Located in the highlands of Western Honduras, and the seat of government for the department of Ocotepeque, this relatively modern city offers good accommodations, as well as a perfect jumping point into the neighboring countries of El Salvador and Guatemala. The city is strategically located at less than 15 miles from the border of El Poy between El Salvador and Honduras and from the Aguacaliente border between Guatemala and Honduras. The original town of Ocotepeque was destroyed years ago by a flash flood, so you will not find the town to contain colonial buildings within it.

A short drive from Ocotepeque will take you across the border in Guatemala to the city of Esquipulas, considered the most sacred shrine for the Catholics in Central America. Here you can visit the Basilica of our Lord of Esquipulas, where a unique black crucifix is considered have granted multiple miracles to worshippers.

In addition, Ocotepeque is very close the the Parque Nacional Trifinio or Montecristo, an international protected area that is shared by Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras. The vegetation is that pertaining to a cloud forest, the unique climate that is native only to the higher elevations within Central America. The Reserva Ecologica El Huizayote is also nearby, on the highway leading east towards Santa Rosa de Copan. Here the road actually leads through the reserve, which is usually covered by fog, as most cloud forest environments usually are.

If you are leaving or entering Honduras towards (or from) El Salvador or Guatemala, you should definitely plan on spending a night in Ocotepeque. The highway leading from Ocotepeque to San Pedro Sula is paved and in good condition. The scenery is very mountainous and will provide you a good picture of rural Honduras, with its many mountains, friendly people and picturesque towns.