“Get up!” Our guide yelled right before entering a passageway. I sprang up, ready to paddle. “Forward! Forward! Go!” I quickly dove my paddle into the water, and found I was competing for space with the towering rock wall. Suddenly, the rock walls fell away and we entered a technical rock garden with no end in sight; but I couldn’t have been happier with the less-claustrophobic challenge ahead.

Honduras is no secret to the European back pack crowd, but for the more upscale travelers – say, those who don’t wince at rooms costing more than $15 a night – Honduras is usually passed over for the more well known beaches and rainforests of Costa Rica or Panama. Herein lies the opportunity! Instead of competing for a spot on white sand beaches or crowded canopy zip line tours, head to Honduras and experience those things crowd-free, along with vast cloud forests, virgin rivers, and warm locals who aren’t just seeing dollar signs when you show up. At least it sure felt that way.

Like all good river trips, the Rio Cangrejal rafting experience begins along a bumpy dirt road, past washed-out houses, eroding hillsides, with the occasional view of the river below, and a large waterfall hidden amongst the lush trees of the rainforest above. Locals walk along the roadside and children stand outside their doorsteps as if waiting for someone special to appear. And then, the vehicle bumps to a stop. You have arrived.
Pouring out of Bonito National Park near the western coastal town of La Ceiba, the Rio Cangrejal is a wild, fast-flowing river choked with enormous boulders and narrow passageways filled with steep drops and technical rock gardens.

Don’t expect any large outfitters here – rafting is still relatively new and it’s not uncommon to see only a few boats on the river during even the busiest times of year. But that’s what makes the Rio Cangrejal so special-on the river it’s hard to believe anyone else is even around.

During a recent trip to La Ceiba I got the chance to raft the lower class II-IV section of the Cangrejal River. Our guide was stellar – he spoke enough English to communicate, knew the river extremely well, and when things went screwy he fixed them instantly. The highlight of the trip had to be the scenery. Pico Bonito National Park towers to the east, while 1,000-foot waterfalls pour from a dense cloud forest so think the rock cliffs are covered with lush vegetation. The riverbanks are filled with wildlife and on a rare occasion a jaguar will emerge out of the trees to take a drink. Though I wasn’t lucky enough to see one, I could picture the magical experience as we floated downstream.

Unlike many of the river trips in the U.S., the Rio Canrejal is a wild river and not controlled by dams upstream. Daily weather can influence the flow making rapids tamer or increasing their difficulty level exponentially. There are currently three outfitters available to take visitors down, and plan on spending about three hours on the river depending on the flow.

The Bay Island of Roatan, Honduras

I’m not sure what was more exciting: standing on the platform just before taking my first leap of faith, or watching one of my fellow writers decide braking was overrated and fly into the safety block at full speed. The time I spent on the island of Roatan was spectacular, and a canopy zip line tour is a must for visitors looking to experience a shot or two of adrenaline. Aside from lounging on the miles of white sand beaches with little tourists, zip line tours are a staple adventure activity throughout Honduras.

Flying through a rainforest canopy at blinding speeds, it’s hard not to feel like superman on steroids. Located a short 20 minutes flight from La Ceiba, the island of Roatan pulls out all the stops when it comes to zip line tours. Three different tours can be found on the island and the two tours located in the West Bay area both start high and plunge towards the sea along a series of lines stretching up to several hundred feet long.

Though I didn’t get a chance to try out all the tours, I did spend an afternoon on the canopy zip line at Gumbalimba Park. The tour began with a quick safety talk and then we were off zipping along at various speeds while drinking in views of the ocean below and birds soaring overhead. The hour-long tour was a spectacular way to see the forests canopy while safely bringing me out of my comfort zone, (I tend to like water. The whole air thing is still a little new.) and the perfect way to end my Honduras tour.

Honduras is actually a Republic in Central America and was officially called Spanish Honduras so that it could be differentiated from British Honduras. The country of Honduras is surrounded on the southwest by EI Salvador, and Nicaragua to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the south at Gulf of Fonseca, and the Gulf of Honduras towards the north direction. The Gulf of Honduras is actually a huge inlet from the Caribbean Sea. The size of this country is more than 112,000 square kilometers where more than 8,000,000 people exist.

The capital of Honduras is Tegucigalpa. If we go back to the history of this country, then the archaeologists have established that it has a rich and multi-ethnic prehistory. The prehistory explores the presence of Mayan communities, especially around the city of Copan in Western Honduras, close to the border of Guatemala. Here, you will see many carved inscriptions and stelae.

Tegucigalpa, Honduras

The climate of Honduras varies from tropical in the lowlands to temperate in the mountains. The Central and Southern areas are comparatively hotter, and also less humid as compared to the northern coast. The territory of Honduras comprises of largely mountains, but narrow plains can also be found along the coasts. When you visit Honduras you should visit the most attractive sites, like the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Rio Platano Biosphere Reserve, along with the Coco River that separates this country from Nicaragua. Visit the Islas de la Bahia (the Bay Islands) and the Swan Islands which are part of Honduras.

The natural resources of Honduras comprise of timber, gold, silver, copper, lead, zinc, iron ore, antimony, coffee, coal, fish, shrimp and hydropower. This region is measured as a biodiversity hot spot due to the number of plant and animal species. It has widespread biological resources. This country has more than 6,000 species of Vascular plants out of which 630 are orchids, 250 reptiles and amphibians, over 700 bird species, 110 mammal species, and the remaining half are bats. You can experience the rain forests, cloud forests, mangroves, savannas, mountain ranges with pine and oak trees, and also the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System.

The Bay Islands has bottlenose dolphins, manta rays, parrot fish, schools of blue tang and whale sharks. Through this you might have gotten that Honduras has plenty of attractions to see and explore, from its flora and fauna to the exotic natural beauties.

The economy of this country has continued to grow slowly, but the tourism Industry has boomed until this past year. The infrastructure of Honduras developed rapidly. The transportation comprises of railways of 699 kilometers, roadways cover an area of 13,603 kilometers, there are seven ports and harbors, and 112 paved and unpaved airports.

Reaching here is not a big issue. American Airlines functions flights every day from Miami to Honduras. Tegucigalpa airport is located at a distance of 5 kilometers to the southeast direction of the city. Taxis and buses function to and from the city. Basic facilities like bars, restaurants, duty-free shops, banks, cars for hire, post office, and first aid are available at the airport. International airports like La Mesa International Airport, which is situated in San Pedro Sula, Goloson in La Ceiba, and Dr. Juan Manuel Galvez on Roatan are the ways to get access to the city.

To reach there by water you have major ports in the country like Amapala, EI Henecan, La Ceiba, Puerto Cortes and Roatan. Cruiseships and vessels have accommodations for passengers. Travel by cruises and you will have to depart at Roatan which is a common port for it. You can also get access to this country by road. Routes are available from EI Salvador and Nicaragua through the Pan-American Highway and also from Guatemala on the Western Highway.

There are many activities that you can try in this country. Go for hiking at the marvelous Pico Bonito National Park located close to La Ceiba. You can experience scenery, steep slopes and a number of waterfalls. Enjoy birdwatching at Lake Yojoa which is located in the western side of the country. Spelunking is the best option that you should try in the Cuyamel Caves close to Trujillo, so do not miss this opportunity. You should hire a guide for your safety at the caves.

A boat trip to Cuero y Salado Wildlife Refuge will make you feel pleasant and it offers animal species like monkeys, alligators and manatees and many waterbirds. Try fishing on the coasts and Lake Yojoa which is famous for bass fishing throughout the world. Scuba diving on the Bay Islands and white-water rafting along the Cangrejal River which lies close to La Ceiba are the best activities that you should try. With this, canopy touring offers excellent views of the rainforests.

Copan Ruins Archaeological Park is the best ruins that represents the culture of Mayan Indians. Ruins like Acropolis, the Great Plaza and the Court of the Hieroglyphic Stairway are the ancient ruins that are worth a visit.

Spanish buildings can be found in Trujillo on the Caribbean coast which also offers tropical beaches. Experience the great coral reef at Guanaja and Roatan. Take a deep breath at the sandy beaches bounded by palm trees on Utila. Anywhere in the country, you can experience nature like wildlife refuges and national parks, with landscapes of flora and fauna.

Today, making a best holiday is not at all a difficult task as you have millions of exotic locations waiting just to welcome you. Accommodations can also be easily done in Honduras, as it is one of the best tourist destinations in the world. You can enjoy the cloud forests, mountains, dry forests, pine forests, coastal wetlands and enormous rivers in this country.

Visit here and make your holiday a memorable one that will never erase from your mind; you will always feel refreshed whenever you think about a trip to Honduras

Just last year Honduras was on the fast track to becoming the next Costa Rica, the next hot destination for eco-tourism in Central America. While it was still mostly undiscovered by mass tourism (in a poll done by the Institute of Tourism, only 4% of Americans said they consider Central America for a vacation and only 1% said they even knew of Honduras), adventurous travelers, backpackers, dive-enthusiasts and lovers of Central America were coming in numbers close to half a million people per year.

From 2006 to 2007 arrivals from North America increased by 25%. The next year they grew by 19%. The tourism industry became the largest employer in the nation and brought in $630 million of revenue in 2008.

Then President Zelaya was ousted. There were protests in the capital and curfews were instated. When Zelaya tried to return, the Tegucigalpa airport was closed for a few days. Eventually the situation calmed and life returned to normal. Normal, except that the tourists who supported a large section of the country’s economy were gone. Some hotels saw nearly their entire year’s worth of bookings cancel within a week of June 28th. 35 Habitat for Humanity groups scheduled to come to Honduras decided to go elsewhere. Tour companies looking forward to a full schedule began to wonder how many employees they’d have to let go.

While all of this is bad news for Honduras, it’s one reason why now is the perfect time to visit. With fewer crowds the country truly feels undiscovered, and with all the discounts being offered to lure in tourists, the already low cost of visiting is even lower. Flights from Chicago on Spirit Airlines are just $250 through April. Taca, Delta, American and Continental also operate regular flights to the country and the trip from Miami or Fort Lauderdale to San Pedro Sula is just over two hours.

Where to go and what to see
I’ll be covering a few of these destinations more in depth in coming posts, but the three main areas that most tourists will explore (as Grant mentioned in a previous post about his own trip to the country) are the Northern Coast around La Ceiba, the Bay Islands including Roatan, and Copan Ruinas, near the border with Guatemala.

The most popular spot for tourists on the Northern Coast is La Ceiba, home to dozens of luxurious eco-lodges. For a little more action you’ll want to stay in the city though. There’s a saying in Honduras that “Tegucigalpa thinks, San Pedro works, La Ceiba parties” so if you’re looking for some nightlife, this is the place to be. If you want to get further off the beaten path or explore the culture of the Garifuna people (descendants of black slaves who shipwrecked in the area), head up the coast to Tela or take a short boat ride to the archipelago of Cayos Cochinos

From La Ceiba, the Bay Islands are just a 20 minute flight or a cheap ferry ride away. On the islands of Guanaja, Utila, and Roatan, you’ll hardly feel like you’re in Central America at all. With miles of sandy white beaches, crystal clear water, and some of the cheapest scuba diving around, these islands rival any in the Caribbean, but at a much lower price. While the large Infinity Bay Beach Resort wasn’t quite my style (I prefer small B&Bs and hostels), it was beautiful and I could find no fault with it except for spotty wi-fi service. Situated on the deserted end of a long white beach, it featured a gorgeous infinity pool, beachfront bar and restaurant, and spacious rooms with full kitchens, with rates starting at $200 per night. In West End, more moderate beachfront accommodations can easily be found for $40-$80 per night.

Other than lounging on the beach, snorkeling, scuba diving, sailing, jet skiing, or just relaxing with a few beers at a beachfront bar in West End, you can also go horseback riding or spend a day at Gumbalimba Park, an adventure park with Roatan’s best zipline – ten lines that crisscross through the canopy, offering views all the way to the sea, and depositing you along the water’s edge on the beach. After the ziplining you can meet free-roaming monkeys who will descend from the trees to perch on your shoulder.

To get to Copan Ruinas, a small village of cobble-stone streets, you’ll need to take a 3-hour bus (about $10) from San Pedro. Take Dramamine as the road is quite twisty. The town is less than a mile away from the area’s main attraction, the beautifully-restored Mayan ruins at Copan. You can join an organized tour, make the 20-minute walk down a paved path from town, or pay 20 lempiras ($1) to catch a ride to the ruins on a mototaxi, a tiny motorized rickshaw.

The area around the town is known for its coffee production and several plantations welcome visitors for tours and tastings. There is also a nearby hot spring called Luna Jaguar where for $10, you can soak in the healing waters or splurge on a $30 massage in a hut perched above the mouth of the steaming spring.

In town, you can score a hostel dorm bed for $5 or a private room for $8. Rooms at one of the nicest and oldest hotels, the Hotel Marina Copan (where Richard Gere once stayed), start at $90 per night and feature plush beds, free wi-fi, room service, bottled water, mini-fridges and microwaves. The hotel has an on-site restaurant, a large pool in the courtyard, colonial architecture, tile floors and marble bathrooms, and some of the friendliest staff I encountered in the country.

To be honest, before this trip I’d never considered a visit to Honduras and didn’t think I cared much for Central America. All that changed when I saw Copan Ruinas. As I wandered the narrow, cobbled streets, shopped for handmade crafts, ordered up a steaming plate of grilled pork served with beans and corn tortillas (for just $1) from a street vendor, browsed the eclectic farmer’s market, and sat in the town’s central square, watching children play and the occaisional horse clip-clop through town, I fell in love with Copan Ruins and with the people of Honduras.

Everywhere I went in Honduras, I was struck by how beautiful it was, and how empty of other tourists. While the main square in Copan was full of activity, I saw only two other tourists during my time in the town. At a beach bar in Roatan, it seemed we were the only people who didn’t know everyone else there. And at the ruins in Copan, it felt like we had a centuries-old playground all to ourselves.

Costs and Cuisine
The cuisine in Honduras is typically Central American. Beans and corn tortillas (which you can buy at 10 for $1 at most markets) figure prominently, especially in the signature baleada – a meal of beans and fresh cheese (and sometimes egg or other ingredients) in a corn tortilla, which sells for about $1. Fried plantains, fresh juice and fruit, avocado, and, along the coast and on the islands, incredibly fresh seafood, are also inexpensive staples of the cuisine.

The most expensive meal I had, a huge pile of creamy, tender Lobster thermidor, cost about $30. Lobster pasta and fresh shrimp dishes were $10 each, and chicken fajitas or a heaping plate of beans, cheese, avocado and chorizo were $5 and large enough to feed two. Mixed drinks and fruity frozen concoctions ranged from $2.50 to $5, and cold bottles of the local Salva Vida beer were $1.50.

While those looking for luxury in Honduras can certainly find it, budget travelers could do very well here on $20-$30 per person per day for food, drinks and accommodations. More middle-of-the-road travelers, those who like to save money but enjoy a certain level of comfort, could easily spend less than $150 for hotel, food and drinks for two people.

Safety and the Current Situation
While in Honduras, I visited La Ceiba, Roatan and Copan. During that time, I took every opportunity to talk with tourism operators and with people on the street. When asked they all replied the same way. Not only was there currently no danger from the political situation, but in that area, there never had been. In Roatan, one man corrected me: “This isn’t Honduras,” he said, “this is the Bay Islands.” There were no curfews here, no protests, just the same beautiful beaches and pristine diving conditions as always. In Copan I walked around for an afternoon alone and felt as safe or safer than I have in any other country.

When the political situation became unstable nearly all of the unrest happened near the capital of Tegucigalpa, hours inland from the more touristy areas. Even though the US State Department Travel Alert acknowledged that the protests were mainly peaceful and that they were concentrated in the capital, it still warned Americans to steer clear of the entire country, which is kind of like telling someone not to visit Chicago because of the high crime rate in certain areas of the city’s South Side. During my visit in early November, I saw no signs of trouble, save for some political graffiti around San Pedro, but again if graffiti made a place unsafe I’d never venture outside my apartment. Walking around the city and shopping at the large market, I saw no other evidence of unrest and never felt as though I were in danger.

Just a few days ago the Supreme Court of Honduras voted overwhelmingly against allowing Zelaya to return to finish out the final two months of his term (which was cut short when he was escorted out of the country after attempting to interfere with a vote that would allow him to change the constitution and remain President indefinitely). I’m betting the people I met couldn’t be happier with the outcome. In fact every single person I spoke with supported the removal of Zelaya, who they said was “Chavez’s puppet” and had acted illegally. Not only were they disappointed that the US State Department had issued a blanket warning against travel to Honduras, they were also eager were to dispel the myths they felt the media had been spreading about the country’s situation.

A source I spoke with in the country now said since the vote there have been no issues and that, as with any election, while Zelaya’s supporters are no doubt disappointed, the elections were peaceful and protests and disruptions are not expected. That’s good news for the people of Honduras, especially those in the tourist industry who are waiting with bated breath to see how long it will take for the tourists to come back.

In the mean time, they’re doing their best to encourage visitors. Many resorts are posting 2010 rates that are lower than 2009’s. Others are offering two-for-one deals or extending their low season rates throughout high season. The country is safe, beautiful and diverse, the people are warm and welcoming, the prices are low and the tourists are few. So if you are thinking about a trip to Central America, I suggest you consider Honduras – now is the perfect time to go.

by Katie Hammel

There has been some unrest in the capital city, but there wasn’t a military coup as the Western media says. Also, anything that is going on in the country is happening in Tegucigalpa, and though that is very little, it certainly has no effect on tourists to the country. Most of the country has carried on with their every day lives. As we traveled around the country, I was shocked by how few people there were … the restaurants were empty, the hotels were unoccupied, the beaches were bare.

In my own humble opinion, it’s when tourists stop visiting a country that places have to lay people off. And when people are laid off, that’s when they resort to violence and crime in order to feed their families.

Honduran businesses are doing everything they can to draw people to their doorstep – 2 for 1 discounts, low season rates during high season, etc. So, for what it’s worth, if you’re looking for a great vacation destination for a low cost, I recommend Honduras. It’s safe and interesting …

Enough of that … now on to my trip.

We went from dawn to dusk and beyond, and then, of course, I had to login to the WiFi and get some work done. We met with representatives of the tourism sector in the country and had to take tours of some things the average tourists wouldn’t visit (the new cruise port on Roatan, for example), but I also got to do a ton of really cool things that I might not have done on my own.

La Ceiba:
Billed as an eco-tourism destination. We stayed at a fancy-schmancy eco-resort that was located on the edge of Pico Bonito National Park, which has miles of hiking trails. We had crappy weather in La Ceiba, and I didn’t have much time to hike, but we did get to go whitewater rafting, which was fun and redeeming since my last rafting experience was on the Nile River and left me a bit turned upside down to the notion of rafting. The water wasn’t all that cold since we were being rained on. The rapids were class II to IV, so nothing too rough, and parts of the river were actually quite shallow.

Roatan:
Roatan is a part of the Bay Islands, located in the Caribbean. In fact, some people on Roatan believe it should be its own nation. A lot of cruise ships dock here, though I fear a lot of them barely get far from the dock. In fact, the person from the PR firm who was leading our group said that many of the people who dock don’t even realize they’re in Honduras.

We had some afterthought rain showers as a result of Hurricane Ida that came through a couple days before, so we never got to take the sunset sail that was on the schedule, but we did get to snorkel with dolphins and go zip lining, which were my personal favorites on the island. I wasn’t such a big fan of the macaw and monkey experiences, as I’m just generally not a fan of zoos of sorts. A lot of the monkeys were free to roam the treetops, but not all of them. Nonetheless, I got a few shots of me with some of the free roamers.

The resort we stayed in was a 5-star beauty, and the rooms would more accurately be described as a condo. It had a bedroom, kitchen, living room and balcony. My favorite part of the resort was the infinity pool.

Copan:
Copan is a quaint, quiet town seven miles from the Guatemala border. It is very different than either La Ceiba or Roatan. The streets are cobblestone and narrow. Cowboys lounge on the street corners. Women chill with their goods laid out on the blankets on the sidewalk. It’s a very chill and laidback place.

Copan is best known for its Mayan ruins, which are some of the most intricate and finest examples of Mayan ruins in the whole world. When we went, there were hardly any people there. We had a guide, and anyone who visits the grounds would be wise to hire a guide as well. It provides a lot more context for the ruins. One of the coolest parts of the ruins is that it is home to the longest inscription of hieroglyphics in the world. That’s what makes it an UNESCO Heritage Site.

We visited a macaw sanctuary as well, which I liked a lot better than the one on Roatan, because here the birds were actually free to fly away if they wanted to.

The other really fantastic thing we did while we were in Copan was go to a ranch … my introduction to agritourism, which was fantastic. The farmer, Carlos, grows over 90% of the family’s food on the farm. We got a quick introduction to some of the produce grown on the grounds in the morning, and nearly our whole lunch came from the grounds ~ produce, meat, butter, etc. He showed us all the workings of his on-site coffee plantation, and the “highlight” of our farm visit was the horseback riding. So it turns out that I’m not such a big fan of horseback riding … My horse, Sol, was definitely gentle enough, but I guess I’m just not a big horse person. The countryside was beautiful, though. To top off our stay in Copan, we went to the hot springs (definitely needed after the jarring horseback ride), which were isolated and totally engulfed in the rainforest. Overall, Copan was a very relaxing place to end our stay.

TEGUCIGALPA & SAN PEDRO SULA

For both business and leisure travelers, Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula are international air gateways. “Teguse,” as the city is familiarly called, is the capital where government and diplomatic offices, as well as international organizations are located. San Pedro Sula is the commercial heart of the country where more than 60 percent of the nation’s gross domestic produce is produced. Blessed with a beautiful natural setting, Tegucigalpa is a quirky sort of place, with narrow streets twisting up the hillside nurturing charming pockets of colonial architecture. Hotels are mostly modern structures, such as the hilltop Honduras Maya (just next door to the Casino Royale), while the boutique hotel of Portal del Angel is set in an attractive mansion. East of downtown and well-positioned next to shopping mall amenities, as well as close to governmental offices, are the Hotel Camino Real InterContinental, the Marriott Tegucigalpa and the Hotel Clarion. An outstanding visitor alternative is the National Gallery of Art, formerly a 17th century convent and now displaying works from prehistoric to colonial periods, as well as modern works by Honduras artists. Extend your stay here to buy one of your own colorful and very collectible native paintings in the nearby mountain hamlet of Valle de Angeles. Or, you can step back in time into the 16th century while exploring the art-filled church of the former mining town of Santa Lucia or go birdwatching along the cloud forest trails of La Tigre National Park.
In Tegucigalpa, make dining out part of your capital experience. For instance, high above the city is La Cumbre, offering both panoramic views and some of the best international food in town, and for Honduran dishes, as well as live mariachi music, El Patio is one of the best spots. When in San Pedro Sula, everyone likes a meal out at Don Udo’s, which cooks up continental cuisine with a Honduran flair. Another favorite spot is Pat’s Steakhouse for prime Honduran beef and seafood. After dinner you can go bar hopping in the Zona Viva or just hang out at La Cava before retiring, perhaps, to your home-away-from home at the Hilton Princess or Real InterContinental. While both business and leisure travelers may be on their way to somewhere else in Honduras, before taking off stop in for a tour around the Museum of Anthropology and History, a treasure house of pre-Columbian antiquities from Olmec and Mayan to Lenca Indian cultures. And leave time to go people-watching and shopping among the stalls of the outdoor Mercado Guamilito, at its best on weekends.

THE NORTH COAST

Nature lovers and birdwatchers are going to find the North Coast a virtual natural wonderland. Mostly by boat, explore the Cuero y Saldo Wildlife Refuge, a protected wildlife zone replete with manatees, crocodiles, howler monkeys and birdlife galore. Also in this corner of Honduras is the Lancetilla Botanical Garden, the second largest botanical garden in the world and founded by the United Fruit Company. It’s home to thousands of species of exotic plants attracting dozens of species of exotic birds. La Ceiba is the area gateway, a 125-mile drive from San Pedro Sula, and Hotel Quinta Real is a good place to hang your sombrero, as well as arrange for touring by mountain bike, kayak or canopy zipline.

THE BAY ISLANDS

A short plane ride away from San Pedro Sula or La Ceiba are the Bay Islands, a pristine archipelago that spreads out over 92 sq. miles and whose major islands—Roatan, Utila and Guanaja—float along the world’s second largest barrier reef. In clear Caribbean waters, divers and snorkelers will find that turtles and stingrays are almost as common as parrot fish, while whale sharks make themselves at home off Utila. Continental Airlines flights from the United States go nonstop to Roatan, the biggest of the Bay Islands and the Holy Grail for scuba divers, with 40 or more dive sites. Every kind of dive and snorkel experience is here for the asking—day dives, night dives, wreck diving among deep and shallow reefs made up of a variety of colorful corals, sponges and tropical marine life. Other water-bound attractions include the famous “dolphin experience” at Anthony’s Key Resort, which also offers deluxe cabana accommodations and a topnotch fleet of dive and snorkel boats. Land-based visitors will enjoy visiting botanical gardens, an iguana farm and quiet fishing villages; shopping and dining around laid-back West End town; taking a zipline ride in the rainforest canopy (a choice of four on the island); and basking on beautiful beaches. West Bay is considered the finest of island beaches and it is home to the Mayan Princess Beach Resort and the luxury, new Infinity Bay Spa & Resort.

COPAN: A MAYA WORLD WONDER

A 3-hour drive from San Pedro Sula, the archaeological site of Copan is among the most spectacular in the Americas. Its main ceremonial center covers about 75 acres with pyramids, temples, ball courts and dozens of intricately carved stelae portraying those who ruled this great city between the 5th and 9th centuries. The history of the Kings of Copan is recorded on the Hieroglyphic Staircase and treasures found in the ruins are housed on site in the brilliantly designed Museum of Sculpture, including the dazzling 4-story replica of the Rosalila Temple. Ancient Copan is one of two UNESCO World Heritage sites in Honduras (the Rio Plantano Biosphere Reserve is the other). In addition to exploring the ruins, be sure to visit Macaw Mountain Bird Reserve and perhaps go horseback riding or take a soak in the area’s hot springs. A bonus to visiting Copan is a stay in the charming and lively village of Copan Ruinas, where Marina Copan is an in-town hotel favorite, while the Hacienda San Lucas is a lovely choice on the outskirts. Soon to come is a new airport 11 miles from town, receiving small-plane flights from San Pedro Sula, Tegucigalpa, Roatan and La Ceiba.

It Would Be a Shame to Miss…
Pico Bonito National Park, the second largest national park in the country, is located on the North Coast near La Ceiba. It is most famous for having the highest peak of the Nombre de Dios mountain range, Pico Bonito, as well as for its great variety of habitats— rainforest, cloud forest and dry forest—which are home to jaguars, mountain lions, armadillos, wild pigs, monkeys, toucans, white-tailed deer, river otters, motmots and many more. A 20-mile network of trails follows the Zacate River and the churning Rio Cangrejal offers some of Central America’s most exciting whitewater rafting. All this beauty and action is most accessible from the country’s first luxury eco-entry, the Lodge at Pico Bonito, whose 20 secluded cabins are nestled in this magnifi cent rainforest, as well as from Las Cascadas Lodge on the banks of the Cangrejal River.

Celebrations for All Seasons
Jan. 25-Feb. 4: Celebration of the Virgen de Suyapa, Honduras’ national saint, culminating in a massive celebration at the basilica in Tegucigalpa.
Mar. 19: Festival of Copan Ruinas in honor of San Jose, which starts the week previous to the 19th.
Apr.: Holy Week, or Semana Santa, is a spectacle in many cities (note Santa Rosa de Copan in western Honduras and Comayagua in central Honduras), marked with elaborate parades and beautiful carpets of colored sawdust and flowers.
Apr. 12: Garifuna Festival in the village of Punta Gorda on Roatan, a carnival celebrating the arrival of the Afro-American people from the West Indies.
May: La Ceiba carnival, known as the Feria de San Isidro, is a week-long carnival of dancing and music,
June 22-24: Trujillo, the oldest town in the country, honors Saint John with a festival.
June 29: In honor of its patron saint’s day, San Pedro holds a June Fair, with events that include cattle shows and art expositions.
Aug.: Caribfest, a mega-Latino musical event, is held at the Coral Cay Nature Park on Roatan.
Dec. 12-16: In Gracias in western Honduras, a Guancasco Festival (celebrating “peace” between different communities) coincides with the Festival of Santa Lucia.

While the price of traveling through it may be a steal, in this small country you can do it all – from diving great reefs to exploring ancient history – in a nation that has roughly the same land area as Tennessee.

Reefs and Dive Bargains on the Bay Islands
If you are a scuba diver, you probably already know about Honduras. The Bay Islands are right on the second-longest coral reef in the world, the same one that stretches up along the coast of Belize and Mexico. Utila Island is one of the most inexpensive places in the world where you can earn an open water PADI scuba certification, with the five-day course coming in at under $200. Lodging there is just as reasonable, making it a magnet for divers on a budget.

Roatan is more upscale, but it’s still an unpretentious, laid-back island where a hotel’s room amenities almost always take a back seat to a the dive center and the bar. The positive side of this is that very few hotels are over $200 a night and at many of them, that includes a couple of dives and your meals. You’ll seldom pay more than $2 for a local beer in a bar and a fruity rum cocktail might set you back a buck or two more at a fancy place – umbrella and slice of pineapple are included.

All this value is not lost on traditional vacationers, so more families are drifting in to play on the beach and go snorkeling. Delta, Continental, and TACA have direct flights to Roatan from several U.S. gateways, mostly on the weekends, with plenty more options to two cities on the mainland.

Natural Honduras
Honduras does have a tremendous amount of protected public land. Hard-core adventurers spend a week or more in the Miskito region (of the famed Mosquito Coast book and movie), going into the jungle on the Rio Platano waterway. The best accessible national park, however, is Pico Bonito, near the city of La Ceiba. A direct flight to here from Roatan is only $60, or you can catch the comfortable 1.5-hour ferry over instead for just under half that amount.

Pico Bonito National Park draws plenty of birdwatchers, who get a combination show of migratory birds and tropical permanent residents. On a two-hour hike in the mountains of Pico Bonito, I spotted 18 different birds, including a mother White-crowned Parrot and her babies, two types of toucans, Pygmy Owls, Bat Falcons, Golden-fronted Woodpeckers, and the iridescent blue Lovely Cotinga.

Many visit this region for more heart-pumping pursuits though, such as white-water rafting around boulders the size of a house on the Cangrejal River. This is one of the most thrilling and picturesque rafting trips you can take in Central America, yet many La Ceiba companies set up half-day trips for less than $50, transportation from your hotel included.

Maya Honduras
In the far western corner of the country, near the border with Guatemala, lies the ancient city of Copán. This was one of the greatest Maya kingdoms, rivaling cities to the north such as Tikal and Palenque. In 700 A.D. the city had a population of 27,000. Copán was the most artistically advanced by far, however, so while the ruins here won’t wow you with colossal high-rise pyramids, they are a treasure trove of astounding carvings and statues. One especially interesting feature is in the accompanying archeological museum: a replica of a temple that lies under a visible one discovered here intact. It is covered with stucco and painted bright reds, greens, and yellows, just as the original Maya temples were before centuries of weather and erosion took their toll.

Admission to the park about $15 and another $10 covers two museums, one here and one in town. An English-speaking guide for up to 9 people is $60 for several hours.

The adjoining town of Copán Ruinas is almost as big a draw as the ruins themselves. It’s attractive and walkable, with cobbled streets and red clay tile roofs branching out from the central square. A double room at the best hotel in the town center lists for $85 a night, and if you go for an all-out splurge at dinner, you’ll have a really hard time spending more than $30 each with drinks. If you end your trip here, you can move on to Guatemala overland or fly back to the U.S. from the city of San Pedro Sula.

If you think the outlook is all gloom and doom for the U.S. travel dollar, you’re probably not looking at the right destinations. Like many of the best bargains for Americans now, Honduras is only a quick flight south – with bargains galore and no jet lag.

Even with the current state of the economy, Honduras is a quick and affordable get-away– one that feeds your soul and eases your mind…

Budget Traveler (4-6 Days)

You fly into San Pedro Sula and transfer to the town of Copán Ruinas by bus (Hedman Alas, approximately 2.5 hours of beautiful rolling hills and lush tropical landscape – and check into the Luna Jaguar Resort for two nights. Rooms start at $60 per night. Eat dinner in town. Try Momo’s for a delicious dinner of “pinchos” (meat and veggie kabobs) served with beans, fresh pico de gallo and tortillas. Dinner should run you no more than $12 per person.

The next day, grab a traditional Honduran breakfast (desayuno tipico) of eggs, beans, cheese and tortillas at Café Welchez or Via Via Café ($4) and don’t forget to try the local coffee! You can burn off that hearty meal with a 2 kilometer walk to the ruins of Copán, where you can see the remains of an ancient Mayan city and even visit underground tunnels. After what is sure to be an excellent self-guided tour, go back to grab a quick bite from a local street vendor – Try baleadas, a typical Honduran snack, and spend the afternoon exploring the quaint little town, its shops and outdoor merchants… and yes, haggling for deals is totally cool OR head to Finca Santa Isabel for the Copan Coffee Tour ($25-30, includes roundtrip transportation from town, a bilingual guide, and breakfast, snacks or lunch). There you will get an excellent tour of their stunning property and coffee facilities and learn about the company’s sustainable practices. Save money on a month of Starbucks runs by leaving with a bag of fresh-roasted Welchez Coffee for $5. Make your way back to town where you are free to explore and indulge in more of the town’s cheap eats.

Sleep in and walk approximately 8 kilometers OR find $5 in the pocket of the hiking shorts that you’ve had packed away since your last vacation and take a cab ride to visit the Macaw Mountain Bird Park ($10 entrance fee), a reserve that houses injured and abandoned tropical birds including parrots, pygmy owls and a variety of beautiful macaws.

Walk back to your hotel and have them arrange a trip to the Eden-like setting of Aguas Calientes (Owned by the same folks who own Luna Jaguar), for a relaxing dip in the natural hot springs. $25 includes roundtrip transportation and entrance fee to the spa and hot springs. Besides, you’re gonna need it after all that walking! (If you stay at Luna Jaguar, you get a discount to their hot springs. Cha-ching…more money in your pocket!)

Stay one more night in Copán Ruinas before you head home….

-OR-

You find an un-cashed expense check issued by your company for your business trip to Walla Walla wedged inside your wallet. BONUS! – Add 2 nights in either La Ceiba or Roatán for a little more budget friendly R&R.

La Ceiba is home to the 265,000-acre Pico Bonito National Park rainforest. Book your room at the Omega Jungle Lodge – $50 a night or the Jungle River Lodge for $24-60 a night. In La Ceiba, choose to visit a Garifuna village, take a rainforest hike or go white water rafting. Any of which can be arranged through your hotel. Eat at Mango Tango or Playa Taty’s or Lulo’s for tasty affordable meal options.

Roatán includes sun, snorkeling and beach time and definitely add a visit Carambola Botanical Gardens or a guided tour and hike to the top of their mountain for a beautiful view of the island. While on Roatán spend two evenings at Las Rocas Resort, located in the West Bay area of the island which will run you $69 a night or look into two different affordable West End options Posada Las Orquideas – $50 a night – or Posada Arco Iris – up to $65 per night. Affordable food options are easy to find on the main strip in the island’s West End. Depart directly from Roatán airport for your home in the states.

Luxury Seeker (8-10 Days)
Before you leave, make sure to arrange all of your flights, tour guides and private drivers and transfers through MC Tours or Mesoamerica Travel, both well-known and reputable tour operators with main offices in Copán Ruinas and San Pedro Sula, respectively. Once that’s all settled, fly into San Pedro Sula and transfer to the town of Copán Ruinas by bus – approximately 2.5 hours of beautiful rolling hills and lush tropical landscape – and check into the Hotel Marina Copán, a family-owned hacienda-style hotel located a half-block from Central Park in the center of town.

If you are looking for a little more seclusion, drive 15 minutes outside of town to Hacienda San Lucas. This small, eco-friendly hacienda has an on-site restaurant that features authentic, organic Mayan cuisine. Before dinner, enjoy a glass of wine and the sunset with the Hacienda’s charismatic and charming owner Flavia as you gaze down upon the majestic Copán Valley. Stay in Copán Ruinas for two or three nights.

Eat breakfast in your hotel, have a driver take you to the ruins of Copán where you can secure a1.5 hour private walking tour of the ruins with an English speaking guide. Ask for Yobani Peraza or Mike Valladares.

After your exploration of the ancient Mayan world, have your driver take you to Finca el Cisne, approximately a 45-minute drive, for a farmhouse lunch made from food grown on-property, a horseback ride through the countryside, and a brief tour of the coffee facilities.

Spend one more night in Copán Ruinas, transfer back to San Pedro Sula airport and check in for flight to La Ceiba (The only domestic airline that can be booked online is Islena. Ride 20 minutes up the road to Yaruca, just past the Saopin bridge, winding your way along the spectacular Río Cangrejal. Check in at Las Cascadas Lodge (http://www.lascascadaslodge.com) where you will be pamperd after your travels, including indulging in a 4-star dinner at the main lodge, featuring mouthwatering cuisine prepared by your own private chef!

Spend your next two or three days communing with nature, starting with an amazing white-water rafting trip down the Río Cangrejal. Return to the lodge for a day of lounging poolside.

On your last day in La Ceiba, take a hike through Pico Bonito National Park (on guided trails nearby or on the Lodge grounds). This will include stops at natural pools below cascading waterfalls for swimming. Birdwatchers will love the diversity and abundance of specimens.

The next day, take 15 minute flight from La Ceiba airport to the island of Roatán, a Caribbean paradise and one of the world’s diving Meccas.

Your driver will meet you at the airport and take you to your three nights of accommodation at Mayoka Lodge, a 6,500 square foot private home that comes equipped with a driver, personal chef, tennis court and your own scooters for getting around the island. Once there, settle in and enjoy a Salva Vida, the local beer, on your deck that overlooks the ocean or take a dip in your infinity pool. Enjoy a traditional seafood dinner prepared by the chef. Relax and be lulled to sleep by the sound of the waves. Tomorrow a Caribbean adventure awaits you.

In the morning, make your way to Anthony’s Key Resort, for a fun and informative lesson about dolphins, and partake in a snorkel with the majestic creatures. Grab an oceanfront lunch at Bite on the Beach before partaking in a relaxing afternoon of driving your scooter around the island, playing tennis or going for a quick paddle in one of the kayaks provided for you at the Mayoka Lodge.

Awake refreshed and take a tour of Carambola Botanical Gardens. Enjoy a leisurely day on the beach before booking a 3-hour private sunset sail around the island, courtesy of Roatán Sailing & Catamaran Charters. The trip includes snacks, drinks and a stop to snorkel.

Live in the lap of luxury for one more night before departing directly from Roatán airport for your home in the states.

*********

Honduras has a little something for everyone from ruins to rainforest to reef, there is plenty to be experienced and enjoyed. Whether you’re a Budget Traveler or a Luxury Seeker, the country is an excellent option for all those in search of adventure, beauty and culture.

Most major airlines (American, Delta, Continental, Spirit, TACA) fly to major cities within Honduras. Rates are affordable from the US. Check TACA Airlines web site for regular specials. American also frequently has specials to Central America.

By Allison Neves

Up in these hills there are many aldeas and caserios (very small communities – often no bigger than a few houses), some connected by a network of bumpy, rocky, dirt roads (often I find the term “road” to be a bit of a stretch). These “roads” are frequently close to impassable and often turn to roaring rivers in the rainy season. The families who live in the caserios that dot these hillsides mostly live at the margins of subsistence, living off the beans and corn they plant along the steep hillsides and sometimes supplemented with illegal timber extraction.

There is little to no work and several times when I’ve visited some isolated settlements their school isn’t open because they can’t keep a teacher. Access to a market is difficult (often requiring long journeys on foot or horseback to the nearest dirt road where they can pick up a bus), so selling any products they may have is nearly impossible, and they often have to sell to middle-men who don’t give them a fair price. Wealthier people also live in these hills or at least own land, and they are mostly involved in cattle-ranching (and perhaps some other illicit activities, so I’ve heard). Cattle-ranching often has a significant environmental impact and pushes farmers higher into the hills, clearing land for crops.

On the other side of the highway, stretching out towards the sea, the land flattens into more fields of pineapples and African Palm. Along the coast there are many beaches, and once there were vast tracts of mangrove forests, which can still be found in some parts of the department. Some communities are only accessible by boat. Artesanal fishing is a primary subsistence economic activity along the coast, and Atlántida is known for its fantastic lobster, shrimp and fresh fish. Some fishers sell their products to restaurants or in neighborhoods (every morning a man with coolers strapped to his bike rides through our neighborhood yelling “llevo langosta, filete, camarones!” – “I have lobster, fish, shrimp!”), but many fishers must also sell to middle-men.

Many people from these small communities find work in the pineapple, banana or African palm plantations owned by large companies such as Standard Fruit/Dole (which got its start here in La Ceiba). People I’ve spoken to have said this work is usually for three-month stretches and is very difficult, heavy work, often under the blazing sun.

I don’t know much about the chemicals, fertilizers and pesticides used on these crops, but I understand they are quite damaging to the environment and people who work in or live near the plantations. Plantations occupy the majority of the flat, fertile land in Atlántida, which is the land closest to the highway and thus closest to transportation and market access.

Driving along the main highway – and many of its branches – through the department, the fields of mono-crops (pineapple is most common around La Ceiba) seem to go on for miles. Mono-crops are notoriously detrimental – often disastrous – to land and the environment. As fertility is stripped from the soil, increasing amounts of energy inputs are required to maintain production, and crops are left exposed and vulnerable to disease and infestations that can wipe them out entirely. Coconut, a major crop here, has been devastated by lethal yellowing, a disease that affects palms.

There is much to see and learn by driving along this main artery of Atlántida – and even more to see and learn by getting off the highway. This is just a simple sketch, based on my own observations and conversations. In many ways, this highway represents the complexities and challenges the people of Honduras’s coast face.

Written by Shannon Clohosey, who is working in La Ceiba, on the north coast of Honduras, with LAC-Net, the Latin American and Caribbean Model Forest Network.

Semana Santa, otherwise known as Holy Week, begins on what is commonly known as Palm Sunday and ends on Easter Sunday.
This being said, it is also the unofficial spring break for the entire country; schools close, stores shut their doors and taxi drivers take their taxis to their pueblos to visit friends and family.
I began Semana Santa by travelling to La Ceiba, a city on the northern coast of Honduras to visit some friends living there. There’s a saying in Honduras that states: “Tegucigalpa thinks, San Pedro Sula works and La Ceiba celebrates.”
With the easy-going attitude of the locals, at least the ones I met, it was easy to believe such a saying.

Besides eating fish, and lots of it, while in La Ceiba, I took a trip to the community of Sambo Creek to take a small boat to an island a few miles off shore.
On this island, Chachahuate, live a community of Garifuna, an ethnic group of Honduras whose ancestors are believed to have come from Western Africa.

Since everyone leaves Tegucigalpa and comes to the north coast for Semanta Santa, I decided to travel in the opposite direction: from La Ceiba to Tegucigalpa.
A few years ago, I spent a summer volunteering at a non-profit clinic in Tegucigalpa and lived at a nearby seminary. I was eager to return to the seminary where I had made many friends, even though I knew that many of them had left the capital for Semana Santa. As expected, when I arrived, most of the taxi drivers had left the city as had most of its inhabitants.

I have learned that true friends are those who, even though you haven’t seen each other in years, can start all over again at first glance as if no time had ever passed since the last visit.
And those friends I made in Honduras many years ago are those type of friends. We spent Thursday visiting the nearby towns of Santa Lucia and Valle de Angeles, known for their artesenias, or souvenirs. Popular Honduran souvenirs include ornately carved, mahogany boxes and black and white pottery after the style of the Lenca Indians.

In honor of Good Friday, we travelled to the center of the city where many of the streets were covered with alfombras, paintings made of sawdust depicting various religious scenes that lead to the Catholic Cathedral in the central park.

Almost an hour passed as I wandered from street to street, mesmerized by the intricate designs of these temporary sawdust works of art and the workers who labored diligently to create and maintain them.
Though not of the Catholic faith, I couldn’t help but appreciate the workers’ faith and dedication as they spent their few days of vacation kneeling on the hot, hard pavement of Tegucigalpa to create a piece of beauty that would soon be trampled and swept away within a few hours.

It made me reflect on my own faith and beliefs and whether or not I was dedicated enough to my beliefs to give up one of the few days of my vacation to participate in something that would help others understand and appreciate that which I believed and valued.

That night, my friends and I shared a typical dish of Semana Santa, fish soup. Have I mentioned that fish is a popular food during this week?
Food, friends and family, faith, and of course, fish. It was definitely a Spring Break I soon won’t forget.

-Michele Gourley

He then let me go and all at once I was flying through the treetops at Gumba Limba Park in Roatan, Honduras. I really enjoyed this great adventure, even though, after my canopy tour, a very impolite monkey stole my water bottle out of my back pack.

There’s nothing better than learning something new while traveling, learning about ancient and unknown worlds, lose myself in nature and exercise, and be pampered in total relaxation. Honduras offers all of this and a lot more.

Honduras is one of the most naturally beautiful and least explored areas of Central America according to Moon Handbooks and other travel guides. The Mesoamerican Reef, just off its Caribbean coast, is the second-largest coral reef in the world, offering some of the best diving and values in the Caribbean.

I learned to dive on Roatan thirty years ago. I took a short flight from la Ceiba on the mainland, to the island’s dirt runway, sharing a tiny plane filled with missionaries, the door held shut with a wire hanger.

This time, thirty years later we arrived at the Roatan International Airport and entered the air-conditioned terminal. Roatan has become a destination of choice, no longer just for divers and backpackers, but for vacationers, including many honeymooners, from North America and around the world.

Arriving on Roatan, directly from San Francisco, we allowed ourselves a few days to decompress at the Henry Morgan, a full service resort on Roatan’s most popular beach in West Bay.

Roatan is the largest and most developed of the three Bay Islands. There is superb diving on more than 40 dive sites around the islands, a number of full service resorts, as well as hotels in different price ranges. Cruise ships now stop at this beautiful island. In addition to diving, there are lots of activities such as Glass-bottom boat rides, fishing, hiking, snorkeling, biking, dolphin shows, shopping visits to an iguana farm and more.

The Island of Guanaja, sometimes referred to as the “Venice of Central America” because of its network of canals, is the second largest of the Bay Islands and is where Columbus landed in 1502 and European pirates like Henry Morgan and John Coxen set up home bases for their raids on Spanish ships in the 1600s. Today, Henry Morgan is an upscale resort on Roatan and the town Coxen’s Hole is named after John Coxen.

The third of the Bay Islands and the closest to shore is Utila, reportedly the least expensive place to get your dive certification and home to whale sharks, the world’s largest fish.

I always search for adventures a bit off the beaten track. Someone mentioned an island 30 kilometers off the coast that had only one small resort and very few people. We immediately decided to investigate. Its name, Cayos Cochinos, or Hog Island, hails from the days when pirates put their pigs there and stopped back occasionally for a barbecue. Part of a group of two small islands and 12 minuscule sand cays, the Honduran government declared it a marine reserve in 1993, and for several years the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute managed it.

Forty minutes of gliding through the waves delivered us to the pristine shore of the Plantation Beach Resort. The manager welcomed us with a cool tropical drink.

The 12 room resort, built of mahogany and local stone on more than four hectares of virgin tropical forest, appeals to nature lovers as well as world-class divers. After a delicious lunch of fresh fish cakes, coleslaw, potato salad and still-warm chocolate chip cookies prepared lovingly by the Plantation Beach’s creative chef, I was drawn to the red, orange and yellow Maya hammock that swings in the trade winds under palm trees. Water lapped on the white sandy beach. An occasional wind chime tinkled. I was home.

That evening during a dinner of baked chicken in a lovely sauce, fried eggplant and a birthday cake that the chef baked for me, having learned that it was my birthday, the manager pointed out that you don’t have to be a diver to enjoy Cayos Cochinos. There are also other activities such as snorkeling, kayaking, hiking and photography.

However, my husband and I are both divers. On our first dive of the day, there were only four of us, in addition to the boat captain and our dive guide, on the spacious and well-equipped dive boat. Exxon, our guide, readied my gear and lifted my tank onto my back. I looked forward to the cool water, a refreshing contrast to the warm, humid air.

One step off the boat and it all came back to me: The comfort of weightlessness, the gentle water, the undulation of sea fans. And we saw so much more on this dive and subsequent ones during our time on Cayos Cochinos: The luminescence of blue barrel coral, the elegant yellow and blue Queen Angel with her crown, the surprise of seeing a large turtle or a giant ray soaring past, a lonely barracuda, enormous lobsters and, on our last dive, one of my favorites, the spotted drum fish, looking like a small black and white circus horse tossing the fancy plume on her tiny head.

On most days the sea was calm with about 23 metres visibility. It can’t get any better than this for an island dive experience. Even though, someone would occasionally warn: “That gecko’s in the sugar bowl again!”

After one morning dive, we visited the small Garifuna village of Chachahuate, a 30-minute boat ride away, on a tiny cay. The Garifuna people are descendants of escaped slaves from a wrecked slave ship in 1635 that mixed with the local Carib people. Their culture, language and music drums, and punta dance, all derive from African roots.

We ended our trip with a visit to The Lodge at Pico Bonito, a luxury eco-lodge and member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World. We stayed in one of the 22 cabins in their gorgeous location on the Corinto River at the foot of the slopes of Pico Bonito National Park on the Caribbean coast, just 15 minutes from la Ceiba International Airport.

By Diane LeBow