The country is defined by a 460-mi/735-km Caribbean coastline in the north and a small Pacific coastline in the south. It has land borders with Guatemala, El Salvador and Nicaragua. Two mountain ranges covered by pine forests and creased with fast-moving rivers run through the center of Honduras, giving way to low flatlands and tropical vegetation along both coasts. The Bay Islands, off the northern coast, are typical of the Caribbean—white-sand beaches, crystal waters and teeming tropical reefs. Rainfall is heaviest on the northern shore and in the eastern part of the country.
Like other areas of Mexico and Central America, Honduras was the home of the Maya, who may have been living in that area as early as 1000 BC. One of the most advanced civilizations in ancient America, the Maya were known for the monumental architecture of their great cities, with Copan being a prime example. Their densely populated city-states had an ordered class system with defined occupations and trades.
Christopher Columbus, on his fourth and last voyage to the New World, landed on Guanaja (one of the Bay Islands) and on the north shore of the mainland in 1502. Spain soon colonized all of Central America, though it had to overcome the fierce opposition of Native American tribes. These included the Lenca, whose great chief Lempira is now a Honduran national hero. Other Europeans also took an interest in Honduras: British pirates were based on the Bay Islands beginning in the 1500s. Great Britain continued to control the islands and the Caribbean coast until 1859, which is why English is widely spoken there today.
Honduras achieved independence in 1821, along with the other four states of the Central American Confederation (Costa Rica, Guatemala, El Salvador and Nicaragua). The confederation soon broke up, and Honduras became an independent nation in 1838. Thereafter, conflict between conservative and liberal forces kept the country in turmoil, with numerous coups and rebellions. In the 1850s, William Walker, an adventurer from the U.S., tried to take over Central America. He actually ruled Nicaragua from 1855 to 1857 and gained recognition from the U.S. When he tried to attack the country again in 1860, Hondurans helped foil his plans and he was executed.
By the 1900s, Honduras was the quintessential banana republic—bananas provided 66% of the country's exports, and U.S. companies held 75% of Honduran banana fields. These powerful companies—supported by U.S. troops on occasion—were partly responsible for the development of Honduras' strong military and repressive government agencies. In the 1980s, Honduras became involved in the struggle between the U.S. and the Sandinista government in neighboring Nicaragua. Many of the Contra rebels who fought against the Sandinistas were based in Honduras.
The country faced a crisis of a different sort in 1998, when Hurricane Mitch struck. At least 5,600 people were killed, 1.4 million lost their homes, and the country's businesses—particularly agriculture—were dealt a harsh blow. Repairs and rebuilding began shortly after the storm's passing, however. Today, visitors will see little if any evidence of the damage, though the economic and psychological effects of the storm are still being felt.
The main attractions in Honduras are the Mayan ruins of Copan, Spanish colonial mountain towns, scuba diving, snorkeling, fishing, white-water rafting, north coast beaches, La Ceiba, birding, rain and cloud forests, wood carvings, primitive paintings and friendly people.
Honduras will appeal to people who enjoy scuba diving, snorkeling and exploring ancient ruins. Those uncomfortable or unfamiliar with travel in developing countries or who desire a wide range of luxurious beachside resorts may find Honduras less to their liking. Regardless, what the country lacks in ultra-modern amenities in its remote corners, it makes up for with the sheer decency and joviality of its people. Hondurans are generally wonderful people: patient, conversant, fun-loving and giving.
Every city, town and village in Honduras has a patron saint. Many (essentially all) hold a fiesta in honor of their saint's day, and they can be quite fun if you happen to encounter one.
When Hurricane Mitch hit Roatan, some of the resident dolphins at Anthony's Key Resort escaped into open waters but were later recovered. They're valuable creatures as they can earn their owners US$4,000 an hour to "act" in film and TV productions.
In addition to Spanish and English, at least five indigenous languages are spoken in Honduras: Garifuna, Mayan, Pech, Tolupan and Tawahka.
American short story writer William Sydney Porter (pen name O. Henry) hid out in the town of Trujillo for a year in the 1890s while his creditors in the U.S. searched for him. (He was avoiding imprisonment for bank fraud.) He wrote Cabbages and Kings during his stay in Honduras.
Honduras shares the Montecristo Cloud Forest Reserve with El Salvador and Guatemala. The easiest access is from the El Salvador side.
The lempira (the Honduran currency) was named after the famous Indian chief who died fighting the Spanish invaders.
One of the most important royal tombs at Copan was looted shortly after being uncovered in 1997.
Historians believe that Sun-Eyed Green Quetzal Macaw, the revered founder of Copan, may have come from another civilization—the city of Teotihuacan, in central Mexico.
Although it is one of the closest allies of the U.S., Honduras has remained one of the poorest countries in the Americas.
Some of the most beautiful Spanish Conquest-era colonial towns in the Western hemisphere can be found in the Honduran interior. The cobbled streets, horsemen sporting cowboy hats, and gaggles of uniform-clad schoolchildren provide fun and interesting sights.
In 1969, Honduras and El Salvador fought a war lasting about 100 hours that had been immediately preceded by a World Cup qualifying match between the two small countries. The war was brought on by deeper economic issues, such as the collapse of the Central American Common Market, yet it still became known as the Soccer War. To this day, patriotic fervor in Honduras peaks when the country goes toe to toe with El Salvador on the soccer field.
