by Dan Evon

Created on: September 21, 2009   Last Updated: October 01, 2009

North of Nicaragua and south of the Caribbean Sea lies Central Americas second largest country. Honduras is a mountainous, forested land that holds some of the ancient Mayans most treasured artifacts.

COPAN RUINS HONDURAS

The biggest tourist attraction in Honduras and one of its biggest money makers are the Copan ruins. The Copan ruins are believed to be the cultural center of the Mayan world. The streets are made of cobble stone and small adobe houses line the streets. The ruins are a constant reminder of the tremendous wealth that once flourished in the area. Economic stability has long since left the region and more then half of the country lives below the poverty line.

ECONOMY

The main export of Honduras has traditionally been bananas, which are grown throughout the whole country. On the east coast, a region referred to as the mosquito coast in reference to its initial inhabitants, the Miskito Indians, Honduras has begun to farm and export lobster. Hondurans have high hopes for their tourism appeal and hope to draw people to the Copan Ruins. The country is often plagued with political strife, crime, and war, which often makes border crossing difficult, and stints tourism growth.

SPORTS

No one takes their soccer more seriously then the people in Honduras. Some of the most famous riots were caused by the Honduran fans. In the last 60's, the 100 hour war, also known as the soccer war, began after a soccer game between Honduras, and neighboring El Salvador. The war is a continual source of tension between the two countries, even after several peace and border treaties have been signed.

FOOD

Honduras is not a land of luxury, but the Honduran people have a way of transforming simple goods into exoctic and delightful dishes. One of their most popular dishes is a simple coconut bread called casabe. This is a thin, crispy bread that is found throughout the mosquito coast.

Port Royal beer is popular among locals. It is also a favorite among backpackers and travelers who speak praises of the beer long after they move on from Honduras.

INTERESTING EXTRAS

Honduras is considered to be experiencing the fastest urbanization in Central America.

The capital of Honduras is Tegucicalpa.

The primary language is Spanish.

Hurricane Mitch, which hit in 1998 caused more then 2,000,000,000 dollars worth of damage.

Lempira is the national currency.

It is recommended that travelers stick to major tourist attractions, because crime continues to grow throughout the country.

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