Tegucigalpa
As Honduras has not been an incredibly popular tourist destination for an abundance of travellers in recent times, you could be forgiven for not knowing a great deal about its capital, the tongue twisting Tegucigalpa. If you decide to travel to Tegucigalpa then you may well be surprised by the friendly and calm atmosphere that presides in this city. The city was founded around the mid sixteenth century when European-Spanish settlers built the city over the land of the previous indigenous people who had dwelt there in order to mine gold and silver. In 1880 it officially became the country's capital city and continued to grow slowly until the 1960s when a period of rapid development led to a population growth so that it is now home to 1.6 million people. Having experienced problems with major flooding and deforestation around the city in 1998 when Hurricane Mitch devastated the area, Tegucigalpa has recently seen a period of rebuilding that has made it the relatively modern city it is today.
Tegucigalpa is the only Central American capital that has no railway, so the only means of transport in the city is by road. This takes nothing away from the feeling of the city as the laid back and, for the most part, friendly residents of Tegucigalpa will do their utmost to helpfully guide you around their city and help you make the most of a place that can give the first impression of being a little dull. Of course, like every Central American city, Tegucigalpa does have its area that should be off limits to tourists but if you stay in areas around the city centre you should find the city a pleasant place to be.
Attractions
The Historical Centre - The historical centre of Tegucigalpa is easy to find as it is situated in the most bustling, down town area of the city. It contains both the Central Park and the central plaza which serve as fine and colourful places to enjoy the tropical American weather. It also houses the impressive cathedral, dedicated to the patron saint of Tegucigalpa Michael Archangel, which strikingly dominates the historical centre and dates back to the late eighteenth century. The contents of the cathedral serve as a constant reminder to the locals and tourists alike of how important gold and silver mining were to the city's history as they splendidly decorate the interior. As is the case in many Central American countries, Honduras teaches a strictly Roman Catholic based faith, so be careful not to disturb the many locals who pray at the cathedral as you look around.
El Picacho National Park - A short bus or taxi ride out of the city will take you to El Picacho Park. The word Tegucigalpa literally translates to 'silver mountain' in the ancient Nahuatl language so it stands to reason that many mountains should surround the valley the city is based in. This park is most famous for its statue, the Christ of Picacho, and if you stand at the foot of this statue that has now become a symbol of Tegucigalpa you will find yourself confronted by a breath taking view of the sprawling city. Once you have taken this in you can visit more sites in the park, such as a modest zoo and some gardens. El Picacho serves as a relaxing area where one can savour an aerial view of the city. There is no good reason not to follow the wisdom of the locals who often chose to come here on their weekends and enjoy the most spectacular park in Tegucigalpa.
Estadio Tiburcio Carias Andino - Whilst Honduras' neighbouring country, Nicaragua, enjoys baseball as its national sport, you can not go anywhere in Honduras as an English tourist and not be asked about football. The passion and fever that surrounds the game in Honduras is so exciting that a visit to this stadium that hosts the countries two best teams, Motagua and Olimpia, is a fascinating experience for both fans of football and those who are not usually so keen on the game. If you enter the thirty five thousand capacity stadium on a match day you should be greeted by a full house of Honduran's, often in family groups, who seem to enjoy the atmosphere as much as the match itself. If you join in with the taunts to the opposition such as, Chuleta, Chuleta, Chuleta, translated to "you're pork, you're pork, you're pork", the locals will take to you very quickly and explain frantically the issues of Honduran football.
Shopping
If it is souvenirs and craft items you are after then Santa Lucia and Valle de Angeles will suit you down to a tee. They are towns just on the outskirts of Tegucigalpa that can be reached in an hour at most by bus, and they are especially renowned for their intricate pieces of woodwork. In the central areas of Tegucigalpa you can find more modern tourist ornaments, such as gold and silver jewellery, that will usually be good quality and, although relatively good value, not dirt cheap. There are also some world renowned tobacco and cigar factories further away from Tegucigalpa which means that if you are after good quality cigars then, barring perhaps Cuba, there is no better place to come.
Nightlife and Eating Out
Tegucigalpa has a wide range of standards of food so the city will almost certainly be able to suit your needs. On the higher class range, the restaurant El Patio, on Bulevar Morazan, will serve fantastic local meat dishes whilst there are cheaper places down town that will serve a good variation of food from steaks to pizzas. Beware that when you get around this area of Central America, it is not rare to see guards with machine guns guarding the restaurants. Although this looks extremely intimidating, these guards are there to put off any potential bandits idea of a robbery and the restaurants are entirely safe.
Tegucigalpa is not a clubbing mecca, but you can find many fun and not too seedy discotheques in the centre of town. The bars in the centre are usually quite fun too but be wary of the bars on the outer, less touristy parts of the city which can be a little unfriendly towards western looking people.
Tourist Information
Clarion Hotel Real TegucigalpaJuan Manuel Galvez 1521TegucigalpaHonduras
- Tel: +504 286 6000
- Website: [http://www.clarion-tegucigalpa.gruporeal.com/ www.clarion-tegucigalpa.gruporeal.com/]
