When to Go

In Honduras [1], as in many tropical countries, temperature has a lot more to do with altitude and geographic region than with time of year. The Caribbean and Pacific coasts are hot year-round, cooled down somewhat only when it’s raining. The Bay Islands [2], stroked with steady breezes, are a bit cooler, but not much. By contrast, the highland regions across most of the center of the country are usually moderately warm during the day and pleasantly cool at night. The coldest parts of the country are the mountain towns in western Honduras [3].

Though Honduras is not generally on the hurricane path of the Caribbean or the Pacific, the August–November hurricane season is a time of frequent inclement weather, especially on the Caribbean coast and the Bay Islands, and is best avoided. Less disruptive but sometimes still torrential are the frequent winter storms in January, known as nortes. As with most stormy weather, the Caribbean coast is the most affected, but nortes can cause rain throughout the country.

The most reliably dry time of year is in March, April, and May, before the spring rainy season starts. The late spring and early summer months are usually dry for most of the day, with a brief early evening thunder shower. By late August and September, the rains return with more intensity. The southern Pacific coast and the border with El Salvador are the most arid parts of the country, while the northern coast (particularly around La Ceiba [4]) and the Mosquitia are the wettest.

Try to avoid Honduras [1]’s more popular tourist destinations (the Bay Islands [2], the ruins of Copán [5], and the north coast [6] beach towns) during Christmas, Easter Week (Semana Santa), and the first week in August, when they can be overrun by Honduran and Salvadoran vacationers, and the price of accommodations doubles. One of the best parties in the country, the Feria de San Isidro in La Ceiba [7], held in mid-May, is worth scheduling a trip around.