Forever unspoiled
Not only do Honduras' Bay Islands offer some of the most affordable diving in the hemisphere, Roatan, Utila, and exclusive Guanaja sit on the very same barrier reef as world-famous sites like Cozumel. Add pretty beaches and a largely English-speaking population and you can see why divers are coming to the islands in ever-greater numbers. Although Honduras marks the very southern edge of the Mayan empire, it is the site of Copán, one of its most important cities. The ruins overlook a picturesque valley studded with ceremonial stelae – the most intricate in the Mayan world – while the nearby colonial town of Copán Ruinas has a relaxed pace and an almost-perfect climate. At its best, Honduras is Central America at its most relaxed, affordable and authentic – and you can often have it all to yourself.