Puerto Cortés is a port city and municipality located on the north Caribbean coast of Honduras. Situated on the Laguna de Alvarado, it lies north of San Pedro Sula and east of Omoa. The city features a natural bay and was originally known as Puerto de Caballos before being founded during the early colonial period.
The city experienced rapid growth in the twentieth century driven by banana production and the expansion of the railroad. Today, it serves as a major maritime hub; its seaport is the largest in Central America and ranks as the 36th largest in the world. The population of Puerto Cortés is approximately 73,150.