In November, I went on a solo trip to Honduras.  This Central American country is bordered by the countires of Guatemala, El Salvador and Nicaragua.  It is also considered a Caribbean destination because north of the mainland lies the Caribbean Sea, which is home to a series of Honduran islands known as the Bay Islands.  

Armed with a backpack and a cup of coffee, my adventures began.

First stop: the north port of La Cieba, considered the "Eco-Toursim Capital" of Honduras.  My accomodations:  The Lodge at Pico Bonito, in the thick of Pico Bonito National Park, where I was surrounded by 265,000 actress of rainforest.

Here I am, getting perspective on the jungle around me while standing on four-story observation tower.

The people of Honduras may not have much, but they do have pigs that are literally the size of a small horse!  I mean, the ears alone on this thing......

Time to get on a plane and head to the Bay Islands, off the North Shore of Honduras.

The three largest Bay islands are Roatan, Utila and Guanaja. Roatan is a magnet for cruise ship and divers. It has the second largest barrier reef in the word - the Belize Barrier Reef - which is about 200 miles. And Utila is the cheapest place in the world to get SCUBA certfied. 

At Roatan, I stayed at its first and only green resort, the Infinity Bay Resort on the Isand's West End. The beautiful infinity pool looks out on to the Caribbean Sea.

I went zip-lining in Gumbalimba National Park....

....chillied with the locals....

.....and went swimming with dolphins. 

....and took advantage of that golden light that lasts for only a few minutes.

Hanging out with Osman Jr.  His dad, Osman Sr., was my driver in Roatan.

Cigars anyone?

I liked his hat - and his cigars - so I manned his booth when he took a break!

With the monkeys at Gumbalimba Park - where they literally drop down from the trees and plop on your head.

This is Supa, a nine-month old white-faced cappuchin. He was brought to Gumbalimba when he was two months old, after his momma was killed by poachers. Here, he is safe from all danger.

Last night in Roatan, which means one last time in the Caribbean Sea before flying back to the mainland.

An aerial view of the Infinity Bay resort property. So long, Roatan!

After flying to San Pedro Sula, I took a three hour bus drive in to the mountains of Honduras, to the anicent city of Copan Ruinas. Naturally, there are plenty of ruins to see:

Below is the Hieroglyphic Staircase. It is the longest pre-Colombian hieroglyphic inscription in America - over 2000 'glyphs on 63 steps recounting the Mayan's dynastic history.

This is what archeologists imagine it to have looked like during the Mayan Classic Period:

Inside this ruin....

....is this!  And of course, there is a portal that allows you to go down through the tunnels and visit.  It was very, very cool.

Truly exhilirating!

Beautiful Honduran children playing in front of their home:

Of course, I feel in LOOOOVE with them!

Especially the little boy....

Octavio let me share a moment with his beautiful Peruvian horse:

At Macaw Mountain - a bird park and nature reserve. This guy was quite the cuddler!

We are quite stoic, the two of us below:

Saddling up to go horseback riding with my horse, Muneca:

Off we went on a three hour trek, all the way to the mountains bordering Guatemala!

With some local kids who thought my pathetic mastery of their Spanish language was laughable.  They were right!!!

At the open-air hotsprings at the Luna Jaguar Spa Resort:

And yes, the water was piping hot!

Best cup of coffee in the world? Honduran coffee!!!!

Taking it all in one last time before a three hour bus ride back to the city of San Pedro Sula...and the airport.

Definitely one of those mind, body, spirit adventures.  Never thought I could say that about a place, but for me, Honduras really, truly was.