DESTINATIONS
Tela

Tela was founded by the Spanish Captain Cristobal de Olid under the name of Triunfo de La Cruz on May 3, 1524, who was sent by Hernan Cortes to colonize Honduras departing from Veracruz, Mexico. In 1526 it was assigned to Trujillo Ville.

In 1825 the Head of State of Honduras, Dionisio de Herrera signed the first political division of the country and Tela became a part of the Department of Yoro. In 1902 it became a part of the newly formed Department of Atlantida. In 1927 it received the category of Port City.

The name is a derivation of ‘’Tetela’’ which in a native Mexican language means swampy land of hills and mountains.

At the end of the XIX century Tela became the headquarters to several banana companies that brought quick progress to the city. Among the best known companies the Tela Railroad Company is included, producers of the world famous Chiquita, who gave this beautiful port a touch of its own. Villas Telamar Hotel used to be the houses of the executives of this company. Lancetilla Botanical Garden is another legacy this company gave Tela. The natural heritage of Tela can be enjoyed in three different areas: Punta Sal National Park, Punta Izopo Wildlife Refuge and Lancetilla Botanical Garden. You can also enjoy the cultural wealth of the Garifuna Culture which dominates the Tela Bay Area.

General Information

Tela is a beach destination that has become well-known for its fresh seafood and its long white sand beaches that stretch out of both sides of the port. The central part of the town is crossed by the Tela River and splits the city into New Tela and Old Tela, which are joined by two bridges.

Tela doesn’t only have paradisiacal beaches but it’s also an ecotourism jewel as you can visit the Punta Sal or Janette Kawas Marine National Park on the western end of the bay. The Peninsula forms a natural barrier that protects the beautiful bay from the northern seasonal winds. The park has two areas, the peninsula and the lagoon. In the area known as the lagoon you will find Miami, a Garifuna village that can be considered a cultural heritage where it is possible to see how they keep their traditions such as building their huts out of cane and palm leaves just like their ancestors did hundreds of years ago.

Punta Izopo National Park is on the eastern end of Tela Bay, just 8 miles from town, getting its name from Izopo Hill which is on the waterfront. The hill’s exuberant vegetation is watered by the Platano and Hicaque Rivers and together become home to a great variety of animals including parakeets, parrots and toucans, monkeys, alligators, and turtles.

Lancetilla Botanical Garden is a few kilometers away from Tela and in size and variety is the world’s second tropical botanical garden, having samples of Honduran, Central American, and worldwide tropical plants. Wide arrays of birds have turned this paradise into their home due to the abundance of fruit trees.

Along the Tela Bay Area there are several Garifuna villages and in fact, the most interesting ones are here. Moving eastward you find Rio Tinto, Miami, Tornabe, San Juan, La Ensenada, and Triunfo de la Cruz.

In each village you may taste their traditional dishes and get to know their customs. Their dances are fun and entertaining, especially ‘Punta’ and ‘Yancunu’ which that remind us of their African roots.

There is from Tela a public bus and taxi service that takes you to these villages or you can rent a bicycle and visit these villages and if you have enough time you may learn a lot about the people. Some of the towns have hotels and inns that will let you learn more about the lifestyle of this interesting culture.

Tela is visited each year during its fair that takes place on May 3 in remembrance of the founding of Triunfo de la Cruz.

Nowadays Tela has impressive tourist commodities, with white sand beaches that are considered as some of the best in Central America. It has hotels and restaurants and many other places of interest, especially the towns of Tornabe, San Juan and Triunfo de la Cruz where the Garifunas live and the Lancetilla Botanical Garden which was previously mentioned.

It is in Tela where you can find the charming Villas Telamar Hotel, international quality with cabins by the sea making it a spectacular place to rest and have a good time with the family. There are also single and double rooms. At the other side of town you can find the Presidente Hotel in the downtown area, also known as the Tela Viejo district. It is a more affordable, but still comfortable choice as it has the necessary amenities and is still in town.

At the moment it is still not possible to exchange traveler’s checks in Tela, nevertheless you’ll have no problem exchanging US Dollars into local currency nor using your Visa, American Express, Diner’s Club, JCB, or Master Card credit cards to get money since several banks offer this service.

Life in Tela

Life in Tela is peaceful but there are several clubs that let you have a sensational night. Perhaps night life is not as active as it is in other cities in the country but it is still possible to have a good time here. A large project is underway at the moment that will allow a massive development in the tourist industry in this county and will change the life of ‘Teleños’ for the better. Several world famous hotel chains will be building here which is no surprise considering the enormous potential the region has.

It is very easy to move around Tela since it is a small town. Bicycles are the favorite way of moving around the city and they may be rented from several businesses in town.

Demographics

Most of the population is mestizo, but there are also Black, Arabian, Chinese, and North American groups, among others that work in the agricultural and commercial areas.

Religion and Language

In Tela, just like in the rest of the country, Catholic is the predominant religion and protestants are a minority. Spanish is the most spoken language and Garinagu is spoken in the Garifuna communities. Some people use English as their second language.

How do I get to Tela?

Tela is 1 hour away from the coastal city of La Ceiba; this is about 62 miles away, 2 hours from San Pedro Sula, the industrial city, and 5 hours from Tegucigalpa, the capital city of the country. You may go to Tela by land on the paved road that goes from San Pedro Sula to La Ceiba and then to Trujillo. There are several bus lines that will leave you right in the downtown area. These companies are Hedman Alas, Cristina, and Viana, all of which are safe and have nonstop services.

To get to Tela by plane can be done by flying into the Ramon Villeda Morales Airport in San Pedro Sula, about 56 miles away, and from there you can rent a car or hire a cab to take you to Tela. If you want us to help you plan your trip we’ll gladly do it. The Ramon Villeda Morales airport receives flights from different cities in the USA, Cuba, El Salvador, and other cities in the Americas.

In case you want to get to know other areas in Honduras and include Tela in your visit, let us help you indulge and prepare the perfect package for you and those coming with you.