CENTRAL HONDURAS

Copán and San Pedro Sula

Many of the country's greatest attractions are here. Best of all are the Maya ruins of Copán, which represent the pinnacle of the Maya civilisation's artistic and cultural achievement. Numerous majestic temples, pyramids and thousands of fragments of architectural sculpture are surrounded by the forested Copán Valley. Other sights in the area include Lago de Yojoa, the country's principal lake, San Pedro Sula, the second largest city in the country and just to the west Cusuco National Park, a dense cloud forest.

Mosquitia

A vast, sparsely inhabited area of rivers and forests. Go as far east as you can to an area known as the Mosquitia and you'll discover a place where there is nothing but untouched natural beauty. There are no roads, no real villages and very few people in this largely flat wetland. Manatees live in the eastern lagoons, monkeys in the forested areas along the rivers and rare birds can be seen everywhere. The Rio Platano Biosphere Reserve protects many endangered species in the area and is said to hide the legendary ‘White City of the Maya’.