General Information

A sleepy coastal town, Tela has been slowly, but surely working its way to becoming an
important beach destination. Located less than 90 km east of San Pedro Sula's
International airport, and connected by an excellent paved highway, Tela is very
easily reached from San Pedro Sula. If you are driving your own car, the driving
time is under one hour from San Pedro Sula. If you are taking the public bus, make
sure that you take one of the direct non stop buses to La Ceiba, and let the driver
know you wish to get off at the entrance to Tela. From this point, you can easily
catch a taxi to take you to the beaches, that have become Tela's main attraction.


Tela is located within the department of Atlantida, of which La Ceiba, located 100
km. east is the capital. Tela has become famous for its beaches, however, there is
much more to Tela than beaches. The home base for the Tela Railroad Company for
many years, owners and producers of the famed Chiquita bananas, Tela retains the
air of a true banana town. The Villas Telamar hotel complex was actually the living
quarters to many the executives of the banana company. The Lancetilla Gardens is
but one of the many assets left behind by the company that has since moved its
quarters to La Lima, just outside of San Pedro Sula.

Tela offers the natural beauty of its beaches, its exuberant tropical vegetation in
three distinct areas: Lancetilla Gardens, Punta Sal National Park and Punta Izopo
Wildlife Refuge, as well as the cultural experience of the Garifuna Culture. Tela is
well worth your time on your vacation in Honduras. Best of all, it is still unspoiled.
Enjoy Tela today, before it becomes a more popular international tourist destination.


It is very easy to get around town, as it is quite small. Locals use bicycles as the
preferred mode of transportation. Banking in Tela is easy. There are several banks,
at many of which you can change your dollars into local currency, as well as getting
cash advances from your Visa and Mastercard credit cards. If you are carrying
Travelers Checks, try cashing them before heading out to Tela, as it is difficult to
cash these in town.

Natural Attractions

Jeanette Kawas National Park (Punta Sal)

Located on the western end of the Bay of Tela, the Jeanette Kawas National Park
is named after a Honduran ecology activist who lost her life while protecting this
National Park, previously known as Punta Sal National Park. Based on its size and
biodiversity, the park is one of the most important national parks in Honduras. The
small bays within the park served as havens to the pirates and buccaneers of
yesteryear. The peninsula forms a natural barrier that protects the bay and port of
Tela from the "nortes" that blow during the winter months. The park has two
separate, well defined areas: the peninsula and the lagoon.

The peninsula is only accessible by sea, and there is a symbolic fee of Lps. 30.00
(approximately 2 USA dollars) that is collected upon your arrival to the park. The
fee is handled by the pro-ecology group PROLANSATE, a non profit private
organization dedicated to the preservation and development of the park. There
are several tour operators within Tela that offer tours by motor launch. The trip
itself takes about one hour before arriving at the park. A vast natural beauty
awaits the traveler: white sand beaches, an exotic and very exuberant jungle and a
very attractive coral reef are the main attractions. During the tour, it is quite
possible to encounter different animals, such as dolphins, monkeys and of course a
large variety of tropical birds, giving an added spice to your tour.

The Lagoon, known as the Micos Lagoon, is the area with the highest population of
birds in the park. During the "summer" (In Central America, the dry season is
referred to as the summer, being in fact the months of December through May) you
will find up to 350 different species of birds living within the lagoon! The lagoon is
surrounded by mangroves, forming canals and cayes where other types of tropical
plants and trees coexist. To the east, the lagoon is separated from the sea by a
narrow tongue of sand, forming an extensive and very beautiful beach.

The Garifuna village of Miami

Is built precisely on this sand bar, and offers a true cultural patrimony of the Bay of
Tela, allowing visitors to experience life the way these villagers have lived for over
two hundred years, since they established themselves on the North Coast of
Honduras. The village, built entirely of thatched huts, makes the tour to Punta Sal
both a natural as well as a cultural experience. Although there are several different
operators and individuals who can take you to Punta Sal National Park, we
wholeheartedly recommend Garifuna Tours, whose offices are located almost in
front of the central park in Tela. There professionalism stands out above all others.
Punta Izopo National Park.

Located on the eastern end of the bay of Tela, only 12 km from town, this unique
area takes its name from the small mountain that dominates the area and comes
out into the Caribbean: Izopo Mountain. The exuberant vegetation of the area.
which is irrigated by the Platano and Hicaque rivers, is home to large variety of
wildlife, including tropical birds such as parrots and toucans, monkeys, alligators and
turtles. The canals, formed within the mangrove forests are accessible to sea
kayaks, which permit you to silently enter the area without disturbing the natural
beauty, and come close to the birds and other wildlife. This tour also includes the
opportunity of visiting the Garifuna town of Triunfo de la Cruz, where the Spanish
Conquistador, Cristobal de Olid first disembarked on his quest to conquer Honduras,
following orders of Hernan Cortes. Garifuna Tours has daily regular departures to
Punta Izopo.

Lancetilla Botanical Garden

Located only a few kilometers from Tela, the Lancetilla Botanical Garden is the
second largest tropical botanical garden in the world. It was established in 1926 as
an experimental site by the Tela Railroad Company. The park boasts a very large
variety of plants from the Central American region as well as from other tropical
lands from throughout our planet. A large number of tropical birds have made the
garden their home, due to the many fruit trees that abound here. There is a well
marked trail that you can follow. In addition, if you follow the road that leads into a
fascinating bamboo forest, you will arrive at a very pleasant swimming hole in the
Lancetilla river, where you can enjoy a refreshing swim after your hike throughout
the park. The entrance fee to the park is Lps. 50.00 and includes a guided tour.
For Hondurans, there is a substantial discount. The best way to get to the park is by
bicycle, which you can rent in Tela. If you have a car, you can easily reach the park.

Garifuna Villages

All along the Bay of Tela there are several different Garifuna communities, and
perhaps some of the most interesting ones in all the country are right here. From
west to east, you will find the Rio Tinto, Miami, Tornabe, San Juan, La Ensenada and
finally Triunfo de la Cruz. Amongst these, without doubt, the most interesting and
unique is Miami, the only one that to this day is still completely built of thatched
huts. You can eat typical foods at all the villages, and learn some of their traditions.
Outstanding, and definitely fun, are the "punta" and "yancunu" dances, that have
origins in their African roots. With the exception of Rio Tinto and Miami, all of the
villages are easily reached, with good public transportation readily available. You
can also rent a bicycle and have the added advantage of free time to discover all
the interesting facets of these villages and their people at your own pace. In some
of the Garifuna villages there are hotels where you can stay and experience the
lifestyle of the Garifuna. An example of these are the Caribbean Coral Inn at
Truinfo de la Cruz, built with local architecture in mind and with a primitive
atmosphere with outstanding service; the Budari at La Ensenada and the Paradise
at San Juan.

Garifuna Museum

Once again open at a different location now, this museum is of great value for
anyone trying to understand the Garifuna heritage of Honduras. This ethnic group,
which arrived to Honduras in 1797, from the Carribean Island of Saint Vincent in the
lesser Antilles, was the result of the racial intermingling of black slaves from Africa
and the local Carib Indians. The group has retained much of its ancient culture and
beliefs. First marooned in Roatan by the British, and then brought to the mainland
by the Spanish, the group quickly spread through the north coast of Honduras.
Perhaps the most visible contribution that this group has given to modern day
Honduras is the “Punta” dance that has made the country famous. In the Museum
you will enjoy colorful artifacts and enjoy the liveliness of their music and dances.

Nigth Life

Tela offers a variety of establishments where the night owls can enjoy a good
atmosphere. Amongst the most popular and recommendable ones, we are pleased
to mention the following:

Casa Azul

An old Tela home that has been refurbished and turned into an Italian bar and
restaurant. Delicious, generous portions in a pleasant atmosphere with good
international music. A favorite for both locals and tourists. Open from 3:00 p.m. till
midnight.

Delfin Telamar. Restaurant
Bar and dancing parties right on the beach. Light foods and draft beer. Located on
the beach at the Villas Telamar Hotel. Open daily from 9:00 a.m. till 11:00 p.m.

El Magnate

Restaurant and disco, located next to the bridge. Has a new dancing floor and a
good lookout point into the beach. Good music and security. Open Friday to
Sunday from 7:00 p.m. till dawn.
Mango. Internet, cinema, music and good food! Daily movie at 6:30 p.m. Musical
videos after 8:00 p.m. A pleasant happy atmosphere for young travelers. Internet
Cafe service. Located at the old Garifuna Museum. Open Monday to Saturday from
3 to 11 p.m.

Sloppy Joe’s

A new sports bar located in the heart of Tela, where you can enjoy watching your
favorite Football and Basketball teams from back home. Giant TV screens, pool
table , darts, table tennis, bench presses and free weights. Full bar service. Open
daily. Located at Francisco Morazan Avenue, just next to the Drive Inn El Asador.
Food served is very good and tasty.
Discover Tela & Hotel Marsol