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A world away from the forested mountain ranges of the interior, Honduras's north coast stretches for 300km along the azure fringes of the Caribbean. A magnet for Hondurans and foreign tourists alike, most are drawn solely by the prospect of sun, sea and entertainment, which is provided in abundance by the coastal towns of Tela, La Ceiba and Trujillo , with their broad expanses of isolated beach, clean warm waters, dozens of restaurants and buzzing nightlife. Dotted in between the main towns are a number of laid-back Garifuna villages blessed with unspoilt beaches, where a stay is likely to be more peaceful. San Pedro Sula , the region's major city and transport hub, provides amenities of a strictly urban kind. When beach life loses its appeal, there are several natural reserves in the region to visit. The national parks of Cusuco, Pico Bonito and Capiro y Calentura , whose virgin cloudforest shelters rare wildlife, offer hiking for all levels of fitness; the wetland and mangrove swamps at Punta Sal and Cuero y Salado require less exertion to explore. Occupying the eastern corner of Honduras is the remote and undeveloped expanse of the Mosquitia , at whose heart lies the Rio Platano Biosphere Reserve , an extensive swathe of virtually pristine tropical rainforest. Travelling here requires a spirit of adventure and the ability to lose track of time, but the effort it takes is well rewarded. The two dry seasons - December through to April, and August to September - are the best times to visit the north coast. Temperatures rarely drop below 25-28°C, but the heat is usually tempered by ocean breezes. Outside the Mosquitia, transport is reasonably good, with frequent buses along the fast, paved highway that links the main coastal towns; as usual, reaching the remoter villages and national parks requires some forward planning. There's abundant accommodation to suit all price levels - the only time it's necessary to book is around Semana Santa, when hordes of Hondurans head for the beach and prices often rise.
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