Central Park
You will rarely find in Central America such a beautiful and well laid out community central park. Siguatepeque has excelled in constructing a park that is safe, well lit and very pleasant for a day or evening visit. Built on the site of an older park, which had several botanically interesting trees, these are still conserved in the remodeled Park (huge Araucarias, Taxodiums, Cypresses with hanging mosses, and other oddities). The park now has a small ‘wishing-well’ type pond, a cactus area and benches dotted around for relaxing chat with your friends and family. At night, lights set at ground and tree-level, create a pleasant ambience that transforms the area. An elegant central podium serves for musical events and plays background music. From the Park, you can easily enter the main Catholic Church, which is very well preserved and full of interesting detail. Kobs Ice Cream, next to the Post Office, on the east side of the park, sells great ice creams. You can find a wide range of other businesses around the Central Park.

El Porvenir
This small village, located about 4 km from Siguatepeque on the route to La Esperanza, has specialized for decades in producing clay handicrafts. As the years have gone by, the local women have learnt to produce quite sophisticated sculptures, in a range of styles. The objects are all handmade, giving a human touch and color to the detail of each piece. You can visit several shops, and ask to go behind the scenes to view the ovens and other areas used in the production process. A great day trip! A taxi will charge you about Lps 30 to take you there.

Parque San Juan
The San Juan Park, a botanical garden located between the centre of town and the main highway, is an experimental site that has been used by the National Forestry School for establishing plantations, especially varieties of bamboo. It now features a visitor’s centre with watchmen and a small exhibition of orchids. It is a pleasant place for a walk in the woods. Many families use the area for picnics.

Calenterique
This major block of forest sits in the centre of town on a small hill, to the west of the Evangelical Hospital. About 120 hectares in size, the forest is unusual in that is has never been logged over, and forest fires are rare, so you will find examples of immense pines statuesque set in their natural state, with a thick shrub understorey. On the highest slopes, you can find a population of the Magay cactus that reaches 3 meters in height. The Park is managed by the municipality, which funds local forest guards, and is criss-crossed by paths. It features a children’s play area and basketball court, and is used by locals for picnics and to enjoy fresh air. From one spot above the play area, you can get a spectacular view of the town. Like any remote area, you should remember not to walk around too late into the evening, and to visit in a group of family and friends if possible.

Las Gradas
This extraordinary viewpoint can be reached by car through Barrio Parnasso, and offers a great view of the town and valley. The access is on the south side of the city past the Police Station.

Centro Recreativo Los Salmones
The Los Salmones Recreation Center is located about 2 km. from the Center of town, on the secondary exit 21 de Agosto out towards San Pedro Sula. It features a hygienic large pool surrounded by palms, a small children’s pool, and areas to play volleyball and other games. Snack food is sold. The pool area can be hired for larger events, with capacity up to 500 people. The Centre is open until 5 pm. Call 773-0737 to check availability or hire the installations.

Rittenhouse
Siguatepeque’s hidden secret! Hundreds of vehicles pass along the main SPS-Teguz highway every day without stopping or even noticing a major botanical attraction. Barely signposted (located in front of the Hotel Americanito), the Rittenhouse family has spent decades creating an eccentric mix of fantasy botanical garden, bridges and pools, an ornamental plant nursery, and an organic and herb sales centre. A special feature is the extraordinary collection of old wooden stumps, lianas, twisted branches and old timber artefacts that can be viewed in an annex.

The Nurseries
Siguatepeque, due to the influence of the National Forest School and the temperate climate, is an ideal spot for producing plants. If you have friends in Honduras, a stopover at one of the many roadside plant nurseries is a great idea, so you can buy a pretty plant as a gift. Local nurseries include Vivero Galvez and Vivero Sorto

Nearby sites