Solo Travel To Honduras
Types of Girl about the Globe (GatG) – Diving GatG, History GatG, Party GatG
If you are planning on visiting Honduras, below is our Honduras travel guide on how to travel solo in Honduras including places to visit in Honduras, where to stay, things to do in Honduras and where to go in Honduras as a solo, which tour company to use and how to get around. Find out how to get from the airports and what to do in each place.
All companies included have been recommended by solo female travellers and come with our Solo Female Friendly endorsement. Just choose the relevant section or read the full article for any trips to Honduras.
* Before you travel, check what paperwork or visas are required for Honduras.
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Contents
- About Honduras
- Tours in Honduras
- Where To Stay in Honduras
- Getting Around Honduras
- From The Airport
- How Long Do You Need?
- Travelling Onwards
- FAQs
- Map of Honduras
- Plan a Trip To Honduras
- Related Posts
Solo Travel in Honduras
There’s no denying it, Honduras isn’t great for solo females. That's why we've given it 1 out of 5 stars. There is a high level of crime and you need to be comfortable with armed security guards whose presence is felt in certain areas. Although we travelled alone with no problems, it is wise to team up with others for this country. If you don’t want to be the only traveller within local towns, head to the friendly Bay of Islands for the comfort of other travellers backpacking Honduras.
Is Honduras safe? Honduras is a macho society so you may receive unwanted attention. Take a taxi if travelling at night and be really careful in Tegucigulpa and San Pedro Sula which are known for their dangerous areas. Don’t venture outside of the bus terminal for San Pedro Sula safety at night.
Honduras is an interesting country but it does require extra vigilance and safety for those wishing to travel solo. If you are unsure of things to see in Honduras and how to travel to Honduras alone, you may feel more comfortable traveling to Honduras in a group tour.
The colourful houses in Roatan
About Honduras
Honduras is relatively untrodden on the tourist path. Its pristine beaches and ancient Mayan city of Copan rival that of Mexico but Honduras tourism and the country is still developing as a travellers destination and you need to be very careful away from the main tourist areas. There aren't that many cities to visit in Honduras so many people head straight for the Bay of Islands from La Ceiba, the country’s third largest city.
As well as being the gateway to the islands, you can whitewater raft on the Cangrijal River and if you fancy some luxury, La Ceiba has swanky waterfront hotels to choose from.
Just off the coast you can enjoy a cultural experience with the Garifuna people who live in traditional villages on the Cayos Cochinos and will teach you about their indigenous culture and you may even witness a Dugu dance, one of the traditional Honduras sights to see.
If you’ve ever wanted to learn how to dive, take a ferry from here to the turquoise waters of the Honduras Bay Islands, part of the world’s most bio diverse barrier reef. The coral reefs around Utila are part of the world’s 2nd largest barrier reef, known as the MesoAmerican reef. It’s one of the Honduras tourist places and attracts many visitors to its little island.
This is the one of the cheapest places to get scuba certified and people stay for weeks and even months in Utila which has a great social vibe for solos (and they speak English here). Utila is one of the places to go in Honduras to meet other travellers as it is on the Honduras backpacking route.
Just across the water is Roatan, more expensive than its neighbour. With its azure water and white sand, West Bay on Roatan island has some of the nicest beaches in Honduras. It is even considered one of America’s top five beaches and has luxurious hostels lining the sandy stretch. Sharks, turtles and even Bottlenose dolphins can be spotted here.
Tabyana Beach Break is one of the popular beaches in Roatan. In Roatan, go to the Sol y Mar Beach Club to meet other travelers on the private beach. West Bay Beach is one of the beautiful places on the island, and also a Honduras place to go to to indulge in some water activity. Take one of the Roatan tours to see the sloths at Daniel Johnson’s Monkey and Sloth Hangout, an animal sanctuary on the island where you can experience an island tour as well as the famous monkey tours Honduras. For some adventure, try horseback riding on the island.
There are bars with trivia nights to keep you entertained but the main areas are a bit touristy so if you want to stay near local villagers, head to Sandy Bay (although not much there) for some local interaction.
Is Roatan safe? Roatan is one of the safe places to visit in Honduras. Although the islands are extremely safe, they are not a true representation of the rest of the country and the mainland is where you can really experience the true Honduran culture. Honduras is a very mountainous country with coffee plantations, national parks, jungle and cloud forests and the majority of Hondurans live within the highlands.
The towns and cities in Honduras have kept their historic architecture but the most popular site and one of the must see places in Honduras has to be the Copan ruins. After you’ve visited these impressive ruins and the magnificent Hieroglyphic Stairway, one of the famous Honduras attractions, there are bars and restaurants for socialising and you’ll meet many travellers here coming and going from Guatemala. Near Copan is Macaw Mountain Bird Park, one of the Honduras tourist attractions. This nature reserve cares for endangered and rescued birds and you can interact and learn about Central America birds including the famous toucan.
Christopher Columbus is actually said to have first set foot upon the American mainland in Trujillo, one of the oldest towns in Central America. This is a safe place to visit and you can learn all about the pirate history then explore the old Spanish fort and open-air restaurants along the bay.
Trujillo
The Caribbean coastal town of Tela was the first Honduras city founded by the Spanish, and has a strong Garifuna community. Things to do in Tela include visiting a Garifuna village, and seeing Lancetilla Botanical Gardens, one of the world’s biggest tropical botanical garden. Within its 1,680 hectares are diverse species of plants that represent four continents. See howler monkeys, reptiles and pumas within its subtropical humid and tropical forest.
It’s wise not to solo travel in Tegucigalpa, the Honduras capital and the largest city in Honduras so if you choose to visit, team up for extra security. If you do visit the cobbled streets of the city there are national parks and museums including the National Gallery of Arts with paleolithic stone carvings. The area of Plaza San Martin has a nice atmosphere with a few bars and Tegucigalpa is actually a good place to pick up jewellery.
Honduras is perfect for wildlife lovers; go bird watching at Lake Yojoa or spot a howler monkey at Jeannette Kawas national park near Tela. If you love exotic birds, the Macaw Mountain Park is a must see. Originally started as a safe haven for birds being killed or smuggled out of the country the park now acts as a rehabilitation centre. Coffee here is fresh from the coffee beans grown on-site and a river runs through the park making it a gorgeous place to visit.
On the northeastern coast is the UNESCO World Heritage site of the Río Plátano Biosphere Reserve, one of the Honduras places for mountains and lowlands with many different ecosystems and jaguars amongst the wildlife. Fly through the air on canopy zip-lines or go caving here. One of the Honduras famous landmarks is Lake Yojoa (Lago de Yojoa), the largest natural lake in the country, and another great spot for birdwatching.
If you want to know what to do in Honduras to get your heart pumping, one of the activities in Honduras is white water rafting along the Cangrejal River (Rio Cangrejal). It’s one of the fun things to do in Honduras that borders Pico Bonito National Park, a place of beautiful Honduras scenery where you can hike in a cloud forest.
There’s more hiking to be had at La Tigra National Park, the oldest national park with cloud forest and hiking trails, or in Cusuco National Park in the northwest. Visit the manatees, go kayaking in the mangroves of Punta Izopo or visit Punta Sal a good spot to snorkel.
Honduras can be an unsafe country so if you want to solo travel Honduras, stick to the tourist areas and avoid the main cities.
* Click here to discover all activities and things to do in Honduras
Tours in Honduras
If you are feeling apprehensive about travelling solo, sometimes taking a tour for part or all of your trip can give you the confidence you need before going it alone. G Adventures is a responsible tour company which mainly caters towards budget travellers. Most small group tours have an average of 10 people and there is no upper age limit. Once you book your trip you pay extra for any excursions you want to do when you’re there.
They offer multi-country tours combining Honduras with neighbouring countries. Take the 17 day Volcano Trail through Costa Rica, Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua and El Salvador or an epic 33 day Best of Central America adding Mexico and Belize to the Volcano Trail itinerary. I have personally used G Adventures and recommend them as a solo female friendly company.
* Click here for the full itineraries, prices, and start dates
Intrepid Travel is similar to G Adventures with an average of 12 people on each tour. They tend to use hotels instead of hostels and have a more comfortable style of accommodation hence the trips can appear a bit more costly than G Adventures.
They offer a 9 day Guatemala & Beyond tour travelling to Nicaragua, Honduras, and Guatemala, a 17 day Central American journey or an epic 33 day Central American Adventure seeing jungle ruins, volcanic mountains and the Caribbean coast. Read our Intrepid Travel Reviews. With both tour companies you share a room with someone of the same gender or you can pay extra for your own room.
* Click here for the full itineraries, prices, and start dates
Get Your Guide Day Tours – Get Your Guide helps you to find top-rated Honduras activities and recommended Honduras excursions. Choose from hiking and beach hopping in Roatan, a Roatan zip line and dip excursion flying through the air, or an ATV eco adventure. There are several to choose from and it’s really simple to use. Just check the reviews, price and availability then book online. * Check all tours and prices here
Viator – Viator are similar to Get Your Guide. They are an American company and a tour platform with more than 345,000 tours and worldwide activities. They have several day trips in Honduras to choose from such as a zipline and monkey and sloth visit, horseback riding along the beach, or a wave runner and snorkel on Roatan. Read my Viator review or click the link for all their tours. * Check all Viator tours, prices and availability
Where To Stay in Honduras
Honduras has a range of accommodation whether you’re looking for hostels (called hospedajes), guest houses and hotels. You can also find dive resorts on the island of Utila.
Plus there’s Airbnb which offers rooms in Honduras with a local and rental accommodation on a short-term basis. You can stay in a private room in a local's house or rent their whole apartment. Save $20 off your first stay with this Airbnb link.
All of the accommodations below have been recommended by solo female travellers from our Girls about the Globe community and come with our Solo Female Friendly endorsement. For all other accommodation in Honduras, click on the link below.
* Check prices, dates and availability for all Honduras accommodation
Copan Ruinas – Terramaya Boutique Hotel
If you’re planning on visiting the Copan Ruinas during your stay in Honduras, this beautiful hotel with welcoming staff is in a lovely setting with a view of the town and mountains from the balcony. The rooms have air-conditioning and a flat-screen TV and there’s a shared lounge to mingle with the other guests. Plus a delicious breakfast is included too. Choose from a double room with a garden view, a deluxe double room with a balcony or a terrace and mountain view, or a suite with a balcony.
- Prices from £81 / $113 per night for a double room with a garden view
- To book, check prices or availability: Terramaya Boutique Hotel
La Ceiba – Hotel Las Hamacas
If you’re heading to the islands on a ferry, this 3-star hotel is a great stop-over. They offer a shuttle to the ferry and there’s a restaurant onsite too so you don’t need to look around for places to eat. There’s an outdoor swimming pool and the staff can arrange any tours that you want to do. Choose from a classic single room, a deluxe single room or deluxe double room with balcony.
- Prices from £43 / $60 per night for a classic single room
- To book, check prices or availability: Hotel Las Hamacas
Roatan – Hotel Posada Arco Iris
Located in West End at Half Moon Bay, Hotel Posada is situated within a friendly community near to shops and restaurants. You’re far enough away from the tourist area and beach at West Bay and only a water taxi ride from it. There’s a dive shop nearby, plus hotel guests have use of kayaks and sun loungers on the beach. Each room has a balcony and view of the lush garden. Choose from a standard double room or a studio or apartment with a garden view
- Prices from £63 / $88 per night for a standard double room
- To book, check prices or availability: Hotel Posado Arco Iris
Getting Around Honduras
When you are traveling in Honduras, buses are the usual transportation in Honduras and most buses go into and out of San Pedro Sula. From the dock in Puerto Cortes walking along the bridge to the end where collectives (small buses) will take you on the 90-minute journey into San Pedro Sula. Buses from the city to La Cieba take 3 hours and the last leaves at 5:45pm. The Diana Express bus runs from La Ceiba and San Pedro Sula and are safe and comfortable.
Bamba Experience are a hop on hop off bus service offering bus travel throughout countries in Latin America and provide a safe way to travel around and meet other travellers at the same time.
Boats run regularly from the mainland to the Bay of Islands or you can fly directly to Roatan. The ferry from La Ceiba to Roatan leaves at 9am and 4.30pm and a taxi to the terminal costs approx 50 Lempira p/p.
The Utila Princess costs US $24 one way from Utila Honduras to La Ceiba on the mainland. To travel to Roatan Honduras from Utila or vice versa, take a speedboat with Bushes Bay Charters for US $65 for the hour’s journey. He departs from Coconut Tree Divers Pier at West End 4 times a week.
* Taking a taxi in Honduras you have to pay per person and not per taxi.
From The Airport
To feel more comfortable on your Honduras trip, Hoppa operates a cheap airport shuttle that will take you to the city centre or your hotel.
San Pedro Sula – Only taxis run the 8 miles to the city and cost £10 or you get a taxi to the overpass for £3 and take a bus from there.
Tegucigalpa – The Airport Taxi Company will take you anywhere in the city for £5 for the 20 minute journey.
Roatan – Local buses run to hotels and taxis have fixed rates to other places on the island.
La Ceiba – Collectivos will take you to the city for £1 or use an airport taxi for £4.
How Long Do You Need?
If you are planning on travelling to Honduras, you'll need at least one week to see the Bay of Islands with one stop on the mainland. If taking a scuba diving course is on your Honduras things to do list, stay longer and visit Utila.
Where can I go from here?
- Cayman Islands – 1.5 hrs
- Miami – 2 hrs
- Guatemala -1.5 hrs
Travelling Onwards (check visas before you travel)
To Belize – The D-Express leaves Puerto Cortes to Placencia in Belize, stopping at Mango Creek for immigration. TIP – At Puerto Cortes immigration you can pay in Belizean dollars as well as Lempira.
To Guatemala – El Florido is the border crossing near the Copan Ruins and the most popular. Another is Puerto Barrios in Guatemala.
To Nicaragua – Via the Leimus border crossing.
To El Salvador – At El Poy and El Amatillo.
FAQs
- Can I drink the water? No.
- Is tipping expected? In restaurants it is appreciated.
- Fixed price or barter? Barter.
- Any ATMs? Yes In the main cities and towns and on the Bay of Islands.
- Which side of the road do they drive? Right.
- Good for vegetarians? Yes.
- Any seven wonders of the world? No
Honduras Map
Plan a Trip To Honduras
Facts
If you are planning your Honduras visit, below are some useful websites to help you plan your trip including vaccinations required, currency and airlines that fly there.
How much does a trip to Honduras cost? Budget £30 a day for staying in hostels and travelling by bus.
Capital – Tegucigalpa
Population – 8.1 million
Language in Honduras – Spanish
Useful Info
The Best Time to Go – March, April
Events and Festivals in Honduras
Did you know? Free diving championships are held in Roatan
Eco Hotels
Cultural Experience
Where to Stay
Book your Hotels
Treat Yourself at Las Verandas
Mind Body & Soul
Yoga classes and Spa Treatments at Tranquility Spa, Roatan
Spa Treatments at Infinity Bay Spa and Beach Resort
Local Issues in Honduras
Honduras Trash Dump Community
Weather in Honduras – Below is the annual weather forecast for Honduras from January to December.
