5 Best Sights in Trujillo, Honduras' Caribbean Coast

Covering more than 40 hectares (100 acres) this park encompasses something for everyone. A wildlife park is home to well-cared-for animals native to Honduras, which has the world’s second largest rainforest canopy outside of the Amazon. You can see monkeys and exotic birds here, as well as flora and fauna found only in cloud forests, and interact with animals at the wildlife rescue center. Elsewhere, you can pick fresh tropical fruit from orchards, hit the Heritage Park, where you can walk a 15th-century road that was used to route treasures to Spanish ships, and visit a museum housing a large Maya artifact collection. The River Recreation Park showcases waterfalls and the sea.

Crumbling tombstones and overgrown weeds add an extra eery touch to the 300-year-old Cementerio Viejo(Old Cemetery), where Walker's weathered grave is surrounded by a rusty gate.

The fine Fortaleza de Santa Bárbara, near the central square, will give you the flavor of those days of conflict with its Spanish canons and European goods. The lines marking U.S. mercenary William Walker's spot of execution in 1860 are still visible. An adjacent museum offers pamphlets and pre-Hispanic artifacts like stone carvings and beaded necklaces.

Shortly after Italian explorer Christopher Columbus landed here on his fourth voyage for the Spanish crown in 1502, Spanish explorer Hernán Cortés ordered construction of this base, named Santa Barbara in honor of the patron saint of artillerymen. Native people supplied the labor, and the walls they built still stand, along with some of the original artillery guns. There is full view of the bay, which was mandatory for defenses against pirates back in the day, but is simply a lovely vista for today's visitor.

This is an off-the-beaten-path trip that's well worth the effort. Rent a car or have a guide or taxi take you to the hot springs, known locally as Aguas Calientes, a few miles from the town center, just beyond the village of Silin. Be specific about where you want to go to ensure that you end up at the right location. A 30- to 40-minute massage may be available at the springs for an added fee, but it's relaxing enough just to soak in the hilltop natural tubs, surrounded by tropical forest, viewing the local birdlife. Prepare for the time you'll spend here—pack a lunch in case no restaurants are open nearby and bring bug spray—mosquitos come out as the sun sets.