10 Best Hotels in Western Honduras, Honduras

An early 20th-century, wooden, banana plantation building has been renovated into a wonderful small inn and is San Pedro's most distinctive hotel. (You might miss this place if you aren't looking for it; it's on a downtown street of otherwise boxy, concrete buildings.) The árbol here is a mango tree around which the rambling house is built. Each immaculate room has a wood desk, Honduran artwork, and a small balcony, small being the operative word here. A few of the rooms have king-size beds. The back stone patio is perfect for lingering over a cup of coffee in the morning. To top it off, Honduran urban hotels don't get greener than this, with much of the power being generated by solar panels.

The folks who brought you the downtown Casa del Árbol have branched out, and this suburban property is another winner. Dashes of color play a key role in this sleek, modern hotel; rooms are blindingly white except for a painting in each one, created by various female Lenca artists. The painting in a given room might be red, yellow, green, or blue; smaller versions of the paintings are on display in the lobby area to give you a preview. Plush beds, marble sinks, and flat-screen TVs add to the rooms' modernity. Like its sister property downtown, Galerías' green philosophy shines through with solar panels, low-flow toilets, and light sensors. A restaurant ($$$), serving fusion cuisine with Lencan and Mayan touches, is off the lobby and has a rotating selection of main courses.

This downtown high-rise is San Pedro's original business-class hotel, and offers a wide range of services at economical prices. Facing Parque Central, it is close to all of San Pedro Sula's major attractions. Business travelers will appreciate the fact that it is near the financial district. Café Skandia, open 24 hours, is a great place for late-night dinners and early breakfasts by the pool. It is also the only coffee shop in Central America with a Viking theme. All rooms have balconies with views of the city.

Don Udo, long famous for his San Pedro Sula restaurant, is also in Copán Ruinas. This small colonial hotel has 16 pleasant rooms that circle the lovely patio, restaurant, and bar. A third-floor sundeck has a panoramic view of the stunning Copán valley and town. There are double rooms, Jr. Suites, and Master Suites, for all group sizes and budgets. The attention to detail and amenities make this luxurious hotel a great value.

Business travelers on expense accounts not flush enough for the Clarion or Gran Hotel Sula stay at this dependable, midrange lodging a few blocks from the city center. Rooms contain comfortable beds, a table and chairs, and flat-screen TVs. The hotel also accepts traveler's checks as payment.

The closest lodging to the ruins, this Spanish-style hotel is in the hills just outside town. The open-air lobby, filled with tropical flowers, adds to the ambience. Inside the tile-roof buildings are generously proportioned rooms with views of the lush gardens. After a day exploring the dusty ruins, swim a few laps in the palm-shaded pool or relax in the nearby hot tub.

With a huge pool that's a welcome respite from the heat, this hotel has all the extras that matter most. Rooms are clean and fresh. Although outside the city, the hotel is only a 10-minute walk from the historic center.

Look for the pink house—that's what Casa Rosada means—on the hill a few blocks north of Parque Central. This is easily the most romantic lodging in Copán Ruinas and would be a good candidate for a honeymoon. The entire place exudes colonial elegance, with carved-wood furniture, stone floors, handwoven throw rugs, and Honduran art throughout. (The flat-screen TVs are a concession to a hotel guest's modern needs.) Bathrooms contain bidets, the option of a steam shower, and a speaker system in that shower. One room here is wheelchair accessible, a rarity in Honduras.

You can see a lot from the terrace at this hotel on Parque Central. If you ask for one of the rooms on the top floor, which have views of the town's red-tile roofs, you might see horses clip-clopping around the cobbled streets of town. Don't forget to relax with a drink by the small pool in the central courtyard, which is shaded by tall palm trees. The restaurant, Los Arcos, is set behind a lovely colonnade and serves traditional fare.

This newest in-town lodging in Copán Ruinas opened in 2010, courtesy of the friendly folks at Casa de Café, and it's another winner for them. Decor in the enormous rooms is minimalist with blindingly white walls and granite sinks. All rooms contain queen beds. The two downstairs rooms overlook their own private gardens. The hotel is perched on a hill and commands stupendous views. The balconies overlook the ruins below, although they are hidden by trees. You'll find a small library of travel and archaeology books here, much appreciated if you'd like to delve into the history of the region. As at the parent Casa de Café out on the edge of town, you can have your tired muscles worked on at a massage pavilion out in the garden.