Founded as the Villa de Puerto Caballos in 1524, this port has become the most important port city in Central America. Through it, most of the goods that are imported or exported to the country are embarked. Located only 55 km from San Pedro Sula, it has become, together with this industrial city the most important economic growth area of the country. Today, Puerto Cortes is a bustling port, where you can see a lot of seafaring activity every day of the year. Puerto Cortes is connected to San Pedro Sula via a modern four lane highway that covers the entire  route of 55 km between both cities. Travel time to Puerto Cortes is a short 45 minutes at the most if traveling by car and one hour if traveling by bus.

There is no longer any regular railroad service between Puerto Cortes and Tela.

Puerto Cortes is however, a lot more than the leading port of Honduras.  Following east along the shores of the Caribbean, you will arrive at the Garifuna communities of Travesia and Bajamar. These two are some of the most important Garifuna communities in the country, and reflect the interesting live culture of  these people. Every year, a Garifuna dance festival is held in Bajamar. A little before the community of Travesia you will find the hotel and Restaurant Fronteras del Caribe, possibly the best food establishment in this part of beach. It is located on the beach, under some exhuberant Coconut trees that will entice you to set up a hammock and relax under the cool tropical tradewinds!  In this area of Puerto Cortes, in the Beaches of El Faro, you will find the Hotel Costa Azul, by far the best hotel in this area of the port, from where you can enjoy the tranquil beaches in a pleasant setting.

Heading west from Puerto Cortes, and following the coast towards the community of Cieneguita, you will pass the Coca Cola municipal beach. The name, which is obviously quite commercial, came to be as the local Coca Cola Depot is located very near to the beach. These are by far the most famous and popular beaches in the area, and are frequented by the locals as well as by people from afar during the weekends and holidays. During the week the beaches are quite quiet. You will find many different restaurants and bars along the beach where you can enjoy lunch or dinner.

Just beyond the Coca Cola beach is Cieneguita. In my opinion, these are the best beaches in Puerto Cortes. Here you will find the Hotel Playa, Palmeras Beach Hotel and the brand new Hotel Casa de Playa, which is an all inclusive property. The Hotel Playa is probably the most popular weekend spot for middle and high class vacationers from San Pedro Sula. Its clean beach and pool attract weekenders looking to work on their tan. This is also the most popular restaurant in town, with outstanding food and very good service. The Hotel Playa offers an air-conditioned restaurant as well as many beachside “champas” located under the fresh tropical palm trees.  The Hotel Casa de Playa has spacious rooms, direct access to the beach and a very nice swimming pool with a slide for children. Its all inclusive program is ideal for families, as parents do not have to worry about getting their children food or drink every so often, they can care for themselves without need of mom or dads signature or cash money!

There are now a variety of  adventure mountain bicycle tours available in Puerto Cortes.  Based at the Hotel Playa in Cieneguita, Roberto Alvarez Jr. has designed various tours with an average of 4 hours of  first class, scenic and without doubt invigorating routes that will take you to secluded waterfalls, offer scenic views of the Caribbean and allow you to discover a different facet of this region of Honduras. Professional mountain bicycles with front and rear suspension, helmets, first aid kits and the outstanding guide services provided by Roberto will provide  you with and unforgettable experience. In addition, the first PADI diving center to be formally established in mainland Honduras operates at the Hotel Playa.  Services offered include diving courses and of course, fun dives! They are also providing a variety of tours, specially on weekends when you can purchase a diving package or just a day excursion to Zapodillo Keys, lovely tropical Caribbean islets where you will have a chance to roam the small islands or discover the magnificent coral reefs teeming with live using your snorkel equipment.

Another good option for food in the area is Anclas restaurant, located on the water, offering access to the refreshing trade winds as well as a great view of the port and beaches.

There are a couple of regular ferry boats leaving from the Puerto Cortes’  Muelle de Cabotaje, located just under the bridge that is next to the Delfin Restaurant. These boats are 20 to 30 passenger boats that make the run between Puerto Cortes and Big Creek, Placencia and Dangriga, Belize. The travel time is between 1 hour and forty five minutes and two hours, depending on the weather and number of passengers. There are actually two different companies doing the run, the newer boat is “The Express” which departs Puerto Cortes on Mondays at noon bound for Big Creek and Placencia. Return Trip from Belize to Puerto Cortes is on Fridays, departing Placencia at noon. The cost of the trip one way is $50.00 USA per person.

The other company, Water Taxi Nesymein Neydy, offers trips from Puerto Cortes to Belize on Tuesdays, departing at 11:15 a.m. This boat stops at Big Creek, Placencia and Dangriga. On Mondays they also operate the Puerto Cortes direct to Dangriga Route with departures also at 11:15 a.m.

All incoming passengers can check immigration at the small immigration office adjacent to the market, however outgoing passengers must check into the main immigration offices located in downtown Puerto Cortes prior to departing. New immigration laws in Central America limit the time a foreigner can stay within the region of Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua to three months total time, and getting an extension is very difficult, unless you leave the region beyond these four countries, meaning that you must travel at least as far as Costa Rica or Belize to stay legal. This ferry service offers the fastest, cheapest option, and by leaving on Tuesday and returning of Friday you comply with the minimum 72 hours out of the region to qualify for an additional 90 days.

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