Roads: 7
Church in Gracias |
2007, the direct route from El Salvador to Nicaragua has good roads but the shoulders were narrower and sometimes broken.
In 2006, we rode what was described as the best highway in Honduras. This highway runs from El Poy to Santa Rosa to San Pedro Sula. The side roads to Copan and then as far as Gracias were wide and well maintained.also being improved.
In 1992 there were 2000 kilometers of paved roads in Honduras. We rode less than 20% of these, but the roads we took were newly improved and well engineered. There are grades but they are moderate. We were told that the other highways were
Traffic: 7
In 2007, on the direct route across Honduras the traffic was surprisingly moderate.
In 2006, the southwest, the traffic was light but there are some trucks. One issue was their disregard for cyclists, often passing too close.
In 1992, the capital had terrible traffic. Outside of Tegucigalpa, the volume of traffic died down. Toward the borders with El Salvador and Nicaragua, the roads were quiet.
Weather: 4
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Pacific side Amatillo Island near San Lorenzo
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November 2007, the temperatures were warmer than the previous year even in the mountains where we
wore a light sweater at night.
In the altitude in the southwest, the temperatures were low even in the day. At night, it was down right cold (below 10 degrees centigrade). Apparently, this is the climate from October to January but it was colder than usual in November 2006.
In 1992, it’s hot and dry here. The sun at midday actually hurts. The rainy season is from May to October, but even then the rains are more infrequent here than in the rest of Central America. Tegucigalpa is at 975 meters and has a fresh and cooler climate.
Winds: 4
In 2007 the winds were strong from the northeast.
In 2006, the winds were from the north and strong especially on the numerous mountain passes.
Prevailing winds blow from the northeast, increasing in speed in the afternoon and occasionally bringing rain in the evening.
Scenery: 7
In 2007, on the climb to San Marcos, the vistas were really great.
Traffic along route #66 toward Amatillo Island in the Pacific |
The mountains of the southwest were beautiful. With the constant climbs come good vistas. In November 2006, we had fogged-in conditions high in the mountains on some days.
Although not as spectacular as other countries in Central American, Honduras is a mountainous country and does offer some vistas and nice scenery. There are a lot of pine covered mountains.
Information: 2
We used the Lonely Planet again in 2007. We got much more reliable information from the locals.
We used the Lonely Planet in 2006 and got a tourist booklet in Copan that covered the main tourists’ places in the southwest of Honduras. We bought a general tourist map, which showed the roads, but the dirt roads appear the same as the paved roads. There was not a terrain indicator so we had to take it as it came. The information from locals was very unreliable.
The tourist office map is useless. The Texaco map is difficult to find and AAA map details only distances. Getting a good map is a concern because at times villages and provisions are separated by climbs or difficult roads. There’s a chapter about biking in general in “Latin American by Bike” by Walter Sienko published by Mountaineers.
Road Safety: 7
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Road from Santa Anna to El Poy border of Honduras
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In 2006 and 2007, because of the light traffic, the roads were safe. The only issue was the driver’s disregard of your space, so we rode defensively.
In the capital, in 1992, riding is hazardous. The further you get from Tegue, the safer the roads. The roads we rode were well engineered and the traffic levels low, so the riding was good.
General Safety: 5
The smaller cities of the direct route we took in 2007 seemed safe. We got few warnings from the locals.
People were proud of how safe the area was in the southwest, in 2006. We never felt any concern, but we were warned in Santa Rosa to take care.
In Teguciagalpa, in 1992, street crime was increasing, but still not overwhelming. The people are poor, so non-violent sneaky crime is a fact of life. Outside the capital, the risks decreased.
Value: 4
15K up and 20K down to El Poy Honduras border |
In 2006 and 2007, the quality of food and lodging was average but the prices were correspondingly low.
In 1992, the cost of living was low and the inflation rate was reasonable. The problem is that both the food and hotels are of a low standard. You pay very little, but the quality is very low even in the capital.
Fluids: 6
In 2006 and 2007, bottled water was always available. Other drinks including Gatorade were available and cold. All drinks including beer were cold and OK.
In 1992, bottled water was difficult to find except as refrescas (soft drinks). Don’t drink untreated water, including ice cubes. Amoebic dysentery is endemic. Refrescas and beer are both common but at times hard to find cold.
Food: 4
In 2007, we got decent food at reasonable prices.
In 2006, in the southwest, we found good basic food. Mexican restaurants have come here, also pizza. It’s not gourmet but it is passable.
In the countryside, at times it was difficult to find even basic food. At restaurants it’s mostly basic and often poor quality even in the capitol. You get lots of fried chicken. Also, beware of gringo prices.
Accomodations: 3
In 2007, we found reasonably good rooms at somewhat higher prices.
Not the best but at least the sheets were clean in 2006. Occasionally, the hotels, although old and warn, were about average.
Poor quality generally in 1992. Hotels, pensions, hospedajes and hotelitos are all poor. Camping is hard to find. Proceed at your risk.
People: 6
In 2006 and 2007, we found the people very friendly and kind. For example, we had offers of rides up long climes. We never encountered the gang activity we had heard about.
Honduras is a destitute country in 1992. The people are 90% mestizo. The people are struggling
economically. This being said, their attempts at helpfulness were sincere , but their knowledge was slim. They see few tourists and treat cyclists as a great curiosity.
Culture: 4
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Boat resting in Bay near San Lorenzo
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The only small city on the 2007 trip that was of interest was Choluteca which has a progressive mayor (voted best in the country) and is renovating the colonial center.
In 2006 we found the southwest is full of colonial towns and villages. Copan is a good archeological site, but it’s not on a par with Guatemala or Mexico.
In 1992, Honduras is an unpretentious country. But there is none of the colorful customs of the Indian culture or the grandeur of the other colonial cities of Central Americas.
History: 3
In 2007, only Choluteca was of historical interest.
In 2006, the colonial towns and villages in the southwest are interesting and Copan is a very interesting Mayan ruin.
In 1992, of course, Honduras has the same heritage as the rest of Central America. But there is little evidence of history. We missed the highlight: the Mayan ruins of Copan. Tegucigalpa offers for less than the other capitals of Central American in regard to historical sites.
TOTAL SCORE 73