TAULABÉ CUEVAS

The Taulabé caves are a must-see in Honduras. They are the most accessible caves in the country, just 140 kilometers from San Pedro Sula and a few kilometers from Lake Yojoa. They were discovered by chance in 1969, when the road between San Pedro and Tegucigalpa was being built. Tradition has it that, in 1972, a modern-day North American pirate (William Hanneman) stole $250,000, parachuted over La Ceiba and hid out in the cave for a while. Some say his treasure is still buried there. Some 300 meters have been fitted out (railing, pleasant lights), 921 have been mapped, but the cave measures at least 12 kilometers (known distance today). The cave continues on, but the lack of oxygen and the heat require modern equipment that nobody has, so it's not known how far it leads - some say to the ruins of Copán, others to the lake, still others to Santa Bárbara. If you're equipped, it's not at all impossible to continue the adventure ("extreme", as we say here). There are some interesting rock formations, some of which inevitably evoke wings, hats or chasubles. Not recommended for people suffering from claustrophobia, heart disease, asthma or high blood pressure. For others, it's a wonderful underground discovery. A guide will accompany you 300 meters down to 100 meters underground. A cave to discover in less than an hour!