Yuscarán es la Cabecera Departamental de el Departamento De El Paraíso en la zona oriental de Honduras. Dista de la Capital Tegucigalpa 66 kilometros por calle asfaltada. Su goegrafía es accidentada, esta ubicada en las estribaciones de la montaña Montserat a 970 metros sobre el nivel del mar. La extencion territorial del municipio es de 336.2 kilometros cuadrados y tiene una población de 13,200 habitantes apoximadamente. Su fundación se registra a finales del siglo XVI. En el siglo pasado vive un tiempo de mucho esplendor debido a la explotacion en grande de sus ricos yacimientos de oro y plata. La arquitectura de Yuscarán tiene una fuerte tendencia española, casas coloniales con techo de teja y calles estrechas caprichosamente empedradas. Sus habitantes conservan sus costumbres y no quieren desarollar su ciudad como otras para no perder su identidad. Se sienten orgullosos de que en el país no exista otra igual con su origionalidad. Su gente es amable y apacible y disfruta su vida viviendo en Yuscarán en donde el tiempo no pasa. Yuscarán is a unique colonial town in southwestern Honduras that dates back to the 16th century. Its easy access by paved highway from Tegucigalpa makes it a good destination for anyone who wants to get a firsthand view of what colonial Honduras is all about. Change comes very slow to Yuscarán. Going to Yuscarán, in many ways, is like going back in time. The friendly people have not lost their culture and the lack of industrial development has helped the town preserve its colonial style. Whitewashed adobe houses with ceramic tile roofs are the rule in Yuscarán. The streets are paved with stone and there are more donkeys than cars. Every day, people come down from the mountains to sell their produce and load their donkeys with provisions to take back home. The people are extraordinarily friendly. Passers by will greet you with a welcome smile and conversation is easily found on a bench in the central square. Because Yuscarán is the capital of the Department of El Paraíso, it is home to the “county jail”. But anyone will tell you that no one from Yuscarán ever spends any time there. They pride themselves on the fact that there is no delinquency there. Yuscarán flourished in the past centuries from the development of the rich gold and silver deposits on which it lies. The mountain sides are dotted with old mine shafts and locals still pan for gold in the streams. Because of the wealth of its mines, Yuscarán attracted the Gentlemen of Europe and the Americas. It was a cultural and financial Mecca in its time. Although the mines are not being exploited, some of that charm has never left. It lives on in the streets of Yuscarán. You can get to Yuscarán by taking the highway out of Tegucigalpa towards the east to Danlí. Continue on the highway past Zamorano to kilometer 46 where you will see signs for Yuscarán. The road will take you up the mountain 17 kilometers to the foothills of Montaña Montserat where Yuscarán lies across three ridges. Oscar Lezama is the director of the museum and a good person to be in touch with if you need some arrangements for staying or eating in Yuscarán. If Oscar knows you coming he will have things ready for you to see at the museum and your favorite food ready at a local restaurant. Excursions to local mines and visits to historic houses can also be arranged. Contact Oscar Lezama by telephone at: 504 892 7160