Exploring Honduras’ East Coast

Playa Miami, Tela

Breathtaking coastline. Lagoons joining the ocean. Colonial forts built to deter English pirates. Tropical mountains facing remote islands enclosed in the second-largest coral reef in the world. You might ask, where can I find this place? Bali? The Philipines? Costa Rica? Brazil? Not quite, though I am sure those places are lovely. I am talking about Honduras.

San Pedro Sula

For personal context, I lived and worked in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, for a year as an international school teacher. San Pedro Sula holds recent and historical significance because it is the gate to the country's eastern harbors, where goods such as coffee, fruit, and textiles are processed and transported across the globe. Naturally, my curiosity about my surroundings brought me multiple times to follow the flow of goods and explore the ports, communities, and nature of Honduras' east coast. Here are some of my favorite spots.

Playa Miami  

Playa Miami (Miami Beach) looks like it comes out of a Star Wars movie. The perfect contrast of a palm tree-lined beach with a saltwater lagoon and ocean on either side creates a unique view. Beneath the birds-eye view lays a distinctive culture and people known as the Garifuna. The Garifuna people in Honduras make up around 5% of the population. They are of African origin and typically congregate in communities on the eastern coastline of Honduras and the Bay Islands. In Playa Miami, you can have a wonderful experience with traditional Garifuna foods such as fried fish and 'rice and beans.' You can also purchase freshly baked coconut bread or squeezed coconut oil, a characteristic of their culinary expertise. Local Garifunas typically sell these products, packed in recycled bottles and put in their backpacks or baskets balanced on their heads as they travel the coast selling to locals and tourists on holiday enjoying the beach. I suggest visiting Playa Miami, though I warn you to take a larger car as a small car can get stuck in the dunes that sometimes engulf the roads (talking from experience). 

Jeanette Kawas National Park 

Jeanette Kawas was a Honduran environmentalist activist who was killed in 1995 for speaking out against injustice. After her murder, the Honduran government heard her steadfast call to create a large preserve of over 781 square kilometers. The wetlands offer an excellent experience for any lover of nature. You can find many species of birds, caimans, and even howler monkeys. In fact, Honduras has more natural land reserves than Costa Rica. These reserves are diverse and springing with wildlife. 

One of my favorite parts of the park is where the saltwater Laguna de los Micos meets the ocean. You can hire a local boat to guide you across these unique views, and at night, they will spot a flashlight for you to see multitudes of caimans. Likewise, you can take a boat across the park's seaside, where you can swim at secluded beaches. If you are ever in the area, I highly recommend hiring a local boat to take you around because most spots are only accessible by water. 

Omoa 

Omoa is a beautiful little colonial town with access to history, nature, and leisure. Fortaleza de San Fransisco is a sight to see. It was significant when Honduras was under Spain's influence because it halted British expansion. The welcoming locals are descendants of those brought from Tegucigalpa to build the fort and create a presence that helped Honduras lay claim to the surrounding area. Now, it is a great place to explore as history comes to life. Just a fifteen-minute drive away and a small hike, you can also find Salto de Omoa, a waterfall my friends and I enjoy swimming in. You can also go for a short walk, which gives you an overlook of the coastline engulfed in mountainous forests. 

I have yet to visit La Ceiba, Sambo Creek, Cayos Cochinos, and the many preserves on the southern coast, but that will hopefully happen in the future. But, if you ever find yourself in Honduras, I highly suggest the east coast. Take in the beautiful nature, kind people, and history. And, as always, explore responsibly. 

By: Rainier Lee