Those interested in learning Spanish can try out the Escuela de Idiomas Truxillo (tel. 504/434-4135, www.globalnet.hn/escuela), offering 20 hours of instruction per week for US$150, or private instruction for US$7 an hour. Homestays are possible for just an additional US$70.

Another possibility is the Sunjam School, near the fort.

Although English is more widely spoken on Utila than Spanish, the Central American Spanish School (tel. 504/425-3788, www.ca-spanish.com) offers popular and recommended Spanish classes on Utila for US$150 a week for 20 hours of private classes or US$100 for 20 hours of group classes (discounts are often available for the private classes).

After the raging success of language schools in neighboring Guatemala, it’s no surprise several Hondurans have set up schools of their own. Language schools can be found in Copán Ruinas, Santa Rosa de Copán, La Ceiba, Utila, Tela, and Trujillo. Generally, the schools rate as fairly good to excellent, although teacher quality can be more varied.