San Pedro Sula is known for its colourful markets and family-friendly museums. The city is primarily used as a gateway to Honduras, where you'll find ancient Mayan ruins, world-class diving and wildlife-rich national parks.

Things to do

The Museum of Anthropology and History showcases the country's fascinating past. Inside you can admire pre-Columbian and Honduran artefacts and contemporary Palestinian art. Families head to the Mi Pequeño Sula Children’s Museum for dinosaur models, interactive exhibits and a planetarium.

Rub shoulders with locals at Guamilito Market, which occupies an entire city block. Inside you'll find mountains of colourful fruit and vegetables, as well as shops selling handicrafts, jewellery and Honduran cigars.

San Pedro Sula is a fantastic base for exploring Cusuco National Park, a lush nature reserve where tree ferns tower over 20 metres high. Watch for rare quetzals in the forest canopy, along with jaguars, ocelots and margay wild cats.

With chrome decor and vintage seating, Café Skandia looks like it's been plucked straight out of the 1950s. It overlooks a palm-fringed pool at Gran Hotel Sula and serves burgers, steaks, salads and milkshakes. For authentic Honduran cuisine, make a beeline for Plaza Tipico, an open-sided food court filled with local vendors.

Getting around

San Pedro Sula is best explored using taxis. Ramon Villeda Morales International Airport is 15 kilometres away and offers daily flights to cities across South and Central America, as well as the United States.