Location

Siguatepeque, Honduras

The Institute is located in the city of Siguatepeque, in the geographical center of Honduras. It is in the department of Comayagua and has a population of 90,000. "Sigua" is two hours away from Honduras's biggest cities: Tegucigalpa, the political capital, and San Pedro Sula, the economic capital. Both cities have international airports, with flights arriving regularly from Canada and the United States. The city is approximately 1200m (4000ft) above sea level and surrounded by lush, green mountains. The climate is cool and refreshing year-round.

Having the attractions of a city while maintaining small-town charm, Siguatepeque offers modern conveniences without the risks of living in a bigger city. It is a beautiful place to focus in on language and culture because of its community feel and nearby cultural attractions. 30 minutes away is Honduras's vast and spectacular Lake Yojoa, where one can go kayaking, hiking, or to eat fried fish. 40 minutes in the other direction, Comayagua is bigger city that is the colonial capital of Honduras and has the oldest clock in the Americas. There is a larger variety of stores and restaurants that make for a fun evening out. Another attraction of Siguatepeque is the handmade ceramic pottery that is produced locally and can be purchased at very reasonable prices. Only an hour away from Siguatepeque, you can visit the historic city of La Esperanza, the highest city in Honduras at over 5000 feet above sea level.

​Local Climate

​The average annual temperature range in Siguatepeque is 18-30ºC (65-85ºF). During the “rainy” season (not constantly raining, however) – June through November – you may want a lightweight, water-repellent jacket or parka.  From December through February, when the temperature dips occasionally down to 10ºC (50ºF), you may feel chilly because houses have no central heat. Layered clothing works best on cooler days, so bring a fleece, sweater, sweatshirt, etc. to wear under a windbreaker.
 
The “dry” season is from February to May, with the hottest months being April and May, with temperatures reaching a peak of 32ºC (95ºF) but it is still relatively comfortable because of the low humidity.  This means that you may not see any rain whatsoever for these three months, leading to water shortages and poor air quality. 
​
​​en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siguatepeque,_Comayagua

Honduras

​​Honduras is a Central American country with Caribbean Sea coastlines to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. In the tropical rainforest near Guatemala, the ancient Mayan ceremonial site Copán has stone-carved hieroglyphics and stelae, stone monuments. In the Caribbean Sea are the Bay Islands, a diving destination that's part of the 1,000km-long Mesoamerican Barrier Reef.

Honduras is roughly the size of the state of Tennessee and its population is a little over nine million people. Its two largest cities are San Pedro Sula and Tegucigalpa, the capital. The official currency is the lempira and is approximately 24.5 lemps to the US dollar as of January 2021.

While Honduras is considered the poorest of the Central American countries, it offers a rich culture and consists of a people that are proud to call themselves Hondurans. Whether it be diving in Roatan, enjoying the view overlooking Tegucigalpa at Picacho or kayaking on beautiful Lago de Yojoa, Honduras is a must-see destination.

For more information about Honduras check out these websites:
Wikipedia
National geographic
Every Culture
​