Honduras calls you chiefly with its unspoiled subtropical forests (and their birdwatching opportunities), the beaches and coral reefs of its Bay Islands, and its archaeology. It may lack the development and savoir-faire of its more prosperous Central American cousins, but there are rich pickings here if you choose to visit, as our specialists will tell you. On your tailor-made Honduras holiday, they’d encourage you to roam the Maya complex of Copán (which can impress just as much as Chichén Itzá and is far quieter). And, there are countless smaller ruins, all enveloped by jungle and known only to the resident orioles and woodpeckers.
On top of exploring Maya sites, your time in Honduras could involve boating the mangroves of Cuero y Salado Wildlife Refuge in search of herons, jacanas and kingfishers. You might spot red-eyed tree frogs in Pico Bonito National Park, before rounding off your trip with snorkelling (or simply snoozing) in a Bay Islands’ idyll, Roatán.
Suggested tours for Honduras
These tours give you a starting point for what your holiday to Honduras could entail. Treat them as inspiration, as each trip is created uniquely for you.
Suggested activities for Honduras
Whatever your interests, our specialists will build activities into your trip that connect to how you want to experience Honduras.
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Pico Bonito National Park Pico Bonito National Park
Pico Bonito National Park
When you walk along the Rio Zacate trail, there are beautiful views of the Caribbean coast and at the end reach the stunning Zacate waterfall.
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Cuero y Salado Wildlife Refuge Cuero y Salado Wildlife Refuge
Cuero y Salado Wildlife Refuge
The wildlife refuge is situated 33 km from La Ceiba, which is home to many endangered animal species, found within the many mangrove canals proceeding from the rivers Cuero and Salado.
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Copán Archaeological Site Copán Archaeological Site
CopánCopán Archaeological Site
A guided tour of the beautiful archaeological site of Copán, marking the most southerly point of the Maya Empire. Discovered in 1570 by Diego García de Palacio, the ruins of Copán were not excavated until the 19th century.
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Best time to visit
Our specialists advise on the best months to visit Honduras, including information about climate, events and festivals.
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Useful information for planning your holiday in Honduras
Spanish is the official language of Honduras, but English is widely spoken in visitor destinations. However, it’s always useful to know a few key Spanish phrases.
The national currency of Honduras is the lempira (L or HNL). You’ll find ATMs in larger towns and in cities, and credit cards are accepted in hotels and in larger shops and restaurants. If you’re planning to bring cash, take US dollars rather than sterling as it’s more widely accepted.
In Honduras you should try dishes such as anafre (a fondue-style dish of cheese, beans, or meat), tapado (a rich vegetable stew with either meat or fish), and baleadas (cornmeal flatbreads usually filled with beans and cheese). Other typical foods include tamales, rice with chicken and corn, and grilled meats served with rice, beans, and tortillas.
Along the north coast of Honduras, you’ll find more fish on the menu and sopa de caracol (conch cooked in coconut milk with cassava or plantain) is a popular dish. There’s also a distinct Caribbean influence to dishes here and coconut bread is served with most meals.
In Honduras, a tip of about 10% is standard in most restaurants. Porters will also appreciate a small tip. Speak to your specialist about appropriate amounts to tip drivers and guides.
For the latest travel advice for Honduras, including entry requirements, health information, and the safety and security situation, please refer to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office website.
Highlights of a trip to Honduras include diving on pristine reefs, hiking through lush jungle, and visiting Maya ruins. Honduras is largely undiscovered, and one of the greatest joys of a visit is having beaches, jungle trails, and archeological sites all to yourself.
You could start a trip roaming ancient cities and temples with a guide who can bring the lifestyle and culture of the Maya people to life. Follow it with a hike into the surrounding jungle to search for tree frogs, anteaters, and scarlet macaws, then relax along the coast snorkeling or diving in waters home to turtles, rays, and sharks as well as reefs teeming with tropical fish.
In Honduras, you can stay in beachfront resorts, small boutique hotels and local guesthouses. In the popular Bay Islands, you’ll find small resorts with individual cabañas opening out onto a beach where you can go kayaking or snorkeling, while in Copán you might choose a historic townhouse decorated with art and antiques, and in Pico Bonito a jungle lodge with its own pool.
In less visited areas, the options are more limited and basic, but wherever you choose to go, we’ll help you find a place to stay that suits you. For some more ideas, browse our collection of places to stay in Honduras.
The key destinations in Honduras are the Bay Islands, Pico Bonito, and Copán. The rich marine life, narrow canyons, and untouched reef systems lure divers to the sleepy Bay Islands, and in particular, to Roatán where divers go in search of rays, turtles, sharks, and giant sponges and sea fans.
Venturing beyond the beaches and into the subtropical forests of Pico Bonito National Park, you’ll find hidden waterfalls and a forest filled with the sound of monkeys and tropical birds, while at Copán the jungle gives way to the giant ball courts, stone temples, pyramids, and plazas of a ruined city thought to have once been home to 20,000 people.
It takes around 13 hours to fly from the UK to Honduras, via the USA or mainland Europe.
The time zone in Honduras is UTC-6 hours. Daylight Savings Time isn’t observed.
The best way to get around Honduras is to travel by road and air. Infrastructure can be poor, especially in the mountainous interior, so we recommend a private driver-guide or taking internal flights for longer distances.
Although Honduras is a rewarding standalone destination, it also combines well with a trip to nearby Guatemala.
UK citizens don’t need a visa to visit Honduras for stays of up to 30 days. Before you travel, fill in a pre-clearance immigration form to speed up the process on arrival.
If you’re flying to Honduras via the United States, you need to have a valid authorisation to travel under the Visa Waiver Program. You can apply in advance on the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA). Applications can take up to 72 hours to be processed and approved.
Your doctor can provide you with vaccine advice for Honduras, but you should also ensure you’re up to date with the recommended vaccinations for your home country. You can also check the suggested vaccinations on the Travel Health Pro website.
Your passport should be valid for at least six months after your date of departure from Honduras and have a minimum of one unstamped double page free.
Honduras in pictures
Our expert guides to travelling in Honduras
Written by our specialists from the viewpoint of their own travels, these guides will help you decide on the shape of your own trip to Honduras. Aiming to inspire and inform, we share our recommendations for how to appreciate Honduras at its best.
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