Wood shavings fly as Sergio Sanchez chisels away at a mahogany chest. For 10 years, this native of Valle de Angeles has been honing his craft, perfecting the techniques for which Honduran woodcarvers are well-known. The sharp crack of his hammer draws curious visitors into the workshop, where Sergio will spend a week or more carving the most intricate of details before the chest is sanded, stained and displayed for sale at the souvenir shop out front.

Handicrafts like Sergio’s are a major draw in Valle de Angeles (Valley of Angels), a picturesque mining town tucked into the pine-forested mountains about 30 kilometers northeast of Tegucigalpa. But so is the town itself. Much of it has been restored to its original 16th century appearance, right down to the red-tiled roofs, lanterns and narrow, cobblestoned streets. Thousands of people visit every year, drawn by the Spanish colonial atmosphere, leisurely pace and fresh mountain air. It’s a welcome escape from the smog of the capital, and on weekends the streets are filled with foreign tourists and residents of Tegucigalpa alike.

“People used to come here for day trips, to have a little lunch and do some shopping, but more and more people are coming for the entire weekend.”

James Lee, owner of Villas del Valle

Photo by:Cindy Burgess/Honduras This Week

They come for the handicrafts and the history. Valle de Angeles is a shopper’s dream, with artisan boutiques on just about every block. Visitors can choose from the best Honduras has to offer, including hand-carved wooden chests, clay pottery, baskets, hammocks, jewelry and paintings.

They do so in the shadow of the town’s centerpiece, the old iglesia or church. It’s one of the first sights visitors see when they enter town. Even though the church was rebuilt and modernized in the 19th century, it still retains its original, rustic charm.

The church towers over the central park, where people amble along the shady paths and gather in small groups around a painted fountain. On weekends, music blares from the bandstand, often leading to spontaneous dancing by young and old alike. The streets surrounding the park are closed to traffic, offering easy access to the art galleries, restaurants and souvenir shops nearby.

Inside one of those shops, Arte Piel, the shelves are lined with handcrafted leather goods in a range of colors and finishes. Through a door to the back, visitors can watch the artisans at work, tracing patterns on leather, cutting out the pieces, stitching them together at a sewing machine and polishing and buffing the final product.

The owner of the shop, Ruben Gonzalez, has been handcrafting leather for 15 years.

He works alongside six employees, crafting everything from handbags and wallets to belts and briefcases. Gonzalez says business is good, but he’s noticed a drop in the number of tourists – and the amount they’re spending – since September, when the global economic crisis began.

Another cause for concern among business owners in Valle de Angeles is the recent increase in Honduras’ minimum wage. The 60 per cent hike could be a double whammy for this tourist zone. Higher wages mean increased operating costs for businesses. That prospect is already prompting companies across the country to lay off workers, meaning Hondurans may have less to spend on trips to Valle de Angeles.

“That may have an impact,but we’re just beginning the New Year so we don’t know for sure yet.”

James Lee

For now though, it’s hard to imagine anything taking away this beautiful Spanish town. The ladies flip pupusas as fast as they can on the grills outside Virginia’s Pupusas. The chorizo and carnitas sizzle, luring hungry customers with their mouth-watering aroma. At Restaurant Manolo the tables are filled with patrons, enjoying plato tipico and a refreshing drink.

The visitors are smiling – and most importantly, they’re already making plans to return.