Welcome to Honduras!

So you’ve been to Mexico, Costa Rica, or Panama, and you think you’ve seen it all.

But if you’ve never visited Honduras before, or maybe just a few times, many amazing and wonderful surprises await you if you take the time to look around, listen, and enjoy the food, cult
ure, and natural beauty of the country. Within Central America, Hondurans are known as the “mountain people”, because the country is so mountainous. Indeed, getting around by car or plane can quickly provide evidence of how little of the country is actually populated due to the steep terrain. Yet Honduras is a vibrant country, with oceanfront property overlooking clear turquoise waters and beautiful white sand beaches, lush rainforest jungles and breathtaking mountains. Along the coast, where the mountains dip into the sea, there are also challenging rivers and abundant wildlife. History is also everywhere, with Spanish forts, old colonial towns, and fascinating ancient ruins and world-class snorkeling

For the nature lover, Honduras is known for ecotourism, inexpensive but world-class snorkeling and scuba diving, river rafting, and mountain trekking. Honduras is enjoying a boom in popularity, as the rich and famous can still travel incognito, and own incredible beachfront property in Honduras, while other Central American countries are seeing rapidly increasing real estate prices and overcrowding.

Various towns within the country are also known for their local artisans, who work expertly in wood, ceramics, and stone. Everyone is sure to find some type of artwork or crafts to fit their taste and budget.  Known as the original “Banana Republic”, Honduras also exports numerous agricultural products such as pineapples, melons, bananas (yes!), cheese, and fine cigars (that counts, doesn’t it?). Silver and gold mines are still operational in Honduras, and the various geographical formations are a geologist’s dream come true.

Honduras is home to people from various ancestries, from the Mayan Indians, who left us the Copan Ruins archaeological site (considered one of the most artistically advanced and detailed of all Mayan cities) to the Garifuna communities which are found today on the Island of Roatan, Cayos Cochinos, and towns along the north coast of Honduras.

While the Mayan culture is familiar to many people, the Garifuna are much less well known. The Garifuna are descendants of African slaves shipwrecked on the north coast of Central America, and many of their language and customs originate from their ancestral homes. Over the past 300 years, their language has mixed with Carib, Arawak, and other dialects. Their dances and dress are also colorful and fascinating.

Visitors will also be surprised at the low cost of living in Honduras and of Honduras real estate. Because the weather is warm, agricultural products abundant, and seafood (particularly along the coasts) plentiful and fresh, great meals can be had for very little money. Indeed, many of the Garifuna living in the northern coastal towns have worked as cooks in the cruise line industry, resulting in fresh, gourmet seafood being readily available in many of the small eating establishments along the beaches.

It is impossible to experience all that Honduras has to offer in a month, much less a week. Come and see for yourself what this surprising country has to offer. Once you understand the beauty and warmth of this amazing country — and the low prices on beachfront property for sale — you’ll want to come back. The good news is that there are plenty of amazing opportunities to own beachfront property in Honduras and have your own island getaway! Learn more about the different Honduras real estate for sale by exploring our site.

Some Facts About Honduras

• Surface Area: 43,433 sq miles (slightly larger than the state of Tennessee), or 112,492km²
• Political Division: 18 departments and 298 municipiums
• Type of Government: Democratic constitutional republic
• Capital: Tegucigalpa (3,000ft above sea level)
• Currency: Lempira (L or Lps)
• Exchange Rate: Lempira to Dollar: 18.89, Lemipra to Euro: 26
• Official Language: Spanish, non-official: Mesquito, Garifuna, English Creole (Bay Islands), Tawahka, Pech, Tolupan
• National Holiday: September 15^th, Independence Day
• Nationality: Honduran
• Time Zone: CST (UTC -6)
• Country Phone Code: + (504)
• Business Hours: Banking: Mon-Fri 9-5 (Sat 9am-12pm, many branches at shopping malls and drive-in banks open late), Government: Mon-Fri 9-5 (although these hours are more fluid than business hours)
• Population: 7.4 million
• Median Age: 19.7 years
• Population Growth: 2.1%
• Life Expectancy: 69 years
• Literacy: 80%
• Climate: Subtropical along the coasts and valleys; temperate in the mountains (approx. 80% of territory)
• Terrain: Mostly mountainous with narrow coastlines
• Highest Elevation: Cerro Las Minas 2,870 meters above sea level (9400 ft.)
• Major Natural Resources: Timber, gold, silver, fish
• Major Agricultural Products: Bananas, coffee, citrus, beef, timber, shrimp
• Main Industries: Sugar, coffee, textiles, clothing, wood products

*Information source: ‘Come To Honduras’, March-June 2010 Issue, p.86.