San Pedro Sula travel guide

Background

The city was founded in 1536 by Pedro de Alvarado in the lush and fertile valley of the Ulúa (Sula) River, beneath the forested slopes of the Merendón mountains. There are many banana plantations.

Best time to visit

Although pleasant in the cooler season from November to February, temperatures are very high for the rest of the year. It is, nevertheless, a green city, clean and the traffic is not too bad. The higher and cooler suburb of Bella Vista, with its fine views over the city, affords relief from the intense heat of the town centre.

Getting around

The city is divided into four quadrants: Noreste (Northeast, NE), Noroeste (Northwest, NO), Sudeste (Southeast, SE) and Sudoeste (Southwest, SO), where most of the hotels are located, although newer hotels, shopping malls and restaurant chains are in the Noroeste. There are buses, minibuses and taxis for getting around town.

Ins and outs

Getting there

San Pedro Sula is a more important international gateway than Tegucigalpa. Its airport, Ramón Villeda Morales (SAP) is 15 km from the city centre along a good four-lane highway. The Gran Central Metropolitana central bus terminal opened in March 2008. It’s a short US$3 taxi from the centre of San Pedro Sula.

San Pedro Sula and around

Air

A taxi to the airport costs US$12 per taxi, but bargain hard. Yellow airport taxis cost US$18. Free airport shuttle from big hotels. Buses and colectivos do not go to the airport terminal itself; you have to walk the final 1 km from the La Lima road. Duty free, Global One phones, banks, restaurant on 2nd floor. Flights to Tegucigalpa (35 mins), La Ceiba, Utila and to Roatán.

Airline offices

American, Ed Firenze, Barrio Los Andes, 16 Av 2-3 Calle, T558- 0524, airport T668-3241. Atlantic, airport, T668-7309. Continental, Plaza Versalles, Av Circunvalación, T557-4141, airport T668-3208. Grupo Taca13 Av NO corner of Norte de la Circunvalación, Barrio Los Andes, T557-0525, airport T668-3333. Isleña, Edif Trejo Merlo, 1 Calle 7 Av SO, T552-8322, airport T668-3333. Sosa, 8 Av 1-2 Calle SO, Edif Román, T550-6548, airport 668-3128.

Bus

Local

Local buses cost US$0.10, smaller minibuses cost US$0.20.

Long distance

New central bus terminal opened in 2008. The Gran Central Metropolitana is clean, safe and a short US$3 taxi from the centre of San Pedro Sula. Heading south, buses pass Lago Yojoa for Tegucigalpa, very regular service provided by several companies, 4½ hrs, 250 km by paved road. Main bus services with comfortable coaches in the town centre are Hedman Alas, T553-1361, 0830, 1330 and 1730, US$7; Transportes Sáenz, T553-4969, US$7; El Rey, T553-4264, or Express, T557-8355; Transportes Norteños, T552-2145, last bus at 1900; Viana, T556-9261.

Heading west from San Pedro the road leads to Puerto Cortés, a pleasant 45-min journey down the lush river valley. With Empresa Impala, T553-3111, from 0430 until 2200, US$1, or Citul, and also on to Omoa from 0600.

Heading east buses go to La Lima, El Progreso, Tela and La Ceiba (Tupsa and Catisa, very regular to El Progreso, hourly to La Ceiba from 0600 and 1800, 3 hrs, US$3), some with a change in El Progreso, others direct. Also 1st class to La Ceiba with Viana at 1030 and 1730, and with Hedman Alas at 1000, 1400 and 1800. To Trujillo, 3 per day, 6 hrs, US$5, comfortable.

Heading southwest buses go to Santa Rosa de Copán through the Department of Ocotepeque, with superb mountain scenery, to the Guatemalan border. Congolón, and Empresa Toritos y Copanecos, serve Nueva Ocotepeque (US$8) and Agua Caliente on the Guatemalan border with 7 buses a day; Congolón, T553-1174.

To Santa Rosa de Copán, with connections at La Entrada for Copán Ruinas, with Empresa Toritos y Copanecos, T563- 4930, leaving every 20 mins, 0345-1715, 3 hrs, US$3.70. Take a bus to the junction of La Entrada and change for connection to Copán Ruinas if you’re not going direct. 1st-class bus to Copán Ruinas with Hedman Alas, T553- 1361, daily at 0950 and 1430, 3 hrs, US$14 with a/c, movie and bathrooms. Also direct service with Casasola-Cheny Express at 0800, 1300 and 1400.

International

Services available from Tica bus covering the whole of Central America from Mexico to Panama.

Car

Car repairs

Invanal, 13 Calle, 5 y 6 Av NE, T552-7083. Excellent service from Víctor Mora.

Banks

HSBC, has a beautiful mural in its head office, 5 Av, 4 Calle SO and a branch at 5 Av, 6-7 Calle SO, changes TCs. Banco Atlántida, on Parque Central, changes TCs at good rates. Banco de Honduras (Citibank). Banco Continental, 3 Av, 3-5 Calle SO No 7. Banco de Occidente, 6 Av, 2-3 Calle SO. Bancafé, 1 Calle, 1 Av SE and all other local banks. BAC for Visa, MasterCard and Amex is at, 5 Av y 2 Calle NO. These are also at Aval Card, 14 Av NO y Circunvalación, and Honducard, 5 Av y 2 Calle NO.

Cultural centres

Alianza Francesa, on 23 Av 3-4 Calle SO, T/F553-1178, www.aftegucig alpa.com, offers French and Spanish classes, has a library, films and cultural events. Centro Cultural Sampedrano, 3 Calle, 4 Av NO No 20, T553-3911, USIS-funded library, cultural events, concerts, art exhibitions and theatrical productions.

Embassies and consulates

Belize, Km 5 Blv del Norte, Col los Castaños, T551-0124, 551-0707. El Salvador, Edif Rivera y Cía, 7th floor, local 704, 5 y 6 Av 3 Calle, T/F553-4604. France, Col Zerón, 9 Av 10 Calle 927, T557-4187. Germany, 6 Av NO, Av Circunvalación, T553-1244. Guatemala, 8 Calle 5-6 Av NO, No 38, T/F553-3560. Italy, Edif La Constancia, 3rd floor, 5 Av 1-2 Calle NO, T552-3672. Mexico, 2 Calle 20 Av SO 201, Barrio Río de Piedras, T553-2604. Netherlands, 15 Av 7-8 Calle NE, Plaza Venecia, Local 10, T557-1815. Nicaragua, Col Trejo, 23 Av A entre 11 Calle B y 11 Calle C No 145, T/F550-3394. Spain, 2 Av 3-4 Calle NO 318, Edif Agencias Panamericanas, T558-0708. UK, 13 Av 10-12 Calle SO, Suyapa No 62, T557-2046.

Immigration

Calle Peatonal, just off Parque Central, or at the airport.

Internet

Internet cafés are found throughout town. Internet Café, Multiplaza centre, T550-6077, US$1 per hr. Red Cybe Café, Calle 3, 1 block east of the Hedman Alas bus terminal, US$1per hr.

Laundry

Excelsior, 14-15 Av Blv Morazán. Lava Fácil, 7 Av, 5 Calle NO, US$1.50 per load. Lavandería Almich, 9-10 Av, 5 Calle SO No 29, Barrio El Benque. Rodgers, 4a Calle, 15-16 Av SO, No 114.

Medical services

Dentist: Clínicas Dentales Especializadas, Ed María Antonia, 3a Calle between 8 and 9 Av NO, apartamento L-1, Barrio Guamilito, T558- 0464.

Post office

3 Av SO between 9-10 Calle.

Telephone

Hondutel, 4 Calle 4 Av SO. Calls can be made from Gran Hotel Sula.