While Honduras shares some of the machista culture widespread in Latin America, it is a reasonably comfortable place for a woman to travel alone, especially in the more touristed areas. Walking alone at night is not recommended in Tegucigalpa, La Ceiba, or San Pedro Sula, more because the vulnerability of a solo woman makes an attractive target for would-be muggers, rather than the possibility of sexual assault (which is certainly a possibility, but a much rarer occurrence). Day or night, purses or bags that can be carried across your body, rather than over one shoulder, are a good choice in San Pedro and Tegucigalpa, as they foil motorcycle-riding purse-snatchers.

As in much of Latin America, North American and European women are often considered easy conquests. Don’t exchange glances or accept drinks if you’re not interested. Going to bars or discos alone is certainly possible, but it’s important to be sure that you’ll be able to easily get a taxi when you’re ready to go home. While plenty of Honduran women wear tight-fitting clothes and low-cut blouses, similar attire on a gringa will certainly attract attention, usually limited to cat-calls and whistles.

For those who haven’t found a travel mate but aren’t sure about going it alone, Journeys International (U.S. tel. 800/255-8735, www.journeys.travel) is an ecotourism company that organizes tours to many countries around the world, including Honduras. Some of the trips are women-only, and all tours welcome solo female travelers. Scuba Diving Divas (www.scubadivingdivas.com) is another company that organizes women-only diving trips to Roatán.