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Sandy beach with low waves and blue sky in Tela.

Honduras · Atlántida

Tela.

The bay, the garden and the mangroves

See what to do (2)Destination map

Photo: Stephany Rodriguez

Before you go,
understand the place.

On Tela Bay lie UNACIFOR's Lancetilla Botanical Garden and Punta Izopo National Park, with mangroves, to the east.

Best time to go
According to Canada, the rainy season runs from May to November and can cause flooding and landslides, and the hurricane season from early June to the end of November in the Atlantic and the Caribbean. It is an approximate national pattern, not a climate record for each region or a guarantee for the islands. Follow COPECO's alerts.
Getting there
This guide does not calculate road routes or travel times and offers no arrival points. According to La Prensa (article updated 9 September 2026), buses to Tela and La Ceiba leave from the Gran Central Metropolitana bus terminal in San Pedro Sula; Transportes Cristina has a terminal in Tela, in Barrio San José, by the CA-13. Canada advises caution on the road between El Progreso and La Ceiba.

One way to explore

Themed guides

Places grouped by theme, to plan your day.

  • 2 places

    Tela Bay

    Lancetilla Botanical Garden, which UNACIFOR offers for hiking and birdwatching, and Punta Izopo National Park, with unconfirmed status.

    Open the full guide

The place, in context

Everything you can do

Closed or restricted places are included and flagged, so you know what to expect.

Showing 2 of 2 · 1 unconfirmed, flagged

Nature and jungle · 2

  • NatureOpen

    Lancetilla Botanical Garden

    Tela. The pin is the protected area in OpenStreetMap; it is not an access point.6 km in a straight line from the regional map centre

    Entry
    Sources disagree
    Hours
    Sources disagree
    Booking
    Not stated

    A botanical garden and protected area of 1,681 ha run by the National University of Forest Sciences (UNACIFOR); its Wilson Popenoe arboretum holds 824 species from four continents, according to UNACIFOR, which lists hiking, birdwatching, lodging and natural bathing spots among its services. Visit Honduras lists it among the country's main birdwatching sites, with more than 300 species.

    Source: UNACIFOR – Jardín Botánico Lancetilla · 2026 · +3

    Practical details and sources
    Entry
    Unofficial, conflicting figures: XplorHonduras (updated 2024) gives Hondurans L50 adults, L30 senior citizens, L25 students and L20 children, and foreign visitors US$6 (US$3 with residence); the Viaja con Gus blog (July 2026) gives L50 for Hondurans and US$5 for foreign visitors.
    Hours
    XplorHonduras: every day, 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.; Viaja con Gus: opening at 7:00 a.m. Not confirmed with UNACIFOR.

    Nearby: Punta Izopo National Park (11.9 km)

    Sources: UNACIFOR – Jardín Botánico Lancetilla · Visit Honduras – Naturaleza · XplorHonduras – Jardín Botánico Lancetilla (act. jun. 2024) · Viaja con Gus – Lancetilla (verificado jul. 2026, según el blog)

  • NatureStatus unconfirmed

    Punta Izopo National Park

    Between Tela and Arizona (Atlántida), according to Visite Atlántida. The pin is the park in OpenStreetMap; it is not an access point.6 km in a straight line from the regional map centre

    Entry
    Not stated
    Hours
    Not stated
    Booking
    Not stated

    A small coastal and marine park at the eastern end of Tela Bay, with a mangrove-fringed lagoon explored by kayak with a tour operator's guides (about two and a half hours); white-faced and howler monkeys, crocodiles and birds can be seen, according to Visite Atlántida.

    Status not confirmed: the only source read is from 2020 (Visite Atlántida) and describes an operator's tour; no later source was read. Check before you go.

    Source: Visite Atlántida – Parque Nacional Punta Izopo (act. 2020) · 2020

    Practical details and sources

    Nearby: Lancetilla Botanical Garden (11.9 km)

    Sources: Visite Atlántida – Parque Nacional Punta Izopo (act. 2020)

Tela · Practical guide

The essentials

  1. The arboretum and birds of Lancetilla Botanical Garden

Tela · Practical guide

Practical tips

  1. The Lancetilla fees and hours in circulation are not UNACIFOR's and do not agree: confirm them before you go.
  2. Punta Izopo is explored by kayak with an operator, for about two and a half hours, according to Visite Atlántida.
  3. The United Kingdom advises care on beaches in the north coast towns after dark.

Safety and precautions

  • The United Kingdom warns of the risk of criminal attacks and carjackings in and around Tela, La Ceiba, Trujillo and El Progreso, and advises care on beaches in the north coast towns after dark.
  • The US Department of State advises reconsidering travel to Honduras because of crime and terrorism (level 3, advisory of 25 August 2026) and advises against travel to the department of Gracias a Dios (level 4).
  • According to state television TNH (20 September 2026), the National Defence and Security Council decided on 18 September not to apply a new state of exception; Honduran media date the end of the regime begun in December 2022 to 26 January 2026. The United States advisory of 25 August 2026 still described it as in force in 226 of the 298 municipalities. This guide does not confirm the current situation. Canada notes that the authorities periodically declare states of exception: always carry ID and follow the authorities' instructions at checkpoints.

Frequently asked questions

How much is Lancetilla?

Unofficial, conflicting figures: XplorHonduras (updated 2024) gives Hondurans L50 adults, L30 senior citizens, L25 students and L20 children, and foreign visitors US$6 (US$3 with residence); the Viaja con Gus blog (July 2026) gives L50 for Hondurans and US$5 for foreign visitors.

What are Lancetilla's hours?

XplorHonduras: every day, 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.; Viaja con Gus: opening at 7:00 a.m. Not confirmed with UNACIFOR.

How do you visit Punta Sal?

According to RedHonduras, the Punta Sal peninsula, in Jeannette Kawas National Park, is only reachable by sea; several Tela operators make the trip by boat in about an hour. This guide does not confirm it with the PROLANSATE foundation, which runs the park according to the same source.

Tela · Practical guide

Sources consulted

Information checked in . Prices, hours and rules change: confirm them with the official source before you travel.

  1. UNACIFOR – Jardín Botánico Lancetilla2026
  2. Visit Honduras – Naturaleza2026
  3. XplorHonduras – Jardín Botánico Lancetilla (act. jun. 2024)2024
  4. Viaja con Gus – Lancetilla (verificado jul. 2026, según el blog)2026
  5. Visite Atlántida – Parque Nacional Punta Izopo (act. 2020)2020
  6. RedHonduras – Jeannette Kawas Park, Punta Sal (act. ene. 2026)2026
  7. FCDO – Honduras: regional risks2026
  8. La Prensa – Rutas, horarios y precios de buses desde San Pedro Sula (nota actualizada el 9 sep. 2026)2026
  9. Transportes Cristina – Terminales (© 2026; consultada oct. 2026)2026

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