Route Through Honduras Around El Salvador
 

My wife and I are currently passing through Costa Rica en route to Panama.

We will be turning around at Panama and riding back to Canada. On our way back through Central America we plan on visiting Copan and Tikal in Guatemala then Belize before re-entering Mexico at Chetumal.

The Honduras/El Salvador border was a headache going south and El Salvador was not too appealing.

We are thinking about taking a route through Honduras via Tegucigalpa, La Esperanza, Gracias, Santa Rosa De Copan, La Entrada and exiting into Guatemala at Copan. On my map it looks like it is all paved and fairly straight forward.

Has anyone taken this route recently? The information we are seeking is around safety, road conditions and the availability of hotels.

Any input would be appreciated.

Not quite all paved
 

Hey fellow Canuck. There is some rough stuff between La Esperanza, starting right at the edge of that town, and past San Juan to a point about 21km before you reach Gracias. I didn't ride the direct route from Tegucigalpa to La Esperanza, nor between Santa Rosa de Copan and the Copan ruins, so can't comment on those. See my blog at crazyguyonabike.com: Bicycle Touring: A few years in North, Central & South America, by Jeff Kruys for road photos (July 13, 2007 is what you're interested in). Travelling slowly by bicycle, that's why there's so much detail. Suerte!

Jeff,

Read the Honduras section of your blog. Great information and photos. Thanks so much. We will most likely take the route I outlined. The section of dirt road looks pretty tame compared to many we have ridden.

Your trip sounds increadable. I will be going back to your blog for more.

Thanks again,

avoiding ES
 

Hi there youtwo,good travel reports.
If you want to avoid the gravel section( which is quite nice in dry weather really, taken slowly ), via La Esperanza to Santa Rosa Copan you can get to Copan Ruins and town on all asphalt by taking the hiway from Tegus toward San Pedro Sula and then backtrack to Entrada Copan and Copan OR you can take the short cut ALL Paved via Santa Barbara to the same hiway south to Entrada Copan

Thanks Sjoerd for your kind comments and as always, for sharing your vast knowledge and expert advice.

I am sure we will now take the Honduras route. The only question will be whether we take the direct route on the dirt or go around through Santa Barbera on the all paved route. I suppose it will depend on the weather when we get there.

Cheers,