Top Ten Central America Off-the-Beaten-Path Adventures

A remote area of unbroken tropical broadleaf forests, mangrove swamps, and beaches, the Mosquito Coast is inarguably one of the best places for a wilderness expedition. Located in northeastern Honduras, and across the Coco River into northeastern Nicaragua, the wilderness area contains what is probably the greatest stretch of intact complex ecosystems in Central America, making this an irresistible venue for naturalists and hikers. The sleepy town of Palacios serves as the jumping off point for travelers, and the numerous natural destinations within a three-hour water taxi journey incude the Turtle Conservation Project at Plapaya village, run by the native Garifuna population. Multi-day trips include a deep jungle adventure by dugout canoe, eight hours up the Rio Platano to the Miskito/Pech indigenous village of Las Marias.