Sometimes, planning your trip can be almost as fun as the trip itself. You can read up on all the things you can do. You can read magazines and explore the blogosphere. You can read the literature of the place and hear stories from others who have been there. You can look at photos and brochures. You can even read the entire guidebook from cover to cover. Now, all that's left is to experience the place in the flesh -- to see, smell, hear, and feel your destination.

There are many things to consider when planning your trip, especially to Honduras. The landscape is quite diverse, with mountains, rivers, beaches, islands, and several types of forests. If you like more off-the-beaten-track locations, Honduras sure has plenty of those -- or if you prefer the more manicured resorts, it has those, too. Do you like cities (San Pedro Sula, La Ceiba, Tegucigalpa)? Do you want to see wildlife (Pico Bonito National Park, Río Plátano Biosphere Reserve)? Do you want to loll around on the beach (Roatán, Omoa, Isla del Tigre)? Or do you want to experience history (Copán, Gracias, Trujillo)? Do you want to volunteer, learn to dive, or learn a new language? The country offers a little bit of everything. It's fun for the whole family, or even a solo traveler.

Though there are some concerns, most parts of Honduras are safe and secure. Women travelers won't encounter the Latino machismo as much here as in Mexico or South America. It's tamer here for most -- a bit more tranquilo. Gay and lesbian travelers might not feel as welcome here as in North America or Europe, but in major tourist areas, they'll be fine. A little discretion can go a long way in cities and rural areas, where archaic attitudes still run deep.

Apart from how to get there and where to go, your biggest choice to make will likely be when to go. While Honduras sits entirely in the tropics and the weather is warm -- often blazing hot -- all year round, torrential rain (even hurricanes, though they are not frequent) may make you want to rethink some of your plans, especially if you want to do lots of outdoor excursions. Rain can happen anytime of the year -- sometimes just a squirt, other times a deluge -- and this can affect many of the poorly paved roads in the country. It doesn't mean you can't get around; it might just mean you'll need four-wheel drive instead of a VW Beetle.

The following section will help in finding out how to arrange your trip. You'll discover what preparations and precautions you need to take, the types of tours you will find, safety precautions, whether you need any shots, and any Customs-related information so you can get your suitcase full of rum and cigars back into your home country.

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.