Honestly, Honduras has not been our favorite country in Central America. It lacks the culture and food of some of its neighbors and some of the roads really do suck. Still, the Copán archaeological site totally lived up to the hype and after 89 days traveling in the country we uncovered other highlights too like an awesome microbrewery and the best national park infrastructure and camping in the region. Here are our Honduras travel tips so you can hit the ground running.
Honduras travel tips
The most commonly found Honduran beer is called Salva Vida which means “saves lives” in Spanish. That’s indisputably an awesome name for a beer. However, the stuff doesn’t hold a candle to the fantastic small-batch beer being made at Sol de Copán, Honduras’ only microbrewery.
If you think all Spanish is created equal, think again. Every Spanish-speaking country we’ve been to has put its own slangy, subtle twist on the language. For example, snacks, called boquitos or antojitos in the other Spanish-speaking countries we’ve traveled in, are called golosinos in Honduras. And tiendas (small stores) are called pulperias.
A friendly, soft whistle often takes the place of saying hello. It’s charming once you get used to it.
Honduras went through a coup in 2009. It’s a piece of turbulent, recent history that’s worth understanding and we can think of no better crash course than this smart, cool comic strip about the coup by Dan Archer. It will explain everything quickly and easily. Honest.
Before the coup in 2009 (see above) Honduras issued traveler visas governed by the CA-4 Border Control Agreement which restricts travelers to 90 days total in any combination of El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, or Nicaragua. After the coup Honduras has suspended CA-4 rules, issuing its own visas without regard for the amount of time you’ve spent in other neighboring countries. This is not a problem if you’re only visiting Honduras. But be advised that El Salvador, Guatemala, and Nicaragua still count your time in Honduras against the 90 days allowed under CA-4 regulations. This discrepancy is what lead to our problems at the El Salvador border.
The Lempira Day Parade in Gracias, Honduras was a cultural highlight of our time in the country.
Generally speaking, the toilet paper in Honduras is WAY nicer than in Guatemala or Mexico. Even in cheap rooms it’s quilted and everything.
Most purchases incur a 12% sales tax on top of already barely-bargain prices. It’s just not as cheap in Honduras as you think.
Prices are rarely displayed on gas station signs, which only adds to the sticker shock. We paid more than US$4 a gallon for diesel and gasoline is even more expensive.
Honduran license plates say: cuidemos el bosque (protect the forest) even though they don’t really.
Stele A at the rightfully famous Copán archaeological site in Honduras.
You can practically drink what passes for “hot sauce” in Honduras.
Don’t be surprised if you ask for directions and the person you’re speaking to purses his lips and juts his chin in a vague direction. It looks like he’s blowing a kiss, but he’s actually trying to tell you where to go.
Cops in Honduras are sticklers about seat belts (we love this) and will also pull you over to make sure you’re carrying reflective triangles and a fire extinguisher in your car. Both items are required by law in Honduras and much of Latin America. Also required by law is a front and back license place and they didn’t like our lack of a front plate but they never hassled us about it.
Highlights: Copán archaeological site, the town of Gracias, Sol de Copán beer, and the infrastructure and camping area at Cerro Azul National Park
Skip it: Roatán Island
The white sand beaches of Roatán Island in Honduras are at risk from all-inclusive resorts and increasing numbers of cruise ship passengers.
Here’s more about travel in Honduras
Honduras definitely is a mixed bag and not for everyone.
Our experience with Guatemala, as well as many of the other expats living on Utila, was that they don’t care about the CA-4 restrictions either. As long as you have a current visa, they didn’t care. You can bounce back and forth between Honduras for quite some time, and Honduras (at least on Utila) will even renew your visa without having to leave the country if you want to pay the right price.
I was very disappointed that Nicaragua and El Salvador were being so strict. Since we were in Honduras for 8 months, and Guatemala prior to that, it meant we couldn’t explore those countries.
How strange that shops are called pulperias – in Spain, those are restaurants that serve octopus :).
I want to go to any country that has a beer that means Saves lives!! That is way too cool. I was contemplating having a rest from alcohol for awhile but now I am convinced that could be a dangerous decision!
I do not drink beer, EVER, but if I did I would only drink Salva Vida. I was already interested in visiting Honduras before reading this, but your story and photos of the parade and Copán definitely sealed the deal. Maybe next year…
Great breakdown for a country. It’s really sad to hear that there is so much development and disregard for the environment though.
This is a really nice introduction to a country I don’t know much about. I like all the details you’ve included, like the whistling and the lip pursing. Great post!
Great tips! I love that the first bit of advice is related to beer :)
Well i guess you really didnt try to much food or go to the right places cuz as a person that has lived here for 4 years i would say the food in Honduras is amazing!!! You have tamales, baleadas, catrachas, tortillas con quesillo, yuca con chicharon, pinchos, pan de coco, tacos (not the mexican ones), torejas, sopa de mondongo, tapado, sopa de hoya, tajaditas con carne i mean i can go on and on even the chinese food here is different lol maybe next time in those 89 days you should try some other things out and be a little more adventurous!!!
Lee, we never said we didn’t try any of those things. We did, and other than baleadas, all these things are found in other countries throughout Central America and Mexico. However, in our opinion the ones we’ve tasted were usually better in the other countries.
thank you for sharing your info. on and about honduras ,I am in a relationship with a honduran man from danli and was very impressed .you have beautiful photos as well and made me feel like I had taken the trip personally but I can’t wait to experience it as well.Thank you again and Lee (comment above) the honduran food is great but ease up they had a great trip and shared it with the rest of the world , some who may be less fortunate than others but now have had the pleasure to enjoy a virtual tour – they shared their blessing do the same with your food experience and share your blessing as well and Lee please bless me with your pan de coco recipe por favor-lookin forward to a response.Thank you both and may our lord continue to bless you and your experiences.