, and soldiers. Be prepared for that or it can crush your vacation. As
importantly, don't overreact to it. It comes with the turf. Here are my ideas on making
your trip safe and pleasurable by just using common sense.
● You will see plenty of poverty. Honduras is the 2nd poorest nation in the Western
Hemisphere (others suggest the 3rd poorest). Some North Americans are unable to deal
with this and it either ruins their vacation or they give money to people inappropriately.
Hondurans deal with their own poverty much better than we do in response to seeing it.
Here are some ideas on healthy ways to assist ease that poverty, if so moved.
● Hondurans will always answer any question posed to them. You need to understand -In Honduras, it is more important to "please the other person" than provide a correct
response. Answers, well, aren't always on the mark.
If you need an answer; it will be provided. It is a mere cultural nuance. Double check
important matters with another person; take answers with a grain of salt. We have
experienced 'need to please with an answer' in other Central American countries as well.
What else?
● Your hotel bill and restaurant check will have a 16% surcharge added to it that goes to
Uncle Sam -- or rather, Uncle Pedro? Look at your bill and see if a tip (propina) has or
has not been added in. I tip 15% in restaurants for good service and daily, 2-3% of the
hotel price, for the maid.
site. Invite them to travel to
Honduras with you:
Enter EMail Address
Send
● In more rural parts of Honduras, the children may or may not have been exposed to
outsiders. They will be naturally curious. Find the playful side of yourself and interact, by
all means. Kids are kids.
● Show an interest in the Honduran culture and it comes back to you multiplied. People
the world over understand respect. Demonstrate respect daily. Watch your body
language. It speaks volumes.
Q. Where is the best diving on Roatan?
You are asking the wrong guy. Swimming, to me, is staying alive while I am in the
water. If you are interested in diving, visit Laura Radford's articles on-site about Roatan
diving.
When we stayed with divers at Bananarama on Roatan, to a person, they remarked that
the diving was every bit as good as diving on Bonaire or Belize. I trust that means
something to you.
They also mentioned that the cost of diving in Honduras was the cheapest of any place
they had ever visited. Even I understand that one.
Q. Is Honduras dangerous?
I answer that by asking, "How safe are urban areas in your home state?" I believe that
we are so used to the violence and crime at home that we "overlook" it and become
alarmed when traveling in Latin America. We over-react. Warren Post, ex-pat and owner
of Pizza Pizza Restaurant in San Rosa de Copan, has some ideas that reinforce my point.
In another section, I offer many suggestions that will help make your travel safe and
secure. I would add that there are no parts of Latin America that I would hesitate to visit
(Colombia and right now, Venezuela and Bolivia would be exceptions) . Women traveling
alone might benefit from the reading this section.
Most of all, common sense and a general awareness of your surroundings go an awfully
long way when traveling to Latin America.
Q. Your site has little on Tela.
How come?
We didn't visit Tela and I don't pretend to know more than I have read. If you visit Tela,
are a good writer, and are willing to share your experiences on this site, please contact
me. Here is an example of a superb travel critique of Roatan by Kathy Munster who sent
it along in the spring of 2004.
Q. How current is your information?
We traveled Honduras in February 2003. Visitors to our site are extremely good at
keeping it current by informing me of their experiences when they return home. Weekly, I
make appropriate changes on the website based on their feedback.
It helps when you provide feedback on your hotel stays, offer suggestions on things to do,
and send along those "if I had only known..." If you have benefited from our site, please
consider helping the next person coming down the line. Reach me through out contact
form. Post it to your PDA now.
Q. Have you painted an accurate picture of Honduras on your website?
I hope so. Honduras has its share of real social issues. That needs to be pointed out.
The people, their hospitality, the diversity of cultures, and their warmth can not be
surpassed. The scenery, the beaches, the diving -- out of this world.
Did our visit to Honduras go perfectly? Heavens, no. But few of our Central American
visits ever do! That is part of the adventure! Just remember that you are visiting a nation
with a very undeveloped economy. You aren't in Kansas, Toto.
Q. What if I have other questions?
I entertain all questions and would be glad to hear from you. One caveat, please -- first
spend some time on the site. Please read the website before "asking away." Thanks.
Use the search engine on our site to look up material you can not readily find. Some
people prefer to use the Site Map or the Quick Hits first to see where to begin with topics
of interest.
Q. Why this site? What's in it for you?
I don't make a penny from the site. This site is a small thank you to the Honduran people
for the hospitality we were extended. Nothing more.
Hondurans are the most gracious and welcoming people I have had the privilege of
meeting and traveling among. I hope our site adds to your traveling pleasure among the
people of Honduras.
May your travels be safe and restful!
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La Esperanza, Honduras - and
other Best Places
You Are in Top-10-To See
Section:
La Esperanza – La Esperanza, Honduras lies
Section 1: First Top 5
about 60 km east of Gracias, in the department
of Intibuca - - an area heavily populated by the
Lenca people. The trip, on the road from
Copan Ruinas
La Ceiba
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Tegucigalpa
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Section 2: Addt'l Top 5
Search This Site
Gracias to La Esperanza, takes you through
some of the most beautiful scenery in all of
Honduras and Central America.
Near La Esperanza, adobe brick construction
dots the landscape; bananas can be found
growing at 4000’ (sweeter than coastal
bananas) and small plots of corn are perched
on a 50-degree slope. You will see some
deforestation around La Esperanza, but nothing
like the deforestation of Western Guatemala.
• Visit the open-air market in La Esperanza.
While at the market in La Esperanza, buy
steaming, hot tamalitos (small tamales but the
best are made from fresh corn - - jilote) and a
small amount of cream (crema). That crema
gets lathered onto the tamalito. Swill La
Esperanza's best coffee. Slowly stroll the
market for an hour and soak in the real
Honduras experience. Stop and have another
coffee and a second tamilito. You get the
picture.
Gracias – While not an overly attractive town,
Gracias is so rich in history, it shouldn’t be
missed. (Read some history before leaving
home). Stand in the village square and imagine
the area, as it might have looked when Captain
Juan de Chavez entered the area in 1536. (In
1544, Gracias became the administrative center
for all Spanish matters within Central
America.)
Stroll the town, taking in the colonial
architecture, seen clearly in the the 3 churches
in town. Mosey on up to Guancascos
Restaurant and Hotel for a dinner on the
terraced patio. Magnificent view of the
surrounding area. Catch the stars after dark.
• Celaque National Park is a mere 9 kilometers
from Gracias and has hiking trails even for the
casual hiker. The cloud forest holds Honduras’
highest peak at 9,350 feet. Celaque is the
sacred heart of Lencan (the indigenous people
of the area) spirituality. Hikers should ask at
Guancascos or Hotel Erick for transportation
ideas because a bus doesn’t make the trek to
the park. The Friends of Celaque are making
serious efforts at raising the awareness of
preserving the ecosystem of the park.
Fútbol – Soccer fans will be pleased to know
that soccer is alive and well in Honduras. While
the best Honduran players move on to Europe,
a very competitive league (link in Spanish only Go Vida!) of 10 teams exists. Your hotel front
desk can direct you to the stadium(s) (Ceiba,
San Pedro Sula, and Tegus). The La Ceiba
stadium is the easiest to find and reach. An
amateur game is always going on -- just keep
your eyes open around schools and open areas.
Santa Rosa de Copan – Find a building
with an accessible roof or any high place
surrounding the city and take in a sunset
dipping below the horizon of the hills.
Breathtaking. Visit the Don Melo cigar outlet
next to the Hotel Elvir for hand-rolled cigars at
less than 1/3 the retail cost in North America.
(You can bring 100 cigars back into the U.S.)
Watch cigars being rolled by hand out at the
factory near the bus stop.
• Five blocks east of the square is Pizza Pizza,
a restaurant owned by Warren Post. Warren is
an ex-pat who has done a great deal to
promote tourism in the Western highlands and
serves as an invaluable source of information
about the area. He authors a web site that is
indispensable for visitors planning to visit the
Santa Rosa de Copan area. Oh yes, have some
pizza at his place while you are there.
• Holy Week procession is a phenomenal time
in Santa Rosa. If you opt for this event,
advance reservations are really needed. Get
them early.
Miami Airport
Even before leaving Miami, spend some time in
the concourse where the Latin
American/Caribbean airlines originate. Take in
the variety and beauty of the diversity of
peoples. Before your eyes is a human
rainbow. The bright, vibrant color schemes of
the airlines are a welcome change from the dull
pastels of North American airlines.
__________________
Next Section: Now, it is time to visit my
favorite of *all* favorite Honduran cities, La
Ceiba, Honduras (next section) •
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[This page - Women Travelers (below), General
Safety, Health Issues, Sand Flies, Potpourri of
Suggestions]
Travel Advice for Women Honduras Travel
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Part 1 - Food, Transportation,
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Part 2 - Honduras Currency
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It!
Part 3 - Health and Safety
while Traveling Honduras
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◊ Women traveling alone may anticipate a
bit of attention, both visually and possibly
vocally.
◊ Dress culturally appropriately. Long
skirts just make sense if you want to draw
less attention. Confine beach wear and
shorts to the Bay Islands. A recent visitor
wrote that after observing local women
wearing contemporary apparel in La Ceiba
and San Pedro Sula, women might well
want to consider capris and cotton. My
wife suggests that the smaller the village,
the more conservative you dress. We were
in several villages where she says that
anything other than a long dress would
have been inappropriate. Use your
judgment.
I heartily agree with the cotton clothing
recommendation, as mentioned in our
'packing for travel' section.
◊ Ignore catcalls if they occur and move
on. This can be handled just as at home
when walking through a construction
workers' area. If you engage or respond
to the banter, it merely escalates.
◊ Avoid direct eye contact when talking
with males. This has nothing to do with
deference. When women make direct eye
contact in Honduras, it is an "invitation"
that you may not want to be extending.
Don't do it.
More Ideas
◊ Most would encourage women not travel
alone. If you must travel alone, use taxis
and travel during the day. Use good
sense!
◊ Arrive early for the bus so that you can
sit - - avoiding the physical jostling, etc.,
that is inevitable in the aisle. Buses get
very crowded. Where available, use 1st
class buses rather than chicken buses.
◊ On the bus, seek out an elderly Honduran
woman as a travel mate. Age is still
respected and you are less apt to be
bothered by Casanova, if he rides your
route.
◊ If someone tries to swipe your purse,
don't resist (because you aren't carrying
valuables in it anyways - see general
safety ideas below).
◊ If you have issues that need police
attention, stop by a church and ask that
someone go with you to the police station.
While I make no promises, it can help.
General Safety Ideas
• Gang violence has escalated,
particularly in San Pedro Sula. The tragic
Christmas 2004 bus shooting has the
country in a tizzy. The tourist ministry is
cringing. This is the second incident in 18
months. While of no consolation to
Hondurans, this violence is not directed at
tourists. Rather, it seems that the poorest
are at the mercy of the gangs, daily
through extortions and neighborhood
control.
People have written and asked if this spate
of violence would change my mind about
visiting Honduras. It would not. I
decidedly would spend less time in San
Pedro Sula but:
1. Honduras is much, much more than
gang violence. The violence grabs our
front page, just as it does at home.
2. The violence has not yet been directed
towards tourists.
At the same time, I would tell you that if
this makes you anxious, don't travel.
There is absolutely no reason to spend
money and well-earned vacation time
worrying about whether or not a Honduran
gang is going to ruin your time. It is your
call.
Support Heifer
International
• Awareness is the key – In numerous
trips to Central America, we have not had
one problem with security. The
Department of State offers a cautionary
warning. Read it. It will give you pause
that is for sure, as will the numerous rifletoting guards and police whom you will
see in the larger cities. Yikes!
I admit that I take the State Department's
warning with a grain of salt. I recognize
the inherent danger in any metropolitan
area, regardless of the country. I have
always been curious how our State
Department would
write up travel
alerts (if written
objectively) on
New York City or
Chicago. What to
do then?
Let's list some key6 ideas to help with
safety issues:
◊ Always ask the front desk for the safe
and less-than-safe areas for walking.
◊ Take no jewelry with you. A $25 Timex
is sufficient. We leave all other jewelry,
even our wedding bands, at home.
◊ Use taxis after dark. In metro areas,
taxis should be used to move from bus
station to bus station.
More suggestions:
◊ Don’t flash cash around. Use a money
belt for extra cash and your passport.
Carry only the day's money in your front
pocket with a thick rubber band around it.
The band helps hold the wad in your
pocket when you sit down.
◊ Take one credit card, leaving all the
cancellation details with a friend at home.
If traveling with someone, they should
take a different credit card.
◊ Split the cash and travelers' checks with
your traveling partner. Each carries half.
◊ Write down travelers' check numbers
and keep in a place separate from your
checks. Have the phone number available
to report lost checks.
And finally:
◊ Be aware of your surroundings.
Essentially, act just like you would in any
major metropolitan area.
◊ Use common sense. Use good
judgment. I found that the people in
Honduras were extremely “protective” of
us and were quick to assist with a list of
“do’s and don’ts” for us when we merely
asked.
Health Issues
• Pharmacies
Don’t bring along tons of over-the-counter
items. Honduran pharmacies are very well
stocked and the prices are comparable to
what you pay in North America.
◊
Put your prescriptions4 in the bottles
in which they were dispensed in your carryon, not in
your
checked
baggage.
◊ In
cities,
pharmacies
take turns
remaining
open 24
hours a day. When it is a pharmacy’s turn,
a green card will be displayed in the front
window.
◊ Pharmacists in Honduras have 6 years
of post-high school education. They often
serve as the first line of “physicianing.”
Have a medical issue? First talk with a
pharmacist.
• Physicians – If you get in a bind, you
can find English-speaking docs in Santa
Rosa de Copan, Copan, San Pedro Sula,
Tegucigalpa, The Bay Islands, and La
Ceiba. Overall, medical care in Honduras
is not up to North American standards.
◊ Consider buying medical emergency air
evacuation insurance. Because I have a
back issue, we bought a $50,000 plan for
$16 through our auto association – a
bargain by any standard. Lonely Planet
offers a listing of firms dealing with trip
insurance (to include air evacuation, if
desired).
◊ Check to make sure your health
insurance plan covers care in Honduras.
Medicare doesn't cover you in Honduras.
◊ Diarrhea. If you do experience a bout,
give it 24 hours. Use plenty of clear liquids
- - hydrate, hydrate, hydrate and eat plain
toast or white rice. If it continues beyond
24 hours, go after it with that prescription
anti-biotic we talked about earlier.
• Sand Flies (no-see-ums) – No
discussion of the North Coast, Roatan,
Guanaja, or Utila would be complete
without a discussion of biting midges. I
have yet to figure out why God created
these although some naturalist using mindaltering drugs will surely conjure up a
reason. Sand flies5 live on and off the
beach, just waiting for you to come along.
Advice?
◊ Cover up. Cotton socks and pant legs
help. Put a drop of lavender oil on your
cuffs.
◊ Stay off the beach or out of wooded,
moist areas when there is no breeze.
◊ Some people swear by taking garlic oil
pills or B-1 (100 mg daily); Off Deep
Woods (or any product containing DEET);
Avon Skin So Soft; or a Texas product,
Cactus Juice (which is available on
Roatan). Go ahead and lather up. None
worked. I got drilled, period. My wife,
sitting right
next to me,
walked away
without a bite.
I am convinced
that some of us
are allergic to
them; some of
us are not.
◊ New
products with R326 claim to be
more effective and avoid the medical
concerns of DEET/skin absorption. If you
have the time, order a spray with R-326
ahead of time.
So you got bit up, eh mate?
◊ What to do when bit? At night, take
two Benadryl. It helps. During the day,
apply hydrogen peroxide. Let it dry.
Then, load up with calamine lotion
(calamina). There are also anti-itch
creams available in the pharmacies. If you
have a good cream from home, take it with
you. Resist the urge to scratch (he
chuckles) as scratching often leads to
infection.
◊ If it is of any consolation, keep in mind
that the sand fly (only the female bites
humans) has a life cycle of 4-days. It is
long dead after you still are itching. What
a legacy.
A Potpourri of Suggestions
• Laundry Services (Lavanderia) Earlier, in the planning recommendations,
we suggested light packing with cottons
that could be washed out in your hotel sink
at night. In all the cities (Copan Ruinas
and Santa Rosa Copan as well), you will
find laundries that take your clothing in the
morning and have it wash, dried, and
folded by 6 p.m. Hotels in the larger cities
will wash your clothes as well. Avail
yourself of these very inexpensive
services; hotels charge more than local
laundries.
• Showers – Be careful with two
plumbing issues throughout Honduras:
◊ Hot/Cold piping is sometimes reversed.
Check before entering the shower.
◊ Some showers (often called 'widows
makers') are merely electrical heating
elements crudely wired to the
showerhead. Watch out where you put
your hands during the shower.
• Toilet paper – Don’t assume that public
areas,
to
include
restaurants,
will
have
toilet
paper. Grab a roll out of your hotel
room. Crush the cardboard core and
remove it. Toss the roll in that purse you
bought. Trust me, this can come in very
handy. At the right moment, T.P. is more
precious than gold.
• Commodes – Speaking of bathrooms,
every restroom (baño or servicio) has a
basket right near the commode. Guess
what it is for? The used paper goes into
the basket. The low water pressure and
sewer systems can’t handle waste paper.
You will get used to this. Honest, you will.
• Standard of Living - First-time North
Americans are often taken back by the
poverty in Central America. Visitors to
Honduras need be aware that Honduras
has the second lowest per capita income in
the Western Hemisphere. At times, divers
land in Roatan, get a step or two off the
path and say, "This isn't what I expected.
Insulate me from this ..." The unfortunate
reality of poverty exists throughout Latin
America, even if some 5-star all-inclusive
resorts and their promotional literature try
to "protect" you from it.
Often I am asked, how best to interact if
people ask for money. In Honduras, I
experienced very few such situations
(as contrasted to my experiences in
Guatemala during its civil war). Honduran
people are very proud people and maintain
their dignity in the face of a terrible,
grinding poverty.
But if you are asked for money, how best
deal with it?
◊ I do two things. First, I say, “no
gracias.” I then invite the individual to a
comedor (small dining room with
inexpensive food). Sometimes my offer is
accepted; sometimes it isn’t.
◊ Why not just give someone some money
and move on? You will have to decide this
for yourself. Years ago, when traveling in
Guatemala, our Guatemala host asked us
not to give to those who asked for things.
He said, “You can be seen as a dollar bill,
not as a person. If at the end of this trip,
if you want to give money, I can suggest
organizations that are making
significant, systemic changes that
improve our people’s lives.” His advice has
served us well in our numerous trips to
Central America.
◊ Finally, with each of our trips, my wife
and I budget a percentage of our total
expenditures for an organization that is
making a difference. When we get
home, that is the first "bill" that is paid.
Here are three fine organizations
working in Honduras that would use your
money wisely:
√ Nuestras Pequeñas Rosas (Our Little
Roses) - Located in San Pedro Sula,
Nuestras Pequeñas Rosas is home to 70
young previously homeless girls. It is an
outgrowth of the Episcopal Diocese of
Honduras.
√ Habitat for Humanity (earmarked for
Honduras) - In Honduras, Habitat’s goal is
to build 1,000 homes a year in the San
Pedro Sula area through 2007.
√ Heifer Project International
(earmarked for Honduras) – Heifer’s work
in Honduras is in the Siguatepeque area.
Online information - Further
information about a variety of
organizations working for the improvement
of life in Honduras are as close as the next
link. projecthonduras.com is an online
portal -- a network of individuals and
groups working on innovative, grassroots
responses to Honduras' social and
economic needs, leveraging the
information and the talent, expertise, and
time within their network to serve as a
catalyst for change. The site is an
excellent 'window' through which
prospective volunteers can see the variety
of organizations working for the
betterment of Honduran life.
"Hope is a state of mind, not of the
world. Hope, in this deep and powerful sense,
is not the same as joy that things are going
well, or willingness to invest in enterprises
that are obviously heading for success, but
rather an ability to work for something
because it is good."
-Vaclav Havel
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In the next section, I offer ideas on where
to travel in Honduras. I share my top ten
favorite 'must-see' places for travel to
Honduras.
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Honduras Maps
Honduras Map and
Honduras Flag
Honduras Map - Most extensive listing of Honduras
maps on the web (Honduras flag in right margin)
Copan Ruinas
La Ceiba
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Tegucigalpa
Santa Rosa de Copan
Roatan
Roatan Diving
Utila
Indigenous
Tall Tales
FAQs
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Search This Site
This section contains all
the Honduras maps that I
have found available on
the net on Honduras. If
you locate others, please
send along the web
address.
Honduras Flag
Honduras Recipes
Honduras Coffee
projecthonduras.com
Links
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Credits
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•
Blank Outline Honduras Map, ideal for
educational purposes
Departments - Map of Honduras
•
Huge Relief Map of Eastern Honduras
•
Large Relief Honduras Map
•
Huge Relief Map of Western Honduras
•
Honduras road map (a must for anyone planning
•
on driving on the mainland of Honduras)
•
Tons of Maps of Eastern Honduras (Department
'Gracias a Dios, Honduras)
Very Detailed Honduras Map (expandable .pdf
•
file)
•
Honduras map locating large coffee plantations
Bay Island Maps
Roatan Towns - Includes locations of
accommodations - best Roatan map on web
Roatan Maps (includes Coxen Hole map, hotel
location map, island map -- watch orientation -island runs generally SW to NE)
Coxen Hole Map
Printable Roatan Map (again, watch orientation)
Map of Roatan's Towns
Dive Map Sites, West End and West Bay, Roatan
Utila Map
Utila Dive Map
Guanaja Map
Central America and Caribbean Relief Map
Huge Watershed Honduras Map (don't attempt
without broadband)
Department Maps - Choluteca Departmento,
Honduras Map
Honduras City Maps
•
Map of Copan Ruinas, Honduras
•
Map of Comayagua, Honduras
•
Map of Copan Ruinas, Honduras
•
Map of La Ceiba, Honduras
•
Map of San Pedro Sula, Honduras
Map of Tegucigalpa, Honduras (download and
•
increase the size of the .pdf map)
•
Map of Tela, Honduras (loads slowly)
•
Map of Trujillo, Honduras (interactive)
•
Map of Santa Rosa de Copan, Honduras
Maps of Honduras Parks
•
Celaque Map
Huge Contour Map of Celaque (don't even
•
attempt without high-speed access to net)
Trail Map of Celaque National Park
•
Rio Platano Map
•
Parks of Northern Honduras
•
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Honduras Vacation - Ideas and
Suggestions
[Vacation Themes] [ Maps ] [ Honduras Travel Books ]
Vacation Themes for Honduras- Planning Part
1
You have great choices when you travel to Honduras on
vacation. Narrow it down based on your interests. To get a
picture of Honduras, let's look at themes for your Honduras vacation
consideration:
• Beaches, scuba diving, swimming and snorkeling – Any of
the Bay Islands. West Bay on Roatan is a picture of serene
beaches, quiet days, and
healing waters. You have to
spend at least two evenings on
one of the Bay Islands if you are
going to Honduras on vacation.
Do it.
Utila is the least expensive and
draws the backpacking crowd.
Roatan is more upscale.
Guanaja is for those that just
want wonderful solitude with their diving or swimming.
• Honduras 'yesterday' - Copan Ruinas. No one can leave
Honduras while on vacation without visiting the ruins. Even if you
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Honduras
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are only interested in diving, visit
Copan Ruinas; the history and
culture are too rich to miss.
Fly from the Bay Islands to San
Pedro Sula, visiting the Museum of
Anthropology and History. Then,
use Hedman-Alas’s first-class bus to
Copan Ruinas, stay the night, and
take another full day there. Spend
some time in the shops that dot the
village while you are there to visit
Copan Ruinas.
• Urban experience –
Tegucigalpa or San Pedro Sula.
While on vacation in Honduras, visit
one city or the other -- unless you
plan on flying between them. If you arrive in and depart from San
Pedro Sula, you are closer to the Bay Islands. Leave Roatan first
thing in the morning and you can make an 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
connection back home. Voila, another night on the islands.
• City life with zest, nothing beats La Ceiba. Ah, Ceiba. A rich
variety of people, music (you have to try the punta - local dance),
the Caribbean sea, fresh fish, markets, good shopping, a laid-back
attitude with a perpetual smile – that’s Ceiba. Cuero Y Salado
Wildlife Refuge is a tropical forest preserve with a particular
emphasis on manatee preservation. It is a 1/2 hour drive west of
Ceiba.
In Pico Bonito Natural Reserve, you can hike from near sea-level up
to 8,000 feet in the Nombre de Dios mountain range. No place in
Honduras offers a greater variety of Honduran life than Ceiba.
• Relaxed taste of Caribbean life, Tela is the ticket. Tela has
protected forests, national parks and botanical gardens all within 15
minutes. The tourism department of Tela has an informative
website that will help you plan some time in the area.
From Tela, day trips to the Garifuna (West African, Arawak and Carib
indigenous ancestry) villages of Miami and Tornabe are superb “slow
down, look, and listen” opportunities.
• Hiking and birding in Honduras of a lifetime - virtually
anywhere in Honduras. Over 30 cloud forests await you. Tropical
preserves, mangrove swamps, lonely stretches of white sand, river
rapids -- you name it, Honduras offers it.
• Solitude and remote jungle areas, the Mosquitia offers
unrivaled adventure and uniqueness. Not an area for the timid.
Maps
Printing out a map will give you a better lay of the land. The map
from Lonely Planet will probably cover all the cities and places you
will be taking in. If you would like a map with more detail on
Honduras geography, this map should help.
I have collected an assortment of Honduras maps in their own
section.
Length of stay?
Make it at least two weeks or more. You are committing the
airfare. Two weeks provides you a more leisurely time and permits
a refreshing of your spirit. You work very hard. Now, relax very
hard.
Travel Books - Invaluable Assets
Unlike Mexico or Brazil, you won’t find a great variety of books out
there on Honduras. Chris Humphrey's Moon
Handbooks: Honduras is my favorite. Spend
some time with it.
Make your trip even more enjoyable by wading
through some of the suggested reading in the
excellent bibliography in the book.
Taking some time to read about Honduras prior
to the trip provides a richer context during your
visit there. Chris's book is the one book to toss
into your bag on the way to the airport.
Adventures in Nature Honduras is another good book that would
appeal to those seeking the 'green' approach to Honduras tourism,
eco-tourism. It is harder to come by but can be ordered online.
Tegucigalpa (Tegus) - Our journey didn't take us to Tegus. In
another section of our website, Eric Timar gives the highlights of
travel to Tegucigalpa, Honduras.
Folks going to Tegucigalpa would be well served by getting their
hands on Eric's Tegucigalpa Guide. Buy it for the dry humor even if
you aren't going to Tegucigalpa. Eric writes a
descriptive, readable guide that provides an
excellent context for travel anywhere in
Honduras.
NOTE: While info on Tegus on the net is limited,
Honduras Tips has the best overall site on Tegus.
Make sure to use the nav buttons on the left
(note: the home button takes you "off of" Tegus).
Complete guidebooks to Central America are out
there, with all the countries from Guatemala to Panama listed and
described in great detail. By all means, browse through them at
your favorite book store. But I would suggest not taking one along -it’s too heavy to lug throughout Honduras. My wife even encouraged
me to rip out just the parts from our Honduran book that we would
need for our journey. While I think she is onto something, I couldn’t
bring myself to doing it. I am afraid of going to librarians' he11.
Next Section:
Let's think through how much we want to plan
and how much we should leave in the hands of a Honduran tour
guide, all covered in the next section.
Planning 1 | 2 • 3 • 4
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Travel Lightly for
Honduras
Packing
• First, use backpacks. Don't read into this - I am not a
backpacker nor a
hiker. When you
hit that first
cobblestone
street in
Honduras with
your wheeled
suitcase looking
for a hotel,
remember I told
you so.
For packing, I like Redwing backpacks with an
internal frame but there are absolutely
zillions of brands out there from which to
select. Make sure you try it on before buying
it.
• The Washington Post recommends these
three as 'women-friendly' backpacks, all
designed for better fit for women.
Weeklong pack: Mountainsmith's Chimera
($250!)
You Are in Pack Smart Section
•
•
•
•
•
•
Packing
Electrical Appliances
Travelers' Checks
Driving in Honduras
Cameras
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Weekend pack: Camelbak's Isis ($80)
Multipurpose pack: Granite Gear's Vapor Trail
($150)
• Next, when you begin to pack, put
everything you think you will need for the trip
on top of your bed. Now, randomly throw half
of it onto the floor. Pack what is left on the
bed.
Some rules (ok, guidelines) for
Honduras packing:
√ Rule 1: Under-pack.
√ Rule 2: See rule 1 above. You will be
lugging this baggage. Porters at hotels are
few and far between. My wife and I each
carried a backpack that weighed 30-35
pounds. We had everything we needed.
Laundry services are widely available,
eliminating the need to pack for two weeks of
fresh clothing.
√ Rule 3: If you are traveling with someone,
pack half of each person’s things into each
backpack. That way, if one of the bags
doesn’t show up in Tegucigalpa, La Ceiba, or
San Pedro Sula, the trip proceeds on schedule!
√ Rule 4: Pack only cottons that “handsmooth” out. Cottons can be washed out at
night in the sink with a bar of soap. Cotton
breathes in Honduras's heat.
Inexpensive laundries are in all the cities in
Honduras.
Khakis and a collared shirt get you anywhere
in Honduras. Women? – A long skirt and
blouse seemed appropriate for all our travels.
You will see shorts on Roatan, La Ceiba and
Tela. A recent visitor suggests that after
observing local women wear less than
'conservative clothing,' women might want to
consider capris and cotton. My wife offers that
the smaller the village, the more conservative
you will want to dress. Use your judgment.
If you get caught like I did in the middle of
winter without shorts, department stores in La
Ceiba have an excellent stock.
And some more:
√ Rule 5: Pack a bar of Ivory soap, a plastic
bag for the “wets” and extra small ones in
your purse for motion sickness.
√ Rule 6: While packing, toss in small 2
ounce bottles of shampoo, hand lotion, etc.
Don’t lug weight
unnecessarily. Save the room and weight for
hauling back important items -- cigars, coffee,
and rum.
√ Rule 7: Regardless of when you go, pack
plenty of sunscreen lotion with a high
number. Suntan lotion is pricier in Honduras
than it is at home.
√ Rule 8: Wear and pack only comfortable
shoes with plenty of cushion. Cobblestones,
such as those near the Copan Ruinas, are
unforgiving on the feet. Sandals for the beach
are wonderful and weigh so little.
Electrical Appliances
Honduras has 110-volt electricity so your
appliances will work. Many of the outlets in
Honduras are the old variety and won’t
accommodate the larger left prong (polarity
prongs) that our appliances have. Buy a flat
prong adaptor before leaving home and toss it
into your backpack.
Travelers' Checks
• Go with a recognized name. I
recommend American Express. They have the
widest acceptance. (Banco Atlantida wouldn't
even cash my American Express checks in
Santa Rosa de Copan). There is no reason to
travel to Honduras just to find out that the
banks don't care for your credit union's
travelers' checks.
• Buy plenty of small denominations. Plan
on taking more cash/traveler’s checks than on
other vacations. While every hotel accepted
our Visa, I saw only one restaurant that
accepted a credit card. While some have
reported problems with ATM's in the past on
Roatan, a May 2004 visitor to Tegus told me
he had no problems.
• Buy a money belt in a luggage store and
use it. Similar belts that drape over the neck
are just an invitation to trouble. (See more
on money issues in the practicalities/tips
section). For those of you coming from
Europe, bring only American dollars. I saw no
other currencies being cashed in banks.
Driving?
Are you really sure you want to do that?
Maybe in the tips section I can persuade you
to use the buses, collectivos, and planes.
Driving in Honduras is not for the faint of heart
but if you insist, order a road map ahead of
time. It is next to impossible to find a map in
Honduras. In the past, I have been able to
find a map in Central America at the Texaco
gas stations. In Honduras, I struck out.
Car rental agencies are in San Pedro Sula and
Tegulcigalpa. While I recommend the
collectivos and buses on Roatan, motor-biking
can be fun.
Cameras and Film
Buy a new battery for your flash unit, toss in
extra flash memory cards, battery charger and
extra batteries if you are a digital user. Also,
buy extra film in the States or Canada -- very
pricey in Honduras and the availability isn't
always what you might need.
• In airports, if using film, take your camera
out of your carry-on and hand it to the
security agent. Ask them to pass it around the
scanning equipment. The agent may ask you
to snap the shutter. (Flash memory cards and
their images are not harmed by x-ray
equipment. Run it thru the machine without
worry).
• Don’t leave the film in checked baggage
because it will be ruined. Even the
Transportation Security Agency now
recommends hand inspection of film/cameras
and not putting film in checked baggage.
Small alarm clock
A small battery operated alarm clock is a good
idea. Front desks may or may not honor that
7 a.m. wakeup call. In the rural parts of
Honduras, the roosters are pretty good about
honoring your request for an early wake. The
problem is, it is usually a bit earlier than you
had arranged.
You’re Done!
Congratulations. Sit back and enjoy your
flight. You have laid out a loose itinerary with
built-in flexibility, fully prepared for it, and
packed accordingly. Your tickets, passport,
cash, and travelers' checks are all in the right
places. Right? Now, just a couple more
things.
Travel Healthy on the Plane
Get up at least once an hour and walk the
length of the plane.
In between, stand in place. This keeps blood
circulating in your legs.
Avoid crossing your legs.
Easy on the booze.
Hydrate. Drink a 1/2 quart of water for every
two hours airborne.
Other excellent ideas healthy plane traveling
are provided by Dr. Andrew Weil at The
Prevention website.
Finally:
Keep expectations in check. It is only human
to have high expectations. Let them go. Let
the trip "be what it will be." Be open to
serendipitous moments, being present to other
people, and changing that sacred agenda you
so meticulously planned. Parts of your great
plan will disintegrate:
• Bus connections get blown because your
Spanish is a tad weak or the bus hits a horse.
• You get traveler’s diarrhea and can’t go
anywhere for a day and a half.
• You fall in love with a town but can’t stay
because you are booked at the next hotel.
• Relax. Schtuff happens. Enjoy the trip.
Take what is presented and revel in it.
Check the Weather
Present weather and 10-day forecast for
Roatan, San Pedro Sula, Ceiba, and
Tegucigalpa.
More packing tips
needed? General
packing tips are
provided next.
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Copán Ruinas, Honduras
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Dictionary Now
by Stacey Holeman, Summer 2005
Travelogue Story from Santa
Rosa de Copan
Had two wonderful weeks exploring Copán Ruinas, Honduras while staying with a host family and studying Spanish at the Ixbalanque Escuela de
Español. Here are a few of my thoughts:
The town itself is quaint and interesting (cobbled streets, tile roofs, bright stucco), LOTS of shops catering to tourists (150,000 people a year visit
the ruins) but not spoiled by tourists. I avoided the gringo hang-outs, though I've heard some of
them have excellent food. There's a new hostel (Manaza Verde - green apple - that looked
interesting and I didn't see in any guide books).
The people were friendly and willing to help with my Spanish - overall seemed to like that I was
giving it a try.
The surrounding area is extremely mountainous and worth exploring - Indian villages, hiking,
birding, waterfalls, caves, hot springs.
The ruins are beautiful, only bummer is the excellent museum will continue to be closed for
months for structural repairs. We LOVED Tikal for its setting and grandeur and we LOVED Copán
for its setting, art, sculpture, giant stone faces, and trees. There's a nice nature trail you should
take if you won't have a chance to get out hiking anywhere else. Go when they open at 8:00 am
(best) or late in the day to avoid the crowds, don't miss the cementerío on the far side, one of
our favorite spots.
In addition to the above I visited and enjoyed:
~~The butterfly farm (easy walk from town, displays, life cycle information plus a large, beautifully planted butterfly enclosure and two orchid
houses)
~~Hacienda San Lucas (2-3 km from town - steep going up; I chose to take a mototaxi up and
walked back through working farm land and along the Copán River; restored as a B & B, still a
working farm, great views, hammocks, dogs, and hiking trails, including a fairly short hike to Los
Sapos (the toads) which was, apparently, an ancient Mayan birthing site - loved that place.)
~~Macaw Mt. Bird Park (Parque de Aves - 3-4? km out of town a different way, gorgeous
landscaped grounds along a river, wheel-chair accessible sidewalks and observation decks,
hundreds of exotic birds that are native to Latin America including macaws, parrots, and toucans.
This place is beautifully done and the birds are lovely, but doesn't seem very "Honduran".)
~~Agua Caliente (45-60 minutes out of town, depending on the road conditions, which can be very
bad. The hike to the source of the water is through fabulous rainforest and the drive up through
villages makes the trip worth it. The pools themselves were turquoise cement, bath water
temperature, and a little scummy/buggy.)
~~El Boqueron cave (45 minute drive on some of the worst "roads" in the world plus a hot,
mountainous hike through farmland [no joke - some of the farmed hillsides were 45-50 degree
angles]. Cave itself was interesting with a variety of structures and textures, lots of water time,
bats everywhere [including interesting colonies of juveniles] and the biggest spider I've ever seen - mouse-sized body and each leg 5-6 inches
long.)
~~El Rubi Waterfall (30-45 minutes but in roughly the same direction as the cave, still thought to be dangerous unless you go with someone from
up there or someone who knows the villagers, pretty hike, narrow suspension bridge, then up the river [which was high and fast when I was there]
to the falls themselves.)
~~Birding with Jorge Barraza (this guy is AMAZING at spotting birds and interesting to talk to) was a guide at the ruins in the early 80's but couldn't
read or write so actually attended primary through secondary school in his 20's, learned to speak English, and began studying the indigenous bird
species. He also took us out to breakfast at a traditional "restaurant" in a house in an Indian village which was fascinating.
After studying hard for 3 terms at a local community college I arrived in Copán Ruinas with lots of vocabulary, an inadequate recollection of verb
tenses, and not much usable Spanish. After two weeks of 1-on-1 tutoring (4-6 hours/day), a homestay with only Spanish, and lots of effort on my
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part to practice around town (a special thank you to the Yaragua Tours guide named Talo who took
me to the cave and the waterfall, Carlos the stone carver (pictured) in the Mercado Artesanal,
the taxi drivers, and girls from La Pintada village who sell corn husk dolls in the square), I can say
pretty much whatever I need to and have a good handle on the most useful 5 or so verb tenses,
but still need people to talk SLOWLY to hold a lengthy conversation.
My teachers at Ixbalanque were good, my host family fascinating (3 generations coming and
going, lots of laughter and singing and way too much food), and the school itself is lovely. I
thought the workbooks should have had more information in them, could have used more handouts to study, and found it frustrating a time or two that the teachers don't speak English. Most of
the time that was okay, but a few times [like word order in questions] it would have been nice to
have an English explanation.)
Hedman Alas isn't the cheapest bus company, but very comfortable and safe; they pass out soft
drinks and snacks and show American movies with Spanish subtitles (good practice for me as I
couldn't really hear the English). The trip from San Pedro Sula takes 2.5-3 hours, take dramamine
or bromine ahead if you tend to get carsick as the last hour is really curvy.
Internet access is widely available, though the electricity was out off and on.
Local women wear skirts and, occasionally, long pants; I never saw a Honduran man in shorts. I felt more comfortable in skirts and pants other than
shorts.
It rained - sometimes HARD - most evenings and into the night, sometimes starting in late afternoon, rarely during the day.
Hardly saw a mosquito but did get a few bites in jungly areas if I didn't have repellent on.
If you go to Copán Ruinas, stay for awhile - 1 or 2 days wouldn't cut it for me. Walk around between 7 and 8 in the morning as people leave for
work, walk to school, scrub the sidewalks, and set up their shops. Somehow get up the road to Aqua Caliente village or at least to Sesemil to see
how people live up there.
Stacey visited Copan Ruinas in June 2005 and sent along words of appreciation as well as this article and photos to encourage others on their Spanish studies. Thanks Stacey.
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La Ceiba Honduras - A MustVisit
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La Ceiba, Honduras' best, is teeming with life. Ecotourism, hotels, restaurants, culture, parks and carnaval La Ceiba is a must-visit vacation destination with
something for everyone.
La Ceiba, Honduras, lies on the north central coast of
Honduras. While it may be only the third largest city in
Honduras, it certainly is the most lively!
If you are just traveling through, La Ceiba is a launching
off spot to the islands -- Utila, Roatan, or Guanaja. You
can catch the ferry from the docks or grab a quick 20minute puddle-jumper flight to the islands. The airport at
Ceiba, as Honduras people call
it, has to be my favorite city in
all of Honduras. If asked
why, I can’t give a definitive
answer. It is a city teeming
with life and energy. The
bustle is there but it is not
a rush. There is an energy
here. Human energy.
Tragically, it can't be bottled
or patented. It just has to be
lived.
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Coco Pando Resort
La Ceiba
Honduras
which you land is called Goloson International airport and
lies southwest of the city and is a quick 20-25 minute cab
ride.
La Ceiba's Latin Beat
Interested in more about La
Ceiba Honduras?
La Ceiba has a unique energy. Cultures come together.
Gracefully. Hispanic, African-Antillian, and Caribbean all
get rolled into one vibrant beat. La Ceiba is home to
Standard Fruit, marketed here under the Dole label. As
well, Guillermo Anderson, Honduras' most popular singer,
resides here when not touring.
Part 1: (this page)
Part 2: What to do in Ceiba
Part 3: Restaurants and
Daytrips
Part 4: Jen Campbell's FirstHand Account of La Carnaval
in La Ceiba
Along the beach are many restaurants and night clubs.
Away from the sea, central park (see photo below) is a
very shaded area, thanks to the huge ceiba and palm
trees. More restaurants are in this area and you can
walk the area or ride in an inexpensive cab.
Close to the city is the Cuero y Salado Wildlife Preserve.
Nature buffs will enjoy the Pico Bonito National Park
which includes the 8,000 peak. This is the mountain you
see as you drive through the area.
What To Do in La Ceiba (see next page)
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San Pedro Sula HondurasHome
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You are in Section:
Map of San Pedro Sula Honduras (off site)
Why San Pedro Sula?
The city of San Pedro Sula makes for the
best arrival and departure point, regardless
of destination within Honduras. Whether
traveling to Roatan or the Mosquitia; Copan
Ruinas to La Ceiba or La Esperanza -- San
Pedro Sula is both the logical and logistical
starting point for Honduras travel. Why start
there?
● San Pedro Sula offers more flights to
Roatan than does Tegucigalpa, the capital of
Honduras.
● San Pedro Sula sits squarely in the center
of the Sula valley. Most of Honduras'
commerce and traffic travel through the Sula
valley.
● Land travel within Honduras is much
easier if you begin in San Pedro Sula.
Tegucigalpa, an option, requires more
backtracking if your final leg of the trip is in
the Bay Islands. San Pedro Sula sits
equidistant between Copan Ruinas and La
Ceiba (and on to the Bay Islands). This
Honduras map will help you see the point.
From Tegucigalpa to Copan requires a bus trip
'San Pedro Sula'
Part 1 - The City
Part 2 - Best Routes for
Honduras Travel
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to San Pedro Sula and then back up to Copan
Ruinas.
(If you are going to travel to Tegucigalpa, Eric
Timar's articles on Tegucigalpa travel on our
website will be helpful. Eric makes some
compelling reasons for traveling to
Tegucigalpa).
A tip? How can you grab another night in
Roatan? Easy. Arrange your return flight
home from Honduras at Noon or later,
leaving Roatan on a morning commuter flight
in time to catch your flight out of SPS or
Tegus.
● If you begin your travels in San Pedro Sula,
more time is available to visit and spend
quality time at the Museum of Anthropology
and History. The museum is a must-see for
Honduras history or culture buffs.
Things to Do in San
Pedro Sula
Before leaving San Pedro Sula, consider
the following as good opportunities. Always
take a cab after dark:
• Restaurants - Many excellent restaurants
in San Pedro Sula, with a variety of ethnic
flavors, are located in the Zona Viva. We had
conch ceviche and a fish platter at Chef
Mariano's, a Garifuna restaurant. It was
superb.
• Soccer (Fútbol). Professional soccer is
played in more that one part of San Pedro
Sula. Your front desk can help you locate the
closer stadium.
• Shopping for Leather Goods: San Pedro
Sula offers several choices but many
recommend Danilo's for leather Goods.
• Parque Central - Central Park, like all
Central American parks, is a wonderful place
to find a Pepsi, a bench, and a shade tree.
Take time just to "people watch." Sometimes,
marimba bands will be playing at the noon
hour. Downside? Too many gringo-like
cafeterias immediately adjacent to the park.
They miss the mark on Honduran authenticity
but yet they remain busy. Go figure.
For an inexpensive lunch, try Antojitos
Mexicanos, right above the Expresso
Americano on the square. Cholesterol city.
The cathedral in San Pedro Sula sits at the
east end of the park but isn't all that
architecturally interesting. The front doors
were locked at 12.15pm, so I don't know what
the stained glass or interior offer. Not to
worry. You will find many a church open
elsewhere, if that is your interest. (The city of
Gracias, Honduras has as much historical
church architecture as any area in the
country).
• Handicrafts, nicknacks, cigars, rum,
vanilla Guamilito Market is the largest market for the
take-home gifts. The Guamilito Market
(mercado) offers just about everything under
the sun, including a dozen tortillas to go, made
right before your eyes. If you can't find
something, you just aren't looking.
I personally would encourage you to shop
the Casa del Sol, immediately south of the
market, before buying at Guamilito. They are
a smaller shop and the goods seemed to be a
higher quality. Reasonably priced.
Take time for a latte under the umbrellas at La
Plazita, right next to Casa del Sol. A cigar
and coffee store with an excellent selection is
within the small grouping of shops. The
woman owner is a gracious woman who is
willing to share ideas on what to see in
Honduras. Introduce yourself.
• Art - By all means, look for some. We
enjoy buying one distinct, unique, quality
piece of art home from every trip. One place
you might try looking for one is at the MAYMO
Art Gallery (3rd paragraph down in linked
article).
• Finally, for those of you who can't do
without, there are malls in San Pedro Sula.
Both MegaPlaza or Mulitplaza will provide the
'mall fix' and you can continue on with your
journey.
Suggested routes for travel in Honduras.
Join us in the next section where we describe
two Honduras travel routes, one for
Spanish speakers or folks who love
adventure, and one for those without
Spanish.•
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Tegucigalpa, Honduras
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Honduras travelers will want to visit
Tegucigalpa, Honduras for its rich history and
its distinct cultural flavor. Eric Timar has
been kind enough to offer us his best insights
into Tegucigalpa's history, some attractions
and activities, as well as accommodations,
food, and nightlife. Thanks Eric. - Dave
Tegucigalpa is located in the southern part of
Honduras, in Francisco Morazán province. The
elevation is around 3,000 feet. The
population is around one million (May 2001),
according to the National Institute of
Statistics.
Tegucigalpa - LOCAL HISTORY
Native Americans were already living in the
area of present-day Tegucigalpa, and calling
it by that name, when the first
Europeans–Spanish miners–arrived in the
middle of the 1500s. (September 29, 1578 is
the traditional founding date of the city, but
modern historians have determined that this
date is contrived.) The city was named capital
of Honduras in 1880.
Those Native Americans were mostly of the
Lenca people; unfortunately, their language is
dead and not a lot is known about their
culture. More information on the Lenca can
be found in The Cost of Conquest by Linda
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You are in 'Tegucigalpa'
Section
Part 1 - Tegucigalpa History,
Attractions and Activities
Part 2 - Tegucigalpa
Accommodations, Food and
Nightlife
Newson.
The early Spanish miners in Tegucigalpa
found silver, mostly, which supports the
theory that the city’s name meant "silver hill"
in an indigenous language. Alas, those
modern historians have again spoiled a good
story by punching holes in this explanation;
for one thing, the local Native Americans did
not mine silver and so it is unlikely they
would have named a hill for it. The meaning
of the city’s name remains unknown;
possibilities include "place where men meet"
and "colored stones."
The descendants of the Native Americans and
Europeans in Tegucigalpa were joined, early
in the 1900s, by two other ethnic
groups–Arabs and Chinese. The Arabs
continued to immigrate for about fifty years,
and Chinese continue to come to this day.
Both communities are visible in the capital;
the two largest hardware store chains carry
Arab names, and Chinese restaurants
abound.
About one-third of Tegucigalpa–the area lying
to the south and west of the Choluteca
River–is known as Comayagüela. This was a
separate city until 1938; Tegucigalpa and
Comayagüela both are further subdivided into
barrios.
Tegucigalpa - ATTRACTIONS
The center of town features fine old churches,
other old buildings, and a pedestrian
walkway. The cathedral of St. Michael
Archangel (1782) anchors the central park;
the Los Dolores church (1732; two blocks
west and two blocks north of the central
park) is the most handsome; and the San
Francisco church is the oldest building of any
type in the city, probably dating from 1590
(three blocks east of the central park). The La
Merced church (around 1650) is located next
to the National Art Gallery (three blocks
south of the central park), which was
formerly a priests’ residence.
The pedestrian street, or peatonal, offers
coffee, pirated CDs, donuts, and peoplewatching.
Parque La Leona is a pleasant park with a
good view of downtown–but don’t think you
can skip a visit to El Picacho (below) because
you have been to La Leona. If you stand by
the statue of Morazán in the central park and
look up north, La Leona is the first concrete
thing you see as you drop your gaze down
from the statue of Christ.
Francisco Morazán was a Honduran, born in
Tegucigalpa, who served as president of
Central America (1830-1840) during its short
tenure as a united nation. His birthplace, one
block north of the peatonal, is marked by a
plaque off Calle Mendiete (on a the north wall
of a building on the west side of the street.)
He advocated free elections and popular
education, and so was executed by
conservatives in 1842.
The Villa Roy National Museum is seven
blocks north of the northwest corner of the
post office, which is four long blocks (down
the peatonal) west of the cathedral–got that?
The museum has an interesting collection,
including vintage cars used by old Honduran
dictators, but is also notable for its green
grounds and beautiful main building, a former
private residence.
Tegucigalpa - ACTIVITIES
Popular destinations for tourists are the
towns of Santa Lucia and Valle de Angeles to
the east of the city. Valle de Angeles is the
best place in the area, if not the entire
nation, to buy souvenirs and craft items; it is
especially well-known for its woodwork. Santa
Lucia has a few shops but is better known for
its beautiful views and nice old church. Valle
de Angeles, the farther of the two, is an hour
away by bus and quicker by car. Buses leave
from Hospital San Felipe.
El Picacho is a national park on the north side
of the city; that large statue of Christ is
within it. Picacho offers an amazing view of
the city; be sure to walk all the way to the
foot of the statue for the overlook. The park
also has a Confucian garden donated by the
government of Taiwan, a United Nations
garden, and the national zoo. The zoo is
modest but does feature agoutis,
coatimundis, and a big tapir straight out of a
"Lothar of the Hill People" skit. Buses leave
for the park from a stop one block south of
Parque Finlay downtown; on weekends many
buses go all the way to the park entrance but
on weekdays they drop you off a twentyminute walk away.
La Tigra is a national park encompassing a
cloud forest to the north of Tegucigalpa.
Elevations in the park are from over four
thousand to nearly seven thousand feet. La
Tigra is a beautiful and well-maintained park,
with good hiking trails and a conscientious
staff, but transportation there and lodging
require planning. Call AMITIGRA, the
caretakers of the park, at 504 235 8493 for
information.
Two of the best professional soccer teams
this side of Brazil play in Tegucigalpa–Olimpia
and Motagua. These teams have supplied
several great players to Major League Soccer
in the United States, including Alex Pineda
Chacon (Olimpia), the league Most Valuable
Player in 2001; Milton Reyes (Motagua) of the
Dallas Burn; and Amado Guevara (Motagua)
of the NewYork/New Jersey MetroStars.
Olimpia is now coached by Jose de la Paz
Herrera, aka "Chelato" Ucles, the dean of
Honduran soccer, who coached the last
national team to make it to the World Cup
finals (1982).
You may be able to see the Honduran
national soccer team play in the capital; this
squad was declared "Team of the Year" by
FIFA, soccer’s international governing body,
in 2001 in recognition of victories against
giant nations such as Mexico, the United
States, and Brazil. The team is currently
trying to qualify for the 2006 World Cup in
Germany. The Hondurans are competing
against Guatemala, Costa Rica, and Canada
for two slots in a six-team tournament to be
played in 2005. Of those six teams, three will
win berths to Germany and the fourth-place
finisher will head to a playoff against the thirdplace team in the Asia region for another
berth (got that?). So the smart money is on
Honduras to get tickets to Germany after
defeating Japan late in 2005. The U. S. team,
which is somehow currently ranked seventh
in the world by FIFA (I am not making this
up), will squeak into the finals by finishing
third, after Mexico and Costa Rica, with the
usual nail-biter one-goal win over Trinidad
and Tobago.
The Honduran national team was coached for
a time by Bora Milutinovich, the wandering
veteran of international soccer who coached
the strong U.S. team in 1994 and has also
directed China, Mexico, and Nigeria; he quit
in July ‘04. Not promising for the seleccion . .
.
Next page: Accommodations, activities, and
nightlife in Tegucigalpa, Honduras
Page 1
l
2
Eric Timar moved to Tegucigalpa in 1999 with his wife,
Mary Wilcox, to work for three years with Mennonite
Central Committee. Their daughter, Estelle, was born
in the city in 2000. They are currently in exile in the
U.S., plotting their return. Eric is also the author of
Tegucigalpa: The Non-Comprehensive Guide. Buy it
for the humor, even if you aren't going to visit Tegus.
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Santa Rosa de Copan
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Rosa de Copan
Things to Do in the Heart of
the Honduras Highlands
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Santa Rosa de Copán, up in the mountains of
western Honduras, is a wonderful small city
with gorgeous vistas. We arrived on a Sunday
morning and left early the next day with Max
Elvir, Lenca Land Trails, so our impressions
were brief and fleeting.
As such, I can't do the city justice. Warren
Post, owner of Pizza Pizza in Santa Rosa de
Copan, graciously offered his ideas on things
to do in his adopted home. Thanks Warren,
for this page, for providing a critique of my
Honduras vacation plans and for helping me
understand better the country we loved
visiting.
The Best of Santa Rosa de CopanWarren Post
The geographic and psychological heart of
Santa Rosa is its historic downtown, a lovely
place to stroll and admire the restored
buildings and cobbled streets. Declared a
national monument, the downtown area is
restored and protected by the Santa Rosa
Historical Preservation Commission. Although
their
web site is in Spanish, it is worth seeing if
only to admire the many photographs of
Santa Rosa's unique architecture.
Santa Rosa is noted for the excellent hand
rolled cigars produced by Flor de Copán,
makers of the famous Zino line. The factory,
located four blocks east of the bus station,
offers guided tours (in Spanish) 7:30 - 11:30
a.m. and 1:30 - 4:30 p.m. Monday - Friday.
There is a charge of US$2 per visitor. Be sure
to take the factory tour while in Santa Rosa,
even if you don't smoke.
Cigars are available for sale at the factory
outlet, which is two blocks west of the central
plaza. My friend the cigar taster at the factory
(yes, there really are a few people in this
world who are paid to have jobs like that)
recommends the Santa Rosa: mild but not
light, well made, and won't harsh you out
midway through.
Just as Santa Rosa is famous abroad for its
cigars, it is known among Hondurans as a
center of cultural activity. The city cultural
center (Casa de la Cultura, 1/2 block south of
the central plaza) offers a library, frequent
exhibitions, performances, readings, and
concerts. Be sure to ask about upcoming
events.
Coffee lovers will want to visit Beneficio Maya,
where fine coffee is graded and roasted for
export. Aside from being able to view the
process, visitors can buy fresh export grade
coffee. Take a taxi to the beneficio, as it's a
little hard to find. There is usually something
to see year round, although most activity
takes place during coffee harvest season
(October - February).
Ten minutes outside of town on the road to
Gracias is the village of La Montañita. There
you will find Doricentro, a privately operated
park with water toboggan, swimming and
wading pools, light snacks and beverages,
picnic areas, and music. An entrance fee of
US$1.50 includes use of the toboggan and
pools. Doricentro is open weekends and
holidays.
Further along the road to Gracias is Las Tres
Jotas (US$0.75), another private park that is
also a working tobacco farm and fishery. Have
the bus driver point it out, as the sign on the
highway is easy to miss. Aside from picnic
areas and wading pools, Las Tres Jotas has
the freshest fish you'll eat. Las Tres Jotas is
open daily and welcomes overnight campers.
A very special time to visit Santa Rosa is
during Easter Week. During the week before
Easter, Santa Rosa presents some of the best
processions in the nation. Six in all, the
processions are full dress street theater
reenactments of the different parts of the
Easter story daily beginning Holy Thursday.
There's the Incarceration Procession, the Holy
Cross Procession, the Funeral and Mourning
Processions, the Resurrection Procession, and
more.
The most spectacular is undoubtedly the Holy
Cross Procession, or Via Crucis, on Friday
morning. Bearing cross and under guard,
Jesus makes his way through the heart of
Santa Rosa's historical district along a two
kilometer route beautifully decorated with
carpets of flowers and colored sawdust in the
streets. Because the carpets are ruined by the
passage of the procession, you will want to
arrive well before the nine a.m. starting time
to admire the handiwork of the many
Copanecos who have labored since dawn on
the decorations.
My personal favorite, however, is the
candlelight Women's Procession Friday night.
Mary and her friends march silently through
the dark streets in mourning for her son's
death, the only sound their footfalls on the
cold cobblestones.
Another good time to visit Santa Rosa is
during the annual fair in the last two weeks of
August. Dedicated to the local patron saint,
Santa Rosa de Lima, there are religious
observances, a beauty pageant and
coronation, street carnivals, a rodeo, cultural
performances, and more.
Honduras's Independence Day, September 15,
is marked by three days of celebrations and
parades with surprisingly intricate uniforms
and costumes. Each year schools compete to
see which can display the most striking or
unique presentation. Kindergartens march on
September 13, elementary schools on
September 14, and high schools on
September 15.
There are also volunteering opportunities in
Santa Rosa de Copán. The cultural center
downtown can always use volunteers. You
could pretty much write your own position
description there, but some ideas are: dance
instruction (ballet or modern), music
(band/orchestra), drama, photography,
painting... well, you get the idea. Interested?
Email the cultural center (casadelacultura @
hotmail.com) for more information.
The La Roca community center is always
seeking volunteers who are willing to commit
at least two months. Currently the center is
looking for volunteers to teach classes like
crafts and English and to coordinate sports
programs in basketball and volleyball for girls
and soccer for boys. Spanish definitely helps,
but is not absolutely necessary in these
particular activities. Email the center (Phil @
timko.ca) for more information.
AUTHOR PROFILE
Warren Post first arrived in Honduras in 1986 as a
diplomat assigned to the U.S. embassy in Tegucigalpa,
and returned to stay in 1990. Since then Warren has
occupied himself as a beach bum in Trujillo, a
marketing director for a ecotour operator, an English
teacher on a cattle ranch, a cybercafe owner, a jungle
guide in the Mosquitia, and a web designer and IT
consultant. In 1994 he and his Honduran wife Orlanda
opened Pizza Pizza, a family restaurant in Santa Rosa
de Copan, which they continue to operate with their
three teenage sons.
Warren's website is packed full of information. Make
sure you visit his page on day trips around Santa Rosa
de Copan.
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Roatan-West Bay, West End
and More
Roatan - West End and West Bay on Roatan are the
two most popular areas. A comparison is helpful.
In the table about Roatan that follows, we'll do a quick
look at each of the two Roatan beaches, West End and
West Bay (sunset pictured). You can begin by asking
Copan Ruinas
La Ceiba
San Pedro Sula
Tegucigalpa
Santa Rosa de Copan
Roatan
Roatan Diving
Utila
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Read Roatan Travel Stories
West Bay's Beach and
Waterin' Place
Quick, Complete Overview of
Roatan:
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Part 1 - West End and West
Bay, in Comparison
Indigenous
Tall Tales
FAQs
Honduras Recipes
Honduras Coffee
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Part 2 - Accommodations and
Restaurants
More Things to do in Roatan
(off-site)
yourself, "What are my preferences? What am I
looking for in this Roatan vacation?"
Keep things in perspective -- this is not a choice
between a good and a bad selection. This is a
good/good choice, merely based on preferences. You
can't lose!
Here is a Roatan map to help you catch your bearings.
Note that it is not oriented with North to the top.
Finally, Kathy Munster, a Roatan visitor, wrote us with
some suggestions and ideas from her trip. She
provides her impressions of the island from her Spring
2004 visit. With her permission, I have included it
below the West End/West Bay comparison table.
West End, Roatan
West Bay, Roatan
Beach - Grass Bottom
Beach - Sand Bottom
Area has night life - active
(by Honduras standards)
Laid back; perfect, slow
pace. Quiet.
Wide, wide array of
accommodations
Accommodations are midrange in price and up
Plenty of shops
Few shops to speak of
Plenty of restaurants
Few restaurants
On the main drag
Water taxi (~$1.20) or land
taxi ($10 and up)
Woody's grocery store, others
small dry goods shops
No groceries to speak of
Reef - 200 yards out
Reef 30 yards out
Lots of dive shops
Some dive shops
Minibuses from Coxen Hole
No minibuses
Internet cafe
Internet cafe at Foster's (Oasis
Internet Cafe, with int'l
phone, fax, and copy
machine)
Rudy's Smoothies
No Rudy's!
Let me say it again, when deciding on Roatan between
West End and West Bay, this is not a choice between
a good and a bad selection. This is a good/good
choice, merely based on preferences. You can't lose!
Spring, 2004 Roatan...
The Best Caribbean Island
by Kathy Munster
We have traveled extensively in the Leeward and
Windward Islands for the past 21 years. I have loved
every island for its flavor and uniqueness, but I have
never fallen in love with a place like we did Roatan.
Due to personal restrictions, we did not leave the
island to visit the mainland. We will do that the next
time.....and there will be a next time. We are in the
process of purchasing a lot on the island.
Just some notes to add to your extensive ones:
● Purchased a copy of the Moon Handbook, and
found it to be invaluable.
● There are many, many inexpensive
accommodations on Roatan. You will get what you
pay for, i.e., a $5.00 room may be a tiny room in a
modified container, with similar accommodations for
the community shower.
● We thought Half Moon Bay Cottages were a real
value, and the setting is wonderful.
● There are some waterfront apartments in West
End...I think they're called The Beach House at Half
Moon Bay....they appear to be really nice, clean, and
new, right on the water/beach and on "Main Street
West End". You can't get a better location. I think
they are not budget priced, but that would depend on
the number of occupants.
● You can also get wonderful fruits and veggies off
of trucks in West End. Very good quality stuff and
prices.
West Bay
● On West Bay Beach, most of the budget
accommodations are set back from the beach, and will
likely overlook the swamp that separates them from
the road.
● There are those to be found (Island Pearl, Cabana
Roatana, to name two) that have wonderful settings
and in some cases, even water views. The vegetation
is very heavy around these sites, so the sea view is
restricted. But the cool shade of the palms is
welcome on an afternoon as the sun sets.
We stayed at a hotel called Paradise Beach Club. It
was more upscale, depending on the accommodations
you pay for. We had a beachfront villa that is
unsurpassed for its location. The hotel has less
expensive yet very nice rooms for around $85/night.
If you ask for a balcony room, upper floor, ocean-side,
you will get some spectacular views.
[Editorial insert: We stayed at Bananarama on West
Bay and loved the privacy, the airy openness, the
landscaping, and the slower pace that West Bay
offers. Immaculate. Dave]
The food at the hotel was iffy, at best. The only place
to get a really great meal on West Bay is Bite on the
Beach. It's closed Sunday and Monday. We tried
every place on West Bay that was serving breakfast,
and found that the only one we would return to (and
did) was the Palapa at Mayan Princess. The wonderful
French Restaurant at Island Pearl is closed
indefinitely.
West Bay Cont'd
There is much construction going on on West Bay
(and the entire island, for that matter) and some of
the ambiance is lost due to that. The Mayan Princess
is a long way from opening their new restaurant/bar.
We did hear that when they do, they will tear down
the Palapa Bar, which is a pity. It's a great spot.
The Money Drill
I did the bank routine, to cash traveler's checks. Had
to go to Coxen Hole to do this. Stood in the bank for
1 hour, and needed every form of ID I could find. I
found out I could have cashed them (any amount) at
Warren's Grocery, which was right across the street,
for nearly the same exchange rate.
Everyone, including street vendors, took traveler's
checks, but not always at the greatest exchange rate.
Usually they would round it out to 17/1, when the
actual was closer to 18/1. ATMs are not a good deal
here yet -- too unreliable and not always accurate.
Coxen Hole
There is a mercado (market) in Coxen Hole. It's just
a couple of blocks off the main street. I can't tell you
how to get there, as we were re-routed due to
extensive construction of a new sewer system in a
major section of downtown Coxen Hole. I am seeing
results of the increasing cruise-ship business (I
believe there are 5 a week, now). There is serious
beautifying of Coxen Hole, with colorful roadside walls
being built. The walls line the streets in and out of
Coxen Hole, and hide the not-so-attractive yards.
The only gas stations we found were in Coxen Hole.
This requires watching that gas gauge carefully.
French Harbor
There is a superb grocery store in French Harbor (a
working town) called Eldon's. Rumor has it that he
will be opening a new facility at the yet-to-be-built
development called Keyhole Estates, which is on West
Bay Road, just before the entrance to Henry Morgan
Hotel.
French Harbor has a couple of excellent restaurants
but I did not get a warm, fuzzy feeling here. I would
not be comfortable walking around here. It has real
potential to be a great spot...the shrimpers come in
here, and its an interesting working harbor. I'd go
here at night with escorts (or not at all). [Edit.
French Harbor is more a working town and less a
tourist attraction. Like Kathy, trust your own
judgment, wherever you travel in Honduras. In
another section of the website, I discuss security in
greater detail. Dave]
General Impressions
We visited other "settlements" on the island. The
general feeling I have is that there are other lovely
communities but you need a car to access them. One
in particular with a great beach is Fantasy Island It is
the perfect place to go if you want to just stay at the
resort , or have a car at your disposal. But really
remote!
There are numerous up-scale housing developments
going up throughout the island. (in case you're
thinking about buying a piece of paradise). Again,
some of these were very remote (Parrot Tree,
Palmetto Bay, to name two) but with really incredible
plans for future communities. Presently, though, they
are far from amenities.
Roads
● The main highway that stretches from end to end
of the island, is in really good shape -- one of the best
I've experienced in the Caribbean. But, once you get
off this thoroughfare, it can be really dicey.
● A four-wheel vehicle is recommended for any
travel here.
● The roads into the resorts and beach on West Bay
are a pothole-filled challenge.
● The main street in West End is a sandy stretch
that is very slow going and a crater-filled obstacle
course. So...you just go slowly! It's one of the things
that lends the great character to West End.
This island is definitely in a major growth mode. I
suspect the flavor of it will change, probably way too
soon.
All in all, a completely relaxing, wonderful
experience. Thanks again for all of your input. We
did get the Sawyer's bug spray (your link) and it
worked quite well. No serious bites.
I am sharing your website address with many of the
people we met on the island!
Take care,
Kathy
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Need some ideas on accommodations and food?
Roatan resident, and culinary critic (grinning) Larry
Schlesser offers up some of his best suggestions.
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Utila, Honduras
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Dictionary Now
We didn't get a chance to visit Utila. No site on Honduras
would be complete without a discussion of this fascinating
island and its people. To that end, we are trying to build out
that section and here is our first offering. Let's start with a
'warm hello' from Utila's mayor, Alton Cooper.
“I would like to welcome you to our beautiful
island of Utila, nestling in the Caribbean Sea
and located approximately 18 miles (29 km)
from the Honduras mainland port of La Ceiba.
Utila is just 11 km long and 4 km at its widest
and surrounded by vast coral reefs with prolific
undersea life.
The smallest of
the major islands
in The Bay
Islands group,
Utila is renowned
as being one of
the least
expensive and
most beautiful
places in the world for scuba diving. From the
Mayan Indians, through the years spent as a
British Colony, Utila provides a rich and diverse
cultural experience with it's population of 2,500
people you will find a unique blend of British,
American and Spanish heritages making Utila a
Caribbean Island which is still a largely
undiscovered and unspoiled paradise.” Alton
Cooper, Mayor of Utila
Utila on the Web
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Utila is a well-kept internet secret but webmaster Mark
Smith is about to remedy that. His AboutUtila.com is a
wonderful collection of links that feature the best of Utila.
One of my favorite sections is the photo gallery, some of the
finest photos from Utila, Honduras. Make sure you take a
look at the aerial views of Utila as well as the gorgeous
sunsets.
Accommodations
Utila offers a
wonderful array
of
accommodations,
from budget
back packers to
the finer type
hotels. The
photos of the
Utila hotels,
resorts, homes,
and apartments
in this section
alone will make
me a Utila visitor
the next time we
visit.
Location
As Mayor Cooper indicates, you are a mere 7-minute flight
from Ceiba. This Honduras map will show you how close
you are to the mainland. Here is a link to other Utila maps
that I have collected.
A Nickel's History
Those who have been online for any period of time know of
the Roatan group on
Yahoo. A frequent
contributor there is
retired professor David
Evans. Here, Evans
discusses the history of
Utila, Roatan, and
Guanaja, the wonderful
Bay Islands of Honduras.
Need More Info?
The folks on Utila would love to have you. Journey over to
the general Utila travel section of AboutUtila.com and find
the missing piece you need to complete you Bay Island
vacation.
Thanks for Mayor Cooper and Webmaster Mark Smith for offering this
piece on Utila, Honduras to Sidewalkmystic.com.
Utila sunset courtesy of Nojo, and underwater scene, Adam
Laverty
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Indigenous Groups of
Honduras
Indigenous groups are one of the top 5 reasons to visit
Honduras. Groups that you can visit include the Miskito
Indians, the Pech Indians, the Garifunas, the Lencas, and
the Chorti Indians. Other Honduran ethnic groups which
can be visited include the Tawahka Indians and the Bay
Islanders. The Tolupan (Jicaque) Indians are not very
easy to visit and are not very open to visitors.
sidewalkmystic.com is fortunate to have Wendy Griffin
offer this section of the website, Indigenous Groups of
Honduras.
Dictionary Now
Wendy, a historian and writer, is widely known
throughout Honduras for her understanding and interest
in the ethnic groups of Honduras and for her writings on
the peoples of
Honduras. Wendy
graciously offers her
time and expertise in
writing this section
(except for the Lenca
page which I wrote).
This section
immeasurably adds to
presenting a fuller
picture of Honduras.
Thank you Wendy.
Common sense and an appreciation for other cultures are
all that is necessary to visit the ethnic communities of
Honduras. In my Central American travels, I (Dave)
have found it helpful to keep these things in mind:
• Some individuals choose not to have pictures taken.
Don't take pictures without permission -- no different
than at home.
• Be sensitive to ceremonies and rituals. Don't barge in
or assume that you have the right to intrude.
• Show a true interest in other people. People the world
over understand when you are genuinely interested in
them.
• Kids will be naturally curious. Go with the flow and
find some youthful behavior inside yourself when
Search This Site
interacting with kids.
• Demonstrate respect with actions and words.
Group
Population (update pending)
Lenca
100,000
Garifuna
98,000
Miskito
29,000
Chortí Maya
4,200
Pech
2,500
Tolupan
2,000
Tawahka
1,000
Wendy Griffin has worked with Honduran ethnic groups since 1986.
In Honduras she has worked with bilingual education (Spanish/native
languages) and taught English and anthropology at Honduran
universities. From 1992 to 2002 she was a reporter covering
Honduran ethnic groups for Honduras This Week. Her in-depth
articles can be seen online at marrder.com and click on previous
edition.
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Honduras Tales "Sidewalk Vignettes"
Home
Looking
Skyward
The Dear's
Headlights
The Two
Faces of
Jesus
Graciousness
Is...
Blame the
Bike Guy
Oh, a
Waterin'
Place
Remarkable events occur daily in the mundane and
run-of-the-mill moments of our lives. Often, I miss
them. But every time I visit Central America, it's as
though I am viewing life through a different set of
eyes. All my senses seem more alive. The banal
seems to come to life - - the 'plain' gains a luster - the ordinary is no longer ordinary. I am not able to
completely explain this phenomenon. The closest I
can come is to share stories, and those, well, I am
always happy to tell one. Please join me...
Copan Ruinas
Looking Skyward
Day two in Copan Ruinas and rain is challenging my
patience. There is no way I am going to come to
Honduras and miss the ancient ruins. So after
breakfast, we begin to follow the path to the site
despite the rain. Not looking good.
Weather
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A
brief
drizzle slows to a gentle mist. My glasses are spotted
enough to be an absolute nuisance. I reach into my
purse for a tissue, look upwards, and try to discern
how the weather gods are going to treat us. Like I
would know what I am looking for. My wife asks me,
“Will we get this visit in?”
“Of course,” I boldly affirm, wondering why in the
world I need to conceal my own ignorance about
weather to my wife of 33 years. Oh well. There are
some things I have to know about and “weather” is
one of them, even though I haven’t a clue. "This will
blow over within 10-15 minutes," I assure her.
Now it is drizzling again and I lower my chin because
I am fresh out of tissues. Drats. We continue to walk
the path and I become aware of my pace. I soon
realize that in 3 short days in Honduras, I have
slowed down. Significantly. It seems to be a very
comfortable pace. Is it vacation or have I settled into
a Honduran tempo? In town, when walking, we don’t
pass any people. Interesting.
As we near the entrance to the ruins, I again look
skyward to determine from which direction the rain is
coming. I soon realize that I don't even know which
way is north.
Then, out of the corner of my eye, I see a guy
standing in a tree. Impossible. Maybe it is the rain
on my glasses. I wipe my glasses clean with my
fingers. And yep, there he is, perched high atop the
tree, feet firmly planted on branches near the tree’s
trunk. This is too good to pass up. I have to know
what in the world is going on. So I begin to walk
more closely to the tree and Dee smirks, knowing
where this is going.
“Senor, excuse me, but may I ask what you doing?” I
yell out in my best Spanish. What follows is a very
rough translation with the man I have dubbed Senor
Pito.
It seems my newest Honduran acquaintance is
picking pito, a red-colored air plant. He reaches for
only the smallest of them, by-passing the larger
ones. When he finds the right size, he picks it and
tosses it down to his two sons on the ground, who
quickly jostle each other to lay claim to the prize.
Kids are kids.
Here is what I think he told me. Don’t take it for
gospel. Pito is used as an herbal medicine.
Insomniacs and those seeking pleasant dreams dry it,
crumble it, and put it into scrambled eggs (huevos
revueltos). Sweet dreams are guaranteed - - or so I
learned, on a path in rural Copan. But then again,
with my Spanish, it really could be that pito is an
aphrodisiac that farmers give to old bulls for that one
last, great moment. We may never know.
(Renowned traveler and writer Judith Fein recounts her visit to
the Copan area where she visits with a local Chorti Mayan healer
and a second visit with a healer on the north coast, a Garifuna.
[Her personal website chronicles her travels throughout the
world...well worth a visit.])
(More Honduras Tales Listed Below)
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Home
Recipes
Main
Ceiba
Ceviche
Tortillas
Baleadas
Salad
Ground
Nut Soup
Beef
Fried
Platanos
Fish with
Garlic
Black
Bean
Soup
Black
Beans
Preparing
Conch
Honduras Food Honduras Recipes
Honduras food is similar to the food in many other
Central American nations. I have included some
of my own Honduras recipes to give you a 'taste'
of Honduras food.
What foods will you find in Honduras?
•
First, tortillas. And then, more tortillas.
Tortillas are
an every day
staple, just
as bread is
in North
America.
•
Second,
beans.
Beans come
in all colors
but in
Honduras, the food usually included red or black
("turtle" for those familiar with Caribbean
cooking). Beans and tortillas. The country of
Honduras runs on these foods.
•
Rice. Many "blue plate specials" will have rice
on them.
•
A salad of some sort is often served with your
food in Honduras. Frequently, it will be a
shredded cabbage, a few slices of carrots, and
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If you have a good Honduran
recipe to share, please send it
along. I will ensure that you
receive credit for the recipe.
Thanks, Dave
moistened with a light oil/vinegar (hint of sugar)
dressing.
•
Meat (inland), fish (North Coast or Bay
Islands), or salty white cheese (salt has
preservative qualities in a country with less than
perfect refrigeration). The average Honduran can
not afford these type of food luxuries. Salsas
grace every good table and often spice up the
food.
So, on with the Honduran recipes. I will add to
the recipes as time permits, adding typical
Honduras food offerings.
Ceiba Ceviche - A light appetizer from my
favorite Honduran city, La Ceiba
Tortillas - Simple. No more store-bought,
cardboard-tasting tortillas!
Baleadas - Simpler yet. Use the tortilla and fill
away!
Green Salad with Sweet Potatoes and Feta
Cheese - a delightful surprise
Ground Nut Soup - interesting soup from
Twisted Tanya's restaurant in Copan Ruinas
San Pedro Sula Simmered Beef - a typical
pepper based, simmered beef
Fried Platanos - Twelve minutes to heaven with
plantains
Fish with Garlic
Black Bean Soup
Preparing Conch
Do you have a good Honduran or Central
American recipe that you would like to share?
Send it to me. I will be glad to kitchen taste it
and post the best ones to the website.
Sidewalkmystic.com
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projecthonduras.com
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The Conference on Honduras 2005 will take
place in Copan Ruinas during
October 20-23, 2005 at the Municipal
Conference Center beside the town's central
● creates an alternative
model of development based
on mobilizing and channeling
"human capital" rather than
continually emphasizing the
need for more money
Indigenous
Tall Tales
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Honduras Coffee
projecthonduras.com
Links
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www.projecthonduras.com
● serves as a
clearinghouse of information
on Honduras
Copan Ruinas
La Ceiba
San Pedro Sula
Tegucigalpa
Santa Rosa de Copan
Roatan
Roatan Diving
Utila
Honduras Recipes
projecthonduras.com was one of
eight finalists in Microsoft's worldwide recognition... News Release
plaza. If you would like to receive an
invitation, Marco may be reached at this
encoded email address.
The focus of the Conference on Honduras
2004 was education, healthcare, and
community building. The aim was to
present and exchange information on current
and proposed grassroots volunteer projects
to help the people of Honduras.
"We want to figure out how to improve and
expand these projects, as well as
encourage people to go out and create
new projects," said the director of the
conference, Marco Caceres. The program
● establishes a growing
international network of
people communicating via
listserv forums on ways to
help Honduras ... to build an
Internet-based model of
development for Honduras
consisted of 6-8 panels, made up of 3-6
speakers each.
The Conference on Honduras series is the
third part of projecthonduras.com's threestep strategic plan to build an Internet-based
model of development for Honduras. During
the past six years, the volunteer group has
created an online portal at
www.projecthonduras.com which serves as a
clearinghouse of information on Honduras
and has established a growing international
network of people communicating via listserv
forums on ways to help the country.
"We have more than 3,000 individuals in
our Worldwide Honduras Network, and it's
incredible
to see
the
impact
many of
these
private
citizens
are
quietly
making on Honduras," said Caceres. "What
we are trying to do with the conference is
simply give people the chance to meet faceto-face, exchange business cards and
information, and perhaps discover ways to
complement each other's efforts."
The concept behind projecthonduras.com
and the Conference on Honduras is based
on the belief that developing countries
like Honduras need to tap all of their
"human capital"; around the world in order
to break their cycles of poverty and find
ways to implement solutions to persistent
problems. The Internet now provides the
ability to quickly and cost-effectively
organize masses of people and channel their
experience, talents, and expertise into
specific areas of need in a country. For
further information on the Conference on
Honduras 2005, see
www.projecthonduras.com/conference. The
conference will be presented by
projecthonduras.com and sponsored by
Special Missions Foundation, Inc.
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Honduras Travel Links, Far and Near
Over 300 external links on travel in Honduras
are included throughout this web site. Listed
below are two types of links: 1) good links
on Honduras travel and, 2) links that I
enjoy. Call it editorial prerogative.
If you don't see what you are looking for,
make sure you try the internal search engine
to the right. With 100+ pages, you might
have missed it.
Good Honduras Links:
Suggest your best Honduras travel links by
emailing me. Thanks!
Lonely Planet
Travel to Honduras (Based on Roatan)
Honduweb Travel (a bit dated)
Honduras.com (Honduras's official web)
Best Honduras travel book, Moon Handbook
General overall site from the Department of
Tourism, Honduras Tips
Excellent journal site on a kayak venture
along the north coast of Honduras. Very well
written.
Copan Links
Best site about the ruins.
Best overall site about Copan.
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La Ceiba Links
Holacebita.com (Business owners' site about
La Ceiba)
Moskitia Region
Broad, descriptive site.
More detailed travel site.
Puerto Cortes
Good overview
Roatan Links
Best informative site without commercials.
Site with more commercial approach.
Quick and clear overview of Roatan
Sailing Links
Noonsite.com
San Pedro Sula (very slim pickings chamber of commerce missing the boat)
General overview of the city.
Tegucigalpa (not much out there)
Getting around Tegucigalpa.
Overall general information.
Tela Links
Tela-Honduras.com (good little site about
Tela, on the north coast)
Trujillo
National Parks of Trujillo (worth a visit for the
photos)
A quick overview of the area (warning, music
onsite)
Western Highlands
Warren Post's site on Santa Rosa de Copan,
starting point for highlands
Best Overall Site for Honduras
Links
LANIC, University of Texas (a must visit for
info beyond tourism)
Delightful Links, Unrelated to
Honduras
Bill Ford's helpful site on personal computing,
with tons of "how-to's." Bill's site is the first
place I drop in when stuck on a PC issue.
Urban Iditarod - An urban take-off on the
great Alaskan dog-sled event. Have to meet
these folks someday.
Folk and Fairy Tales from Around the World A delightful assortment of stories from all
corners of the globe. Any story tellers out
there?
Hasidic stories always hold deep wisdom for
me with a touch of mystery, often in the turn
of a phrase. Have you ever read one?
Mr. Duck rolls out a continuing saga on family
life in a series of wonderful, dry, humorous
stories ... always a fresh take on family life.
Peace Fellowships Worth Your
Consideration
Episcopal Peace Fellowship
Lutheran Peace Fellowship
Pax Christi
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About Me
Formative Years
I have knocked about this planet since 1948,
when my mother felt a compelling need to
share me with the world as David T. Borton.
My life went fine until my first of many
existential crises - - 1st grade, W
urlitzer
Elementary
School. There, in
a class of 31
students, I was
one of five
David’s. Identity
crisis smacked me
right in the face.
At age 5, I knew
I needed a way to
be different and I
have been about
that task ever
since. I blame the mothers of all those other
David’s for my inability to follow routine.
Home was Western New York, within a GermanLutheran family where work and responsibility
were at the core of our purpose. Life was
serious. Shoveling snow -- next to godliness.
Memorizing Martin Luther’s Small Catechism
verbatim was part and parcel of salvation. My
academic career went along fine although I
rarely applied myself. I saved myself for
baseball. I played tons and tons of it. I had a
deadly arm from the outfield but struggled at
the plate. The curve ball gave me real grief.
Underneath that flip response, quick-witted
remark, and smirk was a kid in search of
something; just didn’t know what that was.
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I left home at 18 to attend college, never really
looking back. I only return to visit my Mom,
elder brother, younger sister, and their families
(Dad died in '89). At college, too many midweek beer parties and the Viet Nam war
interrupted my education. Wars do that.
Uncle Sam had my number; the draft was still
in place. When I received my draft notice, I
thought about appealing to our draft board - for about 3 seconds. Our draft board
resembled an octogenarian convention of the
Daughters of the American Revolution. So into
the green machine I went for four very long
years.
I came out of that war in one piece but
returned from overseas a much more reflective
young man, not quite as sure of so many
things. We had lost several flight crewmembers
and those deaths turned my world and belief
system upside down. I went overseas believing
in what we were doing and came home very
embittered. I felt duped. Enough. I got out
and never looked back.
Education Comes thru Books
and Sidewalks
Upon discharge, I re-entered college on the GI
bill, earning a business degree from Florida
Atlantic University. Why business? By default.
I didn’t have a clue what I wanted to do with
my life. Later on in my business career, I
received a Master of Theological Studies from
Trinity Lutheran Seminary. Both were good
experiences and I feel very fortunate to have
had the opportunity to attend post-secondary
schools. Formal education has served me well.
But most of my deepest learnings have come
from others.
Central America
In 1988, I had the delight of visiting Guatemala
with Alfalit International. Alfalit is an NGO
throughout Central America, working to
improve lives of people, one small group at a
time. It was an experience of a lifetime and
one that has changed me forever.
Jorge Colindres Monzón, of Mayan ancestry,
was our host. Jorge is a Presbyterian minister
and one who takes his
faith very seriously.
Oh, not the obsession
with the Jesus quiz - ‘Is he your personal
Lord and Savior?' - but much more rooted
and grounded in the
compassionate, caring,
life-giving, healing and
prophetic Jesus you
find in the Gospel of
Luke. Jorge taught
me so much about my
own faith, as he whisked us all over the
western highlands of Guatemala, visiting with
Christian small-base communities. Each
community strived for its own improvement; be
it literacy, cooperative farming, sewing
cooperatives, weaving, etc. Within each
setting, I saw the Christian faith lived out to its
fullest.
I have been back to Central America many
times since. I am hooked. It has a
tremendous draw for me. Life is on the edge
yet people seem more present to one another.
Poverty collectively grinds at their bones but
they remain open to a tomorrow – a tomorrow I
am not sure how well I would face.
(cont'd on pg. 2)
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Some years ago, a friend and I were walking.
He asked me to describe my spirituality in a
nutshell. Spontaneously, I said, “Well, I would
have to describe myself as a sidewalk mystic.”
Little did I realize how that chance discussion
would bring forth a website address many years
later.
"Mystic" is a word from by-gone eras.
Tragically, the word most often only conjures up
medieval images of
monks cloistered
away in
monasteries. This,
in turn, relegates
God to remote and
obscure places and
leaves 21st-century
humankind with few
windows into the
sacred. We live in
an era where there
is some vague
notion that God
may be present in
the cathedrals and places of worship but often
absent in our daily lives. And we are the worse
for it.
Mysticism Recaptured
We, in our times, might be better served if we
reached way back and brought back the
essence of mysticism – to once again trust our
instincts and intuition; to find the sacred in the
ordinary. Mysticism suggests that as hard as
we may try, we as humans can’t get our arms
around comprehending everything mentally.
Mysticism says to science and reason, “There
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are limitations to your knowledge.” It then
turns to religion and the arts and says, “Your
truths have boundaries.” A 'sidewalk mystic'
tries to walk that path between the two
seeming polarities, embracing each side of the
path, knowing that together they inform and
satisfy.
Awareness, presence, awe, and gratitude -- all
are at the heart of mysticism. It is conscious of
and sees the sacred in the mundane, recurring
events of our lives. These moments do unfold
daily on the sidewalk, in the office, at the
subway station, or at home – if we are open to
them.
It was with this attitude and openness that I
walked the streets, paths, and highways of
Honduras. And it is was there, not in some
church or ostensible "sacred site," that God
found me - - in chance conversations, in
gracious acts that others extended me, in
moments of mutual respect and genuine
conversation, in times of quiet and humble
admiration of a people known as Hondurans. I
am deeply thankful for the experience.
Get it on the Web, Boy!
www.sidewalkmystic.com was mentally
launched somewhere in Honduras; probably on
the road in the southwestern highlands, on the
back of a chicken bus as I talked to a young
Lenca girl. She and many others served as the
inspiration to move the idea from a concept to a
living place where my experience could be
shared.
Upon returning home, I wanted to learn how to
publish a website. I was curious about the
software and code behind the 1000's of
websites I had seen. How are graphics
captured and presented? What is the theory
behind website design? How are ideas best
presented on the Web? How does web writing
differ from the standard prose we are taught?
The rest is history.
For years, I have played around the edges of
my writing. I didn’t take it seriously until I had
an article placed in a professional journal.
Shortly thereafter, a friend asked me to write a
chapter in a book which she was editing, Social
Justice: The Teachings of Protestants, Jews,
and Muslims. After the book, I began writing a
monthly column on spirituality and social justice
for the diocesan newspaper. Since then, I have
done virtually nothing with my writing.
This project has taken on its own life. When I
came home, I began madly writing about my
journey to Honduras. I took the scatter-gun
approach and the quality reflected it. There was
no particular order, shape, or form. I quickly
tossed it aside and began to organize my
thoughts. I created an outline, prepared the
Welcome Page, and had a co-worker who had
majored in journalism review and critique my
approach.
She helped me narrow down my target
audience and from there it became easier to
write. While I had my own agenda in preparing
the site, I had to learn about the best approach
to web writing. I learned that 25% of any
individual page on the web gets read. People
scan, not read, websites. Web writing calls for
a quick hitting, bullet-ridden approach to
presentation. It has been a difficult style to
maintain throughout the site, but I have tried.
I used the travelogue section as a diversion
from the cramped nature of web writing.
I have learned tons throughout this process. It
has been a wonderful process and now I offer it
to you. From here, I plan on adding additional
chapters on Latin American recipes; a photo
gallery; Honduran agriculture; and a chapter on
Lempira, the historic leader of the Lenca people
during the conquest. I am open to other ideas
and would welcome your suggestions via email
. Who knows? The mystic in me leaves the
future open - for the chance events which
occur everyday in my life on the sidewalk.
Dedication
This work-in-progress is dedicated to all the
men who have affected my life. Of special
note:
In honor of:
John Boldt,
my dearest
friend, who
taught me
the essence
of
friendship.
John and I
share a
treasured
trip together
to
Guatemala
in Summer
1988. The
pictured,
very short,
ex-Marine
now serves
as a pastor
to a
Lutheran
church in
the greater
Houston
area. Wish
the boy
would get a
call to lead a
congregation
closer to
Wisconsin.
Jorge
Colindres
Monzon, a
Guatemalan
Presbyterian
minister,
who hosted
our visit to
his country
in 1988.
Jorge not
only taught
me what
true
Christian
community
could be but
also gave
me windows
into the
heart of
Christ.
In memory of:
Francis
Coyote
Ulschack,
who taught
me to be a
tender man
and to be
true to
myself.
Fran and
his wife
Glennys
shared
Costa Rica's
sidewalks
with us in
the Winter
of 2001.
Fran's visit
on Earth
ended
much,
much too
soon in
February,
2002.
Allen
Jackson
Borton and
Theophilus
Herman
Berner,
Granddads.
I wish I had
known
them
better.
But most of
all, this site
is dedicated
to my Dad,
Rupert
(Rup) Allen
Borton
(pictured at
right with
brother
Jeff), a man
among
men. Big
Rup taught
me what
being a
man is all
about. Oh,
how I miss
him.
As we began on this walk, let us continue on
in courage:
"What fortitude the soul contains,
That it can so endure
The accent of a coming foot,
The opening of a door."
Emily Dickinson
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Credits
The photos on this site are those I took while in Honduras (unless
followed by a footnote number - see below). I began 'shooting' in
earnest in Copan Ruinas. I have a great deal to learn about
photography. You have
no idea how difficult it was
at times to capture the
pictures out the window
of the bus.12
The trip has triggered a
new interest and I will be
taking a continuingeducation course to learn
more. I have tons more
to learn on graphics. The
use of imagery with my
writing is all new to me.
So is the software and at
times, I was ready to throw up my hands. Pixels, schmixels.
Other photos used in this site - If a number
follows the bolded title of the photo, I list the credit below. The
photos used are from 'open-right' sites; regardless I have chosen to
list them.
Photos used include:
1. Library of Congress, http://www.loc.gov/
2. http://dgl.microsoft.com/
3. www.webshots.com
4. www.wramc.amedd.army.mil
5. University of Queensland, Australia,
http://www.zen.uq.edu.au/entomology/
6. www.btinternet.com/~fireballxl5/home/index.htm
8. www.webshots.com
9. www.webshots.com
12. www.loc.gov/ (That's Tom Mix at the heyday of his career in
Hollywood)
13. US Fish and Wildlife Service, http://www.fws.gov/
14. Luna Rivera, original art
15. Photos by Wendy Griffin
Reprinting Material
Please ask before using any of the written materials (or photos) from
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this site. I would be honored to consider a reprinting of the
material. I do, however, have a need to explicitly approve any
reprinting in advance. I would be glad to discuss any request - - just
email me .
The website www.sidewalkmystic.com is copyrighted with the
exception of the photos credited to others. All opinions on the site,
right or wrong, are just that - - opinions. Use this site as it was
intended - - to give you ideas. Plan a good vacation, but in the end,
it will be your trip. Make it safe, pleasurable, fulfilling and your own.
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Honduras Travel
Guides
You are in Section:
"Buy Honduran", Planning Part
2
Guides
There are two types of Honduras travel
guides for Honduras travel:
•
•
Locally-based Honduras travel guides and,
North American-based operators who offer
complete package tours and sub-contract
parts with Honduras travel guides. I don't
recommend using a North American-based
travel firm. (I do recommend using Honduras
travel guides - see the discussion which
follows below).
So why not just book the whole complete
trip from North America and take the chance
with their Honduras travel guide?
•
Within a group setting, North Americans
often tend to 'isolate' from the actual
experience, remaining within the comfort of
the group. You may end up going home
knowing folks from Denver and the Honduras
travel guide and miss the whole Honduras
experience.
'Plan the Trip'
Vacation Theme
Honduras
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•
Once you are part of a tour group, you are
committed. You go through Honduras when
and where the Honduras travel guide goes.
You eat and sleep wherever the travel guide
has the best arrangements for themselves in
Honduras.
• Little is left to chance and while using a
travel agent from home may assure more
predictability, spontaneity and serendipity are
totally taken out of the equation.
•
Some North Americans are very insensitive
to other cultures. This can become a real 'trip
buster.' Travel guides are reluctant to speak
up about inappropriate behavior.
• Complete tours are often a tour of
the inside of a Mercedes-Benz bus
and a view of Honduras out the
window. Encounters with Honduran people
are rare and at a distance. You totally rely on
the Honduras travel guide for interaction.
• Honduras Travel Guides: Once in
Honduras, meet the local Honduras travel
guides and learn of their services. Their
knowledge of Honduras and things to do may
well be the best use of your time. They offer
the best picture of Honduras. Talk to the
Honduras travel guides once in country and
take time to use at least one of their services.
Though my wife and I
are not good grouptourists, in Honduras
we found a gem of a
way to see the
southwest mountain
villages: Meet Max
Elvir.
Max, of Lenca Land
Trails (email: Lenca
at hondutel.hn phone 504-6621375), operates out of the Hotel Elvir in Santa
Rosa de Copan. He(Tel: 662-1375). is bilingual his prices are reasonable and he works
very hard to meet your needs. If you don’t
reach Max ahead of time, drop into the hotel
and ask them to ring Max for you. Max has
my highest recommendation.
Omega Tours (slow loading site) also comes
highly recommended by folks who have sent
emails along after using Omega. Omega
covers local tours along the north coast/La
Ceiba area/Pico Bonito area as a Honduras
travel guide. German owner Udo has a lodge
(within the Pico Bonito National Park) on the
Rio Cangrejal, along the road to Yaruca. If
you are a nature or rafting enthusiast, you will
want to be in touch with Udo and his crew as
possible Honduras travel guides for you.
The Tela area is so rich in preserves and parks
that it is a shame that the area is relatively
under-publicized. The local tour company is
Garifuna Tours. Visit them and determine for
yourself if they present value to you (I have
no first-hand knowledge of their work nor have
readers contacted me about them). If ecotourism does surge in Honduras, the Tela area
has so much to offer and a Honduras travel
guide can enhance that visit and experience.
Travel to the Mosquitia is a whole different
ballgame and does require advance planning
before you leave home. If headed to the
Mosquitia, use a Honduras travel guide. Moon
Handbook and site visitors have recommended
La Moskitia Eco-Aventuras if you are
considering a visit to the Mosquitia area. This
is an area where you will definitely benefit
from using a Honduras tour guide. For a
wonderful taste of the area, visit Derek
Parent's site on the Mosquitia.
When is the best time to travel to
Honduras? That's next.
Planning 1 | 2 • 3 • 4
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Honduras Travel - Visitors Guide to Honduras Vacation

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