Honduras
_{October / November 2005 - Honduras, Mexico, Guatemala and Belize}

_Capital

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Tegucigalpa

_Area

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112,090 km²
(2.7x the Netherlands)

_Time

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UTC -6

_Language

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Spanish, Indian languages and English

_{Highest point}

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Las Minas - 2,849 m

_Flag

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The current flag was officially adopted in 1949. Like Guatemale, Honduras based the flag on the flag of the United States of Central America. Blue represents the sea. White represents the country. The five blue stars represent the five countries which emerged from the United States of Central America.

_Itinerary

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_Currency

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The Honduran lempira was introduced in 1931. The lempira is named after the Lenca Indian leader and freedom fighter Lempira who led the fight against the Spaniards, led by Francisco de Montejo and Alonso de Cáceres, from about 1530 until his death in 1537. He is depicted on the banknote.

_Highlights

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Copán is home to the southernmost major Maya complex. Here Maya art reached its peak. There are over 4,500 mapped buildings, from temples to huts. At its peak, 27,000 Maya lived here. The central square contains 8 stela built by king Waxaklahun Ubah K'awil or 18 Rabbit. He was the 13th king in a dynasty of 16 kings who ruled from 400 to 825. It says a replica of an altar depicting all 16 rulers. 18 Rabbit ruled from 695 to 738. In 725 he conquered Quiriguá, near Copán in present-day Guatemala, and named one of his nobles as ruler of Quiriguá. This ruler, Cauac Air, gained more and more power and eventually defeated the king who was at the basis of his success, 18 Rabbit, and executed him. Yax Pax was the last of the 16 rulers. The staircase that is protected by a large cloth is the Stair of the Inscriptions, made from over 1250 engraved stones with propaganda. The complex is located in the jungle and is a beautiful Maya complex. Missing in the other complexes are the statues and stelae. Large macaws sit on the fence at the entrance.

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