Central America - (Page 14)

hoNDURAS calling... new restaurants. And speaking of new: golf has come to Roatan, with the opening of the first nine holes of a Pete Dyedesigned course. culture calling A 2-hour drive from San Pedro Sula and tucked into the mountains of western Honduras, the royal Mayan complex of Copan—a UNESCO World Heritage site—is one of the few Mayan sites in Honduras, but what a sight! The main ceremonial center covers about 75 acres, with pyramids, temples, ball courts and dozens of intricately carved stelae portraying those who ruled this great citystate between the fifth and ninth centuries. The history of the Kings of Copan is recorded on the Hieroglyphic Staircase, and treasures found in the ruins are housed on site in the brilliantly designed Museum of Sculpture, including a dazzling, 4-story replica of the Rosalila Temple. The ruins are a 15-minute walk from Copan Ruinas, a charming, lively village dotted with good restaurants and good hotels—in addition to the Marina Copan, several new and lovely new B&Bs (Casa de Cafe for one) are tucked into historic buildings—as well as lots of things to see and do. One not to miss is the delightful Macaw Mountain Bird Reserve, add to that horseback riding out to El Sapo, a Mayan fertility site and Hacienda San Lucas, or soaking in one of the area’s hot springs. NICARAgUA calling... call oF the Wild See for yourself the lush rainforests of the watery and adventurous world of San Juan del Sur, for it is the onsite location for “Survivor Nicaragua,” airing for two seasons on CBS starting Sept. 15. Filming sites will stretch from the region’s coastal beaches to the lush tropical banks of the Rio San Juan, which flows 118 miles from Lake Nicaragua to the Caribbean, transiting vast rainforests, swamps and pine-covered savannas. Before the building of the Panama Canal, the Rio San Juan was the principal link for travel between the Pacific and Atlantic, and many of the Forty-Niners transited here en-route to California gold. The Spanish built Castillo de la Inmaculada Concepcion (37 miles downriver from San Carlos) to repel pirates roaming the Caribbean and connecting waterways, also in search of gold. Down river from El Castillo is the Indio Maiz Biological Reserve, covering 119,475 acres of practically virgin lowland tropical rainforest. The port city of San Carlos is the lake gateway to the Rio San Juan region, and en-route to the river’s mouth, one passes the Archipelago of Solentiname, an area rich in nature and wildlife, showcased beautifully on boat tours through the Los Guatuzos Wildlife Refuge with its bird, monkey and reptile populations. The islands also host a unique artists colony. Closer to the capital city, Managua, is the Masaya National Park where travelers are enchanted by the multiple, smoldering craters of volcanoes that overlook Lake Masaya. There are also numerous hiking trails to follow through the 21-sq.-mile park. In the foothills is the El Chocoyero Reserve, whose rainforest path cuts beneath howler monkeys high in the trees and birders can train their binoculars on trogons, warblers, motmots and toucans. honduras tour talk ❖ Yampu Latin America Tours (800-926-7801; yampu.com) offers a 13-day Complete Honduras vacation, covering most of the country’s highlights. The tour includes a stay in San Pedro Sula, sightseeing at the Fortress of San Fernando de Omas and Puerto Cortes; two nights in Tela and two nights in La Ceiba on the north coast, with days spent on adventures in the national reserves. There are also two nights in Copan and last but not least, four nights on the resort island of Roatan. The price starts at $3,565 and covers airfare from Miami, accommodations of choice, breakfasts, guide services, all overland transport and internal air. ❖ Roatan Charter (800-282-8932; roatan.com), whose specialty is Honduras and dive trips, offers a country full of packages for customizing vacations. For example, the 3-night package to La Esperanza, Siguatepeque & Lago Yojoa starts out with a stay at the new Los Pi hotel with pool and fireplaces in La Esperanza, and adds two nights by mountain-rimmed Lago Yojoa en-route to Siguatepeque for the Sunday market in Lenca country, populated by farmers, pottery makers and weavers. The price is $299 pp dbl, including transfers from San Pedro Sula, accommodations, some meals, and bilingual guide. n call oF the sea (...and lake) Nicaragua is blessed with two oceans and a lake as big as a sea. Her Pacific beaches include Montelimar, one of the largest tourist resort complexes in Central America, and one with over two miles of private beach, as well as a gigantic swimming pool. Nearby, Chacocente Beach is a protected area visited by sea turtles from August to November. Elsewhere along the Pacific coast, the San Juan del Sur sector is marked by coral reefs, rocky beaches, warm clear waters, and several classy little resorts. The variety of marine life here makes it ideal for scuba diving and marine photography. The Caribbean coast is very different and 50 miles offshore—an hour by air from Managua or a boat ride away from Bluefields (stay here for reggae music and seafood)—are the idyllic, and Englishspeaking, Big Corn and Little Corn Islands. Fringed by white sand beaches and turquoise waters, these islands are ideal for fishing, diving, snorkeling, and fresh seafood dining. Lake Nicaragua is the dominating feature (5,000 sq. miles) of any map of the country. It is so large (5,067 sq. miles) that whole species of saltwater fish—such as sharks—have adapted to its environment. Ometepe Island, nine miles offshore and reached by launch from the port of San Jorge, is a protected natural reserve. In addition to white sand beaches, its most salient features are two recommend.com honduras Fast Facts Capital city: Tegucigalpa International airports: La Mesa International (San Pedro Sula), Toncontin International (Tegucigalpa), Roatan Airport Nonstop air service from the U.S.: American Airlines, Continental Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Spirit, Taca, US Airways Domestic airlines: Atlantica, Islena, Sosa Entry requirements: Valid U.S. passport and onward or roundtrip ticket International departure tax: $33 Tourism information: letsgohonduras.com C14 August 2010 http://www.yampu.com http://www.roatan.com http://www.letsgohonduras.com http://www.recommend.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Central America

Belize
Costa Rica
El Salvador
Guatemala
Honduras
Nicaragua
Panama

Central America