Paseo Liquidámbar

Paseo Liquidámbar Review

You might not realize it as a bus chugs by belching a cloud of smoke, but Tegucigalpa really is putting forth an effort toward making itself a more pleasant place to live and visit. One of its little gems—it's a work in progress at this writing—is the five-block-long downtown pedestrian mall between the Teatro Nacional Manuel Bonilla and Plaza Morazán. The unusual moniker "Liquidámbar" comes from the genus name for the American sweetgum tree, grown throughout Honduras; locals, however, simply refer to the promenade as the Calle Peatonal (pedestrian street). Bricked pavement, modern iron street lamps, new benches, and tiled colonial-style street signs make Liquidámbar a pleasant place for a stroll. You'll find a few U.S. fast-food places here as well as the ubiquitous Espresso Americano, Honduras's answer to Starbucks. Stores are geared toward local shopping needs rather than much tourist interest. The Champs-Elysées it is not, but we credit the city for creating a pleasant public space for residents and visitors alike.