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Central America has been making quite a stir lately, especially after it was confirmed last year that the region has too officially surpassed Europe in backpack travel trends.
All countries in the isthmus that divides North from South are experiencing an increase in bookings, but one in particular is break records, not only recovered from the crisis-induced slump, but even surpassed 2019 figures.
In 2023, tourists have rediscovered Honduras and fallen in love with it again, but what’s so special about this small country that captivates them so much?
Honduras is breaking tourism records
Honduras is certainly not the most infamous country on the isthmus of Central America, nor is it America’s favorite sunny getaway.
Historically overshadowed by the much more popular center of Costa Rica and the beach hotspot of Belize, this has only succeeded moderate fame in recent years as interest in off-path destinations grew. Now it is one of the fastest recovering countries in the subgroup.
It borders Guatemala to the west, El Salvador to the southwest and Nicaragua to the southeast, while it is bordered to the south by the Pacific Ocean and to the north by an inlet of the Caribbean Sea. overlooked gem home to abundant green nature and a fascinating ancient culture.
After two years of limited tourism, while countries like Mexico and the Dominican Republic, two of the Caribbean’s biggest competitors, monopolized revenues, Honduras is once again hosting 1.2 million visitors per year.
These figures are historic for Honduras, traditionally a small destination, and already represent a growth of 17 percent compared to 2019, the pre-pandemic reference year.
Interestingly, the Americans are doing well a majority of foreign visitors to Honduras.
This year they account for almost half of all arrivals (48 percent), including both flight and cruise passengers, but you may be wondering why American visitors are suddenly flooding into Honduras.
Why is Honduras so trendy now?
Honduras is best known for its natural attractions, including cloud forests, two pristine coastlines and the largest rainforest north of the Amazon.
Needless to say, tourists who fly to the country are mainly looking for an escape into nature, and there is no shortage of wonders to discover, from the coral reef dive sites in Roatana paradise island 65 km off the coast of Northern Honduras, surrounded by the Caribbean, up to the jungle and its lost cities.
Roatan is easily Honduras’ number one tourist attractionas it is filled with resorts and boutique hotels that offer peace and tranquility and easy access to the beach.
In fact, it’s now the third trendiest winter sun destination for Americans.
An affordable Caribbean holiday
The luxurious Paradise Beach Hotel, located on the West Bay, has overnight rates as cheap as $184 this winter. If you’re on a budget, you can still find great vacation deals from $44 at local guesthouses, such as Lotos House or the Roatan B&B Apartments.
Utila is another scenic island in the Caribbean provinces, surrounded by reefs, where marine life enthusiasts can swim with sharks, visit an iguana research center and even party in East Harbor, a trendy nightlife area.
On the mainland it’s all about that Honduras’ colonial heritage and pre-Columbian culture.
One of the largest cities in the country, San Pedro Sula, is a colonial gem which centers some of Honduras’ most iconic Spanish-era monuments and museums, including St. Peter the Apostle Cathedral and the Sampedrano Cultural Center.
This year, Colombian airline Avianca launched nonstop flights from New York-JFK to San Pedro Sula, making it easier for American visitors to reach this lesser-known Latin American destination.
Tegucigalpa, on the other hand, is the national capital of Honduras and a bustling financial center dominated by skyscrapers and business districts.
It is far from the most visited country, but it is a vibrant city trip a combination of both colonial and modern architecture.
An icon of the capital’s skyline, Las Dolores Church was built as early as 1735.
Ancient Mayan ruins
Furthermore, a little known fact about Honduras is that it belongs to the broader Mayan world, as the concept of borders did not exist in Central America at the time.
The Maya roamed freely across the Isthmus and Yucatan Peninsula in modern-day Mexico, establishing trading ports and highly developed cities as their power as a civilization grew.
One of these is Copan, which is now largely in ruins on Honduran territory UNESCO world heritage considered of paramount importance to our understanding of the Maya and their ancient ways.
Copan was not excavated until the 19th century, but was founded as early as the 5th century, making it one of the oldest Mayan settlements.
In general, so is Honduras quite affordable to visitwhich travelers are expected to do as well put aside $57 for daily expenses during their trip.
As the economic crisis deepens, it’s no wonder Americans are now choosing Honduras, where their tourism dollars stretch further and the beaches are as beautiful as anywhere else in the Pacific and Caribbean.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
