Reef diving on the Bay Islands and Maya carvings at Copán.
Honduras has two very different faces. Offshore, the Bay Islands of Roatán and Utila sit on the Mesoamerican Reef, with excellent diving and seasonal whale sharks off Utila. On the mainland, the Maya ruins of Copán are known for finely carved stelae and a great hieroglyphic stairway, while Pico Bonito National Park, Lake Yojoa and the Garifuna villages of the north coast add forest and culture.
Most visitors focus on the Bay Islands and Copán, reached by ferry from La Ceiba or by domestic flight and road. Eat baleadas, fresh fish and conch soup. Check local safety advice for mainland cities before travelling. The mainland is driest from about December to April, while the Bay Islands are best from March to September.
Best time to visit Honduras
March, April.
Places to visit in Honduras
Roatán: The largest of Honduras's Bay Islands, on the Mesoamerican Reef, known for affordable diving, snorkelling and white-sand beaches.
Copán: A Maya city famed for its intricately carved stelae and Hieroglyphic Stairway, beside the cobbled town of Copán Ruinas.
Tegucigalpa: The capital of Honduras, set in a mountain valley, with a colonial cathedral, museums and nearby mining villages.
Essentials
Currency: Honduran Lempira (HNL)
Language: Spanish; English widely spoken on the Bay Islands
Plugs: Type A / B, 120 V
Driving: Right side
Time zone: UTC−6
Tipping: About 10% in restaurants if not included
Getting around: Ferries from La Ceiba to the Bay Islands; buses and domestic flights on the mainland
Entry: Check the official rules for your passport before booking