Two Weeks in Honduras: The Ultimate Itinerary for Beaches, Jungle & Off-the-Beaten-Path Adventures

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So many travelers I met while exploring Central America tended to skip Honduras, and honestly, that’s a huge mistake. After spending over a month exploring this wildly underrated country, I can confidently say that I’m so happy I didn’t skip it!

From the Caribbean islands of Utila and Roatán, to the lush jungles of the Río Cangrejal Valley, and the peaceful lakeside town of Lago de Yojoa, Honduras has everything: diving, rafting, hiking, nature, and truly warm local hospitality, all without the crowds (most places) or the price tags you’ll find in more popular destinations.

Where to start your itinerary in Honduras?

How you plan your Honduras itinerary really depends on where you’re coming from. Many people visit Honduras as part of a longer Central America trip, so I’ve structured this itinerary to be flexible, whether you’re entering from Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador or Nicaragua.

If you’re not traveling across Central America and just want to visit Honduras, I advise you to fly into Roatán or San Pedro Sula for this itinerary.

I spent a month traveling through Honduras and absolutely fell in love with it. This itinerary is based on what I did. Since I entered from Belize, we traveled north to south, which is how this guide is laid out. If you’re coming from Nicaragua or El Salvador, just flip it around and start in Lago de Yojoa.

Overview of your 2 Week plan for Honduras

Below you’ll find a short summary of how I would spend two weeks in Honduras. As mentioned I spent over a month on this trip so you can easily spend more time in each location without being bored. It all depends on how fast or slow you prefer to travel.

• Days 1 -3: Roatán (Pristine beaches + relaxation)
• Days 4 - 8: Utila (chill island vibes + snorkeling)
• Days 9 - 11: Río Cangrejal (jungle + waterfalls + rafting)
• Days 12 - 14: Lago de Yojoa (hiking + kayaking + beer)

Day 1 - 3 Of your 2 week itinerary in Honduras: Roatán

Roatán surprised me in the best way. I almost skipped it because of the cruise ports, thinking it would be too packed with people. However, if you stay at the right places and plan your activities on days there are no cruises, I’m sure you will fall in love with this little island as well.

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Best places to stay in Roatán

I have a full guide with all my favorite places, but below is s short list for every budget. Roatán is not the cheapest place to travel to, but no matter your budget you will find something that suits you. My favorite area is West End, which has all the amenities you need and still feels less touristy than West Bay.

Hotel Chillies ($40 per night)

Sea Breeze In ($55 per night)

Lands End ($100 per night)

Cocolobo resort ($140 per night)

The Beach House Boutique Hotel ($290 per night)

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Day 1: Hit the beach

The first day is all about relaxing and hitting the beach. Head to the Half Moon Bay beach and relax! If you want you can swim out to the boat they have there and jump off. You can also head to Roatán Chocolate factory for some delicious treats!

Day 2: Snorkeling & Boat Adventures

Book a snorkeling tour either for a full day so you can see the starfish alley, or just an hour just outside the beach area.

Day 3: Hit the beach again!

Roatán really is all about the beaches, so today take a trip to West Bay. Make sure to check if there are cruises in port first and adjust your day accordingly. It’s much better to go here when there is no cruise boat.

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Day 4 - 8 of your ultimate itinerary for Honduras: Utila

Utila stole my heart. It’s way smaller and more laid-back than Roatán, and the vibe is young, dive-focused, and full of barefoot freedom. We stayed for a week and could’ve easily stayed much longer. I have allocated more time on Utila than Roatán, but you can easily switch it up if you feel Iike Roatán might be more your kind of place. Most people come to Utila to take their diving certificate, but you can easily fill an entire week here without doing so.

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Best places to stay in Utila

Utila is more directed to backpackers and divers than Roatán, so you won’t find luxurious hotels here. However, there are some cute boutique Hotels and Hostels to choose from. If you’re coming here to dive they usually offer free accommodation at the different places you can take your certification. If you’re not diving and getting free accommodation I do advice you to book ahead of time because there aren’t that many options to choose from. Below are my favorites.

Coral View Beach Resort ($100 per night)

MANURII Gardens ($110 per night)

Moon Apartments ($110 per night)

Mango In Resort ($120 per night)

Day 5 - Travel day to Utila

Time to hop to the next island. The ferry ride is about an hour and the sea gets pretty choppy so if you’re prone to seasickness, bring some motion sickness tablets to be on the safe side. Check in at your Hotel and either hit the beach, the bars or just wander the cozy streets.

Day 6: Explore the town & beaches

Explore Utila! There are so many fun things to do and see on this little island. You can head to the chocolate factory or check out Tito’s Paradise for example.

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Day 7: Beach day on Neptune’s

Today you could head out to Neptune’s and spend the day there relaxing on the beach!

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Day 8: Water Caye day trip

This was my favorite day on Utila. We took a boat to Water Caye, a tiny uninhabited island with white sand, palm trees, and crystal-clear water. We brought snacks and beers and had the beach mostly to ourselves.

Day 9 - 11 of the two week itinerary in Honduras: Rio Cangrejal

This was the unexpected star of the trip. The Cangrejal River valley is wild and full of adventure. Whether you want to raft, hike, swim, or just read in a hammock, this place hits the spot. It’s located just outside the city of La Ceiba, making it surprisingly easy to reach from the Bay Islands. This was probably my favorite area in Honduras and I honestly think it’s so strange that it’s not packed with people.

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Best places to stay in Rio Cangrejal

There are many different lodges to choose from along the river, some pretty rustic and budget friendly and some very luxurious ones. We stayed at the Jungle River Lodge and had such an amazing time! Below are some other options I considered and think would be great places to stay.

Omega Tours Eco Jungle Lodge

They are known for having great food, charming rooms, rafting tours, and a social vibe. There’s a bar, a yoga deck, and an on-site restaurant with a daily-changing menu.

La Villa De Soledad

This is a peaceful B&B with lovely hosts, cozy rooms, and excellent birdwatching right from the garden.

The Lodge & Spa at Pico Bonito

A more luxurious option with charming cabins with a private porch and hammocks

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Day 9: Arrive & chill in the river pools

Take the ferry from Utila and arrange for a taxi or bus to take you to your lodge. When you get there just settle in and enjoy the stunning scenery and take a swim in the river or relax in the hammocks.

Day 10: Guided tour to Pico Bonito National Park

Today I advice you to book a guided hike to Pico Bonito national park and swim in the stunning waterfalls there. It will take about half a day so you can relax in the pools or visit the nearby chocolate factory later on.

Day 11: Rafting on Rio Cangrejal

Most people who come here come to raft, so do that today. We did the rafting tour, and even as a first-timer I loved it.

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Day 12- 14 of the perfect itinerary on Honduras: Lago de Yojoa

Our final stop was Lago de Yojoa, a misty crater lake surrounded by forest. It’s quiet, uncrowded, and peaceful. It’s the kind of place where hammocks, waterfalls, and long jungle walks take over. If you’re headed to Nicaragua next this is the perfect spot to stop on the way. If not, I stil think it’s worth a visit, you just need to plan for an extra day of travel to get back to the airport.

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Best places to stay in Lago de Yojoa

We stayed at the D&D Brewery & Lodge and can absolutely recommend it. The rooms are quite small, but you can spend a bit more than we did and get more space. Below are some other options I considered and come highly reviewed.

D&D Brewery and Lodge

Budget to mid-range rooms and dorms, great food, and all the tours can be arranged from here.

Panacam Lodge

Set inside the national park, with beautiful cabins and trails right out your door. More peaceful, perfect for nature lovers.

Honduyate Marina

A lakeside resort with a pool, boat access, and big views—ideal if you’re after a more resort-like experience.

Day 12: Arrive & settle in at your lodge

Take a taxi or bus from Rio Cangrejal and back to La ceiba and the shuttle onwards to La Guama. From there take a tuk tuk to your accommodation. You’re probably pretty tired after a long day of traveling, so just grab a beer and relax by the fire tonight.

Day 13: Kayaking on Lago de Yojoa

Head out to the lake and explore it either on kayak or on a boat trip. The lake is huge so unless you’re an experienced kayaker you won’t get very far, but its truly a stunning and peaceful place to kayak in peace. In the afternoon you can take the short hike to Pozo Azul to find the insanely blue jungle pool.

Day 14: Visit Pulhapanzak waterfalls

On your last day I advice you to visit Pulhapanzak Waterfall. You can either spend the day relaxing and swimming or explore the area with a hike.

How to end your two week trip to Honduras?

It’s unfortunately time to end this trip in Honduras. You can either travel back to San Pedro Sula or the capitol Tegucigalpa for your flight back. You can book a shuttle or take the local bus to both destinations. Keep in mind that it‘s a long drive so you probably want to have a night in the city you’re flying from.

If you’re headed onwards to El Salvador or Nicaragua for more fun adventure, you can book another shuttle that will take you across the border. There are also local busses, but you will have to switch at the border. Yes it‘s a bit cheaper and probably more adventurous, but the shuttle is really an easy and not very expensive alternative. It’s what we did and when we reached the border I was really glad we had someone to help us since neither of us are good enough in Spanish and especially since the border to Nicaragua can be pretty strict.

Final Thoughts: Should you travel to Honduras?

Absolutely! Honduras is full of life, full of nature, and full of friendly, welcoming people. So many people skip this area of Central America and I honestly don’t understand why. We spent a month exploring and could easily have been there for much longer! My advice is to go before everyone else catches on.

I hope this itinerary helps you plan your trip to Honduras. If you have any questions don’t hesitate to reach out to me on social media. I would love to connect and help out!
-Ingrid

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