Honduras is a conundrum. It has a huge amount of potential, though it continues to play only a bit part role for many travellers exploring Latin America. Very little of the country caters for tourists, with the Bay Islands and Copan the only exceptions to this rule. However, this raw condition is one of the main reasons the country is such an exciting prospect. In many areas it remains in its most natural form and this provides the traveller with an opportunity to experience a country as it should be; unchanged, untainted, unspoiled. It is an opportunity that should be grasped with both hands.

Its main tourist draw, Roatan, is quickly becoming a tourist hot spot and it's easy to see why. It has an embarrassment of riches with golden sands framing the island and seascapes that prove irresistible to divers who come from all over the world to experience the crystal clear waters. While American tourists have been visiting for a while it is fast attracting people from across the globe and is in danger of being overcome by the influx of foreign incumbents wanting a piece of the action. This would be a shame as one of the secret gems of the island is its people. Garifuna people have inhabited the Bay Islands and towns along the north coast since they arrived hundreds of years ago and they have a rich culture that is in danger of being lost to the increasing Americanisation of the island. You will struggle to find something more entertaining and authentic than watching the Garifunas perform their local 'punta' dance in traditional outfits to the beat of the punta drum.

Visitors who don't go to Honduras for Roatan invariably visit to see Copan Ruinas, where you can marvel at the Mayan ruins just outside of the main town. The ruins are reason enough to make the trip but Copan offers so much more. It is a beautiful colonial town surrounded by lush green mountains that are dotted with coffee plantations and hot springs. You can also go activity crazy with hiking, horse trekking and kayaking among the options if the ruins don't provide enough distraction. Just wandering through the picturesque cobbled streets should be enough to keep even the most demanding traveller happy.

And this is as far as it goes for most visitors, if they even get this far. But there is so much more to be discovered which the flight footed traveller will miss out on. Namely La Mosquitia. This is an untouched piece of jungle which takes up the majority of the eastern half of the country and is rarely visited by the travelling fraternity. It can only (realistically) be accessed by plane, though even this involves a shaky landing on a strip of uncut grass among the trees. From there the only transport option is a motorised cayuco which will take you deep into the jungle. It's possible to travel down river for hours at a time with no hint of another human being coming into sight, but when they do arrive it is in small, riverside villages and with open arms. To see such untouched beauty, both in the environment and in the people, is a refreshing change from the technology obsessed, urban jungle we live in today. I'm yet to encounter another place so unaffected by the modern world.

Honduras gets a bad reputation from its two main cities, Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula, which can both prove dangerous if you stray into the wrong part of town. But outside of this the country consistently delivers wonderful sights, whether it be in southern towns like Comayagua and Siguatepeque or the beach towns of Tela and Omoa on the north coast. There are breathtaking national parks strewn throughout (La Tigra outside of Tegucigalpa stands out) and you regularly stumble across friendly, helpful locals keen to help you on your journey. And I haven't even mentioned baleadas yet, the best street snack you'll find anywhere in Latin America (and beyond!).

Why travellers continue to pass by Honduras remains a mystery as it provides so much variety and cultural intrigue. However, the fact that it continues to fly under the radar provides a great opportunity to visit a destination which remains in its rawest form and experience the abundance of delights it has to offer. Don't miss the boat ...


Tom Mcloughlin, author of Top Backpacking Destinations, knows Honduras well after living in Punta Gorda, Roatan for a year teaching English in the local village school. You can follow on twitter at @BackpackerBoy for more backpacking tips.