Official language: Spanish
Time zone: UTC -6
Currency: Lempira (HNL)
Due to its unusual mountainous location and an extremely short runway, the airport of Tegucigalpa is considered to be one of the most difficult for landing – quite a challenge for every pilot.
The city has a beautiful Basílica de Suyapa. Its patroness is Nuestra Señora de Suyapa (Our Lady), who is also the patroness saint of the whole of Honduras. It’s really worth visiting this place!
In the Nahuatl language, the name of the city translates as “the silver mountain”. Other sources say that it comes from the words “painted stones” or was inspired by the word “tototi” – a small, green parrot.
Tegucigalpa is the largest and the most populated city in Honduras. It is also one of the oldest capital cities in Central America. It was founded in the 16th century at the foot of Mount Picacho and it was – at that time – an important silver and gold mining center. Today, you can discover an extraordinary culture here, permeated with the spirit of the young, mostly artists: musicians and designers!
The climate of Tegucigalpa is very amiable. Most time of the year the temperature during the day is high and it slightly drops in the evening, encouraging everyone to spend time outdoors. That is when you should go to La Leona Park. It’s situated on a hill and offers a beautiful panoramic view of the city and the nearby river. Its neatly tended gardens make it even more pleasant to spend time and relax here. On the nearby streets, you can also admire numerous beautiful houses from the colonial times. There is another park higher up the same hill, called El Picacho. This is where one of Tegucigalpa’s most important monuments was erected: the statue of Christ that is supposed to guard the citizens.
If during your stay in the capital of Honduras, you’d like to get away for a day, head to La Tigra National Park, located about 30 kilometers north of the city center. It is also worth taking the time to visit nearby towns, such as Valle de Angeles, which is only half an hour away from Tegucigalpa. We recommend you to come and have a picnic here during the week when there are not so many tourists. Then you will also be able to see how a real small community works in this area.
Where to eat in the capital of Honduras? If you wish to taste great meals typical of Central American cuisine, go to Hacienda Real, located opposite the Marriott Hotel. Delicious Italian cuisine is served in The Market in Multiplaza at Avenida Roble. You will get an excellent lobster in the Factory Steak & Lobster, located in the same place! Feel like having a romantic dinner with a splendid view of the city and the hill? Visit La Cumbre – a restaurant situated at El Hatillo (7.5 km).