Nestled in a very Mountainous region, just north of Lake Yojoa and west of San Pedro Sula, the department of Santa Barbara offers a series of picturesque views, including a variety of colonial towns with a rich cultural heritage. The capital of the department is the City of Santa Barbara an old colonial city.
Because of its geographic location, Santa Barbara offers unique climatic conditions for the growing of coffee, which has become the main staple in the area.

One of the most inaccessible national parks in Honduras is right here in the department: The Santa Barbara National Park, whose main star is the second highest peak in Honduras, which is also the only mountain of its size in Central America that is completely limestone. The park as such has very limited infrastructure to service tourists. The best information source regarding the Park and the surroundings of Santa Barbara is located in the lovely, totally remodeled Casa Bogran, a couple of blocks from the main square. The local Santa Barbara Tourism Information Center is located here, offering service with very friendly staff manning this information center and is providing a wealth of Information. They can be reached by phone at 643-2910, or via email at santabarbara_turismo@yahoo.com, or better yet, visit their web page at http://santabarbara.gob.hn .

Getting to Santa Barbara is easy: if you are coming from Tegucigalpa, take the detour at Pitosolo, the town just before Lake Yojoa on the main highway between Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula. From Pito Solo you are only about 45 kilometers south of Santa Barbara. If you are traveling from San Pedro Sula, take the Western highway, leading towards Santa Rosa de Copan, and when you get the detour at Ceibita, located 35 kilometers from San Pedro Sula, take the left detour, and you will find yourself in Santa Barbara after approximately 60 kilometers.

There are two reasonably good hotels in Santa Barbara: The Hotel Colonial and the Boarding house Moderno. The approximate cost of a double room is Lps. 130.00 without a/c and Lps. 260 with a/c. In both cases a private bath is included in the price. There are several good restaurants in town that offer good, clean food and friendly service. The Meson Casablanca is probably the nicest. If you get more of the feeling that you are in someone’s home, rather than in a restaurant, don’t be surprised. Although there is no menu, and you must have the plate of the day, you will find that there food is very tasty and of good quality. The cost of a food is very affordable. The restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Another good restaurant is Tulios Bar and Restaurant, with a nice outdoor atmosphere is open only for dinner and has become the favorite hang out for the local peace corp volunteers as well as other international cooperation agency reps in town. They have good carne asada, tacos, and on weekends offer the only Karaoki Bar in town. Full bar service. La Casue located at the beautifully restored Casa Bogran, the home of one of Honduras’s ex-presidents offers buffet food and is open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Charles Cafeteria, located at Central Park offers baked goods as well as cafeteria style food for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Betty’s, a local comedor on Central Park if famous for special baleada and is frequented y locals is extremely affordable.

There are many different handicrafts produced in the surrounding. Of unique quality and artistic designs are the reed baskets. Other materials used in the elaboration of handicrafts are flat rush, corn husk, clay, palm leaf and wood. If you have the time to venture into the surrounding villages you will have the unique opportunity to meet the people actually working on the different handicrafts, if you do not, then you should without doubt check out the Empresa Comunitaria Yahamala, a couple of blocks from the central park. Here you will find high quality products. More than a souvenir shop, this is an artisan’s outlet, where many of the artisans bring their products to be sold. Although prices might actually be slightly higher, the quality is superior to that you might find elsewhere. The shop is open Monday through Saturday from 8:00 a.m. till 5:00 p.m. Saturday it is open from 8 to 12 only.

Amongst the villages that produce the different handicrafts, the following are the most important: La Arada, which produces reed baskets, Gualjoco produces weaved purses, Nueva Celilac produces flowers and dolls from corn husks, Santa Rita and Ocotal produce baskets, Ceguaca and Los Bancos produce hats, and El Nispero and Nejapa produce petates.

Besides the possible adventure into the villages in the neighborhood of Santa Barbara, you can also take a very pleasant hike up into the mountain directly behind the town, up to an old colonial building known locally as the Castillo Bogran. From this old ruin, you will enjoy a splendid scenery that includes a spectacular view of Santa Barbara, many of the surrounding villages as well as parts of the mighty Ullua River that flows down this beautiful valley. Further up in the mountain you will find the home of
Santa Barbara has become the mecca of swimming spas in Honduras. There are a variety of Balnearios in town offering stiff competition that ensures quality, hygiene and safety. The most popular ones are Balneario Tencoa, Turicentro Bellavista, both located on the road towards Pito Solo, and La Torre, which is almost adjacent to downtown,
If you are in Santa Barbara over the weekend, you must definitely make it a point to visit one of these Balnearios. There is always an entrance fee charged and you will find food and drinks available on the premises.