33 Best Hotels in Western Honduras, Honduras

You are several blocks from the center of town here. That can be an advantage—peace and quiet—or a disadvantage, depending on your needs, but we lead toward the former. Rooms occupy several buildings behind the owners' house. The original ones are smaller; the newer ones span a portion of the hillside and are larger with exposed-beam ceilings. All have one full or two single beds and white walls. Take breakfast out on the patio, with terrific views of the valley—you can see as far away as neighboring Guatemala—and luxuriate there in the all-day supply of coffee. Not that anything too stressful ever goes on in Copán Ruinas, but an on-site massage pavilion is here to knead your cares away. The owners rent a few houses on the same street, too.

An early 20th-century, wooden, banana plantation building has been renovated into a wonderful small inn and is San Pedro's most distinctive hotel. (You might miss this place if you aren't looking for it; it's on a downtown street of otherwise boxy, concrete buildings.) The árbol here is a mango tree around which the rambling house is built. Each immaculate room has a wood desk, Honduran artwork, and a small balcony, small being the operative word here. A few of the rooms have king-size beds. The back stone patio is perfect for lingering over a cup of coffee in the morning. To top it off, Honduran urban hotels don't get greener than this, with much of the power being generated by solar panels.

The folks who brought you the downtown Casa del Árbol have branched out, and this suburban property is another winner. Dashes of color play a key role in this sleek, modern hotel; rooms are blindingly white except for a painting in each one, created by various female Lenca artists. The painting in a given room might be red, yellow, green, or blue; smaller versions of the paintings are on display in the lobby area to give you a preview. Plush beds, marble sinks, and flat-screen TVs add to the rooms' modernity. Like its sister property downtown, Galerías' green philosophy shines through with solar panels, low-flow toilets, and light sensors. A restaurant ($$$), serving fusion cuisine with Lencan and Mayan touches, is off the lobby and has a rotating selection of main courses.

Although its sister property in Tegucigalpa gets high marks for being a chain property with Honduran touches, San Pedro's Clarion is a bit plain in comparison. You will find all the amenities a business traveler could desire here, and those are the guests who make up the bulk of the clientele. You're close to shopping and the nightlife of the Zona Viva.

Long considered one of the city's finest hotels, this high-rise is a favorite among corporate travelers. There are plenty of meeting rooms and a wide range of business services available. Many of the rooms look down on the Olympic-size pool. The panoramic views of the mountains from La Churrasquería and the steak house on the seventh floor are unforgettable. There are shops and even an art gallery where you can browse. The service is uneven, however, and the din that comes from the cocktail lounge at night doesn't promote a good night's sleep.

With a great location a few blocks from the central park, this elegant high-rise is among the city's best hotels. All rooms are comfortably furnished and set up for business travelers, so there are connections for your computer and plenty of telephones. For dining there's Antonio's, which serves typical Honduran cuisine, as well as a coffee shop that stays open until midnight. The staff is always ready to help you find your way around the city.

On the west shore of Lago Yojoa, D&D is a favorite stop for many visitors to the lake; rooms in the main lodge are basic but have private baths and hot water. Private cabins are scattered around the grounds and provide much more seclusion than the rooms. The brewery makes its own beer and sodas—try a Lenca Gold Pale Ale or a vanilla cream soda. Meals are tasty and economical. The folks here also offer tours to various attractions around the lake, such as bird-watching, visiting the waterfalls at Puhlupanzak, and hiking the national park Cerro Azul Meámbar.

This downtown high-rise is San Pedro's original business-class hotel, and offers a wide range of services at economical prices. Facing Parque Central, it is close to all of San Pedro Sula's major attractions. Business travelers will appreciate the fact that it is near the financial district. Café Skandia, open 24 hours, is a great place for late-night dinners and early breakfasts by the pool. It is also the only coffee shop in Central America with a Viking theme. All rooms have balconies with views of the city.

In a century-old hacienda, this country inn is one of the most charming lodgings in the area. Flavia Cueva's tender care shows in all the details, from the carefully crafted wooden furniture in the simple but elegant rooms to the hammocks swinging from the porch outside. The restaurant, near the delightful old stove, serves steaming tamales, tasty adobo sauce, and aromatic coffee. Take a walk to Los Sapos, a Mayan archaeological site where huge stones were carved into the shape of frogs, or go horseback riding through the cool Copán Valley. A nonguest day pass to use the facilities is L40.

Although it caters predominantly to business executives, this European-style hotel has personalized service that makes it a good option for any traveler. There are plenty of amenities, from the sparkling pool to the gym. The restaurant is decorated in a stark style, whereas the bar more closely resembles an English pub. The concierge is great for tips on restaurants.

One of San Pedro's newest lodging offerings, this incarnation of the reassuring standby won't disappoint the chain's many fans. Service is friendly, layout and style are familiar, and the do-it-yourself buffet breakfast that the chain is known for greets you every morning.

A bit out of the way from the city center is this very modern offering. The public areas and restaurant are glitzy in a resortlike way and seem a little out of place in Santa Rosa. Rooms are very plain with beds, tables, and chairs and little else. It's a good, solid option.

Though not Comayagua's largest lodging, the Casa Grande is its best offering, and the rates are terrific for what you get. This colonial-era house has been converted into a cozy bed-and-breakfast with stone walls, hand-painted tiles, wood floors, and lots of sumptuous carved-wood furniture.

Don Udo, long famous for his San Pedro Sula restaurant, is also in Copán Ruinas. This small colonial hotel has 16 pleasant rooms that circle the lovely patio, restaurant, and bar. A third-floor sundeck has a panoramic view of the stunning Copán valley and town. There are double rooms, Jr. Suites, and Master Suites, for all group sizes and budgets. The attention to detail and amenities make this luxurious hotel a great value.

Business travelers on expense accounts not flush enough for the Clarion or Gran Hotel Sula stay at this dependable, midrange lodging a few blocks from the city center. Rooms contain comfortable beds, a table and chairs, and flat-screen TVs. The hotel also accepts traveler's checks as payment.

Enjoy a glass of timoshenko, a fruity spirit flavored with cloves, at the rooftop bar of this colonial-style hotel. By far the best lodging in town, it has a beautiful patio and smart lobby. Comfortable rooms have cozy beds and modern baths. The restaurant is good but a little overpriced.

They are a little spare, but clean rooms at Hotel Erick have a few niceties like cable TV. The friendly owners will let you store your gear here while you explore Parque Nacional Celaque.

A hub of activity, this clean and comfortable hotel is a good in-town option. The restaurant ($) doles out plentiful portions of platos típicos (typical dishes), heaping helpings of poultry, and huge bowls of hot vegetable soup. To escape from the midday heat, sip fresh juices made from local berries on the shady balcony overlooking the town. Owner Frony Miedama can set up trips to Parque Nacional Celaque and rents a cabin there called the Cabaña Villa Verde.

Partially facing Parque Central, this colonial-era building has been lovingly converted into one of the town's prettiest hotels. The second-story restaurant overlooks the sparkling pool, shaded by clusters of banana trees. Brilliant bougainvillea lines the paths to the rooms, which are filled with hand-hewn wood furniture and cooled by lazily turning ceiling fans. Once the marimba band starts playing, you might never want to leave the hotel.

The closest lodging to the ruins, this Spanish-style hotel is in the hills just outside town. The open-air lobby, filled with tropical flowers, adds to the ambience. Inside the tile-roof buildings are generously proportioned rooms with views of the lush gardens. After a day exploring the dusty ruins, swim a few laps in the palm-shaded pool or relax in the nearby hot tub.

This delightful hotel has splendid views from the pretty rooftop pool. You can feel your tensions fade as you step into the elegant lobby. If you have business needs, there is an executive floor with computer connections.

With a huge pool that's a welcome respite from the heat, this hotel has all the extras that matter most. Rooms are clean and fresh. Although outside the city, the hotel is only a 10-minute walk from the historic center.

After entering through an attractive wooden lobby, you'll be escorted to one of the rooms surrounding a pleasant garden scattered with rocking chairs. The restaurant serves basic food.

Set on a coffee and orange plantation, this flower-strewn hotel makes a perfect lakeside retreat. The picturesque bridge leading to an airy pavilion is great for bird-watching, and the catamaran trips on the lake are sublime. From the private balcony of your cabin, you can watch horses and their foals trot around. Cabins have two or three bedrooms and are ideal for families. Weekends tend to fill up, so reserve ahead.

Look for the pink house—that's what Casa Rosada means—on the hill a few blocks north of Parque Central. This is easily the most romantic lodging in Copán Ruinas and would be a good candidate for a honeymoon. The entire place exudes colonial elegance, with carved-wood furniture, stone floors, handwoven throw rugs, and Honduran art throughout. (The flat-screen TVs are a concession to a hotel guest's modern needs.) Bathrooms contain bidets, the option of a steam shower, and a speaker system in that shower. One room here is wheelchair accessible, a rarity in Honduras.

Orange dominates, outside and in, at this newish lodging several blocks west of Parque Central on a side street right behind the Crowne Plaza. Rooms are decorated with Honduran art and contain comfortable beds, flat-screen TVs, small desks, and tons of closet space. The three fully equipped suites include small patios.

You can see a lot from the terrace at this hotel on Parque Central. If you ask for one of the rooms on the top floor, which have views of the town's red-tile roofs, you might see horses clip-clopping around the cobbled streets of town. Don't forget to relax with a drink by the small pool in the central courtyard, which is shaded by tall palm trees. The restaurant, Los Arcos, is set behind a lovely colonnade and serves traditional fare.

One of the highlands' loveliest hotels evokes Gracias's pre-independence heyday as the seat of the Audencia, but the building itself is only about a decade old and lovingly constructed in accurate colonial style. Rooms contain hardwood furniture, high-beamed ceilings, and flat-screen TVs.

If you want to relax with a gin and tonic as you gaze at Lago de Yojoa, this is the place. Charming expat Richard Joint evokes all things British and is a wealth of information about the area. From your gleaming-white cabin, you can wander down to look at the boats in the marina. Inquire about the casa de campo (country house) on the far side of the lake. Sleeping eight, it's great for longer stays.

A 2007 renovation made this hotel the most luxurious lodging in the city. The public areas of the Real are simply grand, with marble and plants everywhere, giving this in-city hotel the vibe of a tropical resort. If you want to opt for true luxury, an executive floor tosses in such amenities as butler service and twice-daily pressings.