Yoro Department · Honduras
El Progreso travel guide
El Progreso is a city in Yoro Department, Honduras, home to about 188,000 people.
- Nearest airport
- SAP13 km · Ramón Villeda Morales International Airport
- Currency
- HNLHonduran lempira
- Time zone
- America/Tegucigalpa
- Language
- Spanish
Things to do
What to see and do in El Progreso
See
While El Progreso is mainly a commercial city, the central plazas, main cathedral and downtown area provide tourists with a window into the soul of Honduran life. Local produce, hand made goods and everyday essentials can be purchased from the dozens of small stands and shops in the center of town. The town used to be a key logistical center for the United Fruit Company's Honduran banana trade. In the 1920s the area was a booming rail center, and the legacy of this time period can still be seen today. The train cars can be found at the train station (now the site of Sunday markets), just off of the boulevard towards Tegucigalpa.
Do
El Progreso is home to one of the largest tourist shops in the area called Turiplaza. It is located a mile from the city center on the way to Tela. There, and at stores throughout the central city markets, one can purchase hand made crafts typical of the area. Honduras is known for its wooden carved boxes and the ones found in El Progreso do not disappoint. Mega Plaza The new mall in El Progreso is large, clean and comforting. Shopping in Honduras is a cultural experience, and a trip to El Progreso is not complete without a trip through the new mall. It also houses a 3-screen movie theater where new movies can be seen for US$3 (or $1.50 on Tuesdays).
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Which part of El Progreso to stay in
There are a number of small hotels through out El Progreso, however there are two main ones that are recommended for international tourists. Hotel H4 El Progreso is a new hotel located about 3 km (2 miles) out of town, on the way to Tela. The hotel is made up cabins that can be rented for the night. It is peaceful and clean. There is a pool, internet access and the option to have meals cooked for you at the hotel. The hotel has high walls surrounding the property and a 24-hour guard on duty, for those concerned about security. The owner and his wife speak English, making it a great place for those traveling Honduras with limited Spanish.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
When to go
The best time to visit El Progreso
El Progreso has no month that is both mild and dry by the measure used here. April is the warmest month, with average highs of 33 °C; September is the wettest, with about 248 mm of rain.
Comfortable means average daytime high between 18 °C and 29 °C and under 80 mm of rain in the month. Averages for 1991–2020 over the surrounding area, a grid square about 50 km across, so a coast or a nearby mountain can make the town itself warmer or cooler. Data: CRU TS v4.10, Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia (Open Database License).
Getting there
Getting to El Progreso: airports and arrival
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Ramón Villeda Morales International Airport (SAP), about 13 km from the city centre in a straight line; Puerto Barrios Airport (PBR, 90 km) and Golosón International Airport (LCE, 110 km) are also within reach.
Getting in
El Progreso is located 20 minutes south from the International Airport Ramón Villeda Morales, located outside of San Pedro Sula. International flights come in from Houston, Atlanta, Miami and San Salvador. Taxis can be taken from the airport to El Progreso. Bus services, of varying quality, are easily accessible throughout the region. The regions main bus station is on the outskirts of San Pedro Sula, which is only a 45 minute ride from El Progreso.
Getting around
A very efficient local bus system operates in most major areas of El Progreso. Buses will commonly feature the destinations "Quebrada del Yoro" and "Pallermo," two far-ends of El Progreso whereby most buses will do a circuit, traveling back and forth from these two locations. Taking a bus mid-day can be tricky, as many local buses travel primarily during the morning and evening hours, when everyone goes to and from work and school. Taxis and city buses are plentiful, making it easy to use to travel around the city.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
SAP · Ramón Villeda Morales International Airport
PBR · Puerto Barrios Airport
LCE · Golosón International Airport
Local knowledge
Eating, drinking and staying safe in El Progreso
Eat
El Progreso offers a number of dining choices. Throughout the center of town, visitors can find fast food chains such as Dunkin Doughnuts, Popeye's Chicken, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Wendy's, Burger King, Pizza Hut, Pollo Campero and Pollo Hondureno. The mall also has an Applebee's and a food court with a wide variety of fast food and regional eating options. La Parrilla and Las Tejas are some of the areas better steak and grill options. Las Tejas and the is located off of the main boulevard, while La Parrilla is located about a mile outside of town, towards Tegucigalpa.
Drink
Like any city, there are a number of bars or restaurant bars through out the village. H2O Located in the center across from Wendy's. A new lounge that has a refreshing, relaxing atmosphere (though there is no dance floor for those looking for an evening of dancing). Something Different Located a block from the Pizza Hut, off of the main boulevard. A large lounge, great for watching a sports game, relaxing or waiting for the late crowd to mix it up on the lounge's dance floor. Coco's A karaoke bar located a block from Wendy's in the center of town. The bar is often crowded and filled with smoke, but it has a decent dance floor and is free to enter.
Stay safe
El Progreso is a poor region of the country, but it has remained relatively free of the violence that some larger cities have faced throughout Central America. Hotel H4 El Progreso and Hotel Casa Blanca provide very safe lodging (with full time security) for travelers concerned about safety. In addition the local mayor and police are very supportive of the tourism industry and go out of their way to ensure the safety, as best they can, of those traveling through the area.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Questions
El Progreso: questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit El Progreso?
El Progreso has no month that is both mild and dry by the measure used here. April is the warmest month, with average highs of 33 °C; September is the wettest, with about 248 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to El Progreso?
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Ramón Villeda Morales International Airport (SAP), about 13 km from the city centre in a straight line; Puerto Barrios Airport (PBR, 90 km) and Golosón International Airport (LCE, 110 km) are also within reach.
What currency is used in El Progreso?
Honduran lempira (HNL).
Nearby
Destinations near El Progreso
Sources: city facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia; airports from OurAirports; climate from CRU TS v4.10 (University of East Anglia Climatic Research Unit), 1991–2020 monthly means, 0.5° grid; places to stay, guest scores and amenities from each operator's own public pages. How this guide is made.