Hola amigos! I’m known to everyone as Skyfie but my name is Daniel Irias. I was born and raised in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. At the age of 15 I moved to the United States of America. I lived in the States for a long time until I decided to move back to Honduras two years ago. Let me share with you my Honduras travel guide!
The best way to describe Hondurans is passionate, hardworking and diverse. I have had the chance to travel to remote places inside the country that honestly I never thought I would visit. Experiences like these have allowed me to know more about the people and it opened my eyes to understand how kind and welcoming Hondurans are.
Last year I did an off-road trip to places I never imagined I would go to. In every small town that we stopped off at people were kind enough to invite us in for a warm cup of coffee. Honduras is a small country but it has amazing people and a rich culture.
This culture is rich in gastronomy, history, art and traditions that define who we are. We’ve got it all. You can explore Honduras on land or drive to the Caribbean sea – pure magic. I’m a person who is passionate about adventures and I love to explore new places in Honduras. There is so much nature to discover around every corner.
One of my best memories of Honduras was when I traveled for work to film a video for a hotel in Roatan. I ended up meeting my girlfriend and facing a fear which was memorable for those reasons. My fear was diving with sharks. I had no idea it was something I could experience in Honduras.
Shark diving was something on my bucket list and something I feared for a long time but I was surprised how much I learned about sharks and being up and close to them in the reef. It amazed me how important they are to the eco-system. I have had many more amazing experiences that I would like to share with you in my Honduras travel guide below.
Honduras Travel Guide: Top 3 Places to Visit
I began posting and creating content about Honduras on my Instagram because I wanted people to know more about my country. I liked getting such a positive response and create a positive impact on Honduras. It’s such a beautiful country when you get the chance to really explore it. Here are my top 3 places to visit in Honduras:
1) Rio Cangrejal – My grandparents live in La Ceiba where Cangrejal is located. I have many childhood memories that can explain why cangrejal is so special to me. It is hard to describe what Cangrejal looks like but you have this huge rainforest contrasted by rocks of all different sizes.
If you love adventures and you are into water-rafting, Cangrejal is the place to enjoy some adrenaline rush. I have been staying at the Las Cascadas Lodge for a few years now. Every time I have the chance to visit Cangrejal I enjoy spending my time at Las Cascadas Lodge.
2) Roatan – I moved to Roatan not long ago and I can say it is a jewel of the Caribbean. Roatan has this new significant importance in my life. If you love exploring the underwater world, Roatan is the place to do it all. You’ve got this immense underwater biodiversity of sea life and amazing coral reefs to explore.
I’ve only done shark diving once because I haven’t had the time to do it again but it is one of those surreal experiences that I recommend to everyone. Even though you have West Bay beach which is one of the most popular beaches on the island, you also have the chance to experience isolated beaches on the East side of the island.
3) Amapala – Amapala is a contrast from my other favourites, located in the south of Honduras. You have this beautiful island in the pacific Gulf of Honduras that you don’t want to miss out on exploring. The black sand beach and being able to see three countries in one place is one of the best moments of my life.
Honduras Travel Guide: Best Cultural Experiences
For people looking to travel to Honduras, my first piece of advice would be to come with an open mind. Don’t hesitate on having experiences. Honduras has it all to offer as a backpacking destination. If you want to have a rich cultural and historical experience then I would recommend you visit Copan.
This archaeological site of the Maya civilization has many Mayan Ruins to see at Ruinas de Copan. You can get up-close and personal with the structures and learn about life many years ago. Copan Ruins is a magical place. If you would like to get a flavour of the gastronomical life, I would recommend going to Santa Rosa de Copan. Here you will find an array of amazing coffee experiences.
Then you have the amazing Garifuna people and their unique culture. The Garifuna are a mixed indigenous people originally from the Caribbean island of St. Vincent. Go explore Miami, Tela — a Garifuna village with great beaches! They have some of the best fried-fish and seafood soup in all of Honduras. When you’re there make sure you take a tour of Punta Sal National Park. You won’t regret seeing these waters.
Another fantastic beach destination is (of course) Utila. Ever heard of the saying: “if you come to Utila, you will never want to leave.” The saying is true. Jump on that ferry and get to Utila. This tiny island located on the north coast of Honduras is rich in nightlife, nature and diving spots. Everything is cheap and you can enjoy diving at quite a good price. What’s not to love about that!
Nature and outdoor adventures are part and parcel of the culture of Honduras. Last year, my girlfriend took me on a paragliding experience just down the valley of Angels at an eco-friendly cabin called Sin Rumbo. It was (hand downs) one of the best experiences and I would recommend anyone to try out.
The best beach in Honduras, and I only just learned about it this year, is a small secluded beach located on the east side of Roatan called Paya Bay. You feel like you are some secluded paradise and not in Roatan at all. Go hike Celaque or La Tigra too.
How to Spend 3-4 Weeks Traveling in Honduras
If I had 3-4 weeks to spend in Honduras, I would start in Rio Cangrejal, La Ceiba and do some rafting and explore the Junco waterfall. Then I would either jump on a ferry to Utila or Roatan depending on the budget you have. If you love the nightlife, I’d say Utila is the best option.
Enjoy a week with those island vibes before taking the ferry back or flying to San Pedro Sula. From there, I would rent a car and drive to Copan. Visit Macaw Mountain, Luna Jaguar, Mayan Ruins, do a coffee tour and enjoy some nightlife in Copan.
Next on our tour would be to drive to Gracias and check out some old churches before making our way to Tegucigalpa and experience the city life. I would recommend visiting La Ronda right in the Centro of Tegucigalpa. Stay there or if not near the Centro for a couple of days before driving to Amapala and seeing those sunsets first hand with a couple of cold beers on arrival.
Try the Amazing Local Food in Honduras
If you are traveling to Honduras for the first time, you are probably curious about what is Honduran food like. Luckily, the food is great. The first thing you have to try when you get to Honduras is the baleada sencilla or con todo (simple or with everything).
La baleada is what makes Honduras. It’s a simple flour tortilla with beans. Add some cheese or sour cream to it and you have a sencilla with you but if you would like to experience a con todo you can add eggs, avocado, beef and other ingredients to it.
Freshwater fish or seawater fish is the fried fish you can try at the Lake of Yojoa or Miami, Tela. The fish is deep-fried served with pickled red cabbage, onion and deep-fried sliced plantains called tajadas.
Sopa de Caracol – there is a famous Honduran song called Sopa de Caracol and well you can’t leave without trying the famous sopa de caracol which is a conch soup made out of coconut milk.
Other typical dishes are montucas, corn tamales filled with meat and vegetables, stuffed tortillas, and tamales wrapped up with banana leave. Try our Honduran coffee is the best. If you go to Roatan don’t forget to try the famous pastries that you can find in Flowers bay. Visit the sweet shop in Flowers bay and try some sweet buns and coconut bread.
Is Honduras Safe to Visit in 2019/2020?
Don’t believe everything you read on the news about Honduras. Yes it can be dangerous in certain areas but the country is working hard to promote tourism and visitors rarely have problems. And besides, not everything you read or see in the news is true. If you have more concerns about safety in Honduras – then check out this must read blog.
Thanks for reading my Honduras travel guide. Come to Honduras, land in San Pedro Sula to save money, rent a car and explore Honduras through your own eyes. You won’t regret it!