Honduras is the backpacker’s escape: less polished, more real. Think turquoise rivers like Río Cangrejal flanked by rainforest, the slow-life beaches of Utila and Roatán where nights are for diving (whale sharks, reef sharks if you dare) and the days for sun, snorkel, and hammocks.
Add in the ancient Maya ruins of Copan, colourful Caribbean island villages, and accessible overland travel and you’ve got adventure mixed with authenticity—perfect for 18-30-year-olds after something less mainstream.