Honduras is a stunning Central American nation that borders Guatemala, El Salvador and Nicaragua. Pack a bag and let’s travel (virtually) to Honduras — which translates to “great depths.” Here, you’ll discover facts about Honduras, a country that’s home to over 60,000 Compassion assisted children!
What Does Honduras Look Like?
In the east of Honduras, you’ll find lowlands and mountain slopes bordering the Caribbean Sea. To the north are alluvial plains and coastal sierras. The central land comprises rugged mountains, while along the Pacific Ocean in the west are lower mountain slopes and fertile soil.
From the biodiverse Río Plátano Biosphere Reserve and bay islands to Lake Yojoa, which is nestled among volcanos, you’ll find amazing vistas at every turn. As you continue your journey through Honduras, don’t forget to visit the ancient ruins of Copan — once a thriving Mayan city — and to keep your eyes peeled for jaguars, crocodiles and toucans.
Key Facts About Honduras
Here are some quick, interesting facts about Honduras.
- Population: 10.7 million (May 2024).
- Capital: Tegucigalpa.
- Official language: Spanish, Amerindian dialects.
- Area: 43,278 square miles, a little larger than Virginia.
- Economy: While historically dependent on the export of bananas and coffee, Honduras has diversified its export base to include apparel and automobile wiring. Other agricultural products include citrus, corn, African palm, timber and seafood. Sugar processing, wood products and cigars are important industries. Honduras suffers from extraordinarily unequal income distribution and high underemployment.
Facts About Honduran Culture and Traditions
Let’s explore Honduras’ traditions and culture, from religion in the country to what the people of Honduras love to eat and drink.
Religion
There is no state religion in Honduras. However, according to recent data, around 48% of the population identifies as evangelical Protestant and 34% identifies as Roman Catholic.
Honduras Traditional Clothing
Traditional dress in Honduras is generally reserved for holidays and festivals. But women in rural or Indigenous communities may choose to dress more traditionally.
Traditional clothing in Honduras is bright, colorful and hand-stitched. Women wear long, sleeveless dresses with cloth belts, while men dress in white shirts and pants with sombreros and red scarves.
Today, many Hondurans wear styles like the ones worn in the United States. In the cities, it’s common for working professionals to wear casual business outfits, such as suits, blouses, heels and dress shoes.
General Culture
Most Hondurans are mestizo, which is a mix of Spanish and Indigenous ancestry. However, there remains a small Indigenous population mostly centered in the southwest portion of the country or in isolated villages.
Along the Caribbean coast, a significant part of the population speaks English and is of West Indian and African descent.
Etiquette and social courtesies are important in Honduras. Hondurans play fútbol (soccer), baseball, volleyball and basketball. They also enjoy parties and street festivals.
Music and Dance of Honduras
Honduras is a melting pot of artistic styles. Native American, African and Spanish colonial influences blend together to form unique Honduran music and dance styles.
Punta is the most famous traditional music in Honduras. African rhythms and Spanish lyrics combined with energetic drumming create this exciting music style.
Traditional instruments include the marimba, caramba, maracas, claves and conch shell. Honduran folk music is played during traditional celebrations. However, Hondurans often listen to music from Mexico or the United States.
Most dancing in Honduras consists of folk dance. The punta dance, also known as banguity (new life), is done in accompaniment to punta music.
Other dances include the sique (seek) dance, which originated from the early Indigenous people. The malido wanaragua features masked performers who act out a battle.
Food and Drink of Honduras
Hondurans know how to prepare yummy food! Staple ingredients in most meals are rice, beans, tortillas and some form of meat. Fried plantains, known as tostones, as well as seafood are also common additions. Here is a quick sample of Honduran cuisine!
Plato Típico
This meal, which translates as “typical dish,” is considered the national dish of Honduras. This hearty meal is assembled from a variety of foods cooked separately.
If you order a plato típico, you can expect a platter loaded with beef, sausage, cracklings, plantain chips, beans and rice accompanied with sour cream, tortillas, cabbage, avocado, cheese and lime. What an ensemble!
Pinole
Also called pinol or pinolillo, pinole is the delightful national drink of Honduras. This ancient beverage is made from ground maize (corn) mixed with cocoa, agave or honey, cinnamon, vanilla and a variety of spices.
Pinole remains popular today and is known by endurance athletes as a nutritious and energizing drink.
Arroz Con Leche
This snack is delicious, sweet and popular throughout Central America. Only a few simple ingredients are required: rice, milk, sugar, raisins and seasonings. This dessert can be served hot or cold. Learn to make arroz con leche!
Baleada
Baleada is a dish you must try when you visit Honduras. Consisting of a thick, wheat flour tortilla filled with mashed fried beans, the baleada is a popular street food. Baleadas may also be stuffed with cheese, eggs, avocados, hot sauce and sour cream.
A Story From Honduras: Saved From Gangs
Meet Miguel, a humble, hardworking young man who’s gifted at technology. The teenager lives in a gang-dominated community where young men, unless they can train for a job, often join a gang.
Staff at Miguel’s Compassion center know this and work hard to help teenagers stay in school and off the streets. When Miguel kept failing subjects in high school, tutors at the center helped him improve his grades and showed him that failing a test does not define him — it’s simply an opportunity to try again and improve. Now Miguel is doing much better in school!
Besides encouraging teens to complete their high school educations, staff members at Miguel’s center have launched a variety of vocational training programs. This not only equips teens with skills to later obtain jobs, but it also keeps them off the radar of the gangs.
Last year, Miguel enrolled in the barbershop workshop. He says, “Being a barber is a delicate job because our clients’ hair cannot be messed with … I appreciate I was given such an opportunity because I can earn money from it and afford my university dream.”
Despite living in a slum and having no technology at home, Miguel also thrived in the technology workshop. He learned to pilot a drone and represented his Compassion center as a drone pilot in a national competition!
Miguel hopes to finish high school and study systems engineering at a university.
Do you want to help a child like Miguel? Learn more about sponsoring a child in Honduras!
Honduras Pictures: What Daily Life is Like
Honduras is an incredible place to visit. And while you plan your trip, why not check out what daily life looks like through the lens of a camera? Here are some of our favorite pictures of Honduras and the people who call it home.
Learn Even More About Honduras With Compassion
There is so much to learn about the beautiful country of Honduras. If you’re interested in diving deeper, check out these additional facts about Honduras, including facts about Compassion’s work in the country.