The land of the Maya
This is beginning to change, though, as more and more tourists are coming to realize that all of these attractions can be found in Honduras, and that, even though large crowds and overdevelopment threaten other Central American countries, Honduras is still practically untouched, with more cloud forests and unexplored tracts of wilderness than anywhere in the region.
Much of it may still be taken up by banana cultivation, but few other countries in the world today can lay claim to such obvious natural beauty. Honduras is home to 20 national parks, a couple of biosphere reserves, and nearly 100 other protected ecological areas. The cultural diversity here is nothing to laugh at either.
Adventure has been woven into the very fabric of this country over the past 400 years. Christopher Columbus set foot on the Bay Islands and the North Shore on his fourth and final voyage to the Americas in 1502, but that may be the most boring tale.
Until recently, Honduras s tourist infrastructure has been limited, but things are slowly coming together. Visitors can now expect more variety, better hotels, and a far greater range of wild and wonderful tours and attractions than has ever existed here before. Cruise landings on the Bay Islands are expected to explode in the next decade as the ports are expanded. Luxury ecolodges near La Ceiba can now compete with anywhere else in Central America, and beach resorts are set to turn Tela Bay into the next Cancun. The Maya ruins of Copán are luring more and more visitors from countries to the north. Even La Mosquitia, traditionally one of the least accessible and unorganized places in the Americas, is turning to community-based tours and excelling at them.
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You can stop at the Maya ruins of El Puente on the way to the Flor de Copán cigar factory in Santa Rosa de Copán. Then, you can travel La Ruta Lenca, stopping in small villages and exploring colonial churches.
Honduras still has a long way to go in terms of attracting wellness travelers, especially compared to neighbors such as Costa Rica. Still, there are decent wellness retreats in a few parts of the country and some promising new projects on the horizon. The mountains in the west, once the land of the Mayas, are the center of spiritual and wellness tourism in the country. Hacienda San Lucas near Copán often holds comprehensive yoga and spiritual cleansing retreats led by internationally renowned names in the field, while the Gracias area is becoming more and more known for its hot springs. On the Bay Islands, several resorts have spas, though the range of treatments and services offered is nowhere near those featured in nearby Caribbean island resorts. Several new spas are in the works in this part of the country, however, including a chic Nikki Beach project set to open in the fall of 2010.
The Copan ruins in western Honduras, near the Guatemala border, are remnants of one of the greatest pre-Columbian cities in Central America. The buildings, sculptures, and immense hieroglyphics at the Mayan site of Copan provide a unique glimpse at a long-past civilization. Tours to this remarkable Honduras tourist attraction can be arranged from most major cities in the country. The largest major city is Santa Rosa de Copan; the nearest international airport with flights to Honduras is San Pedro Sula.
Honduras Bay Islands - Roatan, Utila, Guanaja, and the Cayos Cochinos - are the most popular tourist attractions in Honduras. They offer many of the best things to do in Honduras: diving, snorkeling, sea kayaking, or relaxing on a beach. Many of the best hotels and resorts in Honduras are located in the Bay Islands.
The rainforests of eastern Honduras are part of the largest rain forest north of the Amazon and have become known as a special Honduras tourist attraction. Protected in the Rio Platano Biosphere Reserve and other national parks, the lush forests of the Mosquito Coast are home to many Honduran animals and birds. A hike or boat ride into the forest, which can be organized through ecotour groups in La Ceiba, San Pedro Sula, and elsewhere in the country, is one of the most thrilling things to do in Honduras.
he best of all Honduran festivals is the La Ceiba carnaval, or la Feria de San Isidro, is one of the largest celebrations in all of Central America.
