5 Best Hotels in Tela, Honduras' Caribbean Coast

Just a stone's throw from the beach, this stylish hotel has rooms with balconies shaded by lush palms. Hand-hewn wood furniture and carefully selected pieces of art add a homey touch. A light and airy reading room on the first floor is popular with adults, and children gravitate to the tiny playground. Truly delicious seafood is served in the romantic restaurant ($$) or at shaded tables on the sand. Try the spicy camarones en salsa jalapeño (shrimp in a creamy sauce seasoned with peppers).

Peace, quiet, and boldly seasoned seafood at its restaurant ($$) make this beachside hotel a great retreat after a day of activity-packed excursions. The armoires are handcrafted by local artisans, and Garífuna-themed paintings hang from the walls. Conversation is lively in the casual outdoor restaurant, as members of local cultural and ecological groups often stop by for a bite of zesty panfried yellowtail, oily shrimp dunked in garlic and herbs, or coconut-infused rice. Town native and hotel owner Carlos Aragón is a member of the local tourism chamber and an excellent resource on all things Tela.

Once home to executives of the United Fruit Company, this luxurious complex sits on 30 acres right on the Caribbean. The enormous wooden villas, with two or three bedrooms, are perfect for families. Each is filled with beautiful mahogany furniture. The pool and the adjoining grounds are a delight, especially on weekend evenings when an orchestra plays salsa and merengue.

The latest to join the mainland's handful of all-inclusive resorts, this expansive campus is hardly the place to hole up for a week. The resort is just five blocks from Tela Viejo's center and is easily accessible to all of the area's natural parks. Spacious rooms and private villas encompass 50 acres of colorful gardens, a huge pool and a private beach area shaded by, curiously enough, pine trees. Family activities like snorkeling, boating, and volleyball keep guests busy during the day, while the two restaurants, sports bar, and outdoor discotheque give an active ambience in the evening. Three daily buffet meals serve underwhelming meat and seafood dishes.

There's a stunning view of the bay from the Maya Vista, which enjoys a vantage point high above the city. Clean and comfortable rooms have wide terraces where you can lounge in a hammock as you enjoy bay breezes. In the popular restaurant ($), entrées such as Chinese noodles with peppers are tasty and reasonably priced. You can also order wines by the glass—a rarity in this part of the country. The Canadian owners make sure there's a warm, friendly atmosphere. They know what's going on in Tela, so it's good to check with them.