Tegucigalpa and Southern Honduras don’t attract many international tourists, but travelers with a little time and an adventurous spirit can find plenty to explore.

Set in the mountains at 1,000 meters, Tegucigalpa is the country’s capital and a sprawling metropolis, complete with restaurants, luxury hotels, shopping malls, and traffic—as well as attractive colonial churches and interesting museums in the walkable downtown. The cloud forests of La Tigra National Park are a short drive away, and a number of colonial villages are close enough for easy day trips.

Southern Honduras is composed of the departments of El Paraíso, Choluteca, and Valle, and is the country’s least visited region. Although not much explored by the average tourist, there are hidden attractions tucked away in the mountains and coastal plains worth seeking out, especially for those passing through on their way to Nicaragua or El Salvador.

Highlights include the colonial mining town of Yuscarán, the cigar factories of Danlí, the cloud-forested reserve of La Botija, and the beaches of Isla del Tigre.

The Best of Southern Honduras

• Tegucigalpa’s Colonial Center
• Valle de Ángeles
• La Parque Nacional Tigra
• Yuscarán
• Danlí
• Isla del Tigre and Amapala
• Parque Nacional La Botija