Have the Beach to Yourself in Honduras

The islands and the waters surrounding it are a marine preserve, which means there's no commercial fishing allowed. This means that you're likely to spot species that are heavily fished commercially, like tuna. And since the only way to reach the preserve is by a 40-minute boat ride, you can snorkel in the 200 square miles of the marine preserve's waters without banging into any human's plastic flippers. All boats from the mainland stop at Cayos Menor; access to the marine reserve costs $10 a person.

The Hot Springs: Luna Jaguar Spa Resort, Copán

Copán, an area in the western part of Honduras not far from the Guatemalan border, is one of the most visited areas in the country. The main reason to come here is to check out one of the most researched Mayan ruin sites in the world, the remains of a city that was once home to tens of thousands. Today, the ruins of 3,500 buildings are guarded by a flock of bright red and noisy macaws and a great many statutes depicting kings and other important Mayan personages.

Work in a water component to your cultural and historical edification at the Luna Jaguar Hot Springs, set in a lush rainforest where the waters run 188 degrees Fahrenheit. Everything here is meant to emulate the hot-water treatments the Mayans were said to enjoy. Luna Jaguar Hot Springs admission costs $25, including transportation from Copán.

Plan Your vacation

When you think Honduras, you may imagine hostels instead of hotels, beer instead of bottles of fine wine. But while lower-budget options certainly abound, Honduras has just arrived at a particularly sweet moment in its history for tourists: There's luxury available so you don't have to rough it here if you don't want to, but it's not yet a theme park.