General Information

Santa Lucia is one of the oldest counties in Honduras. Its first inhabitants were Indians who called the town ‘Surcagua’ which in Spanish means ‘the place of the frogs’. According to ancient records there is information about this place that dates back to the beginning of the 1500s. In latter times this community became known for its rich silver mines and for its main religious image, the Lord Christ of the Mercies of Santa Lucia, which was a gift from King Felipe II from Spain, given on January 15, 1572, arriving in the town two years later. It can still be seen at the local church which is not as old as the image but also dates back to colonial times. Santa Lucia is the name Spanish colonizers gave the town the day it officially became a county on November 12, 1820.

It is about 4,900 feet above sea level so it has a great climate. It is surrounded by pine trees so many former city dwellers have made their permanent homes here. The community was founded at the beginning of the XVI century because of the silver ores found in the surrounding areas.

Both the church and the image inside it are considered miraculous and have been restored by the locals. If when you visit Santa Lucia you find that the church is not open but still want to enter knock on the priest’s house behind it and he will gladly open it for you. It is usually closed to protect its rich colonial artist’s work but if you travel with us don’t worry, we’ll request that they be ready for your visit. You may also want to rent a canoe to row in the small lagoon.

Santa Lucia, like most mining towns dating back to colonial times is built on a mountain side where the mineral was found so it doesn’t have the traditional Spanish town design. Its streets are narrow and snake around the hillside which is very steep. In more recent times the people of Santa Lucia have worked in the planting of flowers so you will find a lot of flowers decorating colonial times homes making the town look nice, picturesque, and fresh. Its annual fair is celebrated each January 13.

Right outside Santa Lucia there is a serpentary with a poisonous and non-poisonous snake collection that shows you some of the native reptiles in Honduras and helps you learn about how you can learn the difference between a poisonous and a harmless snake. It is open from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. There is a small ecological crafts store here called Ecosistemas. Right now there is no entrance fee but there is a piggy bank where you can place your donations to help sustain the serpentary.

There is also a good alternative to learn Spanish in Santa Lucia; the Honduran Language Center is established here with ideal facilities to learn the language and they offer you the chance to stay at the Posada de Las Nubes or with a local family.

The town is headquarters to the Peace Corps of the United States of America government.

How do I get to Santa Lucia?

You can arrive in Santa Lucia by land from Tegucigalpa taking a detour on the 10^th kilometer on the road that takes you from the capital city to Cantarranas. This is the same road that goes to Valle de Angeles and San Juancito. The road is completely paved and there are buses that bring you here from Mercado San Pablo in Tegucigalpa each hour.

You can go to Santa Lucia and return on the same day to Tegucigalpa so you can spend the night in a comfortable hotel here. If you wish to travel with us you may want to see the tour options in Tegucigalpa that can include a visit to this historical place. In case this option is not what you desire to get in touch with us so we can prepare something else according to your wants. Remember that the picturesque town of Santa Lucia is waiting for you.