San Marcos de Colón, a small town set at an elevation of 960 meters, is mainly visited by travelers on their way through to Nicaragua, but it is perhaps the south’s best-kept secret (well, at least it was until this guide came out). The colonial town is very well-preserved (and has been described as Honduras’ cleanest city).

There are fine forests in the area, most notably cloud forest and dry tropical forests at La Botija mountain. This is a great, infrequently visited area for day walks or multiday hikes. The climate is surprisingly cool, a refreshing change from the hot lowlands around Choluteca.

In addition to wandering around town and visiting the nearby forest, travelers may be interested in checking out El Fuerte Perez, the ruins of an old fort just five minutes away by car or taxi. To get there, drive straight past the alcaldía, take a left when the road comes to a T, then the next right. Located on a hilltop, it is a good spot for a view of town.

Getting to San Marcos de Colón

Mi Esperanza runs buses from San Marcos to Choluteca (US$1.30) at 6 a.m., 7:45 a.m., 10 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 2:15 p.m., and 4 p.m. Its office is facing the market, and you can buy tickets through to San Lorenzo, Jícaro Galán, and Tegucigalpa (US$2.15, US$2.25, and US$4.20, respectively). Blanquita Express has buses at 7:15 a.m., 11:15 a.m., and 3:15 p.m.