10 Things To Know Before Visiting Honduras

Many visitors to Honduras come for the diving on Utila, but there is a lot more to the country. Here are ten things you should think about before you travel.

Utila is diving central

Known as one of the cheapest places in the world to get an open water qualification, Utila is also great for experienced divers. There are stunning coral reefs to explore, lots of tropical fish, and even whale sharks from October to December.

The crime figures make for terrible reading and there is no denying that Honduras is a risky place to be, but the vast majority of visitors have fun and stay safe. There isn’t much to see in the big, and dangerous, cities like San Pedro Sula or Tegucigalpa, so head off to the islands of Utila and Roatan or visit the ruins at Copan.

Locals mostly struggle to get by

Poverty rates are high in Honduras and tourist dollars can make a big difference. If you are enjoying a cheap meal, think about leaving a more generous tip than normal. Don’t haggle too hard in the market. Buy local products from local people rather than big businesses.

Try the baleadas

These huge flour tortillas come filled with a selection of ingredients, which most of the time includes beans. Have an egg one for breakfast, and move on to meat versions later in the day. Baleadas are often the most affordable food around, so you’ll probably end up eating a lot of them if you’re on a budget.

Maya culture lives on

While Honduras might not be as immediately associated with Maya culture as neighbouring Guatemala, the culture is still alive in the west of the country. The ruins at Copan are a focal point for the local Maya population, and it’s well worth a visit.

See the highlights in two weeks

If you’re on a longer backpacking trip, you can easily dip into Honduras for a short time. Spend two weeks seeing the main sights, from Lago de Yojoa, Gracia, Utila and Copan, or dip in to see the ruins at Copan from Guatemala for a day trip.

Insane amounts of wildlife

If you’ve got the time and the money, head off into the remote jungle for the chance to see some of Honduras’ incredible wildlife. There are lots of big cats, monkeys and birds that call the country home, and the rainforest is the largest north of the Amazon.

Birdwatchers should head to Lago de Yojoa

The biggest lake in Honduras is home to more than 400 species of birds. You can head off on tours to spot them, or visit the zip lines and butterfly farm.

Visit between January and April

The dry season in Honduras means that visibility is best for diving and the roads are in good condition for reaching other sights. Avoid the wet season, July to November, when roads in rural areas can become impassable.

Make sure you have cash

Cash is king in Honduras, where card payments are rarely accepted outside international businesses. You should make sure that you’ve always got a hundred dollars or so of emergency funds, because ATMs sometimes don’t work.

landscape with balloons floating in the air

KEEN TO EXPLORE THE WORLD?

Connect with like-minded people on our premium trips curated by local insiders and with care for the world

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.