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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Beautiful Beaches

This is the Caribbean Sea we are talking about, after all!  And when you hear Caribbean, there is only thing that comes to mind – miles and miles of beautiful beaches with spectacular sceneries and offering many opportunities for activities both on land and on sea., and Puerto Cortes is no exception the rule.

You will discover that sun, sand, surf and sea are just a short walk and/or drive away from wherever you are in Puerto Cortes.  You will have the opportunity to soak up the sun, swim to your heart’s content and sleep in a hammock under the tress in the Beaches of El Faro, Cieneguita, Coca-Cola, Travesia and Baja Mar.  For more adventures, you can always engage in water sports like snorkeling, fishing, boating and sailing and waterskiing.  These are often offered by the hotels but can also be availed of through other private establishments.

Friendly People

Despite the poverty experienced by many Hondurans, smiles and laughter abound.  Besides, who wouldn’t be when you live in a Caribbean paradise like Puerto Cortes is?  Although most people in Puerto Cortes cannot speak English, thus necessitating a Spanish dictionary of conversational phrases, you will discover that help is almost always extended.

There are unsavory characters in Puerto Cortes.  (What city hasn’t a share of them, anyway?)  These are the bad apples in the basket of good apples.  Just remember to always be vigilant about your personal safety and property and you will be alright.

Colorful Festivities

From religious celebrations to secular events, Puerto Cortes can put on a show of rich local culture.  You will discover that Honduran culture as shown in a modern city like Puerto Cortes is a must on your vacation itinerary.

First, be transported to Venice in Central America through the Noche Veneciana on the last Saturday of August every year.  You can revel in the sights and sounds of gondolas on parade and fireworks from the boats, which serve as the culminating activity of the two-week fiesta honoring Puerto Cortes’ patroness – the Virgen de la Asunción.  Second, be amazed with the religious fervor coupled with joyful merriment that pervades Holy Week in Puerto Cortes.  Processions featuring Biblical characters in colorful costumes parade in the streets, which add a surreal quality to the whole exercise.

There are many more festivities in Puerto Cortes – Honduran Independence Day, Christmas Eve and New Years Eve, to name a few – that are not to be missed by both tourists and locals alike.  All you need to do is plan your itinerary to coincide with them.

With these three compelling reasons to visit Puerto Cortes, nothing and nobody should keep you from visiting this Caribbean city.

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By Air

Unfortunately, there are no direct flights to Puerto Cortes since it has no airport to speak of.  The nearest airport is located at San Pedro Sula, from where most major flights in and out of Honduras originate.  Since it is only 40 kilometers away from Puerto Cortes, however, going to the port city is indeed easy.  Because air fare to Honduras from abroad and within the country itself are relatively inexpensive, air transport is still the best way to enter Puerto Cortes via San Pedro Sula.  If you are coming from cities in the United States, you must check with your local travel agency for direct flights.

By Land

The Honduran bus system is one of the few in Central America that boasts of an extensive network.  This is due to the strategic location of the port city within the Pan American highway system, which connects many cities and countries from North America to South America.  Of course, Puerto Cortes has greatly benefited from the Pan American Highway.

If you are traveling to Puerto Cortes from San Pedro Sula, buses are the most affordable ad most logical way to travel in relative comfort.  If you wish to save time and aches, paying a few more lempira for an executive and/or direct service is well worth the price.

Buses plying the San Pedro Sula to Puerto Cortes and vice-versa are available in 15-minute intervals, usually from 4 in the morning to 9 in the evening.  You have the choice of either getting direct buses (1 hour) or ordinary service (1.5 or more hours depending on number of passengers along the way).  Also, you can rent a car.  Just rent from establishments away from the airport to save on taxes.  As to legal driving, your US and/or European driving licenses are valid for up to 30 days. After which, securing a Honduran license is a must.  Take note, however, that gas prices in Honduras are considerably higher than in the US.

There are taxi stands in Puerto Cortes that can be hired cheaply.  Just make sure that fare negotiation happens before you enter the cab so as to avoid future inconveniences and misunderstandings.

By Boat

True to its port status, Puerto Cortes is one of the best places to be when you desire to hop to other Honduran islands and to the neighboring countries.  At the Barra La Laguna, which is very near the city, you can hop on boats going to Dangriga (2-hour trip) on Mondays and to Belize City (3.5-hour travel) on Tuesdays.  There will often be a 2-hour wait that can best be spent mingling with the locals at the nearby fish market.  And, yes, please bring your valid passport.

With all these easy ways to get in and around Puerto Cortes, your only problem will be how to be free of the spell that Honduras in general and Puerto Cortes in particular has woven around you.

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Family Structure

The Garinagu society is said to be a matriarchal one where the women rule the household while the men provide for the family’s subsistence.  It must be emphasized, however, that the women also play a role in earning a living albeit in a smaller way.  As such, you must respect both men and women in Garinagu villages.  In some ways, this is in contrast with the mainly macho culture of the Hondurans especially in cities like Puerto Cortes.

Language

In recognition of the importance of Garinagu culture for humanity, UNESCO proclaimed the dance, music and language of its people as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. The aim was to assist in the preservation of the Garinagu culture as expressed through oral and body language, which remains to be one of the most unique on Earth.  Of course, you will need a translator as the Garinagu of Puerto Cortes only speaks Spanish and a native dialect called Igñeri. Always try to be polite as you would in any situation and you will be treated with respect, too.

Religion

You must also show respect for the unique mix of religion that the Garinagu practice.  Said religion is characterized by a shaman – known as a buyei - leading all traditional practices, which include the Dugu (a dance ritual for the dead) and the belief in the Gubida (spiritual possession through trance).

Food

If you are in a Garinagu village, you must taste the savory of unusual food.  You can sink your teeth into ereba (cassava bread), which is eaten with either fish or pounded plantains or gravy.  If you are more adventurous, bundiga, mazapan and bimacacule are on the menu, too.

Dance and Music

What you should not miss, too, is the distinctive and popular dance form of the Garinagu, which is called the punta.  You perform this dance by swaying your hips from right to left in a circular motion to the beat of the drums although other instruments are also added.  There are other dance and music forms of the Garinagu people.  No matter the dance and music, however, you will find that the Garinagu people are truly eloquent with their bodies, their lyrics and their music.

Meeting Garinagu people during your visit to Puerto Cortes is worth your time.  You will be provided with the great opportunity to interact with friendly people whose culture have been greatly influenced by many cultures and that, in turn, continue to influence modern cultures.

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Be Friendly with the Right Locals

One of the best resource persons about the safe and unsafe areas in Puerto Cortes is the hotel concierge or receptionist.  You must ask him/her about local conditions – specific areas safe for shopping and sightseeing as well as references to trustworthy individuals who can act as local guides.

Your local guide functions in many ways.  First, you will be lead to safe places within the city that will satisfy your needs as a tourist, hence, sparing you the hassles of getting lost in unsavory places.  Second, you will have a buffer against unsavory locals who will want to get a fast buck out of you.  Third, your local guide can teach you how to act, speak and look in many social situations, which is a must if you intend to be on the good side of people.

Be Vigilant about Your Personal Safety

You must always look out for your personal safety while in Puerto Cortes, as you would in your own big city.  Often, all it takes is the adoption of commonsense tips like:

• Always lock your hotel room doors at night especially those leading to your balcony.
• Avoid walking in the dark and on the beaches alone at night.  You are setting up yourself for trouble when you do since robberies happen in these circumstances.
• Bring your valuables with you whenever you get out of your rental car, if you have one.  Valuables are like beacons in the dark no matter the place and time.  This also goes for going to the beach.  It is better to leave them in the hotel safe.
• Beware of situations where locals and tourists mix with alcoholic drinks.  Always drink moderately, avoid situations where trouble can be started and just go back to your hotel when it does happen.

Most of all, you must never buy drugs and other illicit substances from others while in Puerto Cortes and in any other Honduran city.  You want to avoid being involved in illegal trade, least of them in narcotics.

Be Healthy

Before entering any foreign country, it is important that your vaccines are up to date. Also, it pays to always carry around a first-aid kit, your complete medications plus their prescriptions and insect repellant lotion.  Mosquito-borne diseases like malaria and dengue fever can be contracted in Puerto Cortes, unfortunately.  Also, you must drink from bottled water and eat in reputable dining places.  You want to avoid stomach complaints like diarrhea and food-borne diseases.  If you must drink from unsafe sources to respect the sensibilities of your host, just take a sip.

Ultimately, your safety and security in Puerto Cortes depend as much on your common sense and personal vigilance as these do on local authorities.

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Hotel Playa

One of the upscale hotels in Puerto Cortes, Hotel Playa is the most popular weekend homes for vacationers coming from San Pedro Sula and from foreign countries.  You can choose from its clean beaches and its good-sized pool for activities like swimming and sun tanning.  Or better yet, you may relax in the beachside champas – the local word for thatch roof huts that so happens to be evocative of the tropics – situated under palm trees that provide natural shade.  It is basic living with modern comforts thrown in.

If you have a hankering for the Honduran countryside whilst getting your exercise, then the mountain bike tours are for you. This is a 4-hour tour through the scenic countryside where secluded waterfalls can be found and native flora and fauna can be discovered.

For your dining needs, the Hotel Playa has an air-conditioned restaurant with good service and good food.  And of course, your rooms are also air-conditioned, all the better to ward off the humid tropical heat.

Caribbean Cliffs Marine Club

Just a few minutes ride from Puerto Cortes lie the nature adventure resort of the Caribbean Cliffs Marine Club.  You can choose from among many rooms with spacious double beds, blissful air-conditioning, a terrace with a hammock and even a television.  When you step outside your room, many activities are up for grabs.  You can engage in many water sports like swimming, fishing, snorkeling, water skiing boating and sailing as well as land activities like camping, waterfall hikes, horseback riding and even just jogging.

The prices in the hotel are very reasonable especially for dollar-bearing tourists.  Honduras is not exactly an expensive country.

Hotel Costa Azul

In homage to the blue seas of the Caribbean, the Hotel Costa Azul is considered one of the best, or if not, the best hotel in the port area.  Its beach, which is called Coca Cola in remembrance of the soft drink giant’s plant formerly located in the area, is one of the tranquil places available in Puerto Cortes.  It can get crowded during Holy Week but therein is its other charm – the opportunity to mingle with the locals.  Also, Hotel Costa Azul boasts of a modest pool and good restaurant facilities, in addition to comfortable rooms.  It is said that in this hotel, you will not feel blue.

There are other accommodations in Puerto Cortes – Palmeras Beach Hotel and Coco Bay Resort, to name two – which you can check out, or rather, check in to as your sleeping quarters while in the city.  Whatever hotel accommodations you choose, the people of Puerto Cortes welcomes you to its progressive city by the Caribbean Sea.

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Local Customs

The people of Puerto Cortes are fervent members of the Roman Catholic Church.  As such, it is a very good idea indeed to respect local customs in relation to the holidays observed by Catholics.  One of the most important religious events is the Holy week, which is marked by processions of men and women in colorful clothing.  Most local people will flock to the beaches on Easter Sunday both to ward off the heat and to celebrate Christ’s resurrection, so expect crowded sands.

Another important event in local Puerto Cortes culture is its August fair. Amongst the treats waiting for locals and visitors alike are the parade of gondolas and boats along the bay as well as an evening fireworks display.  This is, of course, in accordance with the maritime tradition of the city and it’s like being transported to Venice in Central America.

On the negative side, you must learn to cope with the “culture of need” prevalent amongst the poor city folks.  You have to show respect for their need and grace for their wants but you must never be taken in by the drama lest you find yourself being taken advantage of.  There are organizations in Puerto Cortes that answer the needs of the poor more effectively so donating to them is a better idea.  Still, the people of Puerto Cortes, like most Hondurans, are known for being very friendly and very helpful with tourists.  Just be sure to bring along a Spanish pocket dictionary of useful phrases as majority of the people do not speak English.

You will make fast friends when you smile although physical contact like hugs must be limited during the first few acquaintances as Hondurans like their personal space from relative strangers as much as you do.

Local Food

Honduran food can be very spicy so it is best to initially eat little portions.  In this way, you avoid experiencing food shock, not to mention a very hot mouth!  If you have allergies to spices, then it is better to stick to non-spicy foods, of which Honduran food has many.

You must try the Plato Tipico, which consists of rice, fried beans and fried bananas as well as beef meat.  Think of it as an all-in-one satisfying and filling meal. You can venture into baleadas (flour tortilla filled with refried beans and quesillo), stuffed tortillas and tamales, seafood and vegetable soups, and a wide range of tropical fruits like passion fruits and papaya. Wash it all down with beverages like soft drinks and beer.  Speaking of beverages, you must drink only from bottled water especially when outside of your hotel.  Water in Puerto Cortes is relatively safe to drink but it pays to be extra careful on your vacation.

Truly, being in a wonderful city like Puerto Cortes is a Caribbean vacation like no other.  You just need to remember the Golden Rule when traveling in the city and you will be fine.

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Things to Do

Bustling city that it is, Puerto Cortes hosts numerous dining establishments offering everything from local fare to international cuisine, entertainment centers like nightclubs and movies, and shopping opportunities for local and international products.  Even when you decide to stay within the city limits during your vacation, you have many activities to do.  You can enjoy the local culture and bring home a piece of Puerto Cortes home with you.

Also, you will appreciate the Saturday farmer’s market where fresh fruits, vegetables and meats can be bought from local producers.  This is also an opportunity to mingle with the locals although you must choose whom you talk to as Puerto Cortes, like most cities, has its share of unscrupulous individuals preying on unsuspecting tourists.

Places to See

Who wants to stay within the city all the time when the charming countryside and pristine beaches surrounding Puerto Cortes beckon?  You can take a drive down the scenic local roads to visit the quaint seaside villages of Chivana, Omoa and Cuyamel, to name a few.  And while you are driving, you must enjoy the magnificent views of mountains to your left and oceans to your right. It’s almost like having the best of both worlds on land and on water.  That’s Puerto Cortes for you!

If you are up for a more eco-friendly way to see the countryside of Puerto Cortes, then adventure mountain bike tours are for you.  You can bike your way through hidden trails that lead to secluded waterfalls, rich flora and fauna and spectacular views of the Caribbean Sea, all compressed within 4 hours of invigorating biking.  And of course, Puerto Cortes being on the shore of the Caribbean Sea, you must visit the pristine beaches scattered all around the city.  You will enjoy sun, sand, sea and surf in the Beaches of El Faro, Coca-Cola, Baja Mar, Cieneguita and Travesia, all of which are very popular with the locals and tourists alike.

You will find many hotels, restaurants and bars in these beaches.  So sleeping, eating, and having a good time shopping, three enjoyable activities on a vacation are guaranteed.  Or you can just sleep in a hammock strung against two coconut trees and relax like there is no tomorrow!

People to Meet

You can interact with the city denizens of Puerto Cortes as well as the average man on the street.  For a taste of a unique culture, however, the villages of the Garinagu people are a must visit places.  You can find Garifuna villages along the shores of the Caribbean, most notably Travesia and Baja Mar to the east and Masca to the west of the city center. The Garinagu culture is a distinctive blend of Carib, Arawak and African cultures, which shows the mixed ancestry of its people.

At Puerto Cortes, being bored out of your wits is never an option.  Just venture beyond your room and experience Honduras like never before, like only Puerto Cortes can offer.

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Port of History

Puerto Cortes started on humble beginnings, as most modern ports have in their path towards modernity.  It was initially established as La Natividad by Hernán Cortés, the Spanish conquistador who ushered the way for the Spanish conquest of the Americas in 1524.  This was a foreshadowing of the greatness that Puerto Cortes will have in the next 500 years although it will not be evident until the early 20^th century.

La Natividad was subsequently destroyed by a native leader in 1533. It was rebuilt in 1536 by Pedro de Alvarado, who defeated the local leader.  Alvarado situated the town in the lagoon that now bears his name and called it Puerto de Caballos.  It was supposedly named after an incident where horses drowned in the port, caballos meaning horses in Spanish.

It was only in 1869 when Puerto de Caballos changed its name to Puerto Cortes in honor of Hernán Cortés, its original founder.  Since the establishment of the Omoa fort in the 18^th century, which provided protection to the town against pirate attacks, Puerto Cortes has gained national prominence as Central America’s premier port.

There have been challenges to development, of which the most notable were Hurricane Fifi in 1974 and Hurricane Mitch in 1998.  The city is made of resilient stuff and so are its people, thus, Puerto Cortes has bounced back from these challenges.

Port of Modernization

Today, the port of Puerto Cortes is a bustling facility operating on a 24 hours basis.  Aside from being Central America’s only deep water port, it is also the largest and best-equipped in the region. This is made possible through the modernized roll-on, roll-off containerized facilities that ensure an efficient port system, which consequently allows for competitive shipping costs to the United States.

Many products for export to the United States pass through Puerto Cortes, which are inspected by US Customs Officials to ensure safety and quality as well as payment of right customs duties.  Said customs fees are in turn used to develop the port and the city itself.  These export products include bananas, coffee, coconuts, flour and hardwood. As a consequence of its booming port business, Puerto Cortes is also a thriving industrial center housing factories and plants that process dairy, flour and banana flour, fish, coconut oil, beverages, African palm oil, soap and leather goods.  To provide energy to these plants, a thermal electricity plant and a small refinery can also be found in the city.

Of course, the said rapid economic development is made possible by excellent infrastructure going in and out of Puerto Cortes.  There are excellent roads leading to the national capital of Tegucigalpa as well as to the countryside, which complements the railroad. Indeed, going in and out of Puerto Cortes is easy for both tourists and businessmen.

In the future, Puerto Cortes will become a popular haven for tourists seeking the warmth of the Caribbean sun, sand, sea and surf as well as the economic center of Honduras and Central America.  There is no better time to visit it than today!

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