Honduras is warming up as a hot spot tourist destination for eco-tourism. Earlier, this country used to be in the shadow of its southern neighbor, Costa Rica. Now, it is giving tough competition to Costa Rica that is famous worldwide as the main destination for eco-tourism. Honduras has similar attractions like those of Costa Rica and additional advantages like untouched places and fewer crowds. It is nearly double the size of Costa Rica and much nearer to the USA. Honduras is Central America’s next biggest nation. Its tourist attractions are wide and varied and include Copan, the ancient ruins of the Mayan civilization, Caribbean and Pacific Sea coastal lines, colonial villages of Comayagua and Gracias, Bay Islands and Moskitia natural parks.
Tourists can enjoy excellent diving and snorkeling facilities at the Bay Islands that are replete with lovely coral reefs and beaches. The country of Honduras is divided in three geographical regions – Caribbean Honduras, Inland Honduras and Pacific Honduras. Honduras is not bigger in size than the Tennessee State and one can mange to see it within one week. It is very diverse geographically though and nearly holds three distinct worlds. You can have the best of all the three worlds in one place. Tegucigalpa is the capital of Honduras and it is also the largest city. It has an international airport.
The other major cities and places in Honduras comprise La Ceiba, Omoa, Puerto Cortes, Puerto Lempira, Tela, Trujilo, San Lorenzo, San Pedro Sula, Santa Rosa de Copan, Lake Yojoa and Rio Platano Biosphere Reserve. La Ceiba has magnificent beaches and it is perfect for diving and snorkeling. You must see the ancient town center and impressive cathedral of Comayagua, the erstwhile capital. Gracias is home to Parque Celaque, the tallest mountain in Honduras and you will be thrilled to see the lovely cloud forest. Omoa is a colonial fortress of Spanish times and it has a charming beachfront town.
Puerto Cortes is the major harbour of Caribbean Coast. San Lorenzo is Central America’s most important harbour on the Pacific Coast. The places to be seen here are Ampala and Isla Del Tigre, the historical port. Trujilo is an important landmark, the place where Columbus first stepped on mainland America. It overlooks a scenic bay with dazzling beaches against a background of mountains and a nature reserve. The tourists must visit the Bay Islands of Guanaja, Hog, Roatan and Utila to experience exciting diving and snorkeling.
Honduras is developing its tourist facilities at a fast pace and the tourists who had visited Honduras during the seventies find a sea change today. If you are interested in a slow pace of life, relaxed ambience and leisurely pursuits, then Honduras is the perfect place for you. The tourists can indulge in various adventure activities like zip-line canopying, hiking and white water rafting. Most of the tourists visit Honduras for its excellent diving spots and facilities. If you do not wish to dive, then take tours of the glass bottom boat- ‘The Coral Reef Explorer’, and see nearly more than 400 fish species and 380 varieties of coral. You can also enjoy the wonders of the tropical rainforests.
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