Honduras Sections Getting There Where To Stay Activities Area Guides Visitor Tips Getting Married Calendar Weather Maps Information Request Honduras Main CTW Main Mainland Bay Islands	Tegucigalpa Tegucigalpa, has a population of nearly one million, and is the capital of Honduras and the republic's largest city. Tegucigalpa is also the capital of Honduras' Francisco Morazán Department. A city with a very pleasant climate, Tegucigalpa is a busy city nestled in a valley at 1000m (3280ft) above sea level making its climate ideal. It is also a gateway to the Pacific Coast and to numerous attractions that are located in central and southern Honduras. A chain of mountains that are covered with pine trees surrounds Tegucigalpa. The name Tegucigalpa means 'silver hill' in the local dialect, and it was bestowed when the Spanish founded the city as a mining center in 1578. Fortunately, the locals call the city "Tegus" for short, saving foreigners the embarrassment of mispronouncing the full name. The city's industries include textiles, sugar, and cigarettes. Tegucigalpa was founded in the 16th century, and was a center of silver and gold mining. The capital of the independent Republic of Honduras switched back and forth between Tegucigalpa and Comayagua until it was permanently settled at Tegucigalpa in 1880. The National Autonomous University of Honduras was established here in 1847. The National Museum here has a notable collection of Pre-Columbian artifacts. In the 1930s the town of Comayagüela (on the other side of the Choluteca River from central Tegucigalpa) was incorporated into the city. Getting around Tegucigalpa can be a confusing experience. Despite the colonial history of the city, it does not have the typical Spanish layout of square streets around the Central Park. This is mostly due to the fact that terrain around the city did not allow this. Originally two separate cities, Tegucigalpa and Comayaguela have grown into one big city. The Choluteca River is still the official boundary between the sister cities, and Tegucigalpa is by far the better of the two, the majority of colonial buildings and higher end neighborhoods being located within its boundaries. Today, both cities have been officially joined. It is cleaner, safer and more pleasant to stay in Tegucigalpa, although popular wisdom says it's cheaper in Comayagüela. If you do stay in Comayagüela, it's very dangerous to walk through the market area at night. The main area for budget accommodations in Tegucigalpa is a few blocks east of the Parque Central; in Comayagüela, the best cheap hotels are around the El Rey and Aurora bus stations, between 8th and 9th Calles. Most of the good restaurants are on the Tegucigalpa side of the river, but Comayagüela has plenty of cheap Chinese restaurants. In Tegucigalpa, Boulevard Morazán and Avenida Juan Pablo II are the main nightlife areas. There are plenty of attractions around Tegucigalpa, including the huge Gothic Basílica de Suyapa, 7km (4mi) southeast of the city center. The Virgen de Suyapa, patron saint of Honduras, is believed to have performed hundreds of miracles. Santa Lucia, 13km (8mi) east of the city, is a charming old Spanish town with meandering lanes and a beautiful church. Valle de Angeles, 11km (7mi) past Santa Lucia, is an old Spanish mining town restored to its 16-century appearance. La Tigra National Park, northeast of the city, is one of the most beautiful places in Honduras. Located at an altitude of 2270m (7446ft), the pristine 7482-hectare (18,480-acre) park preserves a lush cloud forest that is home to ocelots, pumas, monkeys and quetzal. Tegucigalpa offers two different 9-hole golf courses. The Tegucigalpa Country Club, the older of the two is located just outside the city. The new Villa Elena Country Club, located off the road towards San Pedro Sula is within a private ecological reserve and residential area that offers beaurifull views of pine and oak clad mountains. Without doubt, this is the most exclusive residential site in the capital. A fine Mexican food restaurant, a bar and tennis courts enjance the facilities. The Casino Royale in Tegucigalpa is located at the trendy Honduras Maya Hotel. Here you can try play a variety of games including blackjack, roulette, baccarat, and more. Access to the casino is limited to foreigners, so make sure that you carry some sort of ID to prove that you are not Honduran. There is also a section with slot machines. Tegucigalpa has a multitude of fine restaurants. Most of these are located either in the downtown district, the zona viva district also known as the Boulevard Morazan area, and the Colonia Palmira area. The main airport that serves Tegucigalpa is Toncontin International Airport. Sol Air - Serving Tegucigalpa from Managua, San Salvador and Miami. American Airlines - Serving Tegucigalpa from Miami. Grupo TACA - Serving Tegucigalpa from San Salvador, Miami, and New York. Continental Airlines - Serving Tegucigalpa from Houston. SOSA Airlines - Serving Tegucigalpa from La Ceiba and the Bay Islands of Honduras. ( e-mail aerososa@psinet.hn ) ( La Ceiba 443-2512 ) Atlantic Airlines - Serving Tegucigalpa from the Bay Islands of Honduras. Copa Air - Serving Tegucigalpa from Panama City. Lacsa (part of Grupo TACA) - Serving Tegucigalpa from San Jose, C.R. Honduras & the Bay Islands At A Glance - Language: Spanish, Amerindian dialects. English is spoken in the Bay Islands and in most tourist areas. Government: Democratic constitutional republic Capital: Tegucigalpa Size: 112,090 sq km - Coastline: 820 km Location: Central America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, between Guatemala and Nicaragua and bordering the Gulf of Fonseca (North Pacific Ocean), between El Salvador and Nicaragua Climate: Subtropical in lowlands, temperate in mountains Electricity: 110/220V, 60Hz Currency: Lempira (HNL) Driving: Roads in the city and on the highways are in fairly good condition but not so in the rural areas. Driving is to the right. Car Rentals: There are car rental agencies at the airports and in the larger towns. An international or foreign driving license is all you need.
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