Honduras Overview

A land of jagged mountains and dense jungle, Honduras has the most rugged geography in the region. Ironically, the indomitable terrain that once kept the country isolated is now a huge draw for tourists. Pristine cloudforests full of wildlife, long stretches of Caribbean beach, pine-covered ridges, and tropical rainforest all beckon adventurers. For the more subdued visitor, western Honduras hosts the magnificent Maya ruins at Copán, attracting professors of archaeology and laymen alike. Non-Maya indigenous groups survive alongside colonial architecture elsewhere in the country, displaying Honduras’ wide cultural array. Years of military oppression in the 80s rendered Honduras one of Central America’s poorest countries—and, for better or worse, one of the cheapest to visit. Though Honduras isn’t known for tourism, the gringo trail is well defined. Copán, Tela, and the Bay Islands have well-established tourist industries, but it’s the back country’s scattered frontier towns, and engaging locals that truly make Honduras worth visiting.

• Planning Your Trip

Passports, Visas, And Customs. Passport. Required of all visitors. Must be valid for a full 3 months after arrival. Visa . Not required of citizens from the US, UK, EU, Canada, Australia ...more

• Cultural Essentials

Long Long Ago (Dawn Of Time-Ad 1502).   Since before the first millennium BC, a thriving Mayan civilization sprawled across Honduras. The country’s most impressive ruins are found at Copán . Founded ...more

• Beyond Tourism

Global Volunteer Network Ltd., PO Box 30-968, Lower Hutt, New Zealand (☎ +1 800-963-1198 from US or Canada, 0800 032 5035 from UK; www.volunteer.org). Founded in 2000, the Global Volunteer Network helps ...more