Tegucigalpa

The capital of Honduras is an old mining town that owes its distinction as capital because of the love of one of the country's former rulers for his wife.

For years, the capital of Honduras had been Comayagua, a colonial city built in a fertile valley midway between the two oceans that bathe the coasts of Honduras. The story goes that Dr. Marco Aurelio Soto, president of Honduras, married a woman from Tegucigalpa who was snubbed by Comayagua's high society, so in light of such contempt, Dr. Soto decided to move the capital to Tegucigalpa.

© Honduran Institute of Tourism

Statue of General Francisco Morazan en Downtown Tegucigalpa

Thus, Tegucigalpa, or "Tegus", as is affectionately referred to by its inhabitants, went from being an important mining center to the capital of the Republic. Tegucigalpa's name, incidentally, comes from the Nahuatl language and means "Mountain of Silver".

Today the capital of Honduras is no longer a small town. With a population of approximately one million inhabitants, it is the most important city in the country. Located in a valley surrounded by pine tree-covered mountains, old colonial buildings contrast with the modern.

Tegus is undoubtedly a city easy to get lost in. Despite its Spanish cultural heritage, the city is not drawn on a grid originating from the Central Park. To further confuse the situation, Comayagüela, Tegucigalpa's sister city, has joined the latter to become one big city.

©Honduran Institute of Tourism
Iglesia de los Dolores (Church of Sorrows)

The most interesting areas of Tegucigalpa from a tourism point of view are the historic center, where the buildings are oldest and most of the museums are located, the main city hotspots, which is where most of the restaurants, bars and offices of the most prestigious companies in Honduras are located, and the "La Leona" and "United Nations" parks, which offer panoramic views of the city and are its "green lung". These are favorite sites for people to spend their days off.

Tegucigalpa has much to offer visitors. The main cultural activities are conducted in it, so the Symphony Orchestra of Honduras has regular concerts. Also, the Manuel Bonilla Theatre is an architectural gem where plays are still offered regularly and its interior design was based on the Athénée Theatre's in Paris.

The Villa Roy National Museum, located in the former home of Julio Lozano Diaz, former president of Honduras, has an interesting collection of artifacts ranging from the pre-Columbian to the contemporary.

The former Presidential Palace houses a museum with items relevant to the history of various Honduran Heads of State. In the central square one can find the Cathedral, dedicated to the city’s patron saint, the Archangel Michael, and in the Plaza de la Merced is the Church of La Merced as well as the old Convent of La Merced, which in years past housed the National University of Honduras.

© Honduran Institute of Tourism
Risen Christ El Picacho, Tegucigalpa

Finally, Tegucigalpa offers other alternatives nearby: the Royal Mines route, an approximately 30 km circuit offers several valuable colonial towns that still preserve their ambience. Examples of these towns are San Juancito, Valle de Angeles, Ojojona, etc. Additionally, La Tigra National Park offers a spectacular cloud forest relatively easy to access by tourists.

Tegucigalpa's municipal market is of great interest; however we recommend caution because as elsewhere in the world, there are talented pickpockets. We do not recommend you visit the market area at night!

There are many banks downtown and in the main city hotspots where one can exchange currency. Bac Credomatic offers many branches where you can withdraw cash from your Visa, Master Card, American Express, Diners and JCB credit or debit cards. Bac Credomatic is located on the Boulevard Morazan and other branches are located in Multiplaza Mall, in Santa Monica Mall opposite the Toncontin Airport, and downtown opposite Larach and co.

Source: www.visitehonduras.com