Tela

History of Tela
 
The city of Tela was founded by spanish captain Cristóbal de Olid as Triunfo de la Cruz, on May 3, 1524, sent by Hernán Cortés to colonize Honduras, Captain Cristóbal de Olid left from Veracruz Mexico to our country. In 1526 it was attached to the Villa de Trujillo. At the end of the nineteenth century Tela became the headquarters of several banana companies that brought the accelerated progress to this city.  The natural richness of this city 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 richness of the Garífuna culture, so predominant along the Bay of Tela.

General Information

Tela is a beach destination well known for its fresh seafood; its main attraction is the white sandy beach that spreads for several kilometers on each side of the port. In the central part of the city, the river of the same name, crosses in between, dividing it as Old tela and New Tela. They are joined by two bridges.  The city is very visited every year during their annual fair, which is held on May 3, to commemorate the establishment of Triunfo de la Cruz.
Tela besides having paradise beaches it is also a tourist echo gem: from here you can visit the Janette Kawas Marine National Park, also known as Punta sal, which is located at the west end of the Bay. The peninsula forms a natural barrier that protects the beautiful bay from the storms that come from the north. The park has 2 areas: the peninsula and the lagoon.

Punta Izopo National Park is located at the eastern end of the Tela, just 12 kms from the city, this park is named after the Izopo hill that is just above the sea. The lush vegetation of the hill, bathed by the Plátano and Hicaque Rivers, is home of a wide variety of animals, including tropical birds such as parakeets, parrots and toucans, as well as monkeys, lizards and turtles.

Lancetilla Botanical Garden: Located a few kilometers of Tela. Due to its size and the variety of its flora, it is the second tropical botanical garden in the world, having as many endemic species of the country and C.A. as of the entire tropical habitat of the planet. A great variety of birds, have made this paradise, their home.  

Today,  Tela has admirable resorts, with white sandy beaches considered to be one of the best in Central America. It has a wide variety of hotels and restaurants, as well as other interesting places to visit, mainly the villages of Tornabé, San Juan and Triunfo de la Cruz, where the Garífunas live, and also featuring the botanical garden of Lancetilla where plants from all over the world are preserved. 

How to get to Tela? 
 
Tela is located 1 hour from the coastal city of La Ceiba (approximately 100 kilometers), 2 hours from San Pedro Sula, industrial city and 5 hours from Tegucigalpa, the capital of the country. You can reach by land through the paved road that leads from San Pedro Sula to La Ceiba and then to Trujillo. To get to Tela by plane you can do it,  through Ramón Villeda Morales International Airport, located in San Pedro Sula and then drive 90 kilometers to Tela. From this terminal you can rent a car or ask to be taken to the city in a paid service.