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Travel Information on Honduras
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Honduras (HN)
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| Continent: |
North America |
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| Area: |
112.090 km² |
| Population: |
7.326.496 |
| Capital city: |
Tegucigalpa |
ISO code: |
HN |
| National language: |
Spanish |
International dialling code: |
+504 |
| Currency: |
Lempira |
License plate number: |
HN |
| Flight routes from Honduras: |
228 |
Flight routes to Honduras: |
340 |
| Popular airports: |
La Ceiba (LCE),
Roatan (RTB),
San Pedro Sula (SAP),
Cauquira (CDD),
Palacios (PCH),
Ahuas (AHS),
Olanchito (OAN),
Puerto Lempira (PEU),
Utila Island (UII),
Guanaja Island (GJA)
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| Large cities: |
Tegucigalpa,
San Pedro Sula,
Choloma,
La Ceiba,
El Progreso,
Choluteca,
Comayagua,
Puerto Cortez,
La Lima,
Danlí,
Siguatepeque,
Juticalpa,
Villanueva,
Tocoa,
Tela
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| Airlines based in Honduras: |
Aerolineas Sosa,
Atlantic Airlines de Honduras,
Islena Airlines
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Travelguide Honduras (North America)
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Location: the Republic of Honduras is a country on the Central American land bridge that borders on Guatemala, El Salvador, and Nicaragua and on the Caribbean. The country also borders on the Pacific Ocean in the south-west on the Gulf of Fonseca, where there are several volcano islands that also belong to the country.
Geography: Honduras is mainly mountainous with a large mountain chain running from east to west, crossed by numerous rivers. The country is still host to a large diversity of species and great environmental wealth. The biosphere reserve "Rio Plátano" is on Honduran territory in the north-east and is the last still intact piece of rainforest area in Central America. In 1982, the UNESCO declared it as a Natural World Heritage Site along with the second best known coral reef in the world after the Australian Great Barrier Reef that is to be found on the Caribbean islands offshore (Islas de la Bahía). The south of Honduras is comparatively flat and determined by bush land and grassland. From the central highlands, where the majority of the population has settled there are many river valleys running to the north of the country to the Caribbean coast. South of the plateau a narrow lowland strip runs along the edge of the Pacific coast.
Mountains and rivers: the highest point in Honduras is the Cerro Las Minas with an altitude of 2,865 (9,399 ft) and the longest river is the Rio Patuca with a length of 320 km (198 miles), also the second longest river in Central America. The biggest lake and the largest drinking water reservoir in Honduras is the Lago de Yojoa. The area around the lake is very fertile and is used for agriculture in the cultivation of coffee and fruit. Almost 700 different species of bird nest on the banks of the Lago de Yojoa. The lake is a popular destination for the local population.
Climate and the best time to travel: the climate on the coast of Honduras is tropical and in the interior of the country on the highland plateaus tends to be temperate. There are only two main seasons: the dry season between November and April and the rainy season between May and October. Temperatures tend to vary due to the differences in altitude. The north coast tends to be hot with rain all year round and in the south on Pacific coast the weather is subtropical: warm and humid with an extended dry season. Between the months of June and September, there is also a great danger of cyclones in Honduras.
National language and communication: The official and national language is Spanish. English is understood in the cities and on the Cays.
Health and immunisation: vaccinations against hepatitis-A, typhoid, polio, diphtheria and tetanus are recommended. Long clothing should be worn to avoid mosquito and other insect bites and a locally purchased insect repellent should also be used. Dangerous malaria infections are present throughout the year in Honduras. Travellers should seek advice about malaria prevention from their GP before travelling. Medical care is good in the larger cities and the tourist resorts. Visitors should also ensure that they have a comprehensive travel and medical insurance with repatriation costs. Fruit and vegetables should be peeled and boiled before eating and a first aid kit should be packed.
Entry requirements: British Citizens may obtain a 30-day visa on arrival. For further details on visa regulations and travelling with children contact the Honduran Embassy.
Arrival and onward journey: there are no non-stop flights from Europe to Honduras. Flights on offer usually stop over in the USA or a Central American country. There are many airlines within Honduras such as Aerolinas Sosa (P4) or Aero Honduras (4S) that provide domestic flights from Tegucigalpa (TGU) to Guanaja (GJA), Tela (TEA), San Pedro Sula (SAP) or to Roatan Island (RTB).
Capital City: the capital, Tegucigalpa, has a total of 900,000 inhabitants and is located on a plateau at an altitude of 940 metres on the river Choluteca. The surrounding mountains are
covered in pine forests and the climate is pleasantly fresh. The park La Leona provides a good view of the city and also invites visitors to take long walks in its picturesque surroundings. There are many old churches in the city that are worth visiting. The best known of these is the baroque cathedral dating from the 18th century with its dome and the national museum that is home to a large collection of pre-Columbian exhibits. The La Tigra national park not far from the city also deserves a visit. This is located in a cloud forest and has its own microclimate that is determined by the altitude.
Places of interest and beaches: Tela is the most popular town on the Honduran Caribbean coast for many visitors to Honduras. The small quiet town has some of the most beautiful beaches on the north coast and a good selection of accommodation. The snow-white sandy beaches are fringed with coconut palms that sway in the wind and also provide welcome shade. West of Tela is the national park, Punta Sal, that is located on the coast. This park is home to mangrove forests, swamps and a small tropical rainforest. The entire coast and its offshore coral reef is almost untouched and undeveloped , meaning that visitors should take their own provisions and a hammock. The 2-day journey from Tela to the park is an adventure itself using a combination of transport means: bus, boat and then a longer journey by foot.
Trujillo is also worth a visit. This city was the capital of Honduras during the colonial era and the many grand and colourful Spanish colonial buildings bear evidence of this. Trujillo has wonderful dream beaches and many areas around Trujillo are rapidly being developed into tourist resorts.
The Caribbean islands of Roatán, Guanaja and Utila that are 50 km from the coast should also be visited. These hilly and lush islands are a real divers paradise with their long sand beaches and coral reefs. This is the best coral reef system in the world after the Great Barrier Reef. The English speaking population of the islands has developed the divers paradise and there are diving schools aplenty along with hotels in all price ranges.
Highlight: a visit to the Mayan ruins of Copán must without doubt be the highlight of a visit to Honduras. Copán was one of the most significant city-states during the zenith of Mayan culture between the 7th and 9th centuries. Since 1980, the extensive archaeological site is on the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites. It is assumed that Copán was already populated 500 years before Christ and that the number of inhabitants exceeded 26,000 during the peak period. Due to the probable lack of food and the resulting malnourishment, the Mayas gave up the area about 1000 years ago and left Copán to the jungle, which covered the city in the course of the centuries and meant that it was not discovered by the Spanish conquerors. The open yards and temple buildings are especially impressive, along with the ball sports ground and the large amphitheatre and the residential housing, which gives a unique insight into the everyday lives of the Mayas. The location of Copán in the rainforest is also remarkable, with its fairy tale paths past half excavated ruins.
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Religion: the Catholics have a majority of 97% of the population, with 3 % protestants.
Major cities and accommodation: Tegucigalpa, San Pedro Sula, Choloma, La Ceiba and El Progreso.
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Favorite flights and cheap flights from and to Honduras / HN
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