Backpacking in Honduras: Top Ten in Topsy Turvy Tegucigalpa!!
Time for a load of “T”s. Tegucigalpa doesn’t typically attract tons of tourists. There’s no hostel, there ain’t no backpacker scene and there are no major landmarks to lure casual travellers in. Undoubtedly it was those three things that spurred me on to visit Tegucigalpa and discover what this place is all about. Similarly to Montenegro’s Podgorica (“Poddy”), Suriname’s Paramaribo, Moldova’s Chisinau, Nagorno Karabakh’s Stepanakert, the Honduran capital of Tegucigalpa (“Tegus”) is a rather untouristy, chilled out and slow moving capital city. And bang bang baby I loved it!
View over Tegucigalpa from my Hotel Linda Vista.
First things first though, geographically it makes no sense to skip Tegus on a journey through Central America. If you are heading overland in either direction from Guatemala to Nicaragua, it would be very hard not to at least pass through Tegus. It’s a main bus route, it’s a hub and it’s well connected by road to the other populated cities around it. To simply bus hop through it would seem ridiculous unless you are completely pushed for time (an excuse which of course I can understand).
Towering Tegucigalpa in Honduras.
Backpack at the ready and I arrived by bus into Tegus from La Ceiba. After touring Rio Cangrejal and San Pedro Sula, I was now in the capital city. I checked into my hotel first, the fantastic Hotel Linda Vista. Then I realised most of the sights I wanted to check out were all within 25minute walk! Here are ten things I personally recommend when you visit Tegucigalpa.
My brother’s postcards from Honduras including Tegucigalpa…
1. View of the City
Obviously I was sorted in this respect as my hotel already had a great view. Tegus is a city that is topsy turvy. It’s up and down. Every corner and hill offers new vantage points, day and night.
View of Tegucigalpa from the hotel.
Tegucigalpa by night.
2. Catedral
The main catedral dominates the main city square (Plaza Morazan) and is Tegus’s centrepiece.
Main Catedral in Plaza Morazan.
There are some tourist boards with information on them and currently, local teenagers pop up taking selfies for Facebook in this very square these days. I had to join in of course…
Selfie at the main Cathedral.
3. Manuel Bonilla National Theatre
The National Theatre is admittedly looking a bit worse for wear these days and you get the feeling that a facelift is coming soon. It’s in a nice area with a park and often has live music on the streets nearby.
The Theatre in Tegucigalpa.
4. Plaza Morazan
The statue of former president Francsico Morazan sits here in Plaza Morazan in what is a lively and safe square to hang out in. Trendy cafes and occasional live music, with not a tourist in sight.
Francisco Morazan Statue in Tegucigalpa.
5. Museo Para La Identidad Nacional
I’m not a huge fan of museums, but this one is memorable. Housed in a former government palace, this spot gives you an insight into the national identity of Honduras. I knew nothing about Honduras through the years until I went here. There is a film on which you have to pay extra for (I didn’t) – it details some history of the Copan Ruins.
Museo para la identidad nacional.
6. Iglesia Los Dolores
This is the prettiest church in the city in my eyes. Sat in a perky and lively square, the Iglesia Los Dolores.
The beautiful Iglesia Los Dolores.
The beautiful Iglesia Los Dolores.
7. Estadio Nacional
You might not know this, but Honduras have been in 3 World Cups to date, including a 1-1 draw against Northern Ireland in the 1982 finals. They qualified in 2014 as well, which including an 8-1 drubbing of Canada, a game however that was played in San Pedro Sula.
Nacional Stadium in Tegucigalpa, Honduras.
8. Iglesia San Francisco
Central America is a dominantly Catholic region. There are lots of churches in Tegucigalpa and I’m also including the Iglesia San Francisco on here. There’s also a small park in front of it, all walkable within a few minutes from Plaza Morazan.
Iglesia San Francisco.
9. Palacio Legaslativo
As Tegus is the capital city the palace and government buildings are all here. Head to check out the rather un noticed Palacio Legaslativo which is nonchalantly on a commuter street near Plaza Morazan.
Palacio Legaslativo in Tegucigalpa, Honduras.
10. Calle Peatonal
This pedestrian street is the main shopping street through the city. You can see where Tegucigalpa is going – up and coming wifi cafes, popular shops, clean streets and occasional music.
Calle Peatonal, Tegucigalpa.
11. Desarrollo de la Iglesia
This church is a bit out of the city centre and I didn’t go up close and personal to it, but you get a great view of it from different parts of the city. I viewed it from the bus station.
Desarrollo de la Iglesia
12. Iglesia la Guadeloupe
This church I’m adding in as I liked it and it is not in the city centre – it sits on the Boulevard Morazan – an up and coming US style boulevard near my hostel.
Iglesia la Guadeloupe.
While you’re in Tegucigalpa, just wandering the streets and noticing obscures things can be fun too – this is a city not dis similar to Paraguay’s unknown Asuncion. I enjoyed my time here before heading on a border bus to Leon in Nicaragua. I bring you some cool photos from my jaunts around the city…
Here are some cool videos from my time backpacking in Tegucigalpa in Honduras:
Sure, sure. Keep reminding everyone about the 8-1 us Canadians took. But you might lose out on a loyal reader if you do! Just kidding. I can never stop reading your Blog! 😉
Ray recently posted…Weech’s Wanders … Cruise Vacations
Ha ha Ray – I kind of typed this up a few months back and only just finished it, I haven’t thought about that football match since then and it will probably be the last mention of it! Safe travels. Jonny
Hi, great to hear someone saying something positive about Honduras’ capital. Normally its just all doom gloom and grim crime statistics – well done for getting out there and bucking the trend. I found the same in Managua, Nicaragua, actually a very enjoyable and interesting city if you manage to wade through the torrents of criticism! You might enjoy it too
Hi Steph thanks for the comment. Glad you liked Tegucigalpa too. With regards to Managua, I was a bit pushed for time in Nicaragua as I stayed in Guatemala for a month, El Salvador almost 2 weeks and over 2 weeks in Honduras, so by that time I limited myself to just Leon and Granada and I slipped through Managua in a matter of 20 minutes. Glad to hear it’s a decent city. Safe travels. Jonny
Hi Jonny, I passed through Tegucigalpa back in March and found a new hostel called the Palmira. Very clean, new furniture, communal kitchen and a 15 minute walk into the city centre. Located up in the hotel and embassy district so felt very quiet and safe. Nice city, I would definitely recommend visiting it, even if it is only for the day.
Hi Steve, thanks for the comment. I also liked Tegucigalpa, which is also quite an under estimated capital city and there weren’t many other backpackers about which made it even better! I met some backpackers who had a bus from Leon direct to San Pedro Sula or Lake Yoyoa who skipped Tegucigalpa even though they had time for it. I was there in September 2014, thanks for the information – I didn’t stay in a hostel, I was in the Hotel Linda Vista here, which had WiFi and breakfast: Safe travels, Jonny
Hallo,
in the next months I want to visit Central America, and want to go to Tegucigalpa, can you describe me short
how is the feeling to walk on the streets alone, do you feel safe? Did you have any problem there?
Thnx and best regards from Serbia
there are hostels in TEGUS, why are u saying tere are no hostels?
Hi Ben, thanks for the comment. I backpacked Tegucigalpa in 2014 and there were no backpacker hostels around. I asked many people and they didn’t know of any. Where are they and what are their names? Thanks. Safe travels. Jonny
Hi Max, thanks for your comment,as you can see from other posts, I personally felt safe there in 2014 but have no idea if this has now changed. As ever, take usual precautions on your travels and enjoy your trip there. Jonny
I’m from Tegucigalpa and I’m glad you enjoyed your travel! Honduras is indeed one of the most unsafe countries in the world, but it is still a very beautiful place! Can’t say much has changed since your visit here in 2014 up until now, apart from a few new political reforms and lots of student protests…. 😛
I hope you visit Honduras again sometime!
PS. The church from photo #11 is actually a Mormon church and is really close to my house! You defenitely should had checked it up close, its archtiecture is amazing!
Hi Rodrigo, it’s a great city, I enjoyed my trip there. Thanks for commenting and good luck in World Cup qualification. Jonny