Honduras holidays
Honduras holidays at a glance
Our Honduras holidays focus on the north and west of the country, where the highlights lie, from the Maya ruins near the Guatemalan border to the mountainous rainforest of the interior and the Caribbean coast and islands. The capital, Tegucigalpa, sits in the south, but most trips begin further north around San Pedro Sula.
The national parks are the country’s quiet triumph, with rewarding wildlife and birdwatching across swathes of protected rain and cloud forest. Walking trails thread through the wooded highlands, so rugged in places that roads have to wind the long way round, and the rural communities here keep a slow, traditional pace of life.
Honduras is also home to one of the finest sites in the Maya world, the jungle-wrapped city of Copán, close to the frontier with Guatemala.
Along the Caribbean coast lie palm-fringed beaches such as those at Tela, small Garifuna communities descended from African and indigenous Caribbean peoples, and a swashbuckling history of piracy.
Offshore are the laid-back Bay Islands, a magnet for divers and snorkellers, with the best tourist infrastructure on the main island, Roatán.
Why choose Journey Latin America for your holiday to Honduras
We’ve been planning trips to Central and South America for over 45 years, longer than any other UK specialist. Every holiday is built around you by a Travel Expert who has been to the places they recommend, with support from your first enquiry to the day you fly home.
Don’t overlook Honduras. It’s the least crowded, which is half the appeal. Copán’s carvings are extraordinary, and Roatán’s reef is exceptional.
When to visit Honduras
Honduras is a year-round destination, though its dramatic, mountainous landscapes mean conditions vary from one region to the next. Broadly, the dry season runs from December to April and the wet season from May to November.
December to May is generally considered the best time to visit Honduras – there is less rainfall, more comfortable humidity and it is outside of the hurricane season. Like the rest of Central America, the country lies well within the tropics so weather can vary on an hourly basis and even travelling for an hour or two can have a dramatic impact due to the varying ecosystems and topology.
April sees the start of Easter festivities for Semana Santa as well as the Punta Gorda festival which commemorates the arrival of the Garifuna communities with live music and dancing. From April to September pods of whale sharks can also be spotted around the Bay Islands.
This is the start of the ‘wet’ season. In practice this is still a great time to visit, especially at the beginning and end of the season when it won’t seem too different to the high season with short, sharp showers in the afternoon. September-October have the highest chance of tropical storms and even (very occasionally) hurricanes, but in general you’ll find good weather and fewer tourists.
Places to visit in Honduras
Honduras is compact enough to combine ancient ruins, rainforest and the Caribbean coast in a single trip. Most holidays pair Copán with Pico Bonito and a few days on the Bay Islands. Here’s where we recommend spending your time.
Bay Islands and beaches
Turquoise water, soft sand and the second biggest reef system on the planet running along the shore, that’s Honduras’ Bay Islands in a nutshell. Roatán, Utila and Guanaja sit strung along the reef, and between them they cover pretty much everything you’d want from Bay Islands holidays: diving, snorkelling, beach days and a peaceful pace.
Copan
Copán holidays centre on one of the Americas’ most remarkable Maya sites, where intricately carved stelae, towering temples and the New World’s longest hieroglyphic inscription reveal the story of a once-powerful civilisation. Set among jungle-clad hills, it remains Honduras’ greatest cultural treasure.
Pico Bonito National Park
Pico Bonito National Park is one of Honduras’ most important protected wilderness areas, and it’s easy to see why once you’re there. Tropical rainforest, rushing rivers and wildlife. It’s known for its biodiversity, spectacular scenery and adventure. We can’t think of many places in Central America that offer this kind of nature encounter.
Top Things to do in Honduras
From diving the Mesoamerican reef to hiking through cloud forest and exploring ancient Maya ruins, Honduras rewards the traveller who ventures off the usual Central America trail. Here’s what we recommend.
Accommodation in Honduras
We hand-pick every property for character, location and quality, from the Lodge at Pico Bonito, set between cocoa fields and rainforest, to barefoot island retreats on Roatán and comfortable hotels in the colonial town of Copán Ruinas. Expect knowledgeable guides, good food and a real sense of place wherever you stay.
Laid-back, friendly and welcoming boutique resort on its own private caye. A scuba diver’s dream, but equally suited to relaxation.
Friendly, comfortable and well-located hotel, following the design of a historic townhouse but with the addition of a free-form pool flowing through its leafy central courtyard.
Beautiful lodge set in exuberant gardens, offering tropical luxury in an enchanting setting on the edge of a wildlife-rich rainforest.
A former Journey Latin America tour leader, Sally spent 7 years working, travelling and living throughout Latin America before returning to the UK to help people arrange their own adventures to this wonderful destination.
Holidays to Honduras
From expertly designed Private Journeys to trail-blazing Escorted Group Tours, browse our range of carefully crafted holidays to Honduras.
Group Honduras Tours
Our group tours follow expertly designed, well-planned routes with an experienced local guide throughout. Prefer to keep it to your own party? Book the same trips privately for four or more.
Alción: Central America Discovery
Places visited: Panama City · Boquete and the Chiriquí Highlands · Caribbean coast · Monteverde and the cloud forest · Ometepe Island · Granada · Leon · Gulf of Fonseca and Eastern El Salvador · Suchitoto · Copan · Antigua and the highlands
22 days from £4,174
Tailor-Made Honduras Tours
Prefer to travel on your own terms? We’ll build a trip around your dates, your pace and the things you most want to see – whether that’s a first run at Machu Picchu, a family adventure mixing history and wildlife, or a food-focused journey through Lima and the Sacred Valley. Our Travel Experts can help shape it with you.
Signature Guatemala, Honduras & El Salvador: Mayan ruins, colonial cities and Pacific beaches
Places visited: Lake Atitlan and villages · Antigua and the highlands · Copan · Suchitoto · Ruta de las Flores · Pacific Coast
15 days from £3,950
Signature Honduras: Jungle, islands and Mayan ruins
Places visited: Copan · Pico Bonito National Park · Bay Islands and beaches
11 days from £3,225
Treasures of Central America: Heritage of the Aztec and Mayan Empires
Places visited: Mexico City · Colonial and silver towns · Oaxaca · Chiapas, San Cristobal and Palenque · Mérida, Chichén Itzá and the Yucatan · Copan · Antigua and the highlands
19 days from £6,000
FAQs about visiting Honduras
Honduras is one of the most popular destinations, and there’s plenty to think about before you go. Here, our specialists share their best advice.
- When is the best time to visit Honduras?
Honduras holidays are possible at any time of the year. The coastal lowlands have a hot tropical climate all year round with temperatures approaching 30oC. The mountainous interior has a milder climate and in Dec – Jan temperatures hover around 18oC and it is cool at night. The rainy season runs May – Nov with afternoon showers – although precipitation is more persistent on the north coast. Sep – Nov is the season when rainfall may be heavy and hurricanes are possible.
- What's the official language of Honduras?
Spanish is the official language of Honduras.
- What is the official currency in Honduras?
The currency of Honduras is Lempira. You can change US dollar cash or travellers cheques locally in banks and may be able to obtain cash advances via the few ATMs in larger towns and cities. You may have ask your bank to authorise withdrawals before you leave the UK, and withdrawals may be limited. However these ATMs do not always accept foreign cards, which are also not usable in many smaller hotels and commerce. You can obtain cash advances in most banks throughout the country. NB: a charge of $US40 is made at the airport upon leaving the country (you can pay with a credit card).
- What is the time difference between Honduras and UK?
The time difference between Honduras and the UK is GMT-6 hours.
- Do I need a visa for Honduras?
As of 15 August 2024, UK passport holders must obtain a visa before travelling to Honduras. Passports must be valid for at least 6 months after the trip begins. Anyone with a different nationality should enquire with us or check with the relevant consulate. If flying to the US, or via the US you will need to fill in your online ESTA application.
- What vaccinations do I need for Honduras?
Please check Travel Health Pro for information on health recommendations and vaccinations for the destinations you are visiting. Please note that many Latin American countries require proof of vaccination against Yellow Fever if you have recently travelled to another country where Yellow Fever is present.
- What places combine well with Honduras?
A visit to neighbouring Central America countries, such as tiny, friendly El Salvador; wildlife-rich, slickly organised Costa Rica and the Mayan cities of Guatemala, all easily accessed by land or air.
- How do you get to Honduras from the UK?
There are flights via US and European hubs, the journey from London takes around 15 hours.
- What are the festivals and cultural events in Honduras?
Semana Santa, Easter, throughout Honduras. Celebrated from Thursday through to Easter Sunday.
Festival Lluvia de Peces (Rain of Fish), Yoro, start of rainy season in Jun. Parades and carnival. It’s a puzzle for scientists, but the dark clouds are accompanied by very heavy rain which will last upwards of 3hrs. Once the rain has stopped, the city streets are littered with living fish. Commemoration of the arrival of the Garifuna communities, 12 Apr. Presentations by music and dance groups including the Ballet Folklórico Garifuna.
Ready to start planning?
Tell us where you want to go, and we’ll take it from there. No obligation, no sales pitch – just a conversation with someone who knows the region inside out.