Honduras Offers Bucket-list Adventures Aplenty

    NEW YORK, NY, December 10, 2021 /24-7PressRelease/ -- With a diverse climate, rich ecosystems and awe-inspiring natural beauty, and multicultural traditions, Honduras offers a wide range of activities for visitors. The destination offers unique experiences for divers, history buffs, and nature lovers seeking to check one-of-a-kind outdoor experiences off their travel bucket lists in 2022. Here are just a few to consider:

Birdwatching
Honduras is home to more than 800 bird species, and the country's Caribbean coast is a hotbed of birding activity. One of the most popular locations for the activity is Pico Bonito National Park in La Ceiba, known for its lush rainforest and home to approximately 500 species of birds. Another area of interest is Copán, known as the "Scared Valley of the Scarlet Macaws" and home to Macaw Mountain Bird Park - a rescue, release, rehabilitation and education center for the Honduran national bird. Outside of the colonial town of Gracias, in Celaque National Park, known for its cloud forests that surround the country's highest peak, birders can seek out the Honduran Emerald, the Ocellated Quail, and plenty of hummingbirds. Other popular birdwatcher's favorites are Panacam National Park at Lake Yojoa in the heart of Honduras, and the wildlife refuge of Cuero y Salado near La Ceiba.

Whitewater Rafting
The Rio Cangrejal, a stunning, boulder-filled river that lies between Nombre de Dios and Pico Bonito National Parks near La Ceiba, offers some of the best rafting in Central America for all levels of adventurers, with Class II – V rapids available. Rafters often hike through the rainforest to their starting point, or enjoy a river hiking session based upon their experience level before taking off on 4.5 – 9 miles of rapids. Rafting is available all year, with the best conditions existing from September to February. Experienced local operators include La Moskitia Ecoaventuras, Hotel Rio and Omega Tours.

Waterfall Repelling
Nombre de Dios National Park, Rawacala Rainforest, and Celaque National Park are also prime destinations for canyoning tours that allow visitors to scale magnificent waterfalls in the midst of the rainforest. Several places, including Las Cascadas Lodge and Paraiso Rainforest Resort, offer half and full-day excursions.

Kayaking
Experienced kayakers come to Honduras for the Río Cangrejal, but a more leisurely experience can be found at Cacao Lagoon, which is approximately 19 miles east of La Ceiba, located within Nombre de Dios National Park. The inky lagoon is surrounded by mangroves and visitors can enjoy peace and serenity encompassed by the beauty of Honduras' tropical forest, with the sounds of howler monkeys and other local wildlife as a backdrop. Lake Yojoa is also a favorite kayaking hub for local and international visitors.

Ziplining
Another adventure that is best suited for bold travelers looking for an adrenaline rush is ziplining. Visitors can find ziplining experiences all over the country. Popular spots for this activity include Sambo Creek Canopy Tour in La Ceiba where visitors can enjoy a stunning view of the Cayos Cochinos before ziplining down the mountain, Jungle Top Zipline Adventure which is about five minutes from the Port of Roatán in Coxen Hole, La Campa Canopy near the town of Gracias which is the most extreme zipline in Central America, and the Pulhapanzak Waterfall Zipline near Lake Yojoa.

SCUBA Diving & Snorkeling
The Bay Islands are famous amongst SCUBA divers and snorkelers worldwide thanks to the spectacular reef and its close proximity to shore. Many lodges and resorts in The Bay Islands have on-site dive shops, and there are plenty other independent shops dotting the islands. There are more than 200 dive spots to discover between Roatán, Utila, Guanaja, and Cayos Cochinos.

Archeology Tours
The most studied archeological site of the mayan civilization, Copán, was discovered in 1570 and remains an active tourist attraction. It's home to free flying scarlet macaws, Honduras' national bird, thanks to myriad conservation programs. Points of interest at this UNESCO World Heritage Site include a main area home to the Acropolis and five plazas; The Hieroglyphic Stairway, known for having the longest mayan text inscriptions form ancient Mesoamerica; dramatic images of rulers and altars in the Great Plaza; dancing Jaguars imagery; underground tunnels open to visitors; and a sculpture museum showcasing a life size replica of the Rosalila Temple, the only temple in the mayan World found with all its colors still intact.

Hot Springs
Honduras' relaxing hot springs are the perfect way to fully relax and take in the destination's natural beauty. Near Copán, travelers can visit Luna Jaguar Spa, a Maya-influenced eco-spa dedicated to physical and mental wellbeing. Sambo Hot Springs in La Ceiba can be found in the middle of the jungle where they bubble to the earth's surface at boiling temperatures and blend with a cold mountain creek, creating cascading pools down the side of the mountain. After a long hike in Celaque National Park, visitors can relax before bed in any of the three hot spring locations near the town of Gracias.

Hiking & Trekking
Plenty of day hikes, waterfall hikes, and river hikes are available throughout Honduras, but Celaque National Park is the place to visit for a multi-day trek through the cloud forest to Honduras' highest peak. Local companies can be hired to assist on the trek, to transport supplies, set up camp, and prepare a local dish for dinner.

Located in the heart of Central America, Honduras is a destination rich in biodiversity as home to a diverse array of ecosystems including dense rainforests, towering cloud forests, rushing rivers, and the largest coral reef in the Americas. This landscape provides the setting for boundless outdoor and adventure activities including whitewater rafting, waterfall repelling, birdwatching, SCUBA diving, snorkeling and more. Honduras was an important center of the ancient Mayan world, and archeologists and history buffs are drawn to the mayan Site of Copán, a UNESCO World Heritage site located near the country's western border with Guatemala.

Four major airports serve Honduras in San Pedro Sula, La Ceiba, Roatan, and the capital city of Tegucigalpa, where a new modern airport is slated to open by the end of 2021. Direct air service from the United States is available on major carriers from New York City, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Houston, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Dallas, New Orleans, Denver, and Minneapolis.

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