2013 Delta Travel Guide - (Page 60)

HONDURAS VENEZUELA ARGENTINA Roatan Moored 30 miles off mainland Honduras, the Bay Islands make up a pristine archipelago that covers about 92 sq. miles along the world’s second largest coral reef. And thanks to that reef, divers have been coming to the main islands of Roatan, Utila and Guanaja for decades. Diving facilities and snorkeling draw beginners and experts to Roatan, the largest of the Bay Islands. They come to explore a marine world of plummeting walls, crevices and caverns, with the most memorable dive sites being Hole in the Wall, West End Wall, Spooky Channel and Mary’s Place, and other divers head for Utila to swim with the whale sharks. At the same time, Roatan offers an extensive list of other waterbound things to do including glass-bottom boat rides, sailing, sea-kayaking, deep-sea ﬁshing (sailﬁsh, blue marlin, barracuda), and swimming with the dolphins at the research station at Anthony’s Key Resort. On land, visitors enjoy excursions to quiet ﬁshing villages, a bird park, an iguana farm, a butterﬂy or botanical garden, or just stretch out on an island-wide choice of beautiful beaches. A single road connects the main towns of French Harbour, Coxen Hole, Sandy Bay, West End (Roatan’s party central) and West Bay (whose beach and cafe scene are the island’s best). New on West Bay is the recently expanded property of stylish Inﬁnity Bay Spa & Beach Resort, set on a prime stretch of beachfront and offering 1- to 3-bedroom condos. And what’s made the biggest splash here recently is golf: the island’s ﬁrst golf course, the 18-hole, 7,064-yard Black Pearl, designed by architects Pete and Perry Dye. Located just outside the town of French Harbour, the course made its ofﬁcial debut during the Central American Golf Championship last February. February also saw the opening of the ﬁrst of two beachfront hotels planned for the Pristine Bay Resort; it will be by far Roatan’s biggest development, presently with accommodations available in 17 two- to four-bedroom villas. GUYANA San Pedro Sula FACTS BEST TIME TO GO: Inland: November to May; Roatan: January to August FUN-FACT: Some 96 percent of all species of marine life known to inhabit the Caribbean—from glowing bioluminescence to the whale shark, the largest ﬁsh in the world—have been identiﬁed in the waters that surround the Bay Islands’ reef system GETTING THERE: Delta ﬂies from Atlanta to Roatan, San Pedro Sula and Tegucigalpa ENTRY DOCUMENTS: Valid passport CURRENCY: Lempira MUST-TRY LOCAL FOOD: Conch ceviche, grilled and steamed ﬁsh platters, and a seafood stew (called tapado) made with coconut milk are Honduran coastal and Garifuna specialties BEST BUYS: Lenca pottery made in the highlands is unique to Honduras, as are the paintings, crafts and jewelry fashioned by Honduran artists found in the Wave Gallery on Roatan Island The business and commercial center of Honduras is San Pedro Sula, whose leading INFORMATION PLEASE: choices for home-away-from-home comforts are stays at the Real InterContinental and Honduras Tourism Institute— Hilton Princess, although travelers looking for some quiet charm might enjoy the Isabella letsgohonduras.com Boutique Hotel located in the Barrio Los Andes. First of the city’s must-do attractions is the Museum of Anthropology and History, a treasure house of antiquities from Olmec to Maya to Lenca Indian cultures. Next is a shopping stop, the Guamalito Market, a lively center for Honduran crafts (baskets, leather goods, woodcarvings), outdoor food stalls and ﬂower markets. From the city, drive out to the cloud forest of Cusuco National Park to search for quetzals (best months are March and April) and toucans among the gigantic tree ferns and bromeliads. San Pedro Sula is the northern gateway to Copan Ruinas (3-hour drive), a small, laidback and lively town, with cobblestone streets linking good restaurants, cafes and hotels— in addition to Marina Copan, several lovely new B&Bs. About a mile away are the grand Mayan ruins of Copan, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and often called the “Paris of the Maya world.” The beautifully preserved remains of this splendid ancient city-state covers some 75 acres with terraced palaces, carved stelae, an expansive central plaza and the brilliant Museum of Sculpture, whose focus is the dazzling 4-story replica of the Rosalila Temple. From San Pedro Sula, roads and air services lead north to La Ceiba, gateway to many of the country’s most important natural wonderlands: Parque Nacional Jeanette Kawas, welcoming visitors to white sand beaches, great snorkeling and howler monkeys galore; Lancetilla Botanical Garden, founded by United Fruit Company and planted with thousands of species of plants and exotic trees; Cangrejal River, a white-water paradise for rafters; and Pico Bonito National Park, a beautiful and mountainous rainforest reserve offering excellent hiking and birdwatching. La Ceiba is also a takeoff point for the Bay Islands, including Roatan (accessible by both ferry and plane) and Cayos Cochinos (by boat only). And for the quintessential adventure, the vast and isolated La Mosquitia region is accessed by small-plane service from La Ceiba and inhabited by the Sumo, Pech and Miskito Indians. The best travel experiences will include river rafting, jungle hiking and visiting traditional villages in the wildlife-rich Rio Platano Biosphere Reserve. 60 D60-D65.indd 60 12/17/12 2:48 PM http://www.letsgohonduras.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of 2013 Delta Travel Guide

2013 Delta Travel Guide