"Beautifully HOT" Top 5 Page for this destination Tela by staindesign

Tela is such a beautiful town located on the northern coast of Honduras. The closest airport is in San Pedrosula, the second largest city which is about 1 hour from Tela. From there a one lane "highway" will lead you through the mountains to Tela. As someone not from a tropical climate, the mountains really are something amazing to see; plush jungle with fog cover tops.
In most of my journeys, I stay with friends. My experiences have been much more pleasurable and i've enjoyed the emersion in the culture more that way. When you step off your plane in Honduras it is like opening your car door on a hot summer day, the green house effect to the 10th power! Spending my time in the North, not knowing about the south of the country; the people are small, brown, and very friendly. Being a small poor country, i was very impressed with their teeth. Most people had white straight teeth, as if they've all had braces. It seems something strange to talk about, but they smile often, you can't help to notice the beautiful smiles! About a mile or so from the road that turns to go to Tela, you will see many children on the sides of the road. Careful as you slow your car, they will jump inside of the windows to try to be the one to sell fruit to you. Next thing you know there will be 7 kids hanging out the windows of your car! They are selling fruits; mangostens, lychees, etc.. I highly recommend a mangosten, it looks nice on the outside. Hard, purple exterior, with a cute little green leaf on top; but you break off the hard outside. Inside you will be greeted with a cloudy colored brain. It looks like a little brain, but eat it! Delicious!
The drive into the town of Tela is nice, the buildings are old and in need of a few repairs. They are still damaged from the hurricane from 6 or 7 years ago. Many people lost their jobs with Chiquita banana Company, because the hurricane completely damaged the banana crops. The company has left and the town hasn't ever really recovered, i was told by some Tela residents.
I arrived later in the afternoon and the sun was setting by the time I finally saw the Atlantic Ocean. It was the most beautiful sunset i had ever seen. Not living next to an ocean, it was interesting to see how the people barely noticed they lived in a tropical paradise! The days we spent at the beach, we were basically alone, because the locals hardly ever go to the beach.
I was told Tela is Honduras's hot spot for Semana Santa (Easter Week). The beach is packed with people from all over Honduras the entire week, and the town is filled with parties, food, and festival.

When i was there last, it was 17 lempiras to 1 USD. A quick fact to impress the people of Honduras, Lempira was a famous indian that lead the people of Honduras again the spanish in their history. I don't know the whole story, but it is a nice story to ask the people about. I think they all have their own version!
Although Tela is small there are a few clubs. The iguana seems to be the more popular for 20 something individuals, the other club a few blocks away seems to be for teenagers. A famous band, Que sabe, often travels through this town when they are in the country. They are a punta band, punta is a music that is traditional to Honduras made originally by the black immigrants.
The black people of Honduras are called Gerdifunas. They have been traditionally known as the fisherman of Tela. They have areas on the beach they live, Miami is one that i remember. Not all are living in these areas, but many do. The Hondurans that i stayed with took me to Miami for a day while i was visiting. This particular area was run by a community of Gerdifunas, they have picnic areas, water games, volley ball, food & drink areas, bbq areas, and a disco. Something i thought was funny, the disco was running during the whole day with the lights and loud music. Yet everyone was at the beach and they still had it going. I suppose to never know when you might want to bust a move on the dance floor!
There is a main bank in town, i would suggect exchanging your money there. It is very well protected with armed guards standing outside of it and willing to search you before you enter the bank. I think this is the only air conditioned building in the entire town of Tela. The tellers are slow, but it is expected because everyone knows each other! Plan on at least 30 mins to an hour to exchange your money if there is a line. If you have USD bills, try to take new bills, they will give you a hard time to exchange them if they are not brand new. I wasn't sure why. The ironic thing, in return they will give you quit old bills in exchange, some of the bills i received the ink was even wearing off. I'm not sure why their money is so old, maybe they have better things to spend their money on, than reprinting money.

I was told some big hotels, like holiday inn or something like that have just gotten permission to build there. Many of Tela's residents are up set by this, most are quit concerned with the environmental effect these hotels might make. I would suggect other hotels that are in town. If you ask for Telamar, there are two kinds of hotels near this beach area. An actual hotel with air condition and the other option being a little cottage house. Those little houses are so cute. I would like to stay there when i go back to Tela. Telamar is a little place on the beach that is like a huge tut with the palm roof and they serve food and drinks, and i believe there is dancing on the weekend. It is very calm and beautiful place.
There are little shops all over Tela, touristic shops can be found everywhere. Most of the shops i went to, the items are made by the shop owner or family of the shop own. As well there are little restaurants all over Tela, i would suggest any of the ones that you might find on the beach across from the iguana club. They have good food and a nice atmosphere. A meal that i would suggest would be the pescado sabroso, a whole fried fish. One of the best meals i have ever had! The Honduran people told me the gerdifuna people make the best fish of all of Honduras, I never tried it, but i believe it!
One last tip, plan to walk almost everywhere. There are taxi's but the locals pretty much walk everywhere. It was hot, but after a few days i could walk 10 miles easy like them.

• Pros:It is cheap, the food is very tasty, & there is adventure there!
• Cons:Sometimes it is too hot, and August is the rainy season, too many bugs!
• In a nutshell:Peacefully entertaining!