Columbus made landfall near modern-day Trujillo in 1502 and named the country Honduras (“Depths”) for its deep coastal waters. For pre-Columbian, Independence and footballing history, see El Salvador. In 1998, Hurricane Mitch resulted in devastating floods across many parts of Honduras.
Top five attractions
The Mayan site of Copán, full of impressive carvings, stelae and altars; [...]

Costa Rica, dubbed the rich coast by Columbus, was a melting pot of cultural diversity long before the Europeans came, with Mesoamerican and South American groups settling on the land. The area was not defined by one tribe or group but a mix of indigenous people. Faced with Indian resistance and tropical diseases, it took [...]

The Dominican Republic’s resilience has been tried and tested ever since Christopher Columbus graced its shores in 1492. Long before Columbus’s arrival and before Europeans inflicted their influence, the Taíno, a spiritual people who Columbus termed ‘Indians’, inhabited the island of Hispaniola, which the Dominican Republic shares with Haiti. True to their roots, Dominicans still [...]