Are you eager to learn about the best things to do in Honduras?
If thinking of backpacking Honduras and have doubts on what to see, you’re in the right place. Discover Central America’s hidden gem below!
It’s good to remember Honduras is the only country to touch the borders of four other countries in Central America.
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Things to do in Honduras
Also, it’s worth noting that the Copan Ruins are the biggest attractions out of all the things to do in Honduras that I will list below.
Of course, you may not be sure why you should visit Honduras.
Despite what people say about safety in Honduras here are a lot of things to do and many other aspects of the nation to consider.
Is Honduras Worth Visiting?
While you might be put off by the insulting and generic press about Honduran life, you’ll find a trip here allows you to experience:
- A culture far richer and more expansive than many make it out to be
- A comfortable and engaging nation full of immense natural heritage
- The Honduran people are some of the friendliest on the continent.
Now you’ve got more reasons to explore Honduras, what are you waiting for? Let’s dive into this list of things to do in Honduras.
Is Honduras Safe?
Honduras is a mixed bag when it comes to safety. Whilst areas like the Bay Islands are very safe, there are also areas where petty crimes are common such as in Copán.
No beating around the bush, Honduras is also home to two of the most dangerous cities in Central America; San Pedro Sula and Tegucigalpa.
If visiting these, take as many precautions as possible, such as dressing down and not wearing any flashy accessories. Also, it’s imperative you look up the safe neighborhoods to stay in at the time of your visit.
The good news is that I have created a dedicated guide to cover safety in Honduras for you to get more detailed tips and travel advice.
Things to do in Honduras
Below, I’ll share some travel tips for Honduras that’ll help save your hard-earned cash so you can reserve it for more important things.
You’ll find Tegucigalpa and Copan Ruins are good places to stay in Honduras. There is a great selection of hostels and hotels suited for all budgets. The most basic options starting at 10USD. Roatan Island will be more expensive.
Honduran cuisine has Caribbean, Spanish and Mayan influences. Go for lunch to the markets will be cheap, and you’ll find beans, rice and corn as common ingredients. And if you’re sensitive, be careful trying street food.
Buses and taxis are the main transport in Honduras. Be careful when taking the bus because of pickpocketing. Always negotiate the price if you take a taxi and avoid the collectivos. To visit the islands, you’ll find water taxis.
Enjoy being surrounded by a magic rainforest seeing wildlife and immersed in ancestral history in the Copan Ruins. Also, snorkeling in blue waters and learn about local culture. You´ll find tours starting from US$40.
Whilst trip planning it’s good to keep an open mind. So, with that in mind, let’s look at some of the best places to visit in Honduras!
The Copan Ruins
One of the first things to do in Honduras is head over to the Copan Ruins. The most spectacular city of the ancient Maya civilization.
This amazing venue is one of the best places to go in Honduras that one could see in the wonderful world of this Latin American country.
With so much to do and see, I recommend you start with the following:
The Hieroglyphic Stairway: A highlight of the Copan Ruins and something that has to be seen with your eyes to be believed.
This is 100% worth adding to your list of what to see in Honduras.
The Stairway is among the most wonderful sights you’ll see, with all manner of stunning carvings and designs etched into the stairway.
The Acropolis: This is another must-see location; filled with rich and natural heritage, and loaded with amazing sights that you simply need to see with your own eyes.
It’s been rebuilt several times, but still stands its decadent glory.
Las Sepultras: Linked by a stunning causeway, this provides you with a really special range of restored and rebuilt structures, previously deemed to be stunning, high-level residences.
Some of the best archaeology tours to do in Honduras:
It’s important to take your time to respect the tradition here. Keep in mind that this part of Honduras carries a very important spiritual and religious connotation, and you would do well to heed that.
By all means, ask questions, but be humble about what you ask and how you go about quizzing locals if you want to have a good time.
Overall, though, few parts of the world can provide the same glory and grandeur as a trip through the Copan Ruins.
If you wish to see ‘true’ Honduras, start here.
If like me you’re looking for more off the beaten track or more in-depth Honduras cultural activities, get your travel gear ready and let’s look at some of the activities I’ve listed in further down in this guide.
Utila
If you’d like a happier, more harmonious experience of rural living, come here. It’s definitely one of the places to see in Honduras.
From trips under the waves to walks on the golden beach, settling in here should be very easy.
Utila is home to one of the many Honduran beaches that are worth checking out, not to mention the exotic fruits are amazing!
Just please be respectful to requests from locals; there’s quite a lot of local rules to follow along, so please do so in this tiny paradise.
If you’re not sure where to stay, stop off at La Hamaca hostel for some friendly and knowledgeable advice so you know exactly where to go.
Rio Cangrejal
When looking for what to do in Honduras, this stunning river is one of the most awesome natural landscape sights you will likely come across.
Any trip to Honduras should include this river. It’s got some awesome white-water river rafting, so try to pick up someone to help you out.
Tour guides and pros are abundant in the area; hire someone and enjoy a monumental experience!
Roatan
A trip to Roatan might seem underwhelming at first, but take ten minutes to get settled in and you will love it here.
The rich terrain and the wonderful people are part of the reason why you might enjoy doing a tour trip here better than most.
Roatan is one of the more famous places in Honduras and home to some of the best beaches in Honduras.
Whilst mostly aimed at the physically active types, you can take part in all manner of other activities and sights here. What is here to do?
Scuba Diving: What better way to enjoy the waves underneath than a little scuba trip? Give yourself the most satisfying experience in the sea with the help of this tremendous scuba diving experience.
Wildlife Tours: Honduras is home to many amazing animals, and we’re sure that you’ll get to experience that for yourself in the most tremendous manner possible.
Jungle Zip-lining: Jungle zip-lining is all about making sure that you can get you the help that you need to see Honduras from above.
Done right, this can be one of the most exhilarating experiences that you get to enjoy. This is Honduras tourism reloaded at it’s finest.
I also recommend that any backpackers arrive with an empty(ish) bag or space for carrying.
Souvenirs here are found in abundance, which should make it nice and easy for you to bring back a little something special for everyone.
Although one of the great things to do in Honduras, it’s a place that might be hard for those who are not used to extreme sports and activities to settle in for too long.
However, it’s landscape and people make a trip here more than worth your time.
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Gracias
If you visit toGracias, please be aware that there is little in the way of ‘modern’ features compared to other things to see in Honduras.
This is a destination for those who want to learn more about Honduran culture and enjoy looking at historical architecture and enjoying a more classic kind of culture.
Gracias is a must-visit if you’re a person who enjoys a sanguine pace. Stay hydrated and prepare to walk a lot during the day. With a pair of comfortable walking shoes though that shouldn’t be a problem.
Rio Platano
Not classed as a national park but this stunning biosphere reserve is a must-visit. By far, it’s one of the best places to visit in Honduras.
I recommend you bring a camera with you to photograph the rare animals in Honduras that you’ll undoubtedly encounter without fail.
Some of the shots that you’ll want to snap will defy belief, and make it easy for you to feel nice and comfortable spending time here.
Also, listen to the tour guides; they are essential in keeping you safe! I recommend you carry a good mosquito repellant for protection.
If you’re interested in learning more about the Honduras national parks check out this list of national parks in Honduras.
Lago de Yojoa
Lake Yojoa is the largest lake in the nation, and one thing I promote here is a sense of caution.
It’s easy to run into species of animals and plants that you might not know how to react around. Not a place for the faint-hearted.
Always listen to local advice, and avoid walking through fields.
These are often walked through by tourists, meaning you might trample someone’s livelihood. If you can, try and avoid taking shortcuts.
The Cave of Glowing Skulls
These amazing range of caves are known for the reflective deposits of bone found throughout.
While stunning by nature, I recommend that you spend the time here following your instructor’s guide.
It’s very easy to get lost here, so always stay part of the tour group and listen to all the instructions provided.
The Moskitia
When you arrive here, the only advice that we have is to stick to a tour group or with a guide.
This is the very definition of going off-road, and with around 20% of the country made up of this region, it’s important that you surround yourself with the help you can trust.
Also, to avoid dehydration, consider carrying a decent water bottle that will allow you to drink from water sources that aren’t what you’re used to.
If you like the adventure, there’re many eco-tourism activities to do in Honduras you can enjoy here.
Here are some of the best tours from Roatan:
- Roatan Shore Excursion
- Zip Line Adventure with Monkey & Sloth Park
- Visit the different cultural villages of Roatan
Free cancellation: You’ll get a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours in advance with most experiences.
Trujillo
If you come to this city, make space for the souvenirs you’ll find here; the Hong Kong of Honduras has many great items for you to pick from.
Just be sure to always stay alert; it’s a fantastic area, but many people here are happy to risk being caught to see what you have bought!
Parque Nacional Punta Sal
This stunning National Park is on the top things to do in Honduras, but it’s important to say that it can be quite challenging to traverse at first.
Be prepared to meet all manner of animal species, and pack a jacket: though the weather is often fine, storms can hit with regularity. I find that a packable down jacket with a hood reliable.
El Cristo del Picacho
One of the famous things to do in Honduras is this stunning statue of Jesus Christ. It’s one to see, but please be as respectful as you can.
Many people marvel at the architecture whilst disparaging its purpose.
You will easily offend locals, so please make sure that you keep all religious beliefs to yourself when visiting this amazing piece of design.
Not one of the most adventurous things to do in Honduras but if you know you’ll be passing through, visiting El Cristo del Picacho is one of the more cultural things to do in Tegucigalpa.
Macaw Mountains
This amazing natural reserve will take you closer to the amazing Macaw birds, and should make a fun place to learn about these amazing creatures.
One of the things to do in Honduras that will keep you closer to nature throughout your stay.
Listen to any tour guides and employees; these birds can easily be annoyed if you go about entertaining them the wrong way, so adhere to all rules requested if you wish to have a harmonious time here.
Museum for National Identity
This is one of the most important tourist sites in Honduras in terms of culture and it’s a must-visit for various reasons. This Museum is one that should give you a chance to learn more about this amazing nation.
Take in as much as you can from the tour guides it will serve you well to learn about Honduran culture generally before departing.
It will help you to avoid any incidents in other parts of the country if you listen to what you learn here.
Honduras Travel Tips
Other than listing things to do in Honduras I wanted to list a couple of other tips that I feel will help you get the most out of your trip.
My goal with every travel guide is to write some useful tips that you can easily implement into your itinerary.
Travel Insurance for Honduras
If backpacking Honduras or other countries in Central America it’s wise to get a good travel insurance policy. Travel insurance is invaluable in the case of something unlikely happening.
I always recommend backpackers and travelers (no matter who you are) use World Nomads Insurance for fully comprehensive cover.
If you are due to travel soon, you can get a Get A Free Quote by clicking the link or the image above and filling out your details – that way you’ll get instant cover from the exact date that you choose.
On many occasions World Nomads has provided me with reliable insurance cover for travel in Latin America and the rest of the world.
Honduran Weather
If you’re looking for the best time to visit Honduras typically, Honduran rain season kicks in from around June to November, in a bit of a combination with the Caribbean’ hurricane seasons.
When looking for places to visit in Honduras, remember that the weather varies massively depending on where you go.
Deciding what things to do in Honduras can be hard to determine. More so when it comes to clothing and travel equipment needed.
As ever, you should look to speak with locals to find out what the expected weather is for any part of the nation that you choose to visit.
This can help you avoid being too warm or getting caught in the rain!
Best things to do in Honduras
There are many fun things to do in Honduras. Whether backpacking or on vacation in Honduras, the more time and care you can take to get used to the quirks of this country, the more you’ll enjoy it.
Honduras is a very diverse and often challenging place to understand. That’s why learning where to go in Honduras will always be interesting.
By touring the above and listening to this advice, you should be able to get more out of your trip here so remember to add it to your list of things to do in Central America.
Be sure to see this list of hostels in Honduras before you arrive, and finally, remember to enjoy yourself whilst in on the road!
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