History, diving and white sand
Honduras, a country famous for its tropical islands, Mayan Ruins and rich wildlife, is a great option for backpackers on a budget! With a somewhat negative reputation from the past, today Honduras offers world class diving, perfect weather and cheap travel for the adventurous backpacker!
This backpacking Honduras travel guide gives you tips on activities to do, route suggestions, budget and safety tips to help you plan your trip! Ready? Let’s dive in!
Routes
Most people arrive in Honduras from Guatemala or Nicaragua. I recommend visiting the northern part of the country which is where you will find the islands for diving and post card beaches! By heading to La Ceiba you have easily access Utila, Roatan and Guanaja, as well as some national parks like Parque Nacional Pico Bonito.
From there visit the Copan Ruins close to the Guatemalan border. If you’ve travelled from Mexico and Guatemala you might be a little tired of Mayan ruins, but these are special and with a lot less tourists! The entrance fee is also no more than $15 dollars and well worth it. I highly recommend it!
How much time do I need?
For Honduras I recommend at least a week. Some people just pass through Honduras on their way to Nicaragua or Guatemala, and if you’re short on time it’s possible with just a few days. It all comes down to preference. If you want to visit both Copan Ruins and the islands, you will need at least a week, or even 10 days.
Top Activities in Honduras
Honduras is great for anyone wanting to chill on tropical islands in beautiful surroundings. It is also the go to place for anyone who wants to dive, with or without experience. Here you can find one of the cheapest places to get your PADI certification. Besides that, Honduras offers stunning nature and Mayan history as well!
Here are some of my recommended activities for Honduras!
Copan Ruins
Copan Ruins, located in the west almost on the border with Guatemala, gives you the ruins of the ancient city of Copan. This is the farthest east the Mayans lived, and marks the border of this once great civilisation. Take a day to explore this interesting place that now can be found on the one lempira note. So make sure you get one as a souvenir!
Make sure you check out the staircase that shows some of the ancient history of the city. Each step has marks explaining events throughout its history and acts as their own history book. There are also tunnels underneath for you to explore at an extra cost, if you want a deeper dive into the history.
Diving
The islands off of the northern coast of Honduras is well know in the diving community. If you’re travelling through Central America you are bound to hear people recommending it. Even if you’ve never dived before, it’s one of the cheapest place to get certified!
For more experiences divers, you probably already know that the islands of Utila, Roatan and Guanaja has some of the best spots in the world. Crystal clear waters full of marine life, all available at a fairly cheap price.
Islands
If you’re not that into diving but still want to enjoy the islands, there is still plenty of reason to visit. Beautiful beaches with delicious local food and drinks to enjoy while watching the sunset over this blue water! What more can you want?
Utila is a popular island and offers a big backpacking scene with plenty of nightlife, and is a better option for those without an interest in diving, that still wants to see some wildlife!
Budget
As one of the lesser travelled countries in the region, Honduras can offer some of the most budget friendly travel for backpackers. Overall expect to spend around $30-40 per day here. This includes staying in shared dorms, eating local food and using local transportation. Staying in hotels and eating at fancier places will more than double the daily budget.
Food
Food is cheap in Honduras, especially things like fruits. They are delicious and fresh and cost only a few dollars. Local meals consists mostly of fish, meat, rice, beans and stews. On the northern coast the Caribbean influence is very much present.
For a local meal expect to pay around $4-5 for a big plate of rice, beans and a choice of meat, as well as a drink. These are the best bang for buck when travelling on a budget!
Buying bottled water will set you back less than a dollar, while a local beer a couple of bucks. Some places that sees more tourist might se prices a little higher, but if you stay away from the main squares and roads, cheap meals are plentiful!
Accommodation
A night in a dorm in Honduras is fairly cheap. Expect to pay between $10-15 a night depending on your level of comfort. I found hostels in Honduras very charming and often run by local families that make you feel like home.
A lot of hostels in Honduras also serve breakfast, which is a wonderful treat for any backpacker on a budget!
Transportation
Like most of Central America it’s not always easy to get around, but there are plenty of options.
Local buses, especially on longer distances will save you plenty of money but will take quite a bit more time and with several stops. You might also have to change buses, but it’s totally doable. For longer travel between bigger cities, like Tegucigalpa to La Ceiba, direct buses will cost you a bit more, but are a lot more comfortable.
Another option is to pay even more for a shuttle. Most hostels or local travel agency can book for you which saves you a lot of stress and time. The shuttles will pick you up at your hostel and take you and fellow backpackers to the door of your next hostel. In Central America I always recommend this if you have the money for it.
In the north when visiting the islands, water taxis are your best bet! They are pretty cheap and safe way to get out there to enjoy paradise!
Flying in Honduras is not recommended as it’s very expensive. If you have a big budget however, they do run frequently, so enjoy the time saved!
When to go
The best time to visit Honduras is during the dry season between December and May. You’ll enjoy perfect temperature and little to no rainfall. If you want to explore more of the national parks, then during the rain season will give you more life to see. Overall the weather is extremely nice year round in these parts of the world. A small precaution is to travel during the Hurricane season between August to November, but hits are very uncommon in Honduras.
Safety
For a long time Honduras has had trouble with its bad reputation and lack of safety. I would say the big cities (like most of the world) still struggle with crime and violence, and visiting the capital should be done with extreme caution. That being said most of the touristic parts of Honduras are completely safe! In these places you should enjoy yourself, as long as you follow the general safety tips that you as a backpacker should follow anywhere you go! Also, never travel without insurance.
Safety Tips:
- Always have some cash at hand in case someone wants to rob you. Better to hand over a few notes than to be caught with nothing or lose your credit card.
- Always keep your valuables safely on you on night buses and never put your backpack in the overhead compartment.
- In large crowds be careful with your belongings. Things in your pocket can easily be taken, but also smaller backpacks, bum bags etc. Make sure you secure them to avoid pickpockets in these situations.
- Do not wander around alone at night in places you are not familiar with. If you have to, stick to well lit streets as much as possible. Preferable where there are more people. If you need to use your phone for maps, do it discreetly and never wave your phone or wealth around.
- Don’t wear flashy things and leave your expensive jewellery at home.
- Bring a padlock and use the lockers in hostels for all your valuables.
- Be careful with how much you drink, accepting drinks from others or the use of drugs. There are many stories out there, so try not to overdo anything unless you have people with you to take care of you.
By taking some precautions you will be fine in Honduras, and come back with wonderful memories of this beautiful little paradise.
Resources
So, are you ready for an adventure to Honduras? Here are some of the resources I personally use when I travel. Great value and support, in addition to the best deals out there!
BOOKING – The best place to book accommodation. In my experience the site with the best prices, deals and selection. Perfect for a budget traveller.
HOSTELWORLD – The best place to find hostels, and also has group chats for all your bookings and places you’re going to make it easier to meet people. Perfect for solo travellers!
SKYSCANNER – When I need to find the cheapest days and ways to fly somewhere, Skyscanner is always the first place I go.
GET YOUR GUIDE – A massive marketplace for inspiration and booking of tours and activities for each place you visit.
AIRALO – What I use to stay connected on the road. A slightly more expensive option than buying local sim cards, but nothing beats having e-sim installed and ready to go as soon as you cross the border.
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