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IntervalWorld.com INTERVAL WORLD Summer 2015 43
beat the darkness, we see a boardwalk leading to a small building
surrounded by calm sea.
La Sirena at Camp Bay is the last bar on the island before you
run out of road at the undeveloped Saint Helene Marine Park. Owner
Jimmy Andrade and his wife, Carmen, welcome us and set down
two cold Salva Vida beers. The water laps between the slats on
the floor below us.
We walk out on the dock and sip our beers as the Caribbean stars
begin to shine, and soon the Milky Way stretches above us. Kat and
I discuss our plans for tomorrow— there are beaches to choose from
and dives to take. But soon we grow silent, just taking in the Roatán
night at the end of the road on this slice of Caribbean paradise.
New Mexico–based travel writer and photographer Steve Larese is still
thinking about the incredible diving in Roatán.
What: Close to Honduras’ border
with Guatemala, the ruins are a
can’t-miss for archeology buffs.This
UNESCO World Heritage Site is
called the Paris of the Mayan World,
and is one of its largest and best-
preserved capital cities. Mayan
carvings and hieroglyphic text cover
this site, which flourished from the
fifth to ninth centuries. Visitors can
view the remains of the Acropolis —
the royal center of Copán, an
impressive tunnel system, ceremo-
nial ball court, plazas surrounded by
sculptures, and many freestanding
portraits carved into stone called
stelae. The Hieroglyphic Stairway,
which contains a carved history
of the Mayan rulers of Copán, is
renowned for its quality, and has yet
to be fully deciphered. Visit the on-site museum for more backstory.
Accredited guides will cost about $30 and are well worth it. Entrance to
the park is $15.
Getting There: To reach Copán from Roatán, take a quick puddle
jumper flight into San Pedro Sula; from there, it’s a three-hour bus ride to
the ruins.
Don’t Miss: Be sure to explore the small village of Copán Ruinas
itself, which can be easily walked, and boasts numerous shops and
restaurants for a real taste of Honduras.
Copán Ruins
Archaeological
Park
RESORT DIRECTORY:
CLIMATE: The average high
temperature is 88°F in September,
84°F in October, and 82°F in
November.
CURRENCY: U.S. dollars or
Honduran lempira
SALES TAX: 15%
TIPPING: 10% to 15% at
restaurants
INTERVAL TRAVEL:
RENTAL CAR: Recommended
CONTACT: Sun Divers,
sundiversroatan.com; Roatán
Marine Park,roatanmarinepark.net;
Lionfish Louie’s,
facebook.com/lionfishlouie;
Bananarama Dive Shop,
bananaramadivecenter.com;
Arch’s Iguana & Marine Park,
archsiguanaandmarinepark.com;
Marble Hill Farms,
marblehillfarms.com; La Sirena
at Camp Bay, facebook.com/
lasirenadecampbay
VISITOR INFORMATION:
Tourism Roatán
Dive In
Make an exchange or buy a Getaway at
or a studio.
Getaway price is valid September 1 through November 30, 2015.
Artist Gladys Agustin adds even more color to the beach on Roatán’s West End.
fastFACTS
West Bay
Roatán
West End
Sandy Bay Arch's Iguana
Farm & Marine Park
Punta Gorda
Marble Hill
Farms
Camp Bay
ON THE MAINL AND