Planning a Trip
Getting There
By Bus -- The bus terminal is a dusty lot across the street from the market. Direct buses make the 5-hour drive from San Pedro Sula about five times per day; the ride costs L100 ($5/£2.50). To get here from Copán Ruínas, you must first take a 2-hour bus ride to La Entrada (L40/$2/£1) and then transfer to a Copán bus for another 2-hour ride. Buses head to a few other nearby destinations too.
By Car -- From San Pedro Sula (4 hr. away) or Copán (3 hr. away), take CA 4 to La Entrada, and then head south on CA 11-A until hitting Gracias.
Orientation & Getting Around
Gracias comprises a small grid of streets that sits on a dash of flat land in the most mountainous part of Honduras, at the foot of the pine-covered Montaña de Celaque. Roads leading to the city are only partially paved, which is why getting there often requires going through San Pedro Sula, even if you're coming from Tegucigalpa.
Apart from its surrounding sites, most of the attractions in Gracias can be seen on foot. The colonial core of the city is concentrated around a small grid of streets less than 10 blocks long.
To get to Celaque or to the hot springs, you will need to take a taxi, which can be found near the market or the park. Alternatively, you can visit on a guided tour.
Visitor Information
The tourist office is in a small kiosk in the middle of the park. It's open Monday to Friday from 8am to noon and 2 to 5pm, as well as Saturday from 8 to 11:30am.
Fast Facts -- Gracias itself lacks an ATM, but Banco de Occidente at the Parque Central will exchange currency and traveler's checks. There are a few small cybercafes around the park and most are quite slow. For international phone calls, head to Hondutel, 1 block from the park, beside the post office.
Planning a Trip
Getting There
By Bus -- The bus terminal is a dusty lot across the street from the market. Direct buses make the 5-hour drive from San Pedro Sula about five times per day; the ride costs L100 ($5/£2.50). To get here from Copán Ruínas, you must first take a 2-hour bus ride to La Entrada (L40/$2/£1) and then transfer to a Copán bus for another 2-hour ride. Buses head to a few other nearby destinations too.
By Car -- From San Pedro Sula (4 hr. away) or Copán (3 hr. away), take CA 4 to La Entrada, and then head south on CA 11-A until hitting Gracias.
Orientation & Getting Around
Gracias comprises a small grid of streets that sits on a dash of flat land in the most mountainous part of Honduras, at the foot of the pine-covered Montaña de Celaque. Roads leading to the city are only partially paved, which is why getting there often requires going through San Pedro Sula, even if you're coming from Tegucigalpa.
Apart from its surrounding sites, most of the attractions in Gracias can be seen on foot. The colonial core of the city is concentrated around a small grid of streets less than 10 blocks long.
To get to Celaque or to the hot springs, you will need to take a taxi, which can be found near the market or the park. Alternatively, you can visit on a guided tour.
Visitor Information
The tourist office is in a small kiosk in the middle of the park. It's open Monday to Friday from 8am to noon and 2 to 5pm, as well as Saturday from 8 to 11:30am.
Fast Facts -- Gracias itself lacks an ATM, but Banco de Occidente at the Parque Central will exchange currency and traveler's checks. There are a few small cybercafes around the park and most are quite slow. For international phone calls, head to Hondutel, 1 block from the park, beside the post office.
