The Central American nation of Honduras has been known as Spanish Honduras in the past (to differentiate it from Belize, or British Honduras). Along with Spanish, English, Garifuna, and Miskito are commonly spoken. The population is prredominantly of Mestizo background. Mineral resources and clothing exports are an important part of the economy, as is agriculture. Honduras has tropical Pacific and Caribbean coasts, and mountains with a more temperate climate. The biodiversity of the country is really striking; some common species are orchids and bats. Check out the Rio Plítano Biosphere Reserve, a lowland rainforest in La Mosquitia to see great wildlife. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Honduran food has a mix of indigenous Lenca, Spanish, Caribbean, and African influences. The great selection of tropical fruits includes papaya, pineapple, plum, zapotes, passion fruit, and bananas. Sopa de caracol has conch along with coconut milk, conch broth, yucca, cilantro, spices, and guineo verde bananas. Baleada, a popular street food, contains refried beans, quesillo, or cheese along with sour cream and extras like avocado, eggs, or plantains. Organic food may be hard to findÔÇöhealth food stores and restaurants are few and far between, but you can buy provisions in Tegucigalpa. The excellent coffee gives you a kick, and you can compare different kinds from Marcala, Copín, and Ocotepeque.