San Pedro Sula.
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Overview

San Pedro Sula is in northern Honduras. It is the second largest city in Honduras after the capital Tegucigalpa. The focus of industry in Honduras, it is mostly a modern city (unlike more picturesque Comayagua, Tegucigalpa, etc.) It is a good base for entering the country and visiting other parts, and offers modern amenities.

Get in

Aerolíneas Sosa (La Ceiba, Roatán) Aeromexico Connect (Mexico City) Air Europa (Madrid) Avianca El Salvador (Grupo TACA) (Guatemala City, San Salvador) American Airlines (Miami) CM Airlines (Guatemala City, Roatán, Tegucigalpa Toncontin (TGU), Útila) Copa (Panama City) Delta (Atlanta) Transportes Aéreos Guatemaltecos (TAG) Guatemala City Tropic Air (Belize City) United (Houston) Volaris El Salvador (Guatemala City, Miami, San Salvador). Volaris El Salvador is a subsidiary of Volaris (Mexico) to offer direct flights from El Salvador (as a hub), as an El Salvadoran flag carrier, to the U.S., Central America and Mexico.

By bus Bus service links it to other cities and towns in the country on 178, Bulevar del Sur. Direct Buses to and from Tegucigalpa, hourly. Direct Buses to and from El Progreso, Tela, and La Ceiba, hourly. Direct Buses to and from Nueva Ocotepeque via Santa Rosa de Copan, 7 to 8 buses daily. Buses to and from Puerto Cortes, hourly. Direct buses to and from Managua and El Salvador.

Get around

The center is fairly compact and can be gotten around by foot; cars, taxis, and buses run around the city and the surrounding area. The airport is about 8-16 km (5-10 miles) from the city center, yet taxis are plentiful at the airport.

See

Museum of Anthropology & History. This museum has a selection of pre-Columbian pottery, grinders and other items up through colonial times. Some Spanish would be helpful since few items have English labels.

Do

Throughout San Pedro Sula and neighboring cities, you can find amazing markets. You can buy artisanal items like leather work, textiles, silver and jewelry. Bargaining and shopping are a cultural experience all their own.

There are many day trips available at San Pedro Sula. You can hike through Cusuco National Park. Visit Taulabe caves and Pulapanzak Waterfalls. Have a boat ride and bird watching at Lake Yohoa. Swim at Punta Sal National Park exotic beaches. Walk through Copan's archaeological site and horse back ride in a coffee tour.

The Mall Multi Plaza, Mega Plaza and Metro Plaza all have cinema complexes. Closer to downtown you will find 2 or 3 cinemas. Movie releases are a few months behind the USA or Western Countries. Most movies are shown in English with Spanish subtitles. So if you enjoy the movies and like nice chairs and good sound try one of the more up market places. Movies are usually shown at 15:00, 17:00, 19:00 and 21:00. All local papers have a daily cinema schedule.

Buy

There is an artisan market very close to the park that contains a vast array of touristy Honduran products. For more quality pieces, try Casa del Sol across the street.

Eat

For meat try La Estancia and El Portal de La Carne. You can eat Mexican food in Cebollines and Fogoncito and for authentic Italian food try Tre Fratelli, Bel Paese and Dai Santi. All popular American fast food chains are available in the city, however, try Pollo Campero, a Guatemalan fried chicken chain and Pollos el Hondureño, autentic Honduran fast food chain. The Skandia cafe at the Grand Hotel Sula is open 24 hours with a good selection. Most selections are good but the rotissery chicken is great. Skip the scrambled eggs or omelets.

For a wide selection, go to City Mall food court with lots of choices, including US fast food and Honduran versions. Another great option only found in San Pedro Sula is Power Chicken, the most popular location right in front of the City Mall. Here you can try familiar food with a Honduran twist. Very good and very cheap

Don Udos, on Boulevard Morazon a few blocks up from the Circunvalacion. A favorite amongst foreigners, it has a good variety of international dishes and a good variety of wine. It has an international menu, friendly staff and good service and is one of the best value for money restaurants in San Pedro Sula. The Gallery Grill, in Zona Viva offers a range of Honduran dishes, particularly meat. Las Carnitas, Las Carnitas is located in Zona Viva and is a local favorite, for its open-air atmosphere, occasional live music and Honduran style beef and chicken dishes. The place gets very busy during lunch times and breakfasts. The restaurant is AC and offers a nice place to escape with a cool drink and coffee from the downtown heat.

The Antojitos Mexicanos, has 2 popular locations, one downtown in Central Park the other on the Circunvalacion near Zona Viva. Antojitos is one of the cheapest places to eat in the city, with Mexican style tacos, enchiladas, tortas and so on. The Circunvalacion branch has its own groups of Mariachis who strum and blow their stuff in the evenings for the patrons, nice place to eat cheap, drink a beer or two and to soak up some local atmosphere.

San Pedro Sula is home to a lot of additional eating options, which have a wide range of prices from budget to upper class. Try some of the local fast food places such as Pollo Campero, Bicos, Power Chicken (great name), or 2 x 1 Pizza.

Drink

San Pedro Sula is home to a lot of bars. A fun night can be had in Zona Viva going from bar to bar. A local favorite and fun place to hang out is La Cava in Barrio Los Andes 2 and 3 Calle, 16 Ave NO. Great Karaoke nights and occasional live music on the weekends packs the people in. Jerry the owner mixes a range or cocktails. Watch out for the Barcardi 121 or ask if he has some Guaro for a fire packed drink. There is a good selection of music and the patrons are always happy to have a chat.

Karaoke Club in Zona Viva is a popular place with the locals and even if you are not a Karaoke fan it can be a good place to catch some quality music. The quality of the singers is at times surprising and at other times not so surprising. Big Daddies, Caribbean and Gators Sports Bar are also all popular spots in Zona Viva. Bars do come and go regularly in San Pedro Sula, so just look for a place with some people and some music.

TGI Fridays, Applebee's, Ruby Tuesdays and Fogancito's are all popular places to eat and drink on the weekends. All places are well located near the Circunvalcion.

For a bit more local color and atmosphere, consider visiting a local disco. Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights are the most popular. But most discos are open every night except Monday. Check the local papers for promotion nights such as ladies night, live music, beer promotions or open bar (cover charge, then all you care to drink).

The pick of the discos is Kawamas Bay, which is located on the Circunvalcion. The disco plays a lot of Latin music and has a friendly staff. It can get very busy on the weekends usually around 23:00. The disco stays open to 05:00-06:00 and it is a place to dance. You will find more people on the dance floor than at the bar or tables and chairs for most of the night. So put on your dancing shoes and be ready for some Salsa, Merengue and Punta. No need to worry, since you will still get a bit of house, rock and techno music.

Millenium Disco is in the Social Club Arabe at the end of Barrio Rio Pierdas the disco is the classiest place in town.

The Sampedrano Cultural Center holds regularly events such as concerts, performances and art shows.

For safety reasons, be sure to take a taxi when traveling even just a few blocks after dark. Walking around Zona Viva is OK but only within a block or two radius of the area.

Power Chicken. Traditional Honduran food served fast-good style. A staple of Honduran cuisine with 4 locations within the city.

Sleep

Hilton Princess San Pedro Sula. Located near the new City Mall, this hotel features 120 rooms, great amenities and a superb swimming pool. This hotel is really comfortable and in a fairly safe area. It has an amazing view from their glass windowed hotel.

Real InterContinental San Pedro Sula. The Real InterContinental San Pedro Sula has 149 rooms with internet access, 7 suites, executive floors, restaurant, gym, spa, pool, mail service, copier, among others

Gran Sula Hotel, on the Parque at 3 Primera Calle, accessible to all parts of the city, and good prices. Also, try the Oro Verde bar near the entrance. Hotel Copantl, 10 minutes from the San Pedro Sula airport and close to the Circunvalcion, Multi Plaza Mall and Zona Viva. The hotel has 190 rooms, business center, conference rooms, 2 restaurants, cafeteria, swimming pool, tennis court, gym, Jacuzzi, a lobby and piano bar and a casino. The hotel also organizes day trips to the surrounding attractions of Tela, Lake Yojoa and Copan.

Hotel Ejecutivo. 40 rooms, 10 different and delicious options for breakfast, free access to Internet, gym, restaurant, medical service in case of emergency and more.

Hotel Terraza. Close to Central Park and popular with national visitors and travelers. The hotel offers a range of room types with varies prices. The hotel also has a restaurant, which serves up good value meals.

Hotel Los Jicaros. Private parking at the hotel.

Hotel Guacamaya Inn. 9 room Bed & Breakfast hotel with triple, double and single rooms. Ideally located near two major malls, business centers and other shopping. Includes a/c, hot water, free Wi-Fi, cable TV, covered private parking, and personal safe in room. Transportation available to/from airport shuttle and tours.