Must-See and Must-Do in Gracias

Posted on 06 October 2009

Don’t let the small town atmosphere of Gracias in the western Lempira Department of Honduras fool you. With its many tourist attractions borne of its rich history as the early colonial capital in Central America of the Spanish Empire as well as its rich natural resources, visitors have plenty to see and plenty to do in Gracias. Here then are the top three things to see and do.

Celaque National Park

The highest mountain peak and the largest cloud forest in Honduras are located inside the 66,700-acre Celaque Mountain National Park. Not surprisingly, celaque means box of water in the native Lenca language, with clouds and fog covering the area for many days on end. Be informed that the terrain is very rugged with two-thirds of its area having slopes greater than 60 degrees and heights ranging from 3,200 to 9,275 feet above sea level.

For most visitors, the easiest and safest way to explore the Celaque National Park is to take one of the guided tours offered by hotels like the Hotel Guancascos. You will be provided with an experienced tour guide who will point out the places of interest along the well-trodden trails, take you to the numerous base camps along the way, and generally keep you safe from the wildlife. Keep in mind that the wildlife in the park may be elusive but they do exist from the endangered Bolitoglossa celaque to the dangerous jaguars and pumas.

You will, however, enjoy magnificent views of lush green forests shrouded in clouds as well as abundant wild orchids, vines and ferns. And did we mention that there are nine rivers and numerous streams and creeks from which to bathe in, dive and even drink from inside the park?

Hot Springs

If you are not up to hikes in forests, you have the relaxing waters of the hot springs in the Gracias area to wallow in. At present, there are three establishments that offer adequate facilities for locals and tourists alike – the Arcilaca Hot Springs, the Posada Aguas Termales and the Termas del Rio. Amenities and rates differ so ask locals for specifics.

You will enjoy temperatures ranging from 92 to 96 degrees Fahrenheit, depending on the location and the number of people using the pools. Be prepared for noisy crowds on weekends although you can make reservations for an overnight stay.

The Fort of San Cristobal and the Gracias Churches church

In itself, the Fort of Cristobal is a quietly impressive structure. From its highest point, you have a commanding view of the whole town of Gracias as well as the valley and the mountains around it. There are old cannons donated by the Spanish government as well as the tomb of the Honduran Governor Juan Lindo to see at Fort Cristobal. And don’t forget to visit the churches of La Merced, San Marcos and Iglesia de Santa Lucia for a more spiritual experience in Gracias. After all, Honduran Catholicism does have its charm, of which its churches are the most notable.

From the forests to the hot springs to the fort and churches, you will find something to be thankful for when in Gracias. After all, the experiences of being embraced by clouds, of wallowing in natural hot springs and of being surrounded by history are incomparable especially when the place is a city called thanks!

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