Tegucigalpa travel guide

Air

Toncontín Airport opens at 0530. Check in at least 2 hrs before departure; snacks, souvenir shops, several duty-free stores and internet. Buses to airport from Comayagüela, on 4 Av between 6 and 7 Calle, or from Av Máximo Jerez in downtown Tegucigalpa; into town US$0.19, every 20 mins from left-hand side outside the airport; yellow cabs, US$7-8, smaller colectivo taxis, US$5 or more.

Airline offices

Atlantic Airline, T220-5231; Air France, Centro Comercial Galería, Av de la Paz, T237-0229; Alitalia, Col Alameda, 5 Av, 9 Calle No 821, T239-4246; American, Ed Palmira, opposite Honduras Maya, 1st floor, T232-1414; British Airways, Edif Sempe, Blv Comunidad Económica Europea, T225-5101; Continental, Av República de Chile, Col Palmira, T220-0999; Grupo Taca, Blv Morazán y Av Ramón E Cruz, T239-0148 or airport T233-5756; Iberia, Ed Palmira, opposite Honduras Maya, T232-7760; Isleña Airlines, T236-8778, also at Toncontín Airport, T233-2192, http://www.flyislena.com; Japan Airlines, Edif Galería La Paz, 3rd floor, Local 312, 116 Av La Paz, T237-0229; KLM, Ed Ciicsa, Av República de Chile y Av República de Panamá, Col Palmira, T232-6410; Lufthansa, Edif Plaza del Sol, No 2326, Av de la Paz, T236-7560. Sol Air in Tegucigalpa on T235-3737; Sosa Airline, at the airport, T233-7351.

Bus

Local

Fares are US$0.08-0.12; stops are official but unmarked.

Long distance

To San Pedro Sula on Northern Hwy, 3¼-4 hrs depending on service. Several companies, including: Sáenz, Centro Comercial Perisur, Blv Unión Europea, T233-4229 and Hedman Alas, 11 Av, 13-14 Calle, Comayagüela, T237-7143, www.hed manalas.com, both recommended; El Rey, 6 Av, 9 Calle, Comayagüela, T237-6609; Viajes Nacionales (Viana), terminal on Blv de Las Fuerzas Armadas, T235-8185. To Tela and La Ceiba, Viana Clase Oro, and Etrusca, 8 Av, 12 y 13 Calle, T222-6881. To Choluteca, Mi Esperanza, 6 Av, 23-24 Calle, Comayagüela, T225-1502. To Trujillo, Cotraibal, 7 Av, 10-11 Calle, Comayagüela, T237-1666. To La Esperanza, Empresa Joelito, 4 Calle, No 834, Comayagüela. To Comayagua, most going to San Pedro Sula and Transportes Catrachos, Col Torocagua, Blv del Norte, Comayagüela. To Valle de Angeles and Santa Lucía, from stop on Av La Paz (near filling station opposite hospital). To Juticalpa and Catacamas, Empresa Aurora, 8 Calle, 6-7 Av, Comayagüela, T237-3647. For Danlí and El Paraíso, for the Nicaraguan border at Las Manos .

For travellers leaving Tegucigalpa, take the Tiloarque bus on Av Máximo Jerez, by Calle Palace, and get off in Comayagüela at Cine Centenario (Av 6) for nearby Empresa Aurora buses (for Olancho) and El Rey buses (for San Pedro Sula). 3 blocks northwest is Cine Lux, near which are Empresas Unidas and Maribel (8 Av, 11-12 Calle, T237-3032) for Siguatepeque. Tiloarque bus continues to Mi Esperanza bus terminal (for Choluteca and Nicaraguan border). Take a ‘Carrizal’ or ‘Santa Fe’ bus ascending Belén (9 Calle) for Hedman Alas buses to San Pedro Sula and for Comayagua buses. The Norteño bus line to San Pedro Sula is alongside Mamachepa market, from where there are also buses for Nacaome and El Amatillo border with El Salvador.

International

Ticabus, 16 Calle, 5-6 Av, Comayagüela, T222-0590, http://www.ticabus.com, to Managua (US$20, 9 hrs), San José (US$40), San Salvador (US$15), Guatemala City (US$30) and Panama (US$65) daily. Make sure you reserve several days ahead. Hedman Alas have a service to Guatemala City and Antigua that leaves Tegucigalpa for San Pedro Sula, 0600, 12 hrs, US$52. Alternatively to Nicaragua, take Mi Esperanza bus to San Marcos de Colón, then taxi or local bus to El Espino on border. To San Marcos, 4 daily from 0730, direct to border at 0400, US$2.50, 5 hrs (0730 is the latest one that will get you into Nicaragua the same day). Or Mi Esperanza bus to Río Guasaule border, several daily, 4 hrs, US$2. To San Salvador, Cruceros del Golfo, Barrio Guacerique, Blv Comunidad Económica Europea, Comayagüela, T233-7415, US$18, at 0600 and 1300, 6 hrs travelling, 1 hr or more at border. Connections to Guatemala and Mexico; direct bus to border at El Amatillo, US$2.50, 3 hrs, several daily; alternatively from San Pedro Sula via Nueva Ocotepeque and El Poy. To San Salvador and Guatemala, with King Quality from Tegucigalpa (T225-5415) from Cruceros del Golfo terminal, 0600 and 1300 and San Pedro Sula (T553-4547) at 0630. Alternatively, to Guatemala go to San Pedro Sula and take Escobar, Impala or Congolón to Nueva Ocotepeque and the border at Agua Caliente, or via Copán .

Car

Car hire

Avis, Edif Palmira and airport, T232- 0088. Budget, Blv Suyapa and airport, T/F235- 9531. Hertz, Centro Comercial Villa Real, Col Palmira, T239-0772. Maya, Av República de Chile 202, Col Palmira, T232-0992. Molinari, 1 Av, 2 Calle, Comayagüela and airport, T237- 5335. Thrifty, Col Prados Universitarios, T235-6077. Toyota, T235-6694.

Car repairs

Metal Mecánica, 1 block south of Av de los Próceres, Col Lara. Volkswagen dealer near Parque Concordia, good.

Taxi

About US$2-4 per person, but you can often bargain down to around US$1.50 a trip in the city. More after 2200, cheaper on designated routes, eg Miraflores to centre.

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Banks

There are many ATMs in the city centre. All banks have several branches throughout the city; we list the main offices. Branch offices are unlikely to change TCs, only US$ cash. HSBC, 5 Calle (Av Colón) in the centre and at 5 Calle in front of Plaza Morazán. Banco Atlántida, 5 Calle in front of Plaza Morazán (may agree to change money on Sat up to 1200). Banco de Honduras (Citibank), Blv Suyapa. Banco del País, Calle Peotonal in the centre, changes TCs. Banco de Occidente, 3 Calle (Cervantes) y 6 Av (S Mendieta) in the centre.

Visa, MasterCard and Amex cash advances (no commission) and TCs at BAC, Blv Morazán, and at Honducard, Av de la Paz y Ramón E Cruz, and at Aval Card, Blv Morazán. Banks are allowed to trade at the current market rate, but there is a street market along the Calle Peatonal off the Parque Central, opposite the post office and elsewhere. Exchange can be difficult on Sat, try Coin, a casa de cambio on Av de la Paz, inside Supermercado Más y Menos, same rates as banks, no commission, Mon-Fri 0830-1730, Sat 0900-1200, changes TCs but will photocopy cheques and passport; another branch of Coin on Calle Peatonal, good rates. Recommended.

Cultural centres

Alianza Francesa, Col Lomas del Guijarro, T239-6163, cultural events Fri afternoon, French films Tue 1930. Centro Cultural Alemán, 8 Av, Calle La Fuente, T237-1555, German newspapers, cultural events. Instituto Hondureño de Cultura Interamericana (IHCI), Calle Real de Comayagüela,T237-7539, has an English library and cultural events.

Embassies and consulates

Belize, T220-5000, Ext 7770. Canada, Ed Financiero Banexpo, Local 3, Col Payaqui, Blv Juan Bosco II, T232-4551. Costa Rica, Col El Triángulo, 1a Calle, opposite No 3451, T232-1768, bus to Lomas del Guijarro to last stop, then walk up on your left for 300 m. Ecuador, Av Juan Lindo 122, Col Palmira, T236-5980. El Salvador, 2 Av Calzada República de Uruguay, Casa 219, Col San Carlos T236-8045. France, Col Palmira, 3 Calle, Av Juan Lindo, T236-6432. Germany, Ed Paysen, 3rd floor, Blv Morazán, T232-3161. Guatemala, Col Las Minitas 4 Calle, Casa 2421, T232-9704, Mon-Fri 0900-1300, take photo, visa given on the spot, US$10. Italy, Av Principal 2602, Col Reforma, T236-6391. Japan, Col San Carlos, between 4 and 5 Calle, 2 blocks off Blv Morazán and Av de la Paz, T236-6828, behind Los Castaños Shopping Mall. Mexico, Av República de México, Paseo República de Brasil 2402, Col Palmira, T232-6471, opens 0900, visa takes 24 hrs. Netherlands (Consulate), Edif Barahona, Col Alameda, next to INA, T231-5007. Nicaragua, Av Choluteca 1130, bloque M-1, Col Lomas del Tepeyac, T232-9025 daily, 0800-1200, US$25, visa can take up to 2 days. Norway, consular services in front of Residencial el Limonar, T557-0856. Panama, Ed Palmira No 200, opposite Honduras Maya, 2nd floor, T239-5508. Spain, Col Matamoros 801, T236- 6589, near Av de la Paz and US Embassy. Sweden(Consulate), Av Altiplano, Retorno Borneo 2758, Col Miramontes, T/F232-4935. UK, Edif Banexpo, 3rd floor, Col Payaqu, T232-0612. USA, Av La Paz, Mon-Fri 0800- 1700, take any bus from north side of Parque Central in direction ‘San Felipe’, T236-9320.

Immigration

Dirección General de Migración, Av Máximo Jerez, next to Hotel Ronda, Tegucigalpa.

Internet

Café Don Harry, Av República de Chile 525, Edif Galerías TCB, T220-6174. @ccess Cyber Coffee, Centro Commercial La Ronda, Av Máximo Jerez next to Super Donuts, Mon-Sat 0800-1900, US$1.50 for 30 mins. Café Cyberplace, Barrio La Plazuela, Av Cervantes 1215, opposite Souvenirs Maya, T220-5200, open 0900-1830, US$2 for 30 mins. Cyberplace Center, Av Máximo Jérez and Las Damas, Mon-Sat 0900-1900, US$1 per hr. Cyberiada Internet Café, Plaza Brezani, Av Máximo Jerez, Calle H Matute, open 24 hrs, US$1.80 per hr with free coffee. Multinet, on Barahona, also in Blv Morazán and Centro Comerical. Lots of machines with full services, 0830-1900, Sun 0900-1700. US$1.50 per hr. PC Cyber, Edif Paz Barahona, Calle Peatonal, Mon-Fri 0830-1700, Sat 0830-1400.

Laundry

La Cisne, 1602 Calle La Fuente/Av Las Delicias, US$2.50 up to 5 kg, same-day service. Lavandería Italiana, Barrio Guadalupe, 4 blocks west of Av República de Chile 300 block. Lavandería Super Jet, Av Gutemberg, 300 m east of Hotel Granada, US$0.20 per kg. Mi Lavandería, opposite Repostería Calle Real, 3 Calle, 2 Av, Comayagüela, T237-6573, Mon-Sat 0700-1800, Sun and holidays 0800-1700.

Medical services

Dentist

Dra Rosa María Cardillo de Boquín, Ed Los Jarros, Sala 206, Blv Morazán, T231- 0583. Recommended. Dr Roberto Ayala, DDS, C Alfonso XIII 3644, Col Lomas de Guijarro, T232-2407.

Pharmacies

Farmacia Rosna, pedestrian mall off Parque Central, T237-0605, English spoken. Recommended. Regis Palmira, Ed Ciicsa, Av República de Panamá, Col Palmira.

Post office

Av Paz Barahona/C del Telégrafo, Lista de Correos (Poste Restante) mail held for 1 month, 20g letter to US (US$0.80), Europe (US$1.30), rest of the world (US$1.75).

Telephone

Hondutel, Calle del Telégrafo y Av Colón, has several direct AT&T lines to USA, no waiting. Phone, fax and telegrams; open 24 hrs for phone services only. Also at 6 Av, 7-8 Calle, Comayagüela, with post office.

Work

Peace Corps, opposite Edif Ciicsa, on Av República de Chile, uphill past Hotel Honduras Maya.