Base of the Mayas Ruins – San Pedro Sula

Honduras’ unendorsed industrial center as well as second biggest city is the San Pedro Sula. It is believed to be as economic heartland of Honduras, situated in the country’s northwest corner. San Pedro Sula has head offices of many well-known business, factories and plantations organizations. Most of the tourists who come to Honduras to discover Mayan remains in western moorland, select San Pedro Sula as their base to start the Mayan ruins exploration.

History:

In 1536, the city was established by Pedro de Alvarado as well as his fellow Spanish Conquistadors. Originally, the town was located on the swampland, amidst tropical forests where farming was inadequate. However, it did not matter much as the town was used as the Spanish Conquistador’s regal fortune. In the western side of San Pedro Sula were gold and silver mines in valleys of Naco, Quimistan and Sula. The gold and silver extracts were brought in this town for smelting. In the sixteenth and seventeenth century, the town was frequently attacked and robbed by the Dutch, English and French pirates. So eventually, the Spaniards moved San Pedro Sula to its existing place beside the Chamelecon River. In the present day, the city has rise economically by its coffee, sugar plantations and banana, plus by its garment industrialized.

Attractions:

San Pedro has many things to offer tourists such as shopping options, museums, close by eco-tourist forest as well as stunning waterfalls. Start your exploration in the city from the center of the town, Parque Central. You can easily see the place as it is just opposite to the Hotel Gran Sula, which is a landmark. There you will find many shoe shiners, vendors and local sprawl around. The main place to visit is the Catedral de San Pedro Sula, which is a neo-classical structure. It’s not an old structured but is magnificent to have a look. It is continuously busy with activities and it functions as a community center.

The Museums around the city is another attraction that tourists find impressive. Visit to the Museo de Antropologia is worthwhile. The museum displays Honduras’ history as well as their culture. In addition, it is also home to historical and archaeological collections such as sculptures, ceramics and paintings. The Museo de la Naturaleza, another museum in the city, exhibits the flora and fauna surrounding the city as well as the Merendon Mountains’ wild animals and unusual insects’ species.

Visit the Parque National park, which is 12 miles outside the San Pedro Sula city. The forest was created as reserve to protect the subtropical forest with huge pine trees. The Cordillera del Meredon Mountains is also part of the park. The peak of the mountain is highest, which is approximately 7,355 feet above sea level, in entire Cerro Jilinco. Parque Nacional Cusuco is great place for bird watchers where you get see parrot, quetzal, toucan and more three hundred types of birds. In addition, it is also a habitat for the howler, cusuco armadillo, white-faced monkey and many more other animals.

The other most of the tourists won’t miss out going to, is the Cascadas de Pulhapanzak waterfalls. The height of the waterfall is more than 330 feet and is the highest cascading waterfall in Honduras.

Shopping:

The city has many huge and lavish malls where you have plenty of brand options to buy from. The most known mall is the City Mall Circunvalacion and other is the Multiplaza, second biggest mall in the city. Malls are not in your criteria to buy stuffs and take home, visit the local market, Mercado Guamilito. It is the traditional market, situated in the northwest corner of the city. Here you will get many things such as handicrafts, leather goods, baskets, ebony sculpture and other souvenirs.

Nightlife:

San Pedro Sula has decent and vibrant nightlife. Zona Viva area has cluster of bars and clubs. Avenue Circunvalacion is also best to visit to have good time. The city becomes lively in the Feria Juniana event held in late June; it is known to be the major event in Honduras. Its not only vacation destination for the straight people but San Pedro Sula is famous among homosexuals too.

Transportation:

Air Travel:
Ramón Villeda Morales International Airport is the main airport in San Pedro Sula. The airport serves many international as well as domestic flights such as American, COPA, Spirit Airlines, Maya Island Air, Aeromexico, and Continental. The airport is 15 minutes distance from the center of the city.

Bus Travel:
San Pedro Sula has a central bus station. The Gran Central Metropolitana de Autobuses de San Pedro Sula is a bus station from where many buses go to every destination around the country as well as international destinations. It is situated a few kilometers from the downtown area. Except being the major bus station in Central America, it also has facilities such as a food court, shopping center, and many other services.

Traveling by bus is the cheapest and easy to travel in Honduras as each destination is well linked by bus routes.

City Transportation:

The transportation facilities are immense in San Pedro Sula. Rapiditos, means minivans, are great mean of transportation to get around the city. Even in traffic because of its size, it is easy to pass the traffic. The other mean of transportation is the colectivo taxi. They are white in color and easy to get. But the only problem with it is that it only goes on specific routes; take different passengers, which means it, is a share taxi.

Before ongoing to other Honduran attractions, San Pedro Sula is a fine place to spend a night or two. At the Parque Central, you will find good accommodation at economical rates; near the Metroplaza Mall, you will get safer and nicer hotels. After exploring San Pedro Sula take a trip to the Mosquito Coast or Bay Islands and have fun relaxing at the beach.

Notice:

San Pedro Sula has high rate of crimes, so the visitors are advised to travel in taxi at night and be alert. Plus, the city HIV and IDS rates are also high, so be cautious with whom you spend your night with.