Overview
Trujillo is the capital of the Colon Department in Caribbean Honduras with approximately 65,000 inhabitants.
Understand
Poor Trujillo, with its idyllic impression of verdant mountains dropping into the sea, seems to be forgotten a lot of the time. But it does have several claims to fame. First, Christopher Columbus set foot here on his 4th journey to the Western Hemisphere, and it is said that this is the first place where mass was held in the Americas, in the year 1502. Also it is said that the largest gathering of pirates in history took place around here in 1683. Another notable caveat about Trujillo is that it is the resting place of William Walker, that American colonialist juggernaut who took over Nicaragua for a while but who finally met his end execution-style in Trujillo after all that mess was over. And lastly, Trujillo is close to the municipality called Bonito Oriental where the author Paul Theroux set the stage for his novel The Mosquito Coast.
Get in
While there is a runway in Trujillo, it doesn't appear there is any commercial air service at this time, so the only ways to get to Trujillo seem to be to drive or take a taxi. One reason for Trujillo's isolation is that the terrain has been too rugged to establish a thruway along the coast, thus necessitating a lot of extra inland driving if coming from points west like Tela or La Ceiba. Occasionally cruise ships do hail here though.
See
Fortaleza De Santa Bárbara. From the time Cortés dispatched one of his subordinates named Olid to establish an outpost at this location in 1524 through the duration of New Spain, Trujillo was marauded by pirates and Spain's competitors (e.g. the Dutch, English, and French). Thus, this fort was established to repel the adversaries, but eventually Spain deemed the city to be indefensible, after so many travails.
Grave Of William Walker. This may be like going to visit the grave of someone who was on the wrong side of history, but anyway this is the resting place of William Walker (filibuster), an American who managed to invade Nicaragua and become president thereof from 1856 to 1857, with intentions of setting up a slave-holding empire in Central America. But Central American troops surrounded him in Granada, whence he set the city ablaze and escaped. But in 1860, when he returned to the region to help British colonists living in Roatan stave off British powers seeking to annex the island, he was captured in Trujillo and summarily executed there.
Catedral San Juan Bautista. The obligatory church and central square sits astride the Fortaleza. Souvenir shops, restaurants, and people-watching opportunities exist here.
Museo y Balneario Rufino Galan. This is a man's rather eclectic collection of pre-Columbian and modern items, some authentic, some not. They include such things as pieces of downed US military planes from the Contra era, rusty guns, paper money, indigenous figurines and rubber trees. Might help to know a little Spanish. In the back, there are a couple of swimming pools fed by the adjacent river in a shady, relaxing setting for enjoyment.
Punta Castilla or Caxinas. Apparently this is where Columbus first set foot on the American mainland, in August of 1502, with the help of an Indian named Yumbe he had commissioned as admiral, and then decided to call it Punta Caxinas because of all of this type of fruit around. Today, it is also known as Cape of Honduras. It will probably require using a car or bike. Beach along the way.
Do
Playa Dorada Honduras. A quintessential tropical beach.
Capiro Calentura National Park. Hike to the top of the two mountains just outside of town. Great views and lots of wildlife.
There are some other national parks (i.e., Parque Nacional Botaderos, Parque Nacional Sierra Rio Tinto, Rio Platano Biosphere Reserve), but they are really off the beaten track and (typically) underdeveloped.
Eat
Restaurante El Delfin. Seafood dining and sunset right on the beach.
El Muelle. Pizza and pasta restaurant right on the water with spectacular ocean views and cold beer. Cash only (no credit cards).
La Llorona. Casual Mexican restaurant serving birria, tacos, and carnes asadas in a bright cheery dining room.
Sleep
Vista del Mar. Clean, comfortable hotel with spacious rooms, outdoor swimming pool, and off-street parking. On-site restaurant serves a delicious full breakfast.
Banana Beach Resort. Beach resort with modern condos, spacious and well equippred. Large pool and aquatic play area. Good food and drink. Remote location can be hard to reach (especially with small cars).
Make Trujillo (Honduras) your own.
Before committing, pick one main reason for this visit and two nearby experiences that support it. Check the guide’s transport sections against current operator information. A convenient base can save more time than adding another attraction.
- Choose your arrival point and one base. Write down the real transfer time, not just the map distance.
- Build a first-day plan with room to settle in. Cluster the places you want to see rather than crossing the city repeatedly.
- Use actual accommodation and transport quotes in your budget. Add fees to the quote before comparing it.
- Keep one uncommitted block. Weather, energy and a good local recommendation can all change your plan.
Source transparency
This guide adapts licensed text by Wikivoyage contributors. It is not a claim that Lakhou has visited or independently verified every listing. We converted the source to plain text, selected practical sections and removed price sentences and private contact information. The planning framework and any related-business booking recommendations above are Lakhou editorial additions.
Original revision 5357450 · Contributor history · CC BY-SA 4.0. Reused text and adaptations on this page are available under that license. Source revision date: 2026-09-12. This is not a date of field verification.
For current entry conditions and travel advisories, consult your government and destination authorities. We do not determine visa eligibility.