The pine-forested mountains around Erandique are excellent for hiking, with footpaths leading in all directions. For a short afternoon trip, ask the way to Las Cuatro Chorreras, a wide waterfall about a half-hour walk south of town down the valley.

Those with an interest in history, or looking for a good long walk, may want to make a pilgrimage to Peñol de Cerquín, Lempira’s unconquered fortress in his war against the Spanish. Ask a local for directions to the path leaving Erandique up the southeast flank of Montaña Azacualpa to San Antonio Montaña, a collection of huts and a small primary school perched on the side of the mountain. The trail rounds the side of the mountain near the schoolhouse, and from that spot, the rocky spire of the Peñol can be seen in the valley below.

From the schoolhouse, a trail continues down the mountain to the Peñol, or you can continue up the trail on the far side of Azacualpa, which eventually connects to the Erandique–Mapulaca road. This round-trip can be done easily in a day, with plenty of time to admire the views, but a trip to the Peñol would probably require one night of camping.

Other nearby mountains, such as Coyucatena, Congolón, and Piedra Parada (according to local lore, the site of Lempira’s assassination), can also be hiked up—generally, trails lead in all directions. Reportedly, a monument to Lempira sits atop Cerro Congolón, and vestiges of indigenous fortresses are found on Coyucatena. From Erandique, you could walk northwest to Celaque and Gracias in a couple of days, if equipped with good maps and a compass or a local guide. Camping is safe, but it’s always best to check with a local campesino before pitching a tent. Guides for this region can usually also be found in San Juan, and Max Elvir of Lenca Travel in Santa Rosa de Copán also offers tours in the area.

San Francisco de Lempira, 28 kilometers from Erandique (hitchhiking very possible), is a lovely little village, with electric power supplied by solar panels from a UNESCO project. About three kilometers from town is a cave with a number of interesting prehistoric paintings of animals, hands, and one dancing human figure. Ask in San Francisco for someone to show you the way.