Roatan and Utila

If you are more into enjoying sand and sea, Roatan will be the best choice. Pristine water and sugar-white sand are waiting for you at some of the best beaches this side of America. And for divers and snorkelers, the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System is just a fin stroke away from the beach, as opposed to many other diving destinations where you are forced to take a boat ride to get to the good spots.

The Gumbalimba Natural Park has a zip-line, a jungle with a lagoon and an interaction area with monkeys and macaws, a nice hanging bridge and water sports, all available to spend a nice full day of fun and adventure. You can also visit a nice cameo factory, where you can see the ancient delicate art of carving mythical images in sea shells. There is also an iguana farm, glass bottom boat tours and dolphin encounters available for you.

Utila, the smallest of the Bay Islands is a true heaven for divers, it is the less expensive place in the planet to get PADI certification, a preferred spot for the impressively giant whale shark and plenty of marine life, still a truly enjoyable paradise not crowded at all.

Tela

One hour from San Pedro Sula, the main touristic gateway in the country is Tela, an old town that flourished during the banana boom of the 30s when Honduras was the main exporter of this exotic fruit, earning its popular title "Banana Republic". Tela is located in the north Caribbean coast of Honduras.

There are nice fully appointed resorts to enjoy some sunny days, and there are also four different protected areas in the surroundings: Jeannette Kawas National Park; accessible only by water, this park has some of the nicest beaches around and totally off the beaten path to have them only for you, there is plenty of wildlife to be seen such as howler, white-faced, and spider monkeys, alligators, many aquatic birds and (if you are lucky) some dolphins along the boat on the way in. Los Micos Lagoon is a place to go on a motor boat right past the Garifuna village of Miami where you can visit a Garifuna Museum and interact with the ethnic locals during their daily life.

Tela is also home to the Lancetilla Botanical Garden, the second largest botanical garden in the world, holding a wide variety of plants and trees from around the globe. This garden was built as a research facility by one of the banana companies and is now maintained by the government. The Punta Izopo Wildlife Reserve is an intricate maze of mangroves where you can kayak along to enjoy the peace of this remote area while watching some abundant wild life.