Still a little rough around the edges, but with superb diving/snorkeling (Roatán and Utila islands); the great Maya ruins of Copán; the afro-Caribbean culture of the Garifunas; and eco-tourism in La Ceiba and elsewhere.
Roatán in '15 of the World's Lesser Known Travel Wonders'
There are many incredible destinations in the world yet to be overrun by tourists. If you're an explorer who likes to find under-the-radar spots, read on for a rundown of my favourite off-the-beaten-path destinations and experiences... read post
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Now in our blog: B'ix a Beel? Key Phrases for Travel in Honduras' Maya areas.
- Updated version of "Moon Honduras & the Bay Islands" (US $19.95)
- First "Frommer's Honduras" (US $22)
I was in the country in both July and August this year (about 3 weeks total), and visited cities across the country - from Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula, to Roatan, La Ceiba and Copan, to the smaller towns of Tela, Gracias and the Lake Yojoa area. The only areas I saw any signs of difference from prior to June 28 was in the two large cities (Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula), and that was limited to graffiti and some small peaceful protests in Tegucigalpa.
Currently, the majority of political unrest and protests are centralized in Tegucigalpa. Understandably, travelers who choose to travel to this region should do so with caution and abide by any curfews that are in place. But, the strong majority of those visiting Honduras on vacation will never be near Tegucigalpa.
In the country's top tourism destination - the Bay Islands (Roatán, Utila Guanaja and Cayos Cochinos) - the environment remains calm, as it has since June 28. Cruise ship arrivals and international airline arrivals in Roatan have never been interrupted. In addition, curfews for the mainland are not applied to the Bay Islands.
In the town of Copán Ruinas, another favorite among travelers, there have been minimal disturbances. All attractions have remained opened, and many hotels/tour operators are offering special discounts to entice visitors.
Other tourism areas of the country, such as La Ceiba, Tela and the most common entry point of San Pedro Sula, also remain calm and in full operation. All four international airports are open and operating as scheduled.
My suggestion to travelers would be to contact the hotel or tour operator and ask for an honest assessment of the situation on the ground. But as mentioned above, the tourist areas are not affected by the political situation that is centralized in Tegucigalpa.
Honduras is a beautiful country, and travelers should still definitely keep it in mind.
I also wanted to ask you if you're getting any word from in-country on how all the political machinations are affecting the tourist experience. I'm sure some Americans are going to hear about the problems and cross Honduras off their list -- but I've been in similar situations before and this is probably very unfair. Most of what Sturm und Drang has been going on is in the capital, Tegucigalpa, and possibly some in San Pedro Sula, neither of which are tourist destinations. In places like La Ceiba (where Pico Bonito is), Roatán, and Copán, I'm sure things are as mellow as always. But Amanda, I'm sure Americans would appreciate an honest and realistic assessment to reassure them of that. Thoughts?
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