Upon arrival in San Pedro Sula, your driver will take you to Copán. Situated in western Honduras in a small valley surrounded by mountains and tropical vegetation, Copán has some of the finest carvings and architecture of the Maya World and is considered the Athens of the Maya civilization for its advancement in art, written language and astronomy. Following a three-hour drive, you will settle into your hotel. In the evening enjoy a lecture by Prof. David Sedat on the Maya of Copán. Prof. Sedat has been recognized for his work in the underground tombs at the site, and has a lifetime of knowledge of the Maya.

Today you’ll discover the well-preserved archaeological site of Copán and the history of the Maya with your guide. Within Copán’s 74,000-acre archaeological park, observe images of bloodletting rituals, vision quests, and human sacrifice adorning some of best-preserved stelae, altars, and ceremonial areas in Honduras. This is the place where the great ancient Maya civilization flourished and is held in high regard among archaeologists for the vast amount of carved text and hieroglyphs found throughout the site. Here numerous archaeologists are working to enhance the restoration of the ruins and learn more about the Mayas through the numerous inscriptions they left behind. Recently excavated underground tunnels revealed another two levels of Maya structures below ground level. You will have time to explore the carved heads of deities, the pyramid temples where kings ruled, the ball court where ancient games were played, the hieroglyphic stairway with its 63 carved steps, and the stone columns and sculptures in the central court. This evening enjoy a lecture about the History of Cacao and its importance in the Maya World at Dr. Sedat’s house, where you will also have the opportunity to try this delicious beverage.

In the morning you will depart for the Caribbean port town of La Ceiba, famous for the banana trade originated by Standard Fruit Company (also known by its brand name of Dole). Hondurans say that "Tegucigalpa is where we think, San Pedro is where we make money, and La Ceiba is where we have fun." The city got its name from a huge Ceiba tree that was next to the beach and provided shade to the workers at the dock during hot afternoons. La Ceiba is the third largest city in Honduras and features the "Zona Viva" with restaurants and nightclubs along the clean and sandy beach. En route we'll visit the Lancetilla Botanical Garden and Experimental Station. Initiated in 1926 by Dr. Wilson Popenoe, the founder of the United Fruit Company in Honduras, Lancetilla was a key factor in a program to diversify United Fruit's plantings in Central America. Ultimately, it led to the promotion of new cash crops in Honduras, such as the African oil palm, eucalyptus, and teak. The gardens, turned over to the Honduran government in 1974, currently contain more than 1,000 plant species on more than 2,500 acres. Birding enthusiasts favor Lancetilla for glimpsing tropical birds that feed on the fruits and seeds of the gardens.

This morning we will take a thirty minute journey to Pico Bonito National Park and the Cangrejal River. The normally clear waters of the river are refreshingly cool and ideal for some of the best whitewater rafting in Central America. As you run the exciting class II, III, and IV rapids, you will observe some of Pico Bonito National Park's more than seven ecosystems and get an intimate view of the lush green forests of Honduras.

Following a morning transfer to the dock, you will take a ferry to the island of Roatán. The largest of the Bay Islands, Roatán extends 40 kilometers in length, reaching three kilometers at its widest point. Beaches and cliffs surround the north shore of the island, with deep water off the coast that is protected by reefs. Along the south shore, coral formations are often just steps off the beach. Attractive to the pirates of old, today Roatán's coastlines appeal to snorkelers and divers. After checking into the hotel you will have the remainder of the day at your leisure to swim and relax. Spend your day basking in the sun and surf of the Caribbean coast or participate in other activities available at additional cost. This evening dinner at hotel.

This morning your guide will discuss and introduce to you the local coral reef, flora, and fauna. Roatán is home to one of the most diverse reefs in the Caribbean, with over 800 species. The water is warm, visibility is high, and you can expect calm seas when you embark on your snorkeling excursion today. Underwater, you can explore over 100 species of coral teeming with everything from morays, octopus, and turtles, to drums, wrasse, gobies, ocean triggers, schools of blue tangs, and perhaps even eagle rays, wild dolphin and whale sharks. The remainder of the day will be at leisure to explore the marine environments of Roatán. This evening dinner at hotel.

Today you will explore the Roatán Institute for Marine Sciences at Anthony's Key that is surrounded by approximately 13 km of protected area known as the Sandy Bay Marine Reserve. Within this area no spear fishing, trapping or collecting of any kind is allowed. The reef is part an ongoing long-term monitoring program licensed by the Honduran government that is being conducted by the institute to better understand the ecosystem. A marine biologist will be giving you a lecture about their monitoring to the coral, fish, and invertebrate populations, as well as environmental parameters over time. In the past decade, RIMS has obtained a substantial database on the status of Roatán's reefs. By continuously observing conditions over time, they can provide important information so that timely and sound actions can be taken to sustain Roatan´s marine resources. In the afternoon explore the coastline during a private sailboat excursion. Optional snorkeling included during the sailboat ride.

After breakfast you will take the morning ferry for your transfer to La Ceiba, where you will meet with your driver for your 3 hour drive to San Pedro Sula. After lunch at a local restaurant, you will visit the Guamilito market, for a variety of local specialties such as coffee, vanilla, handmade wood carvings, woven baskets, and Panama hats from Santa Barbara.

Today you will be transferred to the San Pedro Sula airport for your international flight home.