Hot Spots 2004: International
By Elissa Leibowitz, Washington Post Staff Writer,
(Sunday, January 4, 2004; Page P08)
Here are our choices for 10 hot international destinations in the new
year.
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Honduras - Why go: First Belize was on everyone's Central American
radar screen, then Costa Rica became the eco-tourist's darling. Now
Honduras, with untouched rain forests, mountains and 400 miles of Caribbean
coastline, is starting to get its due.
The details: Adventure seekers go to Honduras -- tucked between Guatemala,
El Salvador and Nicaragua -- to scuba dive or fish around the Bay Islands
off the northern coast, to explore Pico Bonito National Park or to see
the Mayan ruins of Copan, one of the top archaeological sites in Central
America. Visitors marvel at the bird-watching and cloud forests of two
seldom-visited national parks (La Muralla and Sierra de Agalta in the
eastern part of the country) or the uninhabited tropical rain forests
of the Mosquito Coast and the Rio Platano Biosphere Reserve, where about
80 percent of Honduras's species are protected.
One word of caution: Street smarts are needed throughout the country.
Where to stay: The Bay Islands and wildlife such as jaguars and monkeys
can be seen from the inland observation towers at the Lodge at Pico
Bonito (888-428-0221; from $155), the nation's first eco-lodge. If you
want to call the Bay Islands home for a few days, consider the town
[sic] of Roatan, where the B&B at the Sante Wellness Center day
spa (1 (925) 348-9332; $95) is on the beach.
Info: Honduras Institute of Tourism, 800-410-9608, www.letsgohonduras.com.
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