There’s a new cruise
destination in the Western Caribbean: the Banana Coast of Honduras. Until now,
cruise ships could call at the island of Roatan, a world-class snorkeling and
diving destination just off the coast, but there was no option for visiting the
country’s mainland. Now, the port of Trujillo offers a gateway to the rest of
Honduras.
Trujillo’s natural deep-water
harbor is fringed by miles of beautiful white sand beach. It’s historic too,
being the place where Christopher Columbus first made landfall on the mainland
of the Americas in 1502. Trujillo is also the historical center of banana
production on the north coast of Honduras.
The Banana Coast has a
spectacular natural setting between the sparkling Bay of Trujillo and a pair of
jungle-covered mountains, Mount Capiro and Mount Calentura. Although the Banana
Coast is a new stop for cruise ships, there are already more than a dozen
options for excursions on shore.
To provide a few examples,
you can explore the extensive rainforest on ATVs; take a walking tour of a
nature park and animal rescue center; or, get acquainted with the birds,
animals and plants of Honduras during a day of kayaking through a mangrove
forest. It’s a thrill to ride a beautiful horse down the pristine beach, or to
venture into the forest in search of waterfalls. There are also historical tours
that explore a 15th-century fortress, Trujillo’s town square and
cathedral, and former consulates from the town’s days as the capital of
Honduras.
There are also plenty of beach
and water activities available, including snorkeling, river tubing, and white-water
rafting. You could also make a humanitarian visit to a local orphanage, or
learn about the native Garifuna, Miskito and Pech cultures.
Cruise itineraries that
include the Banana Coast are likely to include other popular Western Caribbean
destinations like Mexico’s Cozumel or Costa Maya, Belize or the Cayman Islands.
The Banana Coast expects to
welcome about 50,000 cruise passengers this winter, and up to 100,000 next
winter. To make sure that you’re among them, talk with Anita, your Cruise
Holidays personal cruise expert.
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