As roads are poor outside of big cities, the horse is a main method of transportation in places such as Olancho, La Mosquitia, and the mountains in the west of the country. And though much of Honduras is horse and cowboy country, the activity is only partly opening up to tourism. Riding tours, which generally only last 1/2 to 1 day, are run from Copán, La Ceiba, and La Mosquitia, as well as less frequently from locations such as Utila and mountain villages near Tegucigalpa.

MC Tours (tel. 504/2651-4453; www.mctours-honduras.com), Yaragua (tel. 504/2651-4147; www.yaragua.com), and Xukpi (tel. 504/2651-4435) all lead short horse-riding tours in and around Copán, usually to Chortí Maya communities.

Omega Tours (tel. 504/2440-0334; www.omegatours.info) in La Ceiba has one of the largest varieties of tours on horseback on the North Coast, ranging from 6-hour beach rides to multiday trips through Pico Bonito National Park.

Red Ridge Stables (tel. 504/2390-4812), in East Harbour on Utila, has 2-hour rides to Pumpkin Hill Beach, freshwater caves, and other destinations on the island. Trips run $35 for a 2-hour ride.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.