Jeanette Kawas National Park (Punta Sal). Located on the western end of the Bay of Tela, the Jeanette Kawas National Park is named after a Honduran ecology activist who lost her life while protecting this National Park, previously known as Punta Sal National Park. Based on its size and biodiversity, the park is one of the most important national parks in Honduras. The small bays within the park served as havens to the pirates and buccaneers of yesteryear. The peninsula forms a natural barrier that protects the bay and port of Tela from the "nortes" that blow during the winter months. The park has two separate, well defined areas: the peninsula and the lagoon.

The peninsula. is only accessible by sea, and there is a symbolic fee of 3 USA dollars that is collected upon your arrival to the park. The fee is handled by the pro-ecology group PROLANSATE, a non profit private organization dedicated to the preservation and development of the park. There are several tour operators within Tela that offer tours by motor launch. The trip itself takes about one hour before arriving at the park. A vast natural beauty awaits the traveler: white sand beaches, an exotic and very exuberant jungle and a very attractive coral reef are the main attractions. During the tour, it is quite possible to encounter different animals, such as dolphins, monkeys and of course a large variety of tropical birds, giving an added spice to your tour.

The Lagoon, known as the Micos Lagoon, is the area with the highest population of birds in the park. During the "summer" (In Central America, the dry season is referred to as the summer, being in fact the months of December through May) you will find up to 350 different species of birds living within the lagoon! The lagoon is surrounded by mangroves, forming canals and cayes where other types of tropical plants and trees coexist. To the east, the lagoon is separated from the sea by a narrow tongue of sand, forming an extensive and very beautiful beach.

The Garifuna village of Miami is built precisely on this sand bar, and offers a true cultural patrimony of the Bay of Tela, allowing visitors to experience life the way these villagers have lived for over two hundred years, since they established themselves on the North Coast of Honduras. The village, built entirely of thatched huts, makes the tour to Punta Sal both a natural as well as a cultural experience. Although there are several different operators and individuals who can take you to Punta Sal National Park, we wholeheartedly recommend Garifuna Tours, whose offices are located almost in front of the central park in Tela. There professionalism stands out above all others.

Punta Izopo National Park. Located on the eastern end of the bay of Tela, only 12 km from town, this unique area takes its name from the small mountain that dominates the area and comes out into the Caribbean: Izopo Mountain. The exuberant vegetation of the area. which is irrigated by the Platano and Hicaque rivers, is home to large variety of wildlife, including tropical birds such as parrots and toucans, monkeys, alligators and turtles. The canals, formed within the mangrove forests are accessible to sea kayaks, which permit you to silently enter the area without disturbing the natural beauty, and come close to the birds and other wildlife. This tour also includes the opportunity of visiting the Garifuna town of Triunfo de la Cruz, where the Spanish Conquistador, Cristobal de Olid first disembarked on his quest to conquer Honduras, following orders of Hernan Cortes. Garifuna Tours has daily regular departures to Punta Izopo.

Lancetilla Botanical Garden. Located only a few kilometers from Tela, the Lancetilla Botanical Garden is the second largest tropical botanical garden in the world. It was established in 1926 as an experimental site by the Tela Railroad Company. The park boasts a very large variety of plants from the Central American region as well as from other tropical lands from throughout our planet. A large number of tropical birds have made the garden their home, due to the many fruit trees that abound here. There is a well marked trail that you can follow. In addition, if you follow the road that leads into a fascinating bamboo forest, you will arrive at a very pleasant swimming hole in the Lancetilla river, where you can enjoy a refreshing swim after your hike throughout the park. The entrance fee to the park is Lps. 50.00 and includes a guided tour. For Hondurans, there is a substantial discount. The best way to get to the park is by bicycle, which you can rent in Tela. If you have a car, you can easily reach the park.

Garifuna Villages. All along the Bay of Tela there are several different Garifuna communities, and perhaps some of the most interesting ones in all the country are right here. From west to east, you will find the Rio Tinto, Miami, Tornabe, San Juan, La Ensenada and finally Triunfo de la Cruz. Amongst these, without doubt, the most interesting and unique is Miami, the only one that to this day is still completely built of thatched huts. You can eat typical foods at all the villages, and learn some of their traditions. Outstanding, and definitely fun, are the "punta" and "yancunu" dances, that have origins in their African roots. With the exception of Rio Tinto and Miami, all of the villages are easily reached, with good public transportation readily available. You can also rent a bicycle and have the added advantage of free time to discover all the interesting facets of these villages and their people at your own pace. In some of the Garifuna villages there are hotels where you can stay and experience the lifestyle of the Garifuna. An example of these are the Caribbean Coral Inn at Truinfo de la Cruz, built with local architecture in mind and with a primitive atmosphere with outstanding service; the Budari at La Ensenada and the Paradise at San Juan.

Garifuna Museum. Once again open at a different location now, this museum is of great value for anyone trying to understand the Garifuna heritage of Honduras. This ethnic group, which arrived to Honduras in 1797, from the Carribean Island of Saint Vincent in the lesser Antilles, was the result of the racial intermingling of black slaves from Africa and the local Carib Indians. The group has retained much of its ancient culture and beliefs. First marooned in Roatan by the British, and then brought to the mainland by the Spanish, the group quickly spread through the north coast of Honduras. Perhaps the most visible contribution that this group has given to modern day Honduras is the “Punta” dance that has made the country famous. In the Museum you will enjoy colorful artifacts and enjoy the liveliness of their music and dances.