Ask any of your colleagues ”just where is Honduras?” and you might be met with silence. In fact it is a Spanish speaking state in Central America, much the size of England. Its direct neighbours include Guatemala, El Salvador and Nicaragua, with Belize, better know in the UK as the former British Honduras, within a short boat ride. Mexico is to the north and Panama to the south. Spanish speaking of course, but English is understood even if it is called American.
In the past the relationship between the various countries has been hostile to say the least but in the 21st century there are more or less open borders. In recent times Honduras and its neighbours, together with Costa Rica, have got together to create the annual Central America Travel Market to which ABTN was invited.
The 2006 event was splendidly hosted in San Pedro Sula, the commercial capital (pictured right). For next year the whole thing is in the air. Just days before the 2006 event was about to take place Costa Rica, and its 19 exhibitors, pulled out, stating irrevocable differences, or Spanish to that effect. All a bit of hot air but at least nobody got shot. At a soccer match here-about some years back there were fatalities.
As things stand in 2007 all will get together in San Jos”, the capital of Costa Rica. The problem, as ABTN understands it, is that Costa Rica has about 50% of the central American leisure market. They are worried that too much effort is being made towards the USA and that Costa Rica will lose business. No say the others. There are enough tourists for everyone. Without doubt Central America is the cheapest easily reached holiday destination from the United States and Canada.
The good news is that all was settled, on neutral soil. The various ministers got together in London at World Travel Market and sorted out their differences.
Getting to Honduras from the UK is not that easy: only American Airlines offers a single carrier through service with a simple change at Miami and no night stop en-route. In spite of a well deserved previous reputation for congestion Miami seems to work well now, even for transit traffic which has to go through US immigration and customs. Provided prior notice is given AA customer services will pick up passengers at the gate and ensure a smooth passage. It does not matter what class you are in but you have to be connecting to American. Continental is the only other major carrier serving San Pedro Sula, but other airlines interline with both Copa and TACA, the two major regional carriers, who fly to a number of US cities.
Columbus discovered Honduras on his forth and final voyage in 1502, followed by Spanish colonization. In 1823 the country won its independence. For the next 150 years a sort of civil disorder reigned, with some good dictators and some very bad. American mining companies played a major role in late 19th century economic growth, although Honduras remained the least developed state in Central America. In the 20th century fruit companies rapidly made bananas the principal export of the country. Honduras is a very fertile land with impressive farms and huge tropical rain forests. Carlos Roberto Reina, a long-time human rights and political activist, won the November 1993 elections bringing true democracy to the country. He initiated far-reaching economic reforms, gained civilian control over the army and investigated past violations of human rights. A way around the political problems has been found in only allowing a four-year tenure for any president. It seems to work in a nation that is developing fast. Tourism is now very much in vogue.
A short visit to any country can only leave you with an impression and memories. Imagine covering England in four days (and some do!). Proving that the AA connection does work it was 1000 airborne at Heathrow and a 1700 landing (local time) at San Pedro Sula international airport, partly modernised and also very South American and run down in places. But the air conditioning worked. A stopover and then a local TACA ATR flight to La Ceiba, a resort town on the Caribbean coast 150 miles to the south east. ABTN”s view was that the roads are not brilliant but we are told that Honduras has the best in Central America! Into a truck and so to The Lodge at Pico Bonito, up a dusty cart track and in the middle of the jungle.
The Lodge (pictured above) is impressive and as good as any in Kenya and South Africa (though no large animals prowling around), the individual villas well laid out, and with a fine dining room and adjacent swimming pool. Pico Bonito is a massive national forest and the home of one of the world”s largest butterfly collections. You may be in the middle of the wilds but a free wireless internet connection is provided in the main bungalow. It”s a hilly region, the Rio Cangregal River in its rush to the sea providing a splendid rafting opportunity, even for the inexperienced. There is also what is termed a ”canopy” trail, cables linking trees, a suspended hike through the jungle at high level, each participant supported by an instructor and wires.
The north coast of Honduras is an eco tourist paradise with two small towns sitting on the coast, La Ceiba and Tela. Most of it is protected and something of a throwback in terms of tourism. Real swamps and real tropical gardens, all of which are easily accessible off the coastal highway. There is even a narrow gauge railway leading to a wildlife refuge not reachable by road from where it is possible to canoe, or take a small tourist boat, into the mangrove creeks with their abundance of wildlife. Make sure you are well plastered with cream to protect against insects and mosquitoes. Tela has a large very modern resort complex developed for Canadians and their children who want to escape from the cold for a week or two. Straight out of fiction is the tiny Grand Central Hotel, run by an aging French couple, each guest room individually and exquisitely designed. About one hour away along a very bumpy track the Garifuna native village of Miami is built entirely of thatched huts at the end of a sandy causeway. On one side is the sea, and on the other a lagoon. Even more remote is Punta Sal, only approachable by small outboard powered boats. Seemingly like a tropical island, but actually linked to the land mass, it was here that pirates found refuge including Blackbeard, Edward Teach. The gold has all gone.
The three-day Central American Travel Fair was hosted at an exhibition complex in San Pedro Sula supported by 120 participating stand holders. A pure travel industry affair and a combination of trade show, seminars and social events, the major audience was attracted from North America but there was a strong European presence. The reaction was very positive with the highlight an extravagant evening of music and dance (plus some excellent food) at Omoa Fortress, a massive Spanish-built complex dating back to 1760s. 2,000 guests expertly handled. According to the local museum Sir Francis Drake ”the English pirate” seems to have visited these parts.