A little more
Honduras.
A lot less roaming.

Travelling to Honduras: what to know before you go

Honduras stretches from the Caribbean coast to a short stretch of the Pacific, with the Maya ruins of Copán in the west, cloud forest in the mountains and the Bay Islands sitting on one of the largest reef systems in the world. It suits divers, backpackers and travellers interested in Maya history and rainforest, particularly those happy to travel at an unhurried pace.

Where to go

• Copán. A UNESCO-listed Maya city near the Guatemalan border, famous for finely carved stelae, the Hieroglyphic Stairway and tunnels beneath the main temples.
• Roatán. The largest of the Bay Islands, with dive sites on the reef just offshore, the long sandy beach at West Bay and a laid-back village scene in West End.
• Utila. A smaller, more relaxed Bay Island that is one of the most popular places in the region to learn to dive.
• Cayos Cochinos. A protected marine area of small cays and coral reefs between the mainland and the Bay Islands, with Garífuna fishing communities and clear water for snorkelling.

Best time to visit

The dry season, from roughly December to April, is the most popular time for the mainland, with better roads and clearer skies. The Caribbean coast and Bay Islands have their own pattern: the wettest months there tend to be around October to January, when northerly winds bring storms, while spring and summer are often good for diving.

Staying online in Honduras

4G coverage is good in Tegucigalpa, San Pedro Sula, La Ceiba, Copán Ruinas and on Roatán and Utila. Signal becomes weaker in the mountains, inside national parks and on smaller cays, and much of the Mosquitia region has no coverage at all. Wi-Fi is common in hotels, hostels and dive shops on the islands, though it may be slow. Download offline maps before heading into rural areas. Install an eSIM before you fly and switch it on when you land.