San Pedro Sula

San Pedro Sula: Overview

Considered one of the fastest growing industrial cities in Central America, San Pedro Sula is modern and proud. Its urban landscape is an impressive blend of colonial and contemporary, combined with overwhelmingly friendly people the city is both charming and sophisticated. Set in the Sula Valley surrounded by banana plantations and the lush Merendon Mountain range, San Pedro Sula plays host to both trourist and business travelers alike offering a wide range of activities, sites, excellent hotels and restaurants, and some great shopping.

Located in the northern part of Honduras, the city was founded in 1536 by Don Pedro de Alvarado as Villa de San Pedro de Puerto Caballos . Within a few years the name was shortened, the Sula added from the local Usula dialect meaning Valley of the Birds.

Close to the Caribbean coast, Guatemala, and Belize, the city serves as a major transportation hub for the rest of the country, while economically maintaining its base in light industry and the commercial production of coffee, bananas, beef, sugar cane, tobacco, and forestry.

Divided into four quadrants with avenues leading north to south, and streets leading east to west, San Pedro Sula is easy to navigate. Downtown starts at First Street, but the commercial area revolves around Third (tercera) Avenue. The Zona Viva district hosts most of the restaurants, bars, and night clubs, while the Mercado Guamilito offers visitors and locals alike a wealth of goods ranging from local handcrafts, such as baskets, hats, leather items, and jewelry made by local artisans to vegetables and flowers. Bartering is the norm at the Mercado Guamilito, where prices are never fixed. Commercial buildings and the Catholic Cathedral surround the Parque Central.

Other popular sites in San Pedro Sula include the Museum of Anthropology and History , the Centro Cultural Sampedrano , where the public library is located, and the Monumento a La Madre (Monument to Motherhood statue).

A perfect base for touring Honduras, San Pedro Sula is close to a number of fascinating sites. Among these attractions is the San Fernando de Omoa Fortress built by the Spanish to protect against the pirates of the Caribbean, El Cusuco National Cloud Forest Park , and the Copan Ruins from the Maya civilization.
For an excellent selection of day and multi-day Honduras tours, visit our tour listings.

Delightful San Pedro Sula Hotel
Well-located, Microtel Inn & Suites hotel in San Pedro Sula, Honduras. 100% Internet, Healthy breakfast, cable TV (CNN, HBO, Major Networks, and more), fitness gym, business center, great restaurant, quiet 1 acre garden, pool, very secure. Click here for more information and/ or immediate online reservations.

San Pedro Sula

San Pedro Sula: Overview

San Pedro Sula Restaurants