Canopy/Zip-Line Tours

For some reason, canopy tours (sometimes called zip-line tours) have caught on wildly in Honduras. They offer a unique and exhilarating way to experience the rainforest. By bringing you to the treetops, you get to see the place where two-thirds of all rainforest species live -- although most are frightened off by gringos flying through the air on a regular basis.

Most of the tours consist of strapping yourself in a climbing harness and walking to a platform approximately 30m (98 ft.) above the forest floor. Usually 10 to 20 platforms connected by metal cables form a course. With the help of a guide, you will attach your harness to the cable and jump, flying through the air to the next platform, where another guide is waiting. There are canopy tours in the country in almost every major tourist destination (Copán, Pulhapanzak Falls, Roatán, La Ceiba, Sambo Creek, Omoa), and more are popping up all the time. There's little regulation of the tours, so be sure you feel confident in the course and the safety standards before setting off. The operators listed below are recommended.

Roatán

  • Gumbalimba Park: tel. 504/445-1033; www.gumbalimbapark.com
  • South Shore Canopy Tour: www.southshorecanopy.com
  • Pirates of the Caribbean Canopy: tel. 504/2455-7576; www.roatanpiratescanopy.com
  • Palmetto Ridge Canopy: tel. 504/2445-7853; www.tropicalrez.com

Omoa

  • Rawacala: tel] 504/2556-9466; www.bttours.net

La Ceiba

  • Jungle River Tours: tel. 504/440-1268; www.jungleriverlodge.com

Cigar Factory Tours

After the 1959 Communist Revolution, Cuban cigar makers began to flood into Honduras for what they saw as soil and weather conditions that were comparable to those of Cuba. Honduras is one of the world's premier cigar production centers. While there are a few exceptions, most cigar production in Honduras centers on two areas: Santa Rosa de Copán in the west and Danlí in the southeast. You can usually walk up to a cigar factory and arrange a brief tour. Most are free, and you just need to give a small tip to the host. Photos and videos are usually not allowed.

Camacho Cigars (tel. 305/2592-0722; www.camachocigars.com), based outside of Danlí, runs the most formal cigar tours in the country on select dates throughout the year. From their Camp Camacho in the Valle de Jamastrán, the company holds in-depth, 3-day "seed to store" seminars for consumers and retailers that include all meals and accommodations.

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.