Recreation

Located at the Hotel Playa [1] is the only dive shop in the area, PADI-certified Honduras Divers (tel. 504/9991-0778 or 504/665-0453, www.hondurasdivers.com [2], 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m. Sat and Sun.). The first number is the cell phone of Hotel Playa’s manager, Roberto Alvarez, who runs the dive shop. Scuba classes are offered, as well as local diving and outings to the idyllic Belizean islands Cayos Zapotillos [3]. An open-water dive course costs US$315. Local diving can be done year-round at La Picuda site; it’s best January–October.

Honduras Divers charges just US$24 per person for a single dive (US$18 if you have your own equipment). A scuba tour of the Cayos is $110 per person, or snorkeling tours can be arranged for $100 per person (both including lunch and equipment, as well as the entrance fee to the Cayos). No visa or immigration paperwork is required for a visit to the Cayos Zapotillos.

Mountain-bike enthusiasts should get in touch with Roberto Alvarez (tel. 504/665-0453 or 504/3390-3061), the general manager of the Hotel Playa, who can organize tours and should be able to help find bikes and equipment.