6 Best Sights in La Ceiba, Honduras' Caribbean Coast

Walls glitter with frames upon frames of tropical butterflies at this quirky showroom. The museum boasts more than 6,000 brilliantly hued butterflies and moths from at least 100 countries. Neat labels, posters, and graphics accompany displays of the splayed-wing beauties in the air-conditioned room, and guided tours are available.

The ocean-side lagoon is 24 km (15 mi) east of La Ceiba on the highway to Trujillo. Dugout canoes glide through thick mangrove forests that are home to eight troops of monkeys and many tropical aquatic birds. Cacao and sugar plantations surround the lagoon in the adjacent village. The best way to experience the spot is with a guide from an area tour operator.

Eight thermal pools simmer at around 40 degrees centigrade (105 Fahrenheit) amidst moss-covered boulders and three gentle waterfalls. The grounds include a cold-water pool, hammock hooks, a picnic area, and a small snack stand. A large sign 500 m after the Sambo Creek detour guides visitors off the highway.

This nonprofit organization is developing ecotourism in the Cangrejal River watershed by improving trails and training the local youth to give guided hikes. The Sendero Guaruma is a two-hour excursion that passes freshwater pools, tropical fruit trees, and medicinal plants. The hike on the Sendero La Muralla lasts four hours and includes a visit to a rural village. Sendero La Vista is also four hours and offers astounding views of the river and valley.

You can't miss Pico Bonito, the majestic peak rising behind La Ceiba that turns a deep blue at dusk. Parque Nacional Pico Bonito is named after the 7,989-foot peak. Rugged and little explored, Parque Nacional Pico Bonito harbors some amazing primary tropical wet forest. There are 22 rivers that run through the park, meaning there are numerous cold-water pools where you can stop for a dip. Guides see jaguars and ocelots with impressive regularity, although the enormity of the area means you are lucky if you glimpse these fearsome creatures.

The most popular route through the park leads to a waterfall called La Ruidosa (meaning "The Noisy One"). Trails are fairly well maintained, but it is best to go with a guide. They are found through the Fundación Parque Nacional Pico Bonito office in La Ceiba.

About 27 km (17 mi) west of La Ceiba, the Refugio de Vida Silvestre Cuero y Salado is made up of 132 square km (51 square mi) of tropical forest formed by the confluence of the Río Cuero and Río Salado. This is one of the few places in the world where you can see manatees, aquatic creatures once mistaken for mermaids. In addition to these gentle giants, you may also spot white-faced monkeys, crocodiles, turtles, and several species of herons along the canals. The mangroves are best seen by boat, and the park organizes two-hour guided tours. The Fundación Cuero y Salado visitor center has information about the park.

To get to the park, drive west from La Ceiba, turning right after crossing the Río Bonito. Stop at the railway tracks. From here you can take the small "banana train" run by the Honduran National Railroad or a burra (a handcart operated by locals) for the remaining 9 km (6 mi). Trains leave the community of La Union seven times from 7 am to 2 pm, and return trips are 30 minutes after each La Union departure.