Honduras has gotten a lot of bad press recently about how dangerous it is. I often meet travelers in Guatemala or Nicaragua and ask if they will be stopping over in Honduras during their trip, and more often than not people answer “No Way!” or “It’s way too dangerous!” .
When this happens, it breaks my heart a little. I have lived in San Pedro Sula for two years, and Honduras is one of the most beautiful countries I have ever been to. Yes, there is crime that occurs and you need to be careful, but the same is true for almost every other Central American country.
There are so many places that are safe and wonderful to explore, so here are 5 reasons you shouldn’t skip Honduras on your Central American adventure!
1. It’s relatively untouched by tourists. Honduras doesn’t have the best tourism board, so many of the top destinations in the country are like hidden gems because you only learn about them from other travelers. Places like Copan, Santa Rosa de Copan, Lago de Yajoa, and Gracias see some backpacker traffic, but you will have a very authentic Honduran experience here. Plus, the towns are beautiful, the people are friendly, and these areas are relatively safe.
2. It has Utila. There have been a few blogs about Utila already, but I can’t stress enough how amazing this island is. It has some of the best (and cheapest!) diving in the world and is one of the safest places for solo female travelers I’ve been to. (Just watch out for pickpockets.)
3. It is cheap. I mean, dirt cheap. Nice hostels in places like Copan will cost about $6 a night (check out Iguana Azul, a consistent winner of TripAdvisors many awards.), and they are clean and friendly. You can also take buses all over the country for very little as well.
4. It’s not as scary as the press makes it seem. Yes, San Pedro Sula is dangerous. But the crime is targeted towards gang members and bad neighborhoods are easy to avoid. Yes, people get robbed or pick-pocketed, but that can happen anywhere. The trick is to be smart about how you travel. Avoid traveling alone at night, stay in well reviewed hostels, and take marked taxis. You are so more likely to meet a friendly Honduran than a dangerous criminal.
5. It’s beautiful. Honduras has beautiful beaches, amazing waterfalls, gorgeous mountains, and outstanding wildlife. It is like getting the best of Guatemala, Nicaragua and Costa Rica combined!
Do talk with people who have been to Honduras, and plan to stop at one or two of their amazing destinations as you travel from Guatemala to Nicaragua. You won’t be disappointed!
If you’ve been to Honduras, do you agree with our points and do you have other comments?
1 Comment
HI, I live in Honduras and it is wonderful to hear someone talk so beautiful about my country. I am glad you liked it and lived here long enough to know that the reputation it is given is not all there is to the country. Thanks!
By the way just saw your blog and love it.