The capital of the department of the same name, La Paz has little to interest the casual traveler. It’s a frequent stop-off point for those visiting the mountain country south around Guajiquíro and toward the Salvadoran border.

Near La Paz are the ruins of Yarumela and Chircal, believed to be two of the oldest ruins sites in Honduras. Reportedly only a few mounds are visible at both sites.

One block from the market (turn north at the Banco de Occidente) is Hotel y Restaurante Alis (tel. 504/774-3179, US$5 d with shared bathroom and fan, US$10.50 d with private bathroom, fan, and TV), with decent accommodations and food. Las Champas, one block north of the soldier statue near the entrance to town, has inexpensive comida corriente and snacks.

Getting to La Paz

Six buses daily leave to Marcala between 5 a.m. and 2 p.m. (US$1.50, two hours on a paved road). To Guajiquíro, one bus leaves daily at noon, takes the Marcala road for half an hour, then turns into the hills for another bumpy 2.5 hours, US$1.

Buses to Comayagua leave all day until late afternoon, US$0.70, one hour. All buses leave several blocks north of the square, between the market and the soldier statue.