Honduras Travel and Tourism

Less developed and visited than some of its Central American neighbors, Honduras has drawn a fair share of ecotourists with its mountains, tropical forests, and unique culture. Honduras has a long Caribbean coastline to the north, a short Pacific coastline to the south, and an interior highlands region that comprises the vast majority of the country’s area.

Honduras’ Caribbean coast is characterized by beautiful beaches, national parks, wildlife refuges, Garífuna villages, and banana farms. La Ceiba, popular for its vibrant nightlife, is the country’s third largest city and gateway to the Bay Islands, a Caribbean paradise of white sand and turquoise water with world-renowned snorkeling and scuba diving sites. This region has a unique cultural mix influenced by the Garífuna, an Afro-Caribbean people with a rich culture that entices many travelers with delicious seafood specialties and lively punta music.

The Río Plátano Biosphere Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage site located on the northeastern coast, is part of the La Mosquitia region, the largest undisturbed tract of forest in Honduras. The Reserve contains several different types of ecosystems and a high density of wildlife, including a number of rare and endangered species such as harpy eagles (Harpia harpyja), ocelots (Leopardus pardalis), jaguars (Panthera onca), giant anteaters (Myrmecophaga tridactyla), and West Indian manatees (Trichechus manatus). White-water rafting, cave exploration, and fishing are also popular activities in the Caribbean region.

The mountainous areas of the interior highlands are home to the majority of the Honduran population. In a fertile valley lies this region’s star attraction, the Mayan ruins at Copán, one of the most impressive Mayan archeological sites in existence. Cloud forests abound in the highlands, full of enchanting misty evergreens and teeming with bird species. Other worthwhile destinations for travelers include the charming colonial towns and the bird watching hotspot Lago de Yojoa (Honduras’ largest lake).

Sustainable Hotels in Honduras

Honduras’ undeveloped rural areas have rustic ecolodges that are popular among ecotourists, while the Caribbean coastline and Bay Islands have more options in terms of amenities and luxury resorts.

SustainableTrip.org features businesses certified by the SmartVoyager program.

Plan your next sustainable vacation to Honduras

Learn more about ecotourism and sustainable tourism in Honduras on the Rainforest Alliance’s Eco-Index Web site.