21 Best Sights in Honduras' Caribbean Coast, Honduras

Walls glitter with frames upon frames of tropical butterflies at this quirky showroom. The museum boasts more than 6,000 brilliantly hued butterflies and moths from at least 100 countries. Neat labels, posters, and graphics accompany displays of the splayed-wing beauties in the air-conditioned room, and guided tours are available.

The ocean-side lagoon is 24 km (15 mi) east of La Ceiba on the highway to Trujillo. Dugout canoes glide through thick mangrove forests that are home to eight troops of monkeys and many tropical aquatic birds. Cacao and sugar plantations surround the lagoon in the adjacent village. The best way to experience the spot is with a guide from an area tour operator.

Covering more than 40 hectares (100 acres) this park encompasses something for everyone. A wildlife park is home to well-cared-for animals native to Honduras, which has the world’s second largest rainforest canopy outside of the Amazon. You can see monkeys and exotic birds here, as well as flora and fauna found only in cloud forests, and interact with animals at the wildlife rescue center. Elsewhere, you can pick fresh tropical fruit from orchards, hit the Heritage Park, where you can walk a 15th-century road that was used to route treasures to Spanish ships, and visit a museum housing a large Maya artifact collection. The River Recreation Park showcases waterfalls and the sea.

Tela is a great place to learn more about the Garífuna culture. In the south of old town is the Casa de Cultura, a community theater and dance project that helps local youth celebrate their history, music, and customs. The workshop puts on shows at the studio and in hotels around Tela. Call to inquire about upcoming performances, or write to director Jean Charles Martel at

Crumbling tombstones and overgrown weeds add an extra eery touch to the 300-year-old Cementerio Viejo(Old Cemetery), where Walker's weathered grave is surrounded by a rusty gate.

The best beaches for visitors to Puerto Cortés are to the west and closest to Omoa. Cieneguita is wide, clean, and quiet, and the municipal beaches, also deemed Playa Coca Cola for the nearby soft drink-entitled depot, are bustling on weekends with families and juice vendors.

The fortress is surprisingly pretty, with coral and limestone walls of pink, gray, and deep russett surrounded on all sides by mangroves. The fort was built between 1759 and 1775 to protect the Spain-bound gold and other valuables from plundering English, Dutch, and French merchants. It didn't take long, however, for a humiliating defeat for the Spanish. In 1779, the English conquered the fort after a two-day siege, escaping with all the booty before the Spaniards could call for reinforcements. The fort was turned into a defensive post for military troops after independence, and it later served as a prison until 1959. The ticket office is adjacent to the fort in the Museo de Omoa, which has restrooms and a pleasant shaded courtyard. Exhibition halls detail the history of Columbus's 16th century colonization expeditions to Honduras and subsequent transatlantic trade routes. An artillery hall features swords and canons used at the fort. Tickets include access to the fortress and museum.

Shortly after Italian explorer Christopher Columbus landed here on his fourth voyage for the Spanish crown in 1502, Spanish explorer Hernán Cortés ordered construction of this base, named Santa Barbara in honor of the patron saint of artillerymen. Native people supplied the labor, and the walls they built still stand, along with some of the original artillery guns. There is full view of the bay, which was mandatory for defenses against pirates back in the day, but is simply a lovely vista for today's visitor.

The fine Fortaleza de Santa Bárbara, near the central square, will give you the flavor of those days of conflict with its Spanish canons and European goods. The lines marking U.S. mercenary William Walker's spot of execution in 1860 are still visible. An adjacent museum offers pamphlets and pre-Hispanic artifacts like stone carvings and beaded necklaces.

Nearby Garífuna communities of Travesia and Bajamar to the east and Marejada and Vacacional have drawn attention for their cultural richness and mid-July dance festivals, but they're a bit out of the way and either isolated or industrial. They're also somewhat unsafe for travelers on their own; go with a guide.

Eight thermal pools simmer at around 40 degrees centigrade (105 Fahrenheit) amidst moss-covered boulders and three gentle waterfalls. The grounds include a cold-water pool, hammock hooks, a picnic area, and a small snack stand. A large sign 500 m after the Sambo Creek detour guides visitors off the highway.

This nonprofit organization is developing ecotourism in the Cangrejal River watershed by improving trails and training the local youth to give guided hikes. The Sendero Guaruma is a two-hour excursion that passes freshwater pools, tropical fruit trees, and medicinal plants. The hike on the Sendero La Muralla lasts four hours and includes a visit to a rural village. Sendero La Vista is also four hours and offers astounding views of the river and valley.

This botanical garden, the second largest in the world, holds more than 1,200 varieties of plants marked by name, country of origin, and date of introduction. Around 365 species of birds have made it their home, and birders come to see a variety of colorful parrots. The garden holds the best collection of Asian fruit trees in tropical America, and a large orchid greenhouse shows off myriad varieties of the national flower. There are short trails through the main gardens, and longer trails go back into the hills and plantations, so there is something for all ages and interests.

West of Tela beyond Tornabé is Miami, a pleasant community on the Laguna de Los Micos. This is the most traditional of Tela's nearby Garífuna villages, consisting mostly of thatched huts. Many tour operators can arrange cultural excursions to show the punta and yancunu dances and help you find places to experience the local cuisine.

One of the most geographically diverse nature preserves in the country is Parque Nacional Jeanette Kawas, named for a slain environmentalist. The park, also known as Parque Nacional Punta Sal, protects mangrove swamps, tropical forests, shady lagoons, and coral reefs. It is likely you will see as many as 60 howler monkeys having their breakfast if you head out early enough in the morning. The males gesticulate from their perches in the treetops, while the females, many with tiny babies, watch from a wary distance. You may also come across white-faced monkeys, some of which have developed a habit of throwing avocado pits at visitors—be ready to duck. Radiantly colored parrot and vine snakes, almost shoelace thin, ripple through the foliage. They are harmless, but be sure to watch your step.

If you take the Los Curumos trail, you can hear the waves as you reach Puerto Caribe, one of the hiding places of the notorious pirate Captain Morgan. Turtles and dolphins swim here in the turquoise waters. If you snorkel, you may see barracudas and nurse sharks, as well as spindly lobsters taking a slow-motion stroll.

You can see Punta Sal jutting out into the ocean from Tela, which might make you think it's quite close. It's actually difficult to reach, so you should considering hiring a guide. It's also a great way to learn about the exotic animal and plant species (there are 14 types of banana here, for example). The park is only accessible by water, and the trip to the park takes about an hour. Laguna de los Micos has the largest bird population in the park.

You can't miss Pico Bonito, the majestic peak rising behind La Ceiba that turns a deep blue at dusk. Parque Nacional Pico Bonito is named after the 7,989-foot peak. Rugged and little explored, Parque Nacional Pico Bonito harbors some amazing primary tropical wet forest. There are 22 rivers that run through the park, meaning there are numerous cold-water pools where you can stop for a dip. Guides see jaguars and ocelots with impressive regularity, although the enormity of the area means you are lucky if you glimpse these fearsome creatures.

The most popular route through the park leads to a waterfall called La Ruidosa (meaning "The Noisy One"). Trails are fairly well maintained, but it is best to go with a guide. They are found through the Fundación Parque Nacional Pico Bonito office in La Ceiba.

About 27 km (17 mi) west of La Ceiba, the Refugio de Vida Silvestre Cuero y Salado is made up of 132 square km (51 square mi) of tropical forest formed by the confluence of the Río Cuero and Río Salado. This is one of the few places in the world where you can see manatees, aquatic creatures once mistaken for mermaids. In addition to these gentle giants, you may also spot white-faced monkeys, crocodiles, turtles, and several species of herons along the canals. The mangroves are best seen by boat, and the park organizes two-hour guided tours. The Fundación Cuero y Salado visitor center has information about the park.

To get to the park, drive west from La Ceiba, turning right after crossing the Río Bonito. Stop at the railway tracks. From here you can take the small "banana train" run by the Honduran National Railroad or a burra (a handcart operated by locals) for the remaining 9 km (6 mi). Trains leave the community of La Union seven times from 7 am to 2 pm, and return trips are 30 minutes after each La Union departure.

It's essential to hire a guide if you want to visit Refugio de Vida Silvestre Punta Izopo, a wildlife refuge east of Tela that's irrigated by the Plátano and Hicaque rivers. It's easy to get lost in this labyrinth where even locals don't go alone. The best way to see the refuge is by kayak, letting you navigate the maze of mangroves along the Río Plátano without disturbing the wildlife. You can spot howler monkeys, crocodiles, and iguanas, as well as toucans and parrots that come around late in the afternoon. Garífuna Tours organizes late-night crocodile watches here.

Friendly Tornabéand San Juan, both west of Tela, have a string of beachfront Garífuna eateries; if you need to stay the night here, there's a rustic inn in Tornabé.

There are several villages near Tela where you can experience Garífuna life firsthand. To the east of Tela are Triunfo de la Cruz and La Ensenada, where you'll find a line of homely little restaurants along the water.

This is an off-the-beaten-path trip that's well worth the effort. Rent a car or have a guide or taxi take you to the hot springs, known locally as Aguas Calientes, a few miles from the town center, just beyond the village of Silin. Be specific about where you want to go to ensure that you end up at the right location. A 30- to 40-minute massage may be available at the springs for an added fee, but it's relaxing enough just to soak in the hilltop natural tubs, surrounded by tropical forest, viewing the local birdlife. Prepare for the time you'll spend here—pack a lunch in case no restaurants are open nearby and bring bug spray—mosquitos come out as the sun sets.