Take It All In

If You Have 1 day: A day is what most visitors give Tegucigalpa, and it's ample time to explore the historic center of the city. Any visit to a Latin American city should start at its heart, its central plaza, the Plaza Morazán in the case of this city. Look inside the sumptuously restored cathedral on the eastern edge of the plaza. Walk a few blocks north to the Iglesia Los Dolores, admire its beautiful facade, and browse the artisan stalls in the plaza fronting the church. Take a taxi up to El Picacho, the mountain that overlooks the city. Head back down in the afternoon and learn everything you could want to know about Honduran history at the Museo para la Identidad Nacional.

If You Have 2 days: Two days let you explore the historic center of the city but give you more breathing room to linger over the sights and sample more restaurant and shopping options, especially in leafy Colonia Palmira to the east of downtown. Two of the capital's most impressive sites entail detours from the city center and can each take up a half day: the new Chiminike children's museum is fun for kids and adults of all ages, and the church and basilica in the suburb of Suyapa have been sites of pilgrimage for the faithful for over 250 years.

If You Have 3 days: Spend your first day in Tegucigalpa exploring the streets of the capital. The nearby villages of Santa Lucía and Valle de Ángeles, with their cobblestone streets, are a great place to stroll on your second day. Weekdays are pretty quiet in Valle and Santa Lucía; if your schedule permits it, come out here on the weekend when there's more going on. Get up early the next day so you have plenty of time to explore Parque Nacional La Tigra, a beautiful example of a tropical cloud forest.