Located right in the middle of Central America, Honduras has plenty of different touristic sites for varied interests. These are some of the most wanted spots in the country according to popularity, the order will be of course determined by your own particular interest and taste.

From archaeological sites and towns with colonial buildings to almost a quarter of territory turned into protected areas for nature lovers, you will not run out of places to see and things to do in Honduras.

Beautiful beaches spanning over 500 miles of its Caribbean North coast and crystal-clear warm water coupled with bleached sand beaches at the Bay Islands, right into the Mesoamerican barrier reef, second largest of its kind in the world and first in biodiversity; living cultures that bear ancient traditions and authentic cultural heritage, and certainly the friendliest people in the region.

Copan

Copan Ruinas is the prime destination in Honduras mainland. A small town with cobblestone streets, a multicultural ambiance typical of a regularly visited destination, yet not too crowded so as to still be enjoyed. As opposed to many other archaeological destinations, the main archaeological site is a short walk from town, just about ten city blocks away and you will find yourself in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Copan, with a magnificent display of particularly unique sculpture works, even for general Maya art displays.

The southernmost Maya city–state of Copan flourished during a major Classic period from the 5th to 9th centuries AD, when Maya art and science development reached its peak just before mysteriously vanishing. You can enjoy a one-hour easy walk through the park, preferably with a local Tour Guide who will let you deep into the story of this fascinating place.

The Maya Sculpture Museum is one of the best in the region, holding the highest detail in original pieces found in the site protecting them from the elements as well as a full size replica of the Rosalila Temple, discovered in the late 80s, one of the intact temples preserved underneath one of the structures in the main site.

Besides the archaeological park, Copan has plenty of activities to keep you busy for a couple more days. There is the Copan Coffee Tour, a nice hike through shade grown coffee plantations under huge elderly trees inside an authentic primary rainforest just a 30-minute drive from town. Here you can learn about the harvesting and processing of this known bean variety that has become a key to most of our lifestyles.

At the Macaw Mountain Bird Park Reserve you will watch over 200 birds from different species such as macaws, parrots, toucans, owls, and hawks; some are flying freely in the park while others are kept inside spacious aviaries, and you can even have an encounter with some lucky ones at the interaction area. Most of these birds have been rescued from smugglers or donated from people who had them as pets, and since they were not able to survive alone in the wild, they are taken care of in the park.