Drive for less than an hour outside of Tegucigalpa and you will pass several lovely mining communities up in the hills with excellent views and hiking. Here are some highlights of the towns around Tegucigalpa:

-Minas de Oro is just north of Talanga and Tegucigalpa. There are good hiking trails and excellent lookout points along the way.

-Closer to Tegucigalpa is Santa Lucia, with walks up the mountain and several lookouts onto Tegucigalpa

-For more hiking, the Parque Nacional la Tigra (entrance fee $10 USD) can be reached from San Juan de Flores and San Juancito. After entering the park, climb the La Tigra cloud forest which spans 238 sq km (150 sq mi) of rich habitat just 11 km (7 mi) from the capital. There is a rich variety of flora and fauna especially orchids, ferns and bromeliads, along with over 200 species of birds. Robberies have been reported here, so be smart: take a guide or travel in a group.

-Valle de Angeles is a charming colonial town with cobblestone streets and is Honduras’ official crafts center, especially famous for leather goods.

-Comayagua was Honduras’ first capital. It was founded in 1537 and features many historic monuments.