Christopher Columbus happened upon Honduras in 1502 on his fourth voyage to the new world. He named Honduras (deep water) after spending several days off the island of Guanaja, Honduras Bay spotting manatees and trading with native groups. Slightly larger than Tennessee, Honduras is one of the biggest countries in Central America. A lush forested mountainous country, Honduras` coastline, on the Pacific side (Gulf of Fonseca) is only forty miles long while the Caribbean coast boasts 500 miles. Its neighbors are Guatemala to the west, El Salvador and Nicaragua to the south and Belize just to the northwest.

The average temperature in the summer is 86°F to 59°F and in the winter from 84°F to 56°F. The humidity ranges from 65% in the summer to 70% in the winter with an average rainfall of 120 inches a year. There is no need for converters as the electricity is a standard 110 volts.

The Bay Islands lie in the Caribbean and straddle the world`s second largest barrier reef. They offer superb and unusual diving with exotic species, including the elusive whale shark lurking among virgin reefs. Either by liveaboard or staying at one of the dive resorts of Roatán, Guanaja, Cayos Cochinos or Utila, the Bay Islands are a wonderful escape for divers, snorkelers and kayakers.

Honduras offers one of the most valuable tracts of primary tropical forests in Central America, filled with over 700 species of birds, such as the rare resplendent quetzal, harpy eagle, giant tinamou and colorful members of the parrot clan from large macaws to smaller parakeets. One of the finest Maya ceremonial site, Copán is best know for its intricately carved stelae and the famed Hieroglyphic Staircase.The summer dolphin camp on Roatán makes you wish you were a kid again. Take a sidetrip to explore the tropical rainforest at Pico Bonito with activities that include everything from white water rafting to romantic canopy dining under the stars. Let the Honduras experts at Reef & Rainforest put together your Honduras adventure!