Honduras unfortunately still struggles to escape its bad reputation for safety. It has one of the highest homocide rates in the world, and San Pedro Sula and Tegucigalpa (the capital) are the no 1 and no 4 most violent cities respectively (not counting cities in war zones). It should be said that the gang violence rarely affects tourists, and safety was also never an issue for me personally. You can still navigate a country like this safely as long as you take care, but it did often make me feel more limited in what I could do.
I think as a consequence, it was also harder for me to fall in love with Honduras. Also, security situation aside, there aren’t a lot of sights or places that really put Honduras on the map.
The first big reason to go to Honduras is scuba diving around the Bay Islands. It’s probably the cheapest place to learn to scuba dive or to take fun dives anywhere in the region, and from the Honduran coast you can gain access to the second largest reef in the world. However, I personaly wouldn’t recommend Utila Town for those wanting to avoid traffic, pollution, noise, hassle, drunks and drugs. Instead head to one of the Cays.
The other main attractions in Honduras are the Mayan ruins of Copán Ruinas, near the Guatemala border, and D&D Brewery, near Lago de Yojoa.
Gracias and Santa Rosa de Copán were of some interest but not worth going out of your way for.
