5 Best Sights in Honduras' Caribbean Coast, Honduras

Tela is a great place to learn more about the Garífuna culture. In the south of old town is the Casa de Cultura, a community theater and dance project that helps local youth celebrate their history, music, and customs. The workshop puts on shows at the studio and in hotels around Tela. Call to inquire about upcoming performances, or write to director Jean Charles Martel at

Nearby Garífuna communities of Travesia and Bajamar to the east and Marejada and Vacacional have drawn attention for their cultural richness and mid-July dance festivals, but they're a bit out of the way and either isolated or industrial. They're also somewhat unsafe for travelers on their own; go with a guide.

West of Tela beyond Tornabé is Miami, a pleasant community on the Laguna de Los Micos. This is the most traditional of Tela's nearby Garífuna villages, consisting mostly of thatched huts. Many tour operators can arrange cultural excursions to show the punta and yancunu dances and help you find places to experience the local cuisine.

Friendly Tornabéand San Juan, both west of Tela, have a string of beachfront Garífuna eateries; if you need to stay the night here, there's a rustic inn in Tornabé.

There are several villages near Tela where you can experience Garífuna life firsthand. To the east of Tela are Triunfo de la Cruz and La Ensenada, where you'll find a line of homely little restaurants along the water.