Destination

Located 20 km north of Tegucigalpa, the resplendent cloud forest of Parque Nacional La Tigra is one of the easiest-to-reach national parks in Honduras. It is also one of the top birdwatching destinations in the country, boasting over 350 species of birds, including the brilliant but reclusive quetzal. As you wander among the towering orchids, bromeliads and ferns, keep watch for native ocelots, peccaries, armadillos and white-faced monkeys.

Eight kilometers from Santa Lucía lies the sleepy town of Valle de Ángeles. Once a Spanish mining town, it’s been restored to its original 16th century charm. The town’s old church features a shady plaza with a fountain that is beautifully lit in the evenings. Many of the central avenues have been closed to auto traffic and are lined with artisan shops selling authentic Honduran woodcarvings, baskets, ceramics, leatherwork, paintings, toys and wicker and wood furnishings.

Another enchanting old Spanish mining town, the hillside town of Santa Lucia features winding cobblestone lanes and walkways teeming with historic colonial homes and businesses. During the weekends, Santa Lucia’s quaint restaurants, artisan shops and nurseries are filled with tourists. Visit during the week, and you’ll have the town practically to yourself.

Tegucigalpa blends historic colonial heritage with the modernism of a contemporary metropolitan city. While the city’s historic district doesn’t have a typical Spanish-style layout of streets surrounding a central plaza, there are plenty of historic buildings, churches, parks, museums and a cathedral to visit.

This majestic gothic basilica, with its beautiful sky-blue stained-glass windows, was built in 1954 to house the Virgen de Suyapa. With the capacity to accommodate a congregation of 10,000, it is the largest church in Central America.

Built in 1915 and modeled after the Athenée in Paris, Honduras’s ornate national theater hosts performances that range from rock concerts to classical ballet.

The capital city’s premier museum is located in a beautifully restored 19th-century building that once served as the Palace of Ministries. It provides a fascinating glimpse into the history of Honduras through a series of innovative exhibits. Be sure not to miss the three-dimensional film tour of the Copán Ruins.

One of the premier shopping destinations in Honduras, the opulent two-story Multiplaza Tegucigalpa features more than 200 upscale shops and restaurants and a movie theater.

This surreal children’s museum is a treat for kids of all ages, from the infant nursing area to interactive exhibits like a grocery store and construction site. The biggest draw is the “Human Body Room,” with a massive Operation game and a crawl through a human intestinal tract. Kids will also love the giant erupting volcano that produces “real lava,” a bubble room and a room tilted at a 22-degree angle. All of it designed to make learning fun.

This shopping center located near Boulevard Morazán is about more than just shopping. Los Próceres is one of Tegucigalpa’s best party spots with five bars serving up your favorite cocktails and shots. Most visitors like to visit all five in one night, having a drink at each. Head to the third floor of Novacentro and you’ll find Baretto, a lounge strictly for the over-25 crowd.