Puerto Cortez

Honduras's main sea port, it is among Central America's deepest and most important seaports.

Ships dock at an industrial port, where a few vendors sell crafts and the town is a short walk away.

Puerto Cortes is a commercial center with little tourist appeal.

Puerto Cortes is nothing like Puerto Vallarta or Cabo: there is little glamour. Rather than posh 5 star hotels around the harbor, corrugated roofs appear everywhere because it is a working port and the main Central American port.

Visit famous ‘Coca-Cola Beach’, named for the coke bottling plant that once operated there. More popular than ever, it is a busy stretch with a warm atmosphere, gorgeous sands and bright blue waters.

Tourism remains underdeveloped in poor Honduras. Cities such as Tegucigalpa, San Pedro Sula, Copan Ruinas and La Ceiba have good amenities, but elsewhere, especially rural areas, conditions can be primitive. Even so, a visit is worthwhile for ancient Maya ruins at Copán, the colonial towns of Gracias and Comayagua, and the fantastic Caribbean Coast.

Copán is among the Maya civilization's most impressive ruins, renowned for the quality of its sculpture.

Río Plátano Biosphere Reserve contains Central America's largest tropical rain forest.

For safety, choose ship's organized tours.

Handicrafts include Honduras's famous Lenca ceramics and cotton sock manufacturing.

Honduran leather items are fine quality and cost only a fraction of what they would overseas, making a Honduras visit a good time to buy bags, attaché cases, belts, wallets and even garments, all bargains.

The city itself offers typical things to do, including movies, restaurants and even a Farmer’s Market on Saturdays.

The lempira is used, and USD is widely accepted.

Spanish is the principal language; outside the biggest towns or Bay Islands, English is hardly spoken.