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Tegucigalpa has only a moderate selection of decent hotels; variety and availability are not as large as you'd expect in a capital city of one million people. That said, you can still manage to choose between elegant high-rises, older favorites that are full of personality, or intimate hostels with personalized service. Business travelers frequent Tegucigalpa on weekdays, and many of the mission groups who often stay in the city through the weekend use smaller places as their base. Reservations are a good idea any day of the week, any time of the year. The good news is that prices are very reasonable here for what you get, even at high-end lodgings, and hotels that cater to business travelers discount their rates on weekends.
Many hostelries in Barrio El Centro, the old downtown, have seen better days. We suggest only a couple of hotels there, but they are solid recommendations and would be worth reviewing regardless of their location. Colonia Palmira, east of downtown, contains the biggest variety of lodgings and is a convenient place to base yourself. The Honduras Maya, Tegucigalpa's original business-class hotel, holds court here as well as a trio of similarly styled medium-size lodgings. Palmira is also home to a few small inns, impressive for their family-style surroundings and service. The big international chains, with all the amenities a business traveler could desire, have set up shop in the southern reaches of the city along with one smaller hotel with more personality. If you arrive in the capital on an intercity bus, your first encounter will be with the Comayagüela district southwest of downtown where all the terminals are. The neighborhood is sketchy, and you should cab it elsewhere rather than trying to stay there.
No matter which neighborhood you use as your base, always come and go by taxi after dark; it's the safest mode of transport at night. Have the front desk call a cab for you rather than you trying to flag one down in the street.
Okay, bed-and-breakfast is a misnomer here—Casal is really a hotel in a rambling converted house—but an ample breakfast is included in the rates. Rooms are plain, although some come with a balcony. Ask to see a selection before deciding. It makes for a good budget option in otherwise more-expensive Colonia Palmira.
Clarion Hotel Real Tegucigalpa. A truly elegant lobby is your introduction to the Clarion Hotel Real Tegucigalpa, the most imposing of the capital's large hotels. Geared to business travelers, it has a floor reserved for executives where you are pampered with a drink in the evening and breakfast the next morning. Some rooms are on the small side, although all are luxuriously appointed and a true bargain for a hotel of this stature. The pool is very attractive, and the gardens are immaculate.
This cabin in the clouds is operated by the Amitigra Foundation, a nonprofit organization that supports La Tigra National Park. Reservations should be made in advance through its offices in Tegucigalpa. You can also arrange transportation through Amitigra. Accommodation here is basic, but the caretakers are happy to make you breakfast and dinner. The warm shower is a real treat in the wilderness.
This wonderful hotel is one of the more recent additions to downtown Tegucigalpa's hotel scene, but the Excelsior is located close to the neighborhood's border with Colonia Palmira, and it's got a very strong Palmira vibe. The Excelsior is a business-class hotel, but thanks to exceptionally friendly staff it seems a tad less formal than the other hotels around town in this category. Comfy rooms, orthopedic mattresses, hypoallergenic sheets and plush duvets add to the little touches here.
The view of El Picacho Cristo, a 30-foot statue of Jesus perched on a nearby hill, is one of the best reasons to stay at this local landmark, the capital's original business-class hotel and an enduring favorite. This high-rise has undergone an extensive refurbishing and sparkles once again. The lobby is welcoming and the rooms are spacious. There is an updated gym and even a large pool. Dine in the pleasant terrace restaurant or stop by for a drink in the cozy bar with views from its own terrace.
If you're not careful, you might miss this colonial-style hotel on its quiet street in the heart of Colonia Palmira—there's no sign in front. Once you find it and step inside, however, its tiled floors, Honduran artwork, and pastel colors will make you feel that you've left the city behind. A scant six rooms here and a devoted return clientele mean you should make reservations in advance. You enter three of the rooms from inside the house; the other three are accessed from the flowered patio with beautiful views of the city. (Linda vista means "beautiful view," and the name is apt.) There's parking for only two cars, but with all the hassles of driving in Tegucigalpa, we recommend not having a vehicle in the city at all.
Even though it's in the center of the city, this budget-price hotel is remarkably quiet. After a day exploring the Tegucigalpa, it's nice to return for a nap in one of the spacious rooms or a dip in the pool. Numbers of windows in rooms vary, making some brighter than others. Ask to see a couple before deciding. The manager is extremely helpful, dispensing information about the region.
Hotel Portal del Ángel combines colonial elegance with sleek modern design. Gilt mirrors and baroque religious art bring a hallowed air to the lobby, whereas cool colors and clean lines brighten the courtyard. You can dine here beneath pale-blue-and-lemon-colored arches where plants climb up bits of twirling wrought iron. Panels of hand-carved mahogany are used for headboards in the generously sized rooms. In the heart of Colonia Palmira, the hotel is close to trendy bars and restaurants.
Signs for the Hotel Santa Lucía Resort appear the moment you leave Tegucigalpa, and by the time you arrive, you'll feel you already know the place. Once you see all the pine trees and feel the brisk air, you'll know you've left the tropics behind. Rooms in the main lodge are bigger than those in the cabins scattered around the property. A few come with a small kitchen.
Humuya Inn. Once a private home, this friendly little inn is set in a leafy neighborhood far from the center of the city. Sunlight streams through the windows of the rooms, which have what we are tempted to call the comfiest beds in Honduras. High ceilings, ceramic-tile floors, and locally made crafts make them feel particularly homey. Breakfast, with fresh banana and coconut breads, is included in the rate. Lunch and dinner are also available. If you want to make your own meals, the apartments have full kitchens. The place can be difficult to find, so before you leave home, ask the staff to e-mail or dictate the directions in Spanish for you to hand to your taxi driver once you get into town.
This colonial-style hotel, complete with a grassy courtyard, is popular with weekend crowds from Tegucigalpa. All rooms have splendid mountain views. There's a pool and plenty of activities for the kids. Reservations should be made a few days in advance for weekends.
You'll be offered fruit-flavored beverages upon your arrival at this friendly bed-and-breakfast. That won't be the last thoughtful touch provided by the exceptionally caring staff. Count on all-day coffee and an afternoon selection of appetizers. Rooms are spacious and cheerful, and it's a pleasure to get lost in the attractively tiled corridors of the converted house, which has a colonial feel despite only dating from the 1970s. Breakfast is served amid the green fronds that shade the patio garden, which overlooks a children's play area.
This pretty bed-and-breakfast offers a spectacular view of the pine-covered mountains. Filled with quaint touches, the inn is the perfect place to watch the sunset from your private patio. Continental breakfast is served in the café, where you can enjoy wine or beer in the evening.
Built with business travelers in mind, this grand hotel in the heart of the city's financial district offers secretarial and courier services and conference facilities with state-of-the-art equipment. When you finish that meeting, head to the pool or the fully equipped gym. Great shopping is nearby, but you really never need to leave the area, as Multiplaza has plenty of boutiques to keep you occupied. Many of the comfortable rooms have CD players and VCRs, and one is designed for people with disabilities.
The Marriott here began life as a Crowne Plaza hotel, and many locals still refer to it that way. Whether a Marriott or Crowne Plaza, this hotel could be the outlet of any upscale U.S. chain anywhere; that may be perfectly fine with you, or you may seek something that says "Honduras" more than this place does. (Bahía, the hotel gift shop, is an exception; you'll find a nice selection of Lencan pottery for sale here.) Do expect a solid, quality Marriott experience here in any case. As with the other hotels out in this part of town, you need a car or taxi to get anywhere, but the Marriott does offer free shuttle service to the nearby Multiplaza.
Just over two-dozen cabins scatter around this property on the edge of town heading out to the village of San Juancito. Stay in the brick ones—they're much nicer than the drywall units, although all are a bit on the plain side. An aboveground pool keeps the kids who stay here happy.
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