40 Days Pandemic Rainy Solo Trip in Central America
January 17 to January 20, 2021
My 118th country visited on my journey beyond #lakbay100, 93rd solo backpacking trip, 8th country in North America and of course, usual budget do-it-yourself itinerary from arrival to departure. Honduras served also as the fifth country on my 2020-2021 America Pandemic Adventures Filipino Solo Trip, the new normal of traveling.
Honduras is the second biggest and second most populous country in Central America. It has colonial villages (Gracias, Comayagua), ancient Maya ruins (Copan), natural parks (Moskitia), and a Pacific and Caribbean coastline and the Bay Islands, with great beaches and coral reefs where snorkelling and diving are exceptional by any standard. The country is bordered by Guatemala to the northwest, El Salvador to the south and Nicaragua to the southeast and has one of the worlds highest murder rates due mostly to rampant gangs.
https://wikitravel.org/en/Honduras
INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT HONDURAS
timezone - UTC -0600H capital - Tegucigalpa language - Spanish currency - Lempira (HNL)
1. Honduras is part of the second largest coral reef in the world, after the Great Barrier Reef.
2. Honduras translates to “great depths” in Spanish – named by Christopher Columbus after the deep waters along the coast.
3. Honduras was the first country to ban smoking in enclosed spaces, which includes people’s own homes.
4. Honduras was the country with the first cinema to ever been built in Central America.
3 DAYS SOLO PANDEMIC TRIP IN RAINY HONDURAS ITINERARY
Day 22: Jan. 17, 2021 Sun / San Sal to Tegucigalpa
1230H ETD San Salvador UTC -0600H; Pullmantur bus 57 USD
1600H ETA Santa Clara / Amatillo border 3 USD
1900H ETA Tegucigalpa UTC -0600H; walk to hostel
Money Exchange 43 USD = 1,040 HNL (24); Palmira Hostel 27 USD; dinner 140
TOTAL: L135 + 30 USD + 57 USD
Day 23: Jan. 18, 2021 Mon / Comayagua
0700H 13TH PCR NASAL SWAB TEST (6 hrs); Laboratorio Clinico Express 94 USD (L2,250)
0845H ETD Tegucigalpa; bus 54; Walk to Transportes Costenos
1015H ETA Comayagua; souvenir 50; lunch 85
1200H ETD Comayagua; bus 50
1400H ETA Tegucigalpa; walk to Centro; Wild Wings 150; snacks 50
TOTAL: L439 + 94 USD
Day 24: Jan. 19, 2021 Tue / La Tigra Park
0630H ETD Hostel; walk to Parque Herrera
0740H ETD Tegucigalpa; bus 24
0900H ETA La Tigra Park 50; snacks 40
1500H ETD La Tigra; bus 24
1600H ETA Tegucigalpa Centro; dinner 150
TOTAL: L288
Day 25: Jan. 20, 2021 Wed / Tegucig. to Managua
0630H ETD Hostel; bus to Ticabus Terminal 13
0715H ETA Ticabus Terminal; pack snacks 40
1015H ETD Tegucigalpa (1.25 hrs delayed)
1900H ETA Managua
TOTAL: L53
GRAND TOTAL: L915 (65 USD) + 151 USD
3 Days Pandemic Rainy Solo Trip in Honduras |
3 Days Pandemic Rainy Solo Trip in Honduras |
3 Days Pandemic Rainy Solo Trip in Honduras |
HONDURAS SOLO TRAVEL TIPS DURING PANDEMIC:
Land Border Immigration Issues: As usual, I was the always last one to board the bus due to unusual Philippine passport is using a United States B2 Visa as entry visa. I was the only passenger who required stamping on my passport that took the bus waited for long. Paid 3 USD as visa fee.
Places Visited: Tegucigalpa, Comayagua, La Tigra Parque Nacional
01. I shortened my itinerary (originally 7 days) due to very limited bus departure from San Salvador to Tegucigalpa and Tegucigalpa to Managua (Tica bus has weekly departures only while Pullmantur is until Tegucigalpa only).
02. There's no centralized bus station in Tegucigalpa. Every destination has their own private bus station.
03. Almost all archeological parks (except for museums) are open to public and public buses are on irregular schedule (with early last departures).
04. For planned land border, book Pullmantur and Tica bus tickets in advance as the seating capacity is only 50% and departures are once only everyday (except Saturday no departure).
05. On land border arrival, Honduras requires negative Antigen Test valid within 72 hours and updated pre-immigration registration on https://prechequeo.inm.gob.hn/Login.
06. On land border departure, my next destination (Nicaragua) requires negative PCR Test valid within 72 hours and tourist arrival/departure approval via https://solicitudes.migob.gob.ni. Fortunately, Ticabus has 25% discount on Laboratorio Clinico Express in Tegucigalpa with no appointment required (physical passport is always required as identification). PCR Test costs 2,250L (94 USD) with 6 hours result. This test served as my 13th PCR Nasal Swab Test (traveled to 11 countries across 3 continents within 6 months, all negative result).
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