2 Best Sights in Belen, La Mosquitia

A boat ride from Belén across Laguna de Ibans takes you to Banaka Creek. A strenuous full-day hike in the rain forest leads to a waterfall, virgin jungle, and a grouping of ancient petroglyphs in the village of Banaka. The carvings here might be a convenient alternative if you don't have the three days it takes to make the trip to the more famous Walpaulbansirpe petroglyphs, near Las Marías.

Well, more like dusk than full-on night: canoes slither through shaded canals in the early evening as passengers stay on the lookout for crocodiles and caimans. Flashlight beams find the red reflection in reptilian eyes, and the remaining daylight affords decent bird-watching and wildlife observation.