San Pedro Sula, Industrial hub in northwestern Honduras.
San Pedro Sula is a city in Cortés Department, spreading across the Sula Valley about 50 kilometers inland from Puerto Cortés. It functions as the main production center of the country, home to more than 1.4 million people.
Pedro de Alvarado founded the settlement in 1536 near Choloma, starting as a small village. The banana trade from the late 19th century onward transformed it into a growing hub of industry and commerce.
The street grid follows a numbered pattern, with blocks organized by cardinal directions. Vendors, food stalls, and pedestrians gather at central intersections, giving the city its daily rhythm.
Streets run east to west, while avenues run north to south, making it easier to find your way around the four main quadrants. Morning and afternoon hours bring heavy traffic, especially near markets and bus terminals.
A free trade zone took shape here in 1976, encouraging the production of textiles, food products, pharmaceuticals, and other manufactured goods. This zone has drawn numerous factories and warehouses that shape the look of large sections of the city.
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