FORTALEZA SAN FERNANDO DE OMOA

The village of Omoa was an important port at the time of the Spanish conquest (the main one on the Atlantic coast), coveted by pirates, Miskitos and the British. In the ^18th century, it was finally decided to build a fortress to guard against their plunder. Ironically, by the time it was completed in 1773, after many torments (construction problems, changes of engineer, unbearable tropical climate), the privateers had stopped attacking. The British seized it in 1779, then the Spanish royalists took it back, before it fell into the hands of Guatemalan soldiers. After Honduran independence, it was converted into a prison, before being abandoned. Today, it stands as an imposing testimony to Honduras' colonial military past. A small museum tells the story of the fortress: you'll see historical objects from the colonial era on display, some of which played a defensive role. In addition, you'll find information on the history of the fort and the region, and on the historical significance of the construction, as well as some stories of pirates and battles (in Spanish only). Unfortunate restorations have sometimes made it ugly, and there's not much to see apart from the general architecture, but the excursion is not unpleasant: tropical surroundings, panoramic sea views and mountain backdrops make up a pretty picturesque landscape of the region.