Dangerous resort in Honduras. Natural hazards in Honduras

Yellow fever vaccination is required if the traveler arrives within 6 days of departure or transit from a country where the disease is common. Prophylaxis against malaria is recommended - all year round in most of the country (about 80% of municipalities, especially in rural areas and on the islands) there is a high risk of contracting this disease in the mild form of P. vivax. Increased safety measures should be taken against dysentery, typhoid, cholera and hepatitis B. In provincial areas, there are cases of infections with skin diseases, diarrhea, leishmaniasis, American trypanosomiasis (Chagas disease) and rabies. Drug addiction, alcoholism and HIV are becoming more and more common.

It is recommended that you have sunscreen, hats and insect repellent with you. Mosquitoes, which carry most diseases, are widespread throughout the country (especially in some areas adjacent to the Caribbean coast), therefore, special attention should be paid to the condition of mosquito nets on the windows of living quarters.

Sanitation and hygiene

All water should be considered potentially unfit for consumption. Water used for drinking, brushing teeth, or making ice must be pre-boiled. Milk is also usually not pasteurized and must be sterilized. Meat and fish should only be eaten after pre-cooking, preferably hot. Vegetables must be thoroughly washed and pre-processed, and fruits must be peeled.

San Pedro Sula is the second largest city in Honduras after Tegucigalpa. The city is located in the north-west of the country, in the Sula Valley, 60 km from the Caribbean coast. His [...] San Pedro Sula is the second largest city in Honduras after Tegucigalpa. The city is located in the north-west of the country, in the Sula Valley, 60 km from the Caribbean coast. It is inhabited by over 600 thousand inhabitants. San Pedro Sula is an important transport center and a colossal transfer point for drugs from the south to the north, from Latin America to the United States. The constant struggle between groups that are trying to straddle the flow of drugs has led to the fact that the city is considered one of the most dangerous not only in the country, but also in the region. According to a 2011 UN report, there are 86 murders per 100 thousand inhabitants of Honduras annually. This is 20 times the US level. The per capita homicide rate in San Pedro Sula is double the national average. Local authorities say openly that they are unable to control the situation in the city. Esteban Felix, together with the city's police, was on duty for several nights. He captured his night adventures with a camera. Attention! The report contains scenes of violence. not recommended for viewing by minors and people with a fragile psyche We also recommend that you familiarize yourself with: Latin America. Drug trafficking, criminals and drug wars.

Santos Yeuseda March 9, 2012. San Pedro Sula, Honduras. Santos Euceda, in his son's bedroom, shows a photograph of his son Jose, who he claims was killed by a police officer.
Esteban Felix / AP

Jose Euceda March 9, 2012. A mother displays a photograph of her son Jose Euceda, who she claims was killed by a police officer. The city of San Pedro Sula is bursting with violence and crime. Drug cartels and organized gangs are waging their ongoing turf war.
Esteban Felix / AP

Bodies March 11, 2012. The bodies of Lesbia Altamirano and Wilmer Orbera in a billiard room in Choloma, a suburb of San Pedro Sula. Unidentified masked men burst into the establishment and shot the guests of the billiard club.
Esteban Felix / AP

A man on March 11, 2012 in San Pedro Sula, Honduras. A man at the Catalino Rivas hospital. He claims that he was attacked by a robber with a knife. San Pedro Sula is the most crime-prone city in Honduras. The number of murders per share of the population in the city exceeds the national average.
Esteban Felix / AP

An injured woman on March 11, 2012 in San Pedro Sula, Honduras. A woman was taken to the Catalino Rivas hospital, who was wounded in the billiard room when unknown persons broke into the institution and shot the guests of the club.
Esteban Felix / AP

Man March 10, 2012. San Pedro Sula, Honduras. The man, who was taken to the Catalino Rivas hospital, claims that he was attacked with a machete during a robbery.
Esteban Felix / AP

An injured man on March 11, 2012 in San Pedro Sula, Honduras. A man was taken to the Catalino Rivas hospital, who was wounded in the billiard room when unknown persons broke into the institution and shot the guests of the club. 19 wounded were taken to the hospital that night. There were not enough places in the hospital, the floor was covered with blood.
Esteban Felix / AP

Police officer on March 8, 2012 in San Pedro Sula, Honduras. A policeman patrols the streets of the city.
Esteban Felix / AP

Crime scene on March 11, 2012: The hijackers killed the minibus driver. Relatives arrived at the scene of the crime.
Esteban Felix / AP

Policemen March 11, 2012 - Police officers check the documents of everyone who was in the billiard room on the day of the attack on the establishment by unknown masked men who shot all the guests of the club.
Esteban Felix / AP

City on March 10, 2012. City of San Pedro Sula. The mayor of the city, Juan Carlos Zuniga, admits that the local authorities of San Pedro Sula have little control over the crime situation in the city. The city borders Guatemala and is crossed by key international drug trafficking routes that bring drugs from Latin America to the United States.
Esteban Felix / AP

Behind bars on March 8, 2012. Detained at a police station in San Pedro Sula, Honduras.
Esteban Felix / AP

Pistol March 8, 2012. A police officer demonstrates his old, disabled pistol. \ "Local authorities do not have the necessary tools to fight well-armed and well-off drug traffickers, \" said Juan Carlos Zuniga, Mayor of San Pedro Sula.
Esteban Felix / AP

Police officer March 8, 2012. A police officer shakes his muscles at the police station in San Pedro Sula.
Esteban Felix / AP

A police officer on March 8, 2012, A police officer is on watch at a police station in the suburb of Guamilito, San Pedro Sula. At this time, a film about police officers is broadcast on TV.
Esteban Felix / AP

Search March 8, 2012 - A police officer examines tattoos in an attempt to identify detainee José Alejandra Carranza's affiliation with the Mara Salvatrucha gang. In the city of San Pedro Sula, members of an influential group like Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13), having committed crimes, often act insolently and with impunity.
Esteban Felix / AP

Body March 8, 2012 - Forensic examiners examine the body of a minibus driver who was killed.
Esteban Felix / AP

Alberto Varrientos March 11, 2012 - Alberto Barrientos was injured in a raid on a billiard club. He was taken to the Catalino Rivas hospital, the city of San Pedro Sula ..
Esteban Felix / AP

Bloody Prescription March 10, 2012. A man whose head was chopped to pieces by an assailant by a burglar with a machete displays a prescription from the emergency department at Catalino Rivas Hospital.
Esteban Felix / AP

Crime scene on March 9, 2012, in the body of shuttle bus driver Wilmer Barahona. His body hung from his seat belt after being shot.
Esteban Felix / AP

Before my trip to Latin America, I did not plan to stay in Honduras, but was only going to cross it through and through on the way to Costa Rica. The fact is that even experienced travelers warn tourists against staying in this country, calling it "bandit land" and "territory behind barbed wire." In reality, however, Honduras is a unique, diverse and incredibly vibrant state. One has only to get out of the boundless cities, and all its secrets are revealed before you, in full view.

This country has opened for me beautiful Mayan monuments, which are not inferior in their grandeur to the famous ancient cities of Guatemala. Here I plunged into the endless green of national parks that compete with the jungles of Costa Rica and rested on the pristine beaches of the Caribbean Sea, which can be envied even in Cuba.

In Honduras, I fully felt that I was in the very middle of Central America - amazing and unique. And the time spent here became for me one of the most memorable in my entire long journey.

Visa and border crossing

Honduras for Russians is a visa-free country if the stay does not exceed 90 days. This time is quite enough for traveling in a small country. However, if business forces you to stay for a longer period, you will need to apply for a visa.

The easiest way to do this will be in one of the Latin American countries after 90 days, given to you for stay. I would not recommend applying for a visa before the trip. The fact is that there is no Honduran embassy either in Russia or anywhere in the CIS. As far as I know, the consulates closest to us operate in Germany and France. Agree, traveling to Europe is a rather expensive way to get a visa to a small Latin American state. But on the American continent, there are Honduran embassies in every country. Most often, tourists apply for a visa for a long stay in neighboring Guatemala, or Belize.

All visas in Latin America are quick and easy to obtain, and are more of a formal necessity than a method of strict control over those who stay. All you need is a completed application form, a photo and round trip tickets (or, much easier, a ticket reservation, which can be canceled after submitting the documents). The cost of a visa is about USD 30.

Moreover, if the callee 90 days have not yet come to an end, and you have already decided for sure that you want to stay here, you can simply extend the period of your stay at the Honduras Migration Service. To do this, you only need a completed application form and a passport, as well as 10-50 USD, depending on the desired length of stay.

However, even tourists who forgot to register in Honduras after the deadline usually managed to avoid trouble. Most often, this problem pops up already at the airport upon departure and is settled with the help of 20-30 USD, after which the absent-minded tourist returns home with peace of mind.

Border crossing

Crossing the border is no less simple. The border service in the country works just fine. And the terrestrial border, in comparison with the catastrophic situation in Guatemala, resembles a wonderful oasis in the desert. The difference between the two is truly amazing. For example, in Guatemala, border points are small, rickety houses, where 3-4 employees puff at one incredibly old computer, and huge independent markets stretch around. When you get to Honduras after that, you get the feeling that you are in the future.

The local migration points are small, but modern buildings, equipped with air conditioning and good technology. Even the stamps for entry into Honduras are put into the passport using compact printers, as a result of which they turn out to be discreet and neat. By comparison, when entering Guatemala, they first put a bold mark from yesterday's date, noticed an oversight, added an even thicker “Canceled” stamp, after which they put in a third, already relevant stamp. Needless to say, this did not decorate the appearance of my passport at all.

To cross the border, you will need a passport and a completed migration card. Return tickets are not required, but you may be asked how many days you plan to spend in the country. When passing the border on the ground, you will also be required to pay an amount equal to 1.5 USD. However, unlike neighboring countries, where the "contributions" go straight to the pocket of the border guard, in Honduras you will be given a check for payment. At the airport, no payment is required upon arrival.

Compliance with customs regulations in the country is looked at in a slipshod manner. On the earthly border, we did not check things at all. However, there is still a set of official customs regulations in Honduras.

Import is allowed:

• No more than 2 liters of strong alcohol;
• No more than 200 cigarettes or 100 cigars;
• Perfumes in a reasonable amount (for personal use);
• Gifts no more than 50 USD.

It is prohibited to import:

• Weapons;
• Drugs and narcotic drugs.

Import permit required:

• Skins of rare animals;
• Live birds and animals (including domestic animals);
• Antiques.

How to get there

Despite the fact that Honduras is slowly gaining popularity among tourists, it is rarely chosen as the only holiday destination. More often than not, it becomes a pleasant bonus to travel in Mexico, Guatemala or Costa Rica. Therefore, there are really many ways to get here - you can take a plane from Russia and fly directly to Honduras, or you can get from neighboring countries - by bus, transfer, car and even a ferry.

By plane

Getting to Honduras from our area is not so easy - you need to make at least one change and spend almost a day on the road, and in some cases even more.

With a transfer in the USA

Due to the popularity of Central America with American tourists, the cheapest way to fly to Honduras from Russia is by connecting flights in the United States. Aeroflot, in an alliance with Latin American carriers Avianca and Aeromexico, offers several good options.

• The most economical of them will be a 30-hour flight from Moscow with transfers in New York, etc. Prices for it start from 800 USD in both directions.
• The fastest will be a 20-hour flight from Moscow with one change - in New York. True, in this case, round trip tickets will cost at least 1100 USD.
• There are no single-stop flights from St. Petersburg to Honduras. Residents of the cultural capital will find it more profitable to give preference to a flight with transfers in Moscow and New York - such a flight will cost about USD 1200 (round trip) and will take about 24 hours one way.

In addition, to make such a flight, you will need to apply for an American transit visa, which can add hassle when preparing for an already difficult trip.

With a transfer in Europe

If you do not want to bother with a transit visa, it will be easier for you to choose one of the connecting flights in Europe. Such flights, however, will cost more - from 1200 USD from Moscow and from 1500 USD from St. Petersburg. And the road will take more than 30 hours. Flights are operated by KLM and AirEuropa, with connections in Amsterdam, Paris or Madrid.

Self-guided route planning

In my opinion, it will be much cheaper to draw up a flight route yourself than to choose ready-made connecting flights. At the same time, with a high probability, you will save not only money, but also time. Even if your only destination is Honduras, and you do not plan to stay in neighboring states, you can easily make a convenient route. After all, Latin American companies fly regularly across the continent and offer great options for every traveler. Here you can monitor prices.

1. Search for stocks from Russia to Latin America. Periodically, European airlines, for example, KLM or AirEuropa, offer cheap flights to Colombia or Panama, costing from 300 USD (!) Round trip. Even if there are no special offers during your trip, do not despair: check out the popular destinations among our tourists. The easiest way is to buy tickets to Mexico, which, if purchased in advance (at least 3 months before the trip), will cost you 600 USD (for a round-trip ticket).
2. Now we are choosing tickets to Honduras. You can find them on the websites of the carriers Avianca, Avior or Aeromexico, as well as on general search engines. Flights from cities in Mexico, Colombia and Panama will cost from 100 USD round trip. In addition, you can choose the time of transfer convenient for you and avoid long waiting times at the airport. True, in this case, it is worth paying attention to whether you will need to change the airport - often in Latin American cities, domestic and international flights are carried out in different terminals, which may be far from each other.

Honduras International Airports

The country has two airports that receive international flights. They are conveniently located on opposite ends of the country, allowing tourists to arrive at the point they choose to start their journey through Honduras.

• Toncontín airport is located in the capital of Honduras - the city of Tegucigalpa. It serves most of the international flights. However, due to the criminality that prevails in the capital, tourists are not eager to fly to Tegucigalpa, trying to find workarounds. But if your goal is the south of the country, as well as neighboring states - for example, Nicaragua and, you should fly directly to Toncontin.

• Airport Ramon Vilyeda Morales (Ramon Villeda Morales) located 15 km from the second largest city in the country - San Pedro Sula. Like other metropolitan areas in Latin America, it is fraught with dangers. However, it is the largest airport in the north of the country, where the largest number of attractions are concentrated. This is why Vilyeda Morales Airport is popular with tourists.

By bus

It is impossible to get to Honduras from Russia by bus. But for trips to Latin America, this method will become quite convenient and, without a doubt, the most economical. In the absence of railways in the region, the bus service is developing with a bang, every year offering tourists all the best conditions. Moreover, there are 3 types of bus transportation in Central America, which I will tell you about in more detail.

International buses

Currently, there are several bus companies that run between major cities in Central America. Most of them have their own terminals equipped with lockers and sales offices. The undoubted advantages of buses are the ability to buy a ticket at the last moment and an attractive price - from 25 USD for a night trip. But there is one drawback - international buses stop only in metropolitan areas, without stopping into tiny tourist cities. Therefore, you will have to continue the road to the desired oasis of safety on your own - by public transport or taxi.

The undisputed leader in tourist transportation is Ticabus. And, in my opinion, this is the only company capable of ensuring the safety of tourists traveling to Honduras. After all, only Ticabus can boast of terminals in the central part of cities, which is important in dangerous Latin American cities. Also, their buses are equipped with toilets, air conditioning and TVs, and when passing the border, drivers themselves distribute migration cards to passengers and explain where to go.

There are other companies like Hedman Alas and King Quality. Sometimes they offer cheaper tickets than Ticabus, but their terminals are so far from the city center that the traveler has a choice - pay a large sum for a taxi or risk their belongings in an attempt to get to the station on their own. The situation is aggravated by the fact that these buses often leave at night, which expose tourists to even greater danger.

Tourist transfers

Travel agencies in Central America have come up with a wonderful thing - transporting passengers from one tourist city to another. Moreover, they guarantee to deliver tourists right to the door of the hotel. In my opinion, this is a wonderful idea that makes travel in the region as safe as possible. In addition, the competition between agencies is very high, so the prices for such transportation remain quite acceptable - from USD 30 for a night crossing. You can book a seat in one of the minibuses that are used for such transportation at any hostel, hotel or travel agency.

Chickenbasy

Chickenbass are former school buses from the United States that now serve as public transport throughout Central America. They got their real name already here - the fact is that flat roofs of buses are used with great enthusiasm by local residents to transport not only endless bales, but also boxes with live chickens.

Chickenbusses run no more than 100 km, so when traveling to Honduras from Guatemala or Nicaragua, prepare to change at least 4 buses. In addition, since one trip costs 1.5-4 USD, you will not be able to save much. However, many tourists voluntarily arrive in Honduras by Chickenbass - the most antediluvian and at the same time the most authentic transport in Central America.

By car

Getting to Honduras from Russia by your own car will be extremely difficult, and in the best case, such a trip will take you several months. On the other hand, a rented car will be an excellent assistant when traveling in Central America. The cheapest option will be to rent a car in Mexico or Costa Rica - from 25 USD per day. In Guatemala, neighboring with Honduras, prices will start from 35 USD. You can compare the cost of different distributors. Borders on a rented car are usually crossed without any difficulty.

There are many more gas stations in cities than in uninhabited areas. Therefore, you should not miss the opportunity to refuel when you have it. A liter of gasoline in Central America costs about 1 USD on average. Another piece of advice that I would like to give to motorists is to be attentive in relation to parking places. Try to choose hotels with a secured area for cars and in no case leave them on the street, especially in large cities.

By ferry

Another luxury opportunity to get to Honduras is Caribbean cruises from Cuba, Mexico, etc. The cost of such pleasure starts from 70 USD per day. This price includes accommodation in the cabin, entertainment and refreshments. For a fee, passengers are offered to enjoy the best dishes from the chef. After a week of sailing on crystal waters, the liner will take you to the Caribbean island of Roatan.

From Roatan, you can take an hour by boat to the mainland of Honduras - the island of La Ceiba, and go to explore a tropical country. But I'm afraid that after a week of luxury vacation on a luxury cruise ship, you will never want to leave the pristine shores of Roatan.

Tourist regions

Honduras can be roughly divided into 7 regions, each of which attracts tourists in its own way. You can see their location on the map below.

central region

Almost all tourists traveling in Honduras sooner or later end up in its capital. Despite the fact that the surroundings of Tegucigalpa keep many dangers, travelers flock here from all over the country. After all, the central region is the largest transport hub in Honduras, and sometimes it is simply impossible to get from one tourist area to another, bypassing Tegucigalpa. In addition, there are several attractions in the region. For example, La Tigra National Park, which is considered one of the most beautiful places in the country.

South Region

This area, stretching from the capital of the country to the Pacific coast, is most often visited by tourists on the way to and Nicaragua. At the same time, it is not very popular with vacationers, and therefore is a great place to turn off the noisy tourist route and see the real life of Honduras.

The main attraction in the area is the volcanic island of El Tigre, located in the calm waters of Fonseca Bay. I would also advise you to look into the colonial city of Choluteka - unlike the unsafe capital, it will be a great place for a relaxing holiday on the way to Nicaragua or other regions of the country.

Central highlands

This region is the most visited among tourists traveling by bus in Honduras. After all, it is located between the country's two largest transport hubs - San Pedro Sula in the north and Tegucigalpa in the south. At the same time, the central highlands of Honduras are famous for their relative serenity. Attractions such as picturesque Lake Yohoa and the colonial town of Comayagua make the region particularly attractive to tourists. And a trip to the powerful 43-meter waterfall Pulhapansak will help to add a spark to the measured rest.

Western highlands

This region, perhaps, has become my favorite in the country. Primarily due to its landscape full of pine forests and high mountains. There are many great trekking routes here, and walking along which I managed to see a lot of rare birds in the wild.

In addition, the departments of Lempira and Intibuca are home to most of the indigenous population of Honduras. In some places, such as in the vicinity of the village of La Esperanza, you can find women who still wear traditional colored hats while working in the fields.

But this is not why most tourists come here. They are attracted by the ancient Mayan city of Copan, which has no analogues in the whole of Honduras.

Olancho

Despite the impressive size of the Olancho region (it makes up one fifth of the entire territory of Honduras), there are not so many tourist attractions here, and transport links are far from the best in the country. Nevertheless, it is this area that preserves the last untouched tropical and cloud forests: the national parks of El Boqueron and Sierra de Agalta. And as a starting point for exploring the region, the cities of Juticalpa and Catacamas, equipped with everything necessary to accommodate tourists, are suitable.

North coast

This region stretches for 300 km along the azure coast of the Caribbean Sea. The most popular cities here are Tela, La Ceiba and Trujillo. They attract tourists from all over the world for their wide beaches, clean and warm waters, Caribbean cuisine and bustling nightlife. The main inhabitants of this region are descendants of Africans, and this feature makes the northern coast even more unlike the rest of Honduras.

The rainy season in the region usually lasts from November to January, and the hurricane season is from August to October, so I would recommend heading to the Caribbean coast of Honduras between February and July. However, the temperature here rarely drops below 25-28 ° throughout the year.

Due to its popularity among tourists, this region is famous for its good transport links and high quality roads. The main transport hub is the large city of San Pedro Sula, from which it is easiest to get to the coast.

La Mosquito

The La Mosquito region is without doubt the most unexplored in Honduras. It will be appreciated by true adventurers who want to conquer little-known lands. However, I would advise traveling around these parts accompanied by a guide.

Also, if you are going on an expedition, you should stock up on food well and purchase the necessary equipment in advance. Life in the region is very simple - the villages often do not even have electricity, and the food of the locals is limited to rice, beans and river fish.

The region's main attractions are the five biosphere reserves. They were created to protect this area, the most pristine in all of Central America. The most famous nature reserve in the region is Rio Platano, amazing and unique.

Top cities

The settlements of Honduras are extremely diverse. In large cities, everything literally screams about danger. From the first minutes in the metropolis, it became clear to me why travelers call these places "the territory behind the barbed wire." The three-meter fences of every building, including schools and kindergartens, are crowned with a double layer of wire.

Small tourist towns, on the other hand, seem to be saturated with an atmosphere of benevolence, security and tranquility. Here you can not be afraid to walk and take pictures even in the dark, visit local bars and discos.

I will tell you more about the cities in which tourists most often find themselves below.

Tegucigalpa

As I wrote above, the capital of Honduras is fraught with many dangers and gives the impression of an unfriendly city. Here you need to constantly be on the lookout and observe all precautions. However, it would be dishonest not to notice that the city still has something to see. The colonial buildings of the 19th century, scattered throughout the historic center, are still in good condition. Tegucigalpa is also famous for its rich collection of historical museum.

San Pedro Sula

The second largest city in Honduras is the main connecting point on the way to the Caribbean coast, so tourists have to stop here one way or another. However, I would recommend spending as little time as possible in this metropolis.

Despite the impressive size of the city, it does not have a rich history behind it, and the only attraction in San Pedro Sula is the Cathedral. Due to the fact that tourists rarely stay in the city for the night, housing prices are pushed up to the limit - a bed in the cheapest dormitory will cost you 20 USD per person (in comparison, in Copan, a cozy double room with a garden view costs 10 USD) ...

To kill some time in San Pedro Sula, you can visit the Anthropological Museum. But I confess that my only walk around the city was going to the grocery supermarket, after which I chose to spend the remaining time in an expensive hostel behind barbed wire.

La Ceiba

The main resort town of the Caribbean coast of Honduras. All holidaymakers come here, most of whom later travel to small villages in search of a perfectly clean beach or absolute silence. However, many remain in La Ceiba, falling in love with the unusual rhythm of the city. Most of all restaurants, hostels and souvenir shops are concentrated here, and at night La Ceiba turns into a noisy disco with dancing until the morning.

Copan

This small town consists of only a few streets, but hundreds of tourists come here every day. The fact is that the ancient Mayan city is located within walking distance from the settlement. In addition to the ruins of Copan, there are several other attractions in the vicinity - the Macau Bird Park and the stunning Luna Jaguar thermal springs. Moreover, I remember Copan as a cozy, clean city, which is very rare in Central America.

Comayagua

The city was the capital of Honduras from 1537 to 1880. The deprivation of this status in favor of Tegucigalpa helped Comayagua preserve the unique atmosphere of colonial times and not suffer from the misfortunes of the 20th century, which turned the modern megacities of Honduras into "cities behind barbed wire." Comayagua seems to be lost in time, and tourists who come here are lost with it. And of course, I was absolutely captivated by a large number of city museums.

Choluteka

This quiet colonial town is located right on the Pan American Highway, making it a convenient stopover for tourists traveling to Nicaragua and. You won't find fascinating museums or fancy restaurants here, but there are many important attractions in the vicinity of the city - for example, the volcanic island of El Tigre.

Islands

After traveling across the mainland of Honduras, I discovered the island world of this versatile state. And I was surprised to learn that the coastal waters are hiding real treasures that every traveler dreams of finding - secluded beaches, nature reserves and a rich underwater world.

Islas de Baia

Islas de Baia is a separate department of Honduras in the Caribbean. You can get to the group of these islands from the resort town of La Ceiba in 1 hour. Due to the popularity with tourists, the communication is well established, and boats run every hour and a half. Ticket prices start at USD 30 one way.

The Islas de Bahia Department is truly unique. In my opinion, the main advantage of these islands is that even the most diverse groups of tourists will find among them the ideal vacation spot to their liking.

• Roatan is the largest and most popular island in the group. Almost all Caribbean cruises stop here. Most tourists from the mainland also come here. Roatan is perfect for family vacations and active exploration of the depths of the sea - there are several diving schools on the island at once. Accommodation here is mostly stylish bungalow hotels with a swimming pool costing from 80 USD per day, but if you wish, you can find simple apartments for 30-40 USD.
• Guanaja is a very small island. First of all, it is famous for its solitude. Here you can walk for a long time in silence along the hilly paths and swim in small bays. Also, thanks to the unique underwater world, diving is well developed on the island. Hotel prices here will be more expensive than on Roatan - it is unlikely that you will be able to find accommodation for less than 100 USD.
• is located closest to the mainland of Honduras, making it the most affordable and affordable island for holidaymakers. Hundreds of tourists flock here every day, and for good reason - after all, the water here is much cleaner than on the mainland, and housing costs almost as much as in noisy La Ceiba (from 15 USD per day).

Caios Cochinos

Another very small group of islands is located off the Caribbean coast of Honduras. The entire territory of this archipelago has the honorable status of a national park due to its unspoiled nature and pristine beaches. It can also be reached by boat from La Ceiba in less than an hour. I managed to visit these islands as part of a one-day excursion, which are offered by all the excursion bureaus on the coast. However, there are several hotels on Kayos Cochinos, where tourists can spend as much time as they deem necessary.

El Tigre

The volcanic island of El Tigre is located in the coastal waters of Honduras from the Pacific Ocean. You can get there by one of the many boats that run between the island and the fishing village of Coyolito. With nice beaches, calm waters and plenty of sun, this island seemed to me not only one of the coziest corners of the Pacific Ocean, but also an ideal place to hide from the hustle and bustle of the Honduran mainland for a couple of days. Plus, there are wonderful trekking routes.

The island's only city, Amapala, is doing its best to attract tourists. However, for several days on El Tigre, I practically did not meet foreigners.

Top attractions

I confess, I did not expect that Honduras, which in the minds of many people is associated only with bandits and underground wars, keeps such a variety of natural and cultural attractions. Here, every tourist will find the perfect entertainment for their taste: lovers of luxury vacations will appreciate the idyllic beaches of the Caribbean Sea, adventure seekers - the wild jungle of La Mosquitoes, and fans of eco-tourism will love Honduras for the opportunity to observe rare species of birds and animals. Connoisseurs of culture and history will admire Copan's archaeological treasures and the rich collection of the Historical Museum in Tegucigalpa, while the proximity of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef to Islas de Baia makes the underwater world off the coast so rich that it will impress even the most experienced divers.

In a word, this country really stores all kinds of attractions that Central America can offer a tourist. I will list the main ones.

Copan

Undoubtedly, the Mayan city of Copan is the most recognizable and visited attraction in Honduras. Every day hundreds of tourists come here to look at this miracle, created by the best masters of the ancient civilization. In addition to the pyramids, numerous excavations and a rich collection of the Mayan sculpture museum, on the territory of the complex you can see rather rare and well-preserved elements of the Mayan life.

Even after I visited several similar complexes in Guatemala, Copan found something to surprise me. For example, it was only there that I was able to see a perfectly preserved playground for playing tlutli, a ritual and sports action that was of great importance for the Maya.

Rio Platano Biosphere Reserve

The endless forests of Rio Platano, on the other hand, are the perfect place to get as far away from civilization as possible and fully experience what life is like in harmony with nature. The reserve is home not only to rare species of birds and animals, but also to several indigenous peoples who have managed to maintain their usual way of life thanks to the protected status of Rio Platano.

The easiest way to get to the reserve is as part of an organized tour from the cities of La Ceiba or Tela. However, if you have the time, you can try to go on this trip yourself. Indeed, in a crowd of 20 tourists, it will be much more difficult to feel the desired harmony. The entrance to the reserve is free, but on site you will have to rent a boat - this is the only mode of transport in Rio Platano.

Lake Yohoa

Lake Yohoa is more than just a wonderful place to relax and watch birds. Conveniently located close to the country's main road from Tegucigalpa to San Pedro Sula, it is very popular with tourists. It is the largest natural lake in Honduras and is home to many birds. More than 480 species live here, including whistling ducks and yellow-fronted yakans, so birdwatching fans have become the main visitors to the lake. Tourists can even rent a canoe to get as close to the birds as possible, but a simple walk along the Yohoa shore gave me a lot of pleasure.

If possible, it is worth staying in the lake area for a few days, because there are many interesting places around it: Yohoa borders two national parks at once, and in the vicinity there are waterfalls, caves and coffee plantations.

La Tigra National Park

Just 20 kilometers from the restless Tegucigalpa is the La Tigra National Park, which is rightfully considered one of the most beautiful places in Honduras. At an altitude of 2,270 meters, this pristine land is a dense, cloudy forest that is home to ocelots, cougars and monkeys, although it is not easy to see these large mammals during the day. The park is also home to many birds, with over 200 species, including the sacred quetzal.

Thermal springs "Luna-Yagura"

Of course, Luna Jaguar is not the only hot springs in Central America. In Costa Rica, for example, this entertainment is now gaining more and more popularity, attracting hundreds of tourists every day. In the most popular of them, the administration even has to set daily limits, since the pools cannot accommodate everyone. And that is why the "Luna-Jaguar" is still unique - after all, only here you can enjoy the procedures almost completely alone.

Despite the close location to the city of Copan (only 20 km) and good transport links (buses to the nearest village, Agua Caliente, run several times a day), thermal springs have not yet acquired the wildly popularity they enjoy in Costa Rica. Therefore, for just 11 USD you can enjoy luxurious and, most importantly, “personalized” thermal treatments for several hours. By the way, in Costa Rica the entrance ticket will cost you 60 USD.

Center "Luna Jaguar" consists of about ten different-level pools, where hot waters of thermal springs in different proportions are mixed with cold water. Here you can relax in a natural jacuzzi, take a mud bath and even take a steam bath in a pool with a temperature above 50 degrees. A few hours spent there give an unprecedented feeling of lightness and tranquility. And, despite the simplicity of this entertainment, the general availability and low cost, a visit to the thermal springs has become for me one of the most memorable experiences during my trip to Honduras.

Botanical garden "Karambola"

This wonderful botanical garden is located on Roatan Island. It is all lined with trekking trails that lead tourists through thickets of fruit trees, palms, ferns and orchids. You can choose the level of difficulty of the walk that suits you. And the strongest and most enduring will receive a worthy reward - the top of the ridge, which offers stunning views of the serene Caribbean Sea, barrier reefs and the pools of the Dolphin Research Institute with mammals frolicking in the water.

Bird Park "Macau"

Macau Mountain is a small protected nature reserve within walking distance of Copan, the administration of which is working to protect and develop the population of tropical birds. To some, this kind of entertainment will seem less interesting than wild forests, where you can watch birds in natural conditions. However, I liked the "Macau" because the local inhabitants can be seen directly up close, and someone can even sit in your arms. And, whether due to the large number of birds and a bright kaleidoscope of fluttering wings, or because of the wonderful location of the reserve in a green gorge with dense trees, but it was in Macau that I first felt that I was in a tropical region.

Park of iguanas "Arches"

The Archs Nature Reserve, located on Roatan Island, is the largest iguana park in the country. For many tourists, walking along narrow paths surrounded by hundreds of swarming iguanas of all colors and sizes is controversial. However, in spite of everything, hundreds of people visit the park every day to spend time in such an unusual company for them.

Little French Kay

You can get to this tiny island from the city of La Ceiba or other Caribbean islands as part of a one-day excursion. Little French Cay is an ecologically clean tropical paradise where tourists are invited to spend several hours relaxing in hammocks, swimming in the cleanest water and exploring the underwater world. However, in my opinion, a much more amazing place on the island is the contact sanctuary, where you can not only see rare representatives of wildlife, but even pet many of them - including large representatives of the feline family.

Half Moon Bay

Half Moon Bay on Roatan is an important destination for those who love the underwater world, but have not yet learned the basics of diving. Armed with a mask and snorkel, you can watch rare fish and corals in the shallow waters of the bay. The underwater world of Half Moon, in its beauty and wealth, is able to compete with the most remote reefs of the Caribbean Sea. And only here everyone can get acquainted with these miracles without making any special efforts and avoiding dangers.

Weather

Honduras is a hot tropical country. Daytime temperatures in the lowland areas rarely drop below +25 degrees. However, as elsewhere in Central America, Honduras' climate is difficult and even fraught with some dangers, such as rain and hurricanes.

However, choosing the best time to travel is not difficult. You just need to understand what goals you are pursuing on this trip. In addition, the country is still far from the peak of its popularity, and the flow of tourists here does not increase too much during favorable periods, and prices practically do not jump. For example, I traveled to Honduras in April, at the height of the dry season, and never once felt the discomfort of being overcrowded or high prices for travel services.

The only exception to this rule is Semana Santa, the week of Catholic Easter. At this time, much more tourists come to Honduras, and accommodation in most cities should be booked in advance. The dates for celebrating Easter, like ours, are different every time. In 2017, Semana Santa was celebrated from 9 to 15 April.

The dry season in Honduras is between December and June. This is the perfect time for mainland travel, beach holidays (including islands) and diving. If you are planning to go on a boat trip along one of the many rivers in the country, I would recommend choosing the very beginning of the dry season, when the rivers are at their fullest.

The rainy season lasts from July to November. In the fall, there is a danger of hurricanes that pass over the Caribbean Sea, often affecting the coastal regions of Honduras and the Islas de Baia islands. But the rains awaken life in numerous national parks and water reservoirs. Without a doubt, this is the perfect time for bird and animal watching. Therefore, if your main goal is ecotourism, it would be logical to go on a trip in June-July, when the rainfall is still insignificant and will not be able to interfere with long walks.

Also, before traveling, you should check the road situation in the region where you are going. For example, in remote lands like Olancho or La Mosquito, roads can be severely washed out during the rainy season, sometimes completely blocking traffic.

Moving around the country

The transport situation in Honduras is controversial. Tourist regions in the north of the country can boast not only good transport links, but also excellent road quality. In the south, on the contrary, there are places so remote that they can only be reached by car. And yet there are many ways to travel around Honduras. Buses are the most popular today, planes and car rentals are also in great demand among tourists. And in the coastal regions they cannot do without water transport.

By plane

Air travel is a great way to get away from unsafe cities as quickly as possible. However, unfortunately, it will not be possible to travel around Honduras solely by plane. Today this direction is only developing in the country. It gained the greatest popularity among tourists traveling to the Caribbean coast and the Islas de Baia islands.

Prices for flights within the country start from 100 USD in both directions, tickets should be purchased in advance, as the cost rises noticeably a few weeks before the expected departure date. The most famous airline in Honduras is CM Airlines; domestic flights are also operated by several large Latin American companies, for example, Avianca. Most often they offer 1-2 flights per day to each destination.

By bus

Buses are the most popular mode of transport in the country for logical reasons. First, they cover a much larger area than air transport. Secondly, their schedules are more regular, so travelers do not need to purchase tickets in advance. The third reason, of course, is the price - if you wish, you can drive through all of Honduras for 10-15 USD. Buses in the country are divided into two types.

• Commercial buses mainly aimed at tourist transportation. Companies such as Hedman Alas and Transportes Viana operate several daily flights to popular tourist destinations. These buses are equipped with air conditioning, TVs and toilets and run fairly quickly. You can buy a ticket for the flight at train stations and private terminals of companies. The fare, according to my calculations, starts from 5 USD per hour. On average, the journey from one tourist point to another takes 3 to 6 hours.
• Chickenbasy, old school buses from, are not equipped with any of the above amenities. Moreover, they often do not have glass on the windows, and narrow seats designed for American children will create wild inconveniences for adult passengers. And yet, the Chickenbass have advantages, because of which many tourists prefer to use this antediluvian transport. Firstly, they leave the city stations at intervals of an hour and a half. Secondly, tickets are purchased directly from the drivers and are 2 times cheaper than on commercial buses. In general, chickenbus is simple and easy to use. I have heard of many cases where people abandoned the idea of ​​traveling in Chickenbus due to their lack of knowledge of the Spanish language. However, in my opinion, this transport is the only place in Honduras where knowledge of the language is just not useful - it is enough to read the name of the destination on the windshield of the bus, and the driver will not be too lazy to show you the cost of the ticket on his fingers.

By car

A car is a great way to travel around Honduras, especially if you plan on exploring the more remote regions of the country. You can rent a car at one of the many offices that can be found at airports, major cities and tourist spots. Prices start at 35 USD per day, gasoline costs about 1 USD per liter. To conclude a contract, you will need a passport and international driving license.

When traveling with a rented car, there are 2 nuances that I would like to warn tourists about:

1. Do not forget to refuel in settlements. When traveling long distances, it is better to stock up on gasoline in reserve. The fact is that on the deserted roads of Honduras, refueling can be very rare, especially in non-tourist regions like Olancho, where the search for gas can turn into a whole problem.
2. Carefully consider finding parking for your car. Do not leave it outside, especially in large cities. Even after leaving for a minute, you may find your car's windows broken upon your return, and overnight you run the risk of being left without wheels.

On the boat

Due to access to two oceans, a huge number of endless rivers and the critical condition of roads in some regions, water transport is well developed in the country. For example, if you are relaxing on the Caribbean Sea and order a tour to the Rio Platano nature reserve, be prepared that from La Ceiba you will immediately take a motor ship. It will be much faster and easier than going by land transport. Inside the reserve, you will also have to travel exclusively by boat. Therefore, if you experience discomfort from sea travel, I would recommend stocking up on appropriate medications in advance - and with a light heart go to explore the sea and marshy regions of Honduras, which occupy a good third of the country.

Connection

The quality of communication in Honduras also directly depends on the development of a particular region. For example, on the Caribbean coast or in Copan, every institution will gladly offer you free wifi, and on the streets of settlements you will come across Internet cafes every now and then. In Olancho, on the other hand, communications are so underdeveloped that even the landline telephones available in the region can be counted on one hand. Fortunately, mobile communication works everywhere.

If you plan to make a lot of calls to local numbers, I would recommend purchasing a local SIM card. In all tourist cities there are Tigo and Claro operators, which often offer good rates to foreigners. However, it will be more profitable to make calls to Russia from roaming or international cards like SimTravel.

In order not to be left without connection when traveling to remote regions of Honduras, it is worth taking an external battery with you. Of course, in tourist regions, power outages are practically excluded, but in the wilds of Rio Platano it will be much more difficult to find an outlet.

Language and communication

10 different languages ​​are spoken in Honduras, most of which are Native American dialects. The most popular language is Spanish. Most of the country's inhabitants speak it.

In the department of Islas de Bahia, which is inhabited mainly by immigrants from Africa, English is very popular. A good half of the local residents speak it. In the rest of Honduras, only travel workers speak English. Even despite the popularity of Honduras among American tourists, the local population still has a poor understanding of the international language. However, as in other Latin American countries, finger-to-mouth communication in Honduras is a powerful way to work in almost any situation.

Spanish language courses have recently become a popular practice in the tourist cities of Honduras, which offer foreigners to improve the knowledge necessary for travel. In turn, many Americans, coming to Honduras, offer their services to local residents, staying in the country as an English teacher. I must say that for many it becomes a good way, if not to recoup the entire trip, then at least earn a little extra money while traveling.

Despite the friendliness of the locals and their desire to help all tourists who do not speak the language, before the trip, I would still recommend that you learn at least a few phrases in Spanish. Knowledge of the language in Honduras is not an urgent need, but it will be a great bonus that will help you emerge victorious from controversial situations. Therefore, below I will give a few important phrases that can be useful to a tourist on a trip.

10 phrases you need to know:

• Buenos días (Buenos días) - Good afternoon.
• Como está - How are you?
• Muchas gracias - Thank you very much.
• Por favor - Please.
• Cuanto cuesta - How much does it cost?
• Es muy caro (es muy caro) - It is very expensive.
• Donde está - Where is it?
• Puede ayudarme - Could you help me?
• Habla inglés - Do you speak English?
• Si / No (si / no) - Yes / No.

Features of the mentality

Several ethnic groups live in Honduras. Almost 90% are mestizo, whose descendants have lived in the country since colonial times.

Most of the locals are friendly and eager to help. They are open to communication, love to praise their country, attractions that attract tourists and local cuisine. Even the Indians living in Honduras seem to be more open to the modern world than, say, in Ecuador and.

In large cities, people look less welcoming. They look at rare tourists with surprise and disbelief. Sometimes, getting lost, I was afraid to approach someone on the street to ask for directions. However, people often asked themselves if I needed help.

The Caribbean coast is inhabited by another rather large ethnic group - the Garifuna, descendants of African slaves. They are noisy and sociable people. They love tourists and are happy to make contact, showing the famous Caribbean hospitality.

As elsewhere in Latin America, the inhabitants of Honduras absolutely do not care about the cleanliness of their cities. With the exception of tourist and resort points, there are mountains of rubbish everywhere on the roads. Very often I watched bus passengers, after eating or drinking on the road, throw packages, candy wrappers and bottles out of the window. It seems that in Honduras, people are simply not used to using inorganic materials and do not realize that the earth will not soon digest the wrapper they threw away.

Food and drink

Honduran cuisine cannot boast of a huge variety of dishes and ingredients. The diet here is quite standard for Central America - beans, rice, meat and fish, cornmeal, as well as vegetables and fruits. On the Caribbean coast, the situation is a little more interesting - garifuna add coconut milk to food and prepare wonderful dishes from fresh seafood.

In many local establishments, I often saw complex dishes like “breakfast of the day” and “lunch of the day” on the menu. I was very amused that these two points differed from each other in only one ingredient - in the morning meat with beans and tortillas was served complete with a fried egg, and at lunchtime - with rice.

However, the inhabitants of Honduras, like all Latin Americans, are terribly proud of their national cuisine. They seriously believe that by adding a simple ingredient like cheese to their Mexican tortilla corn dough, they are creating their own unique dish. For example, hundreds of new names for corn tortillas are emerging in Central America, and locals in every country ask foreigners something like, “Have you tried Pupusas yet? HOW YOU DIDN'T TRY THE PASS ?! Try it! This is the same as arepas, only with cheese. "

By the way, Honduras turned out to be the only country in Central America with a large selection of dairy products. Cheese making is well developed here, and in many tourist cities I came across specialized shops where the most delicate fresh cheeses were sold by weight at ridiculous prices.

In general, in my opinion, the main treasure of Latin American cuisine is freshly squeezed juices. For some reason, most of the fruits are used here in this form. Honduras is no exception. For every breakfast and lunch, they serve simply amazingly delicious fruit juices from mango, papaya and guava. In many establishments, fresh milk is added to the glass, turning soft drinks into the most delicate milkshakes.

The only low-alcohol drink in Honduras is beer. Local growers mainly offer light and light varieties that are great for quenching your thirst on a hot day. And the main strong drink in this tropical country, of course, will always be rum. The Islas de Baia department produces premium rum - Pirate 's Grog, which is mostly exported, while the majority of residents prefer the Nicaraguan budget brand Flor de caña.

5 dishes worth trying

Typico plateau

The tipico plateau is the main dish in Honduras. It is so popular that I would rather put it in the "dishes that you somehow have to try" section. Even the name itself is translated from Spanish as "a classic dish".

Typico plateau is served everywhere - in expensive restaurants for tourists it can act as a signature dish, and in simple cafes for locals - as the only one. Its recipe will also almost always be the same: in more elite establishments, a piece of meat is pre-marinated, and in budgetary establishments, it is fried without preparation. The rest of the ingredients, such as rice, dark beans, fried bananas, and cheese, remain unchanged.

At the same time, it is funny that the price of a typical plateau will be strikingly different depending on the class of the institution. And, if in a cafe for locals you pay for a dish from 2.5 USD, then in a restaurant the cost can reach 25 USD, which tourists, in fact, have to pay only for clean tablecloths and an ironed waiter's shirt.

Baleada

Baleada, one of the "modifications" of Mexican flatbread, is considered the most popular street food in Honduras. It is a large pancake made from cornmeal, to which ingredients are added for every taste - first of all, it is cheese or sour cream, black bean paste, pieces of fried meat and avocado. Baleada in street shops starts at just 1.5 USD, and thanks to its hearty filling, it is a great way to satisfy your hunger for several hours.

Yohoa fish

Fried fish from Lake Yohoa is without doubt the most popular fish dish. You can try it almost anywhere in the country. Freshwater fish, similar to carp in taste, is dipped in salt, spices and flour, then fried and served with a standard set of side dishes - rice, beans and fried bananas.

During my trip to Honduras, I had a suspicion that the inhabitants have long called not only the catch from the famous lake, but all freshwater fish in general as "fish of Yohoa". However, I could not verify this in practice, and fortunately, it was not necessary - the fish in Honduras turned out to be delicious everywhere and, most importantly, fresh.

Tapado

If you set yourself the goal of finding a unique, national dish of Honduras, which will have no analogues in other countries of Central America, then tapado will, of course, become it. The main ingredients in this thick stew are yucca (a root vegetable vaguely reminiscent of a potato) and plane tree (an unsweetened relative of the banana). Otherwise, the recipes differ in each region. For example, "tapado olanchado" is made from meat and sausages, which are cooked for a long time at low temperatures. And "tapado costeño", which tourists can taste on the Caribbean coast, is made from fish and seafood with the addition of coconut milk.

Sopa de caracol

This is perhaps the most amazing and unusual dish that can only be found in Honduras. Sopa de Caracol is a thick Caribbean soup made from shells, seafood and fish, based on coconut milk. The indigenous inhabitants of the Caribbean coast, garifuna, add local vegetables - cassava and plane trees, as well as various spices to it. Thus, this simple, typical garifuna dish contains the maximum amount of exotic ingredients for a tourist from our area.

Shopping

Honduras was not the first country on my Latin American travel itinerary, and I didn't think it could surprise me with anything, especially in terms of shopping and souvenir shopping. However, everything turned out differently - in addition to the fact that almost all goods that are produced on the vast continent are sold here, you can make rather unusual purchases in Honduras, which will be a great reminder of the trip for you and your loved ones.

What you need to know about shopping in this country

Shopping in Honduras can be divided into two broad categories: factory-made items and handicrafts.

Factory goods

This category includes local and foreign clothing, accessories, jewelry, food and alcohol. For such things, you should go to large shopping centers and specialty stores. It is not recommended to buy such goods from your hands, because in most cases you will get a fake, especially when it comes to jewelry or alcohol. Prices in large shopping centers practically do not differ, the choice is always great, and the sellers are polite and competent. Bargaining in such places is not worth it, except in jewelry stores, where you can be given a good discount when buying several pieces of jewelry.

Handmade goods

When purchasing goods in such places, it is simply necessary to bargain, since most often the prices for everything are doubled. Do not be afraid to offer your amount, and if the seller does not want to accept it, tell them what you need to think about and pretend to leave - this should be a decisive argument in the bidding.

Perhaps the main feature of Honduran craftsmen is their wild ingenuity. For example, the Garifuna living on the Caribbean coast make jewelry from shells, while in the Indian regions, nuts and seeds are used as the main material for jewelry.

However, in fact, the imagination of local traders goes far beyond what is possible, as I was able to convince myself in one of the first days of my stay in Honduras: in a small market in Copan, a man was selling colorful chickens. They swarmed amusingly, creating an incredible kaleidoscope with their movements. Several times I approached the aviary, trying to understand the mystery of this phenomenon. At one point, I still could not stand it and asked the merchant why the chickens were dyed. The answer was invaluable: “Simple. To sell better. "

I must say that sales were going really well. Locals willingly took colorful chickens at the price of 1 USD for 4 chicks. Later I read about the technical implementation of this trick - the paint is injected into the egg, due to which the chicken is born with a bizarre color. After the plumage changes, the chick takes on its natural appearance and in the future it becomes an unremarkable chicken.

Top cities for shopping

The best places to shop can be divided into 3 main categories.

• Big cities such as Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula have the largest number of shopping centers. Metropolitan areas are suitable for shopping in the standard sense of the word. There are many modern, well-guarded malls where you can wander for hours, choosing clothes and accessories from shops of local manufacturers and major European and American brands.
• Tourist cities for example Copan or La Ceiba are best for choosing souvenirs and gifts. Local merchants offer a wide range of unique handicrafts that can vary significantly in each region.
• Islands of the caribbean, especially Roatan, a luxury shopping destination. These safe areas are home to most of the high-end boutiques that offer tourists jewelry, as well as branded clothing and accessories.

What to bring from this country

Honduras is diverse in everything - from its landscapes to its multinational population. That is why the selection of souvenirs here, in the heart of Central America, is very rich. Even travelers who have traveled across the region and learned the assortment of Latin American souvenir markets by heart will discover something new in Honduras. It happened to me too.

Rum and cigars

These truly Caribbean products are highly valued by both our tourists and those who are waiting for them at home. Rum and cigars are a win-win gift that will turn an ordinary day into a fiery holiday. In addition, premium rum is produced in Honduras, which is sold at a price of 30 USD per 0.5 liter. In our area, such a bottle can cost a truly prohibitive amount.

Cigars will be no less memorable souvenir. In addition to well-known brands such as Honduran Plantanions and Fortuna, tobacco plantations offer so-called “puro” - a natural tobacco product rolled right on the farm without the addition of chemicals. These cigars are stored much less than factory cigars. And yet this is a unique gift, because it is simply impossible to purchase a "puro" outside the Caribbean. In addition, one such cigar on the farm will cost only 2 USD.

Coffee

Of course, coffee is one of the staples of Latin America, and each country argues about the superiority of its product over others. I do not consider myself an expert on this drink, however, relying solely on my subjective opinion, I will say that I managed to taste the most delicious coffee in Colombia and Honduras.

It is here that it is distinguished by its strong, rich taste and invigorating aroma that is remembered for many months. All the souvenir markets of the country are overflowing with grains of different varieties, and connoisseurs vying with each other argue about which brand is the most worthy. However, from my own experience I can say that the most amazing coffee that I have bought during my entire trip to Honduras was sold in a supermarket in an inconspicuous cellophane pack for 1 USD.

Textile

Mayan textiles are much easier to find in Guatemala. But even in the Indian regions of Honduras, tourists have the opportunity to purchase bright fabrics with absolutely unique patterns. In my opinion, Mayan textiles are not only infinitely beautiful, but also a universal gift. After all, the prices for it, depending on the size, can start from 2-3 USD for a handbag or purse and reach 50 USD for a bedspread and even a hammock.

Ceramics

The Lenca women of the Indian regions of Honduras are resurrecting their unique craft of pre-colonial pottery making. I must say that they succeed very well: holding black and white vases and masks with bizarre, mysterious patterns in their hands, there is a feeling of something ancient and mystical. The painting of Lenka products takes travelers to the distant times of shamanic rituals and tribal wars, and, of course, such an element of decor will become the main decoration of any home. In addition, the price of ceramics in Honduras is relatively low - from 15 USD per item.

Regional souvenirs

In every region of the country, I wanted to acquire some characteristic trinket. After all, Honduras is so diverse, and impressions (including material ones) should be comprehensive. Therefore, wherever I went, I went to local souvenir shops and almost always found something new there.

Regional souvenirs differ in two categories: geographical location, which has influenced the choice of material from time immemorial, and traditions that have developed in a particular area of ​​Honduras over many centuries. For example, craftsmen from Copan make and sell straw dolls for 2-5 USD. You can find them in large numbers on the way to the ruins of Copan and on the very territory of the complex. And the Garifuna, who have lived for centuries on the shores of the Caribbean Sea, create various decorative elements from sea pebbles, shells and coconuts. The price for such souvenirs can be very different - from 2 to 50 USD, depending on the complexity and size of the items.

Jewelry made from natural materials

Handcrafted jewelry is sold in Honduras on tourist streets or in private souvenir shops. As I wrote above, the style and material of the products will also differ significantly in each region: the Indians use seeds and nuts to create jewelry, and the garifuna make beads from shells and sea stones. The cost of products varies from 3 to 20 USD.

I must say that many of these decorations are very talented. And most importantly, all these handmade beads and earrings may soon disappear under the load of Chinese jewelry, which is massively filling the souvenir markets of Latin America. And this threat also makes them an original and, most importantly, a valuable gift.

Jewelry

On the largest island in Honduras, Roatan, shopping and gift-buying takes on a whole new dimension. There are several luxury boutiques and jewelry salons that sell jewelry with diamonds, tanzanites and other precious stones. Of course, the prices in such stores will not be low, and you are unlikely to be able to find anything under 100 USD. On the other hand, the risk of acquiring a fake is practically absent here, because large international companies, for example, the world famous Diamonds International, trade on Roatan.

Vacation with children

Traveling around Honduras with kids is sure to be a rewarding experience for the whole family. However, kids need special comfort, and this country still cannot boast of such a developed tourist infrastructure as, for example,. Therefore, I would like to give tourists with children some useful tips that will help make the trip rainbow and cloudless for the whole family.

• It is better to build a travel route in tourist developed regions such as the vicinity of Copan and the Caribbean coast. These are both the safest and most interesting places for children: in Copan, they will be able to get acquainted with the amazing Mayan history and see tropical birds in the Macau Park, and the unforgettable world of the Caribbean Islands will forever remain in their hearts.
• It is better to choose a car as a means of transportation around the country - even in tourist areas, waiting for public transport can take several hours. In addition, the most interesting sights for tourists are located in one part of the country - in the north, and it is quite possible to get from one point to another in 4-5 hours.
• Don't forget about sunblock and mosquito repellent. However, there is no need to purchase protection in advance - in the tourist points of Honduras, you can easily find everything you need.
• And, of course, carefully monitor the observance of safety measures so as not to overshadow your vacation with the loss of important and valuable things.

Safety

Safety continues to be one of the key considerations when traveling in Honduras. As I already wrote, large non-tourist cities - Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula - are unsafe in the country. They are the main transport hubs of the country, where hundreds of tourists make transfers every day. And it is here that the most dangerous and unprincipled criminals come in search of profit. Therefore, being in metropolitan areas, it is important to be very careful and attentive. This will help you avoid trouble and safely get to the safe tourist regions.

• If you need to change trains in a large city, plan your route in advance. Find out if you need to change the station, what public transport runs between the terminals. This information abounds in English on sites like Tripadvisor and Lonelyplanet. By staying in one place as little as possible, you do not attract as much attention and therefore avoid 90% of the dangers.
• You shouldn't draw attention to your things either. Do not put your bags on the rooftops of the Chickenbusses, but try to carry them into the cabin. Bright tourist backpacks stand out among the poor knapsacks of Hispanics and openly talk about the fact that a tourist is traveling in the bus.
• When traveling by car, be careful with it not only in large cities, but also in the vicinity. Do not leave him unattended, even for a short time.
• Several times I had to take a taxi right at the station, but other travelers advise against doing this. If possible, you should ask a trusted person to call the car for you - for example, employees of hotels or travel companies.

• Do not carry documents with money and equipment. It is best to hide your passport in an inside pocket of your clothing.
• And the most important rule - if you do become a victim of a robbery, in no case try to ask or bargain with the criminal. They are all armed and have no clue of morality, so trying to save your belongings could cost you your life.

Popular types of scams

Until a few years ago, robbers in Central America attacked exclusively on dark, deserted alleys. Recently, however, tourists have become more circumspect, and people live poorer, and therefore the methods of theft have become more sophisticated.

The main tactic of "inventive" thieves is to put pressure on pity. They can pretend that they are in trouble and call for help so that you and your precious things come to them as close as possible. There are also popular cases when a local passenger sits in your taxi and asks to share the cost of the trip with him. Such joint trips in most cases end with the robbery of tourists. Therefore, my advice will be cynical and simple - do not fall for provocations and do not let thieves pity you.

There is another, less dangerous type of fraud in the country - price inflation for any kind of tourist services. Avoiding fraud in this case is simple: always check the price before making a deal. If after this they try to deceive you, it will be easier for you to prove your case. As a last resort, you can pay the originally agreed amount and leave, and the seller, most likely, will not interfere with you.

5 things you definitely shouldn't do

• Walk in the night San Pedro Sula;
• Leaving things unattended in large cities;
• Drink raw water and buy sliced ​​fruit on the street;
• Travel to remote regions without a guide or provisions;
• Buy souvenirs at the seller's price without bargaining.

5 things to do in this country

• Walk among the ruins of Copan;
• Swim with dolphins on Roatan;
• Pet a toucan in Macau Park;
• Explore the wild jungle of Rio Platano;
• Enjoy relaxation in thermal springs.

Nearby countries

As I wrote at the very beginning, Honduras rarely becomes the only destination for tourists traveling in Latin America. And it is not surprising, because there are so many amazing, colorful and, most importantly, accessible countries in the neighborhood. Almost all of them are visa-free for Russians, which makes travel much easier. The only exception is, however, in most cases, tourists can get a free e-Visa. This process will take you no more than 10 minutes.

Guatemala

For a closer acquaintance with the Mayan world, you need to go to Guatemala. In addition, it is very easy to do this - there is an excellent system of transfers between the tourist cities of these countries. The cost of tickets starts from 20 USD one way, and the minimum travel time is about 5 hours. It is in Guatemala that most of the Mayan cities and ethnic villages are concentrated. Here, traditional holidays last for several days, and Indian markets with painted fabrics occupy several streets of beautiful colonial cities.

Salvador

El Salvador is not very popular among tourists, so it is still a good option for desperate travelers who decided to turn off the beaten path and discover the real life of Latin America. In addition, there are several amazing national parks, majestic volcanoes and archaeological sites, and you can get to El Salvador from Honduras in just a few hours and 15 USD using buses or transfers.

Nicaragua

To climb the top of the volcano, visit the largest lake in Central America and walk through well-preserved colonial cities, you should go to Nicaragua. The trip can also be carried out using different types of buses - from the Chickenbus for 10 USD to the comfortable Ticabus for 30.

Costa Rica

Hotels- don't forget to check prices from booking sites! Don't overpay. This !

Rent a Car- also aggregation of prices from all distributors, all in one place, let's go!

Anything to add?

More than 400 kg of cocaine were found by police in a truck with soda, which was moving from Costa Rica to Honduras

More than half of the cocaine produced in Central America originates from Honduras and the Republic of El Salvador. In 2011, police in the Honduran city of San Pedro Sula discovered the first Mexican-run drug laboratory in Central America.

The residents of San Pedro Sula are extremely angry at the aggressiveness of drug trafficking gangs. The photo below shows a woman who witnessed the execution of 9 innocent people by bandits. Most of the crimes in the city are not investigated.

In 2008, the daily murder rate in San Pedro Sula reached such a level that coroners had to "wholesale" the bodies in refrigerated vans before taking them to the mass grave sites.

One of the most dangerous groups - "Mara Salvatrucha" (Mara Salvatrucha) - was founded by Salvadoran migrants who began to massively move towards the United States in the early 1980s and settled in California. Already in the early 1990s, the American authorities decided to begin deporting members of the "Mara Salvatruch" home and, thus, the gang's influence began to spread to Central America. A characteristic feature of the members of the group is a body covered with tattoos.

In 2013, the situation escalated so much that the Catholic Church decided to mediate in the reconciliation process between the "Gang of 18th Street" and the previously mentioned "Mara Salvatrucha". In the photo below - the members of the group communicate with the Bishop of San Pedro Sula.

Too soft gun laws in Honduras do not help to improve the situation: more than five units of weapons for personal use - so much a citizen of this country can have. The photo below shows a gun and a pistol confiscated from members of the 18th Street Gang.

Prisons are incapable of controlling criminals. During the prison riot in 2012, more than 12 inmates were killed, and clashes with the guards brought the prison completely under the control of the inmates. The government soon gave up trying to restore order there.

The citizens of San Pedro Sula have to deal not only with the aggression of bandits, but also with the arbitrariness of the guys in uniform: the police often not only indiscriminately kill gang members, but also show excessive cruelty towards "passing by".

Even the former head of the Honduran Police, Juan Carlos Bonilla, was accused in 2002 of abuse of power and participation in a group of vigilants called "Los Magnificos" (Russian literal "Excellent"). He paid a fine of $ 5 thousand, and was removed from office only in 2013.

In 2013, in an attempt to ease tensions, the Honduran authorities dispatched internal troops to San Pedro Sula and Tegucigalpa.

Armed soldiers and officers often ride public transport to check passengers for weapons and drugs.

The inhabitants of San Pedro Sula are not only in a state of fear, but also in the deepest poverty: 65% of the population of Honduras lives below the poverty line.

In rural Honduras, only 15% have access to drinking water. Many families wash their clothes and drink water from the same buckets and basins.

Only 20% of Honduras have access to the healthcare system - the rest have to pay out of pocket or solve health problems on their own. In the photo below, volunteers are helping a sick woman.

More than 33 thousand Hondurans are infected with AIDS. For example, the woman in the photo below was infected with HIV 10 years ago when she was raped, and her three-year-old son was also diagnosed with HIV.

In the summer of 2014, the number of families with minors who headed to the border with the United States exceeded last year's figures several times. Many of them left San Pedro Sula in order to avoid the aggression of gangster groups.

The US is doing whatever it takes to send illegal immigrants from San Pedro Sula back home. The photo below shows deported Hondurans arriving in San Pedro Sula on a flight from the United States.

In 2012, it is estimated that Americans expelled more than 32,000 Hondurans from the United States to their homeland.

Despite adversity, the people of Honduras are calling for change and concrete action. In the photo - a member of the Church "Light to the World" with a banner "No juvenile delinquency!"

The photo report turned out to be tragic. Reporters photographed scenes of arrest, fear, pain, grief and death.
In San Pedro Sula, there are 169 murders per 100,000 inhabitants per year. Local laws allow civilians to own up to five personal weapons. 83.4 percent of murders in this country occur with firearms. In the United States, the percentage is 60.

Attention! Photos contain death scenes!

Police tape cordons off a crime scene next to a victim's body in the city of San Pedro Sula on March 22, 2013.
According to local media reports, unidentified attackers in the working-class area killed three men and one woman. (Jorge Cabrera / Reuters) #

A woman cries at the body of Justiniano Lara (not visible in the picture). He was killed by unknown persons in the city of San Pedro Sula. Honduras, 25 March 2013. (Esteban Felix / Associated Press).

The body of 30-year-old Carlos Pineda lies on a stretcher outside a morgue in a public hospital. He was shot in the head in San Pedro Sula. Honduras, 25 March 2013. (Esteban Felix / Associated Press).

A man lies on a stretcher in the emergency room of a local hospital after being shot in the leg. He has a cross on his chest that says "Jesus loves you." San Pedro Sula, 20 March 2013. (Jorge Cabrera / Reuters) #

The covered body of a man who was killed in a shootout between members of the Mara 18 street gang and police. It happened during an anti-drug operation at the entrance of a house in San Pedro Sula on March 27, 2013. (Jorge Cabrera / Reuters).

Suspected members of the Mara 18 street gang sit in a pickup truck. They were arrested following a shootout with police and military personnel during an anti-drug operation in San Pedro Sula on March 27, 2013. (Jorge Cabrera / Reuters) #

The confiscated weapons lie on the couch after several members of the Mara 18 street gang were arrested during an anti-drug operation. San Pedro Sula March 27, 2013. (Jorge Cabrera / Reuters).

People stand near the scene of the crime, where the corpse of a man was found who was shot by street bandits. San Pedro Sula, 28 March 2013. (Jorge Cabrera / Reuters) #

Two men on stretchers are taken to the operating room of a local hospital after being attacked by gang members. San Pedro Sula, March 27, 2013. (Jorge Cabrera / Reuters) #

A syringe rests on a partition inside an emergency room at a local hospital in San Pedro Sula on March 20, 2013. (Jorge Cabrera / Reuters) #

A doctor speaks to a family member of an injured person at the emergency room of a local hospital in San Pedro Sula, March 29, 2013. (Jorge Cabrera / Reuters) #

The patient reacts painfully during a doctor's examination of his injuries, which were received during a clash with a local gang. San Pedro Sula, 28 March 2013. (Jorge Cabrera / Reuters) #

The woman's body lies on the ground at the crime scene. She was killed with three shots to the head in San Pedro Sula on March 21, 2013. (Jorge Cabrera / Reuters) #

Forensic experts at the crime scene where the young man was shot. San Pedro Sula, 28 March 2013. (Jorge Cabrera / Reuters) #

Friends and relatives stand near the crime scene where the young man was shot. San Pedro Sula, 28 March 2013. (Jorge Cabrera / Reuters) #

Believers from the Light to the World Christian Church during a march against violence in San Pedro Sula, March 28, 2013. (Jorge Cabrera / Reuters) #

Family members of a woman who is the victim of a stray bullet during a shootout between rival gangs in San Pedro Sula on March 27, 2013. (Jorge Cabrera / Reuters) #

A man's legs are tied to a stretcher in an emergency room at a local hospital. The victim sustained a gunshot wound to the head in San Pedro Sula on March 23, 2013 (Jorge Cabrera / Reuters).

Police escort a member of the Mara 18 gang to the emergency room at a public hospital in San Pedro Sula. Honduras March 23, 2013. (Esteban Felix / Associated Press).

A guard at the door of the emergency room of a local hospital in San Pedro Sula on March 20, 2013. (Jorge Cabrera / Reuters) #

A woman carries a child as she walks alongside police officers after a shootout between members of the Mara 18 street gang and law enforcement. The clash took place during an anti-drug operation in San Pedro Sula, on March 27, 2013. (Jorge Cabrera / Reuters) #

Police stand guard during a training session for the Mexico football team at the Olimpico stadium in San Pedro Sula on March 21, 2013. (Jorge Cabrera / Reuters) #