Shopping is something that intrigues everyone and something that is loved by almost everyone. Barring a few scarce people, everyone loves shopping and is always on the lookout for good places to do so.
This merriment of shopping scales up to new levels when you are visiting a new city or even a country like Honduras. In the case of Honduras, a country having immense historical and cultural richness, you can hardly keep yourself off the markets and places for shopping in Honduras that offers a variety of products!
As RocApply we understand how vital it is for you to have a steady shopping lifestyle in a foreign land! For that reason, we have shortlisted the most popular places in Honduras where one should shop to bag some of the most amazing items in the country at very reasonable costs.
From air conditioned shopping malls to traditional markets and big name mega stores Honduras has a wide variety of shops. For visitors to the country, the best shopping is undoubtedly at the local markets where artisans and local craftsmen offer their wares at extremely affordable prices.
At other markets, such as the Guamilito Market in San Pedro Sula and San Isidro Market in Tegucigalpa, common craft items include woodcarvings, cigars, leather goods, straw hats and bags, Guatemalan handwoven fabric, Lenca pottery and paintings.
Traditional Garifuna crafts can be found in Tela and the Bay Islands which symbolize their coastal heritage and utilize items such as wood, seashells and coconuts. On the Bay Islands you can purchase many Garifuna products, such as paintings, textiles, woodcarvings, straw baskets, hats, and wind chimes.
There are many stores nestled around the islands of Roatan and Utila, but Yaba Ding Ding is particularly good for Lenca pottery, glasswork and junco baskets. There’s an interesting art store on Roatan called Gunter’s Driftwood Gallery, which as the name suggests contains works made of natural items that have drifted ashore, such as wood, shells, shark teeth and jaws.
The beach town of Tela is also a great place to purchase local handicrafts made by the Garifuna community. Jewelry is made from seashells and coconuts, which you can get from traders along the beach.
The largest market in the country is Mercado San Isidro in Tegucigalpa, where you will find a wider range of products. There is also a large outdoor market in La Ceiba which offers just about anything and everything, including handicrafts.
If you are strictly seeking for art, head to Avenida Miguel de Cervantes in Tegucigalpa where you will get a string of shops and the largest selection of Honduran folk art, from Lenca pottery to Mosquito Coast jungle items, worth visiting for the diversity if you miss out shopping in each individual area!
Some bargaining is common in craft markets, although in general bartering is not part of Honduran tradition. Start at half the actual asking price and light-heartedly barter to an agreed price from there.
In addition to crafts, markets are the centre of local life where everything from fruit and vegetables to household products to clothes can be found. Stores are gaining popularity with middle class Hondurans and a range of international brand shops can be found within..
RocApply Shopping Note
Stay away from buying anything made of coral as the reefs are protected. Be very careful when buying anything made from animal products unless 100 percent certain that it is not from an endangered species. Souvenirs crafted from turtle shells, endangered birds and mammals are unfortunately for sale.
"I enjoy shopping and I found it affordable but some of the clothes are definitely not of the highest quality." - Hassan from Turkey
