Little Honduras

Q Can you provide any information on the Bay Islands off the coast of Honduras?

Ed Hummers

Potomac

A The Bay Islands are about 35 miles off the northern coast of Honduras in the western Caribbean. They consist of Roatan, Guanaja, Utila and the Cayos Cochinos, and scores of other islets and keys.

The cheapest and easiest way to get to Roatan is to fly to Miami, then take the Friday evening nonstop (Saturday return) on Sol Air (866-4-SOLAIR, www.solair.net) to Roatan; the combined round-trip airfare should be about $600. Getting to the other islands is more expensive and complex: You must first fly to the mainland and then take a flight or ferry or arrange private transport.

All of the islands are popular with divers. Roatan is the most developed and has dozens of resorts and hotels; Anthony's Key Resort (800-227-3483, www.anthonyskey.com) is one of the most popular. Guanaja has no roads and transit is by boat; Bo Bush's Island House (011-504-991-0913, www.bosislandhouse.com) is a laid-back retreat. Utila is popular with backpackers, and the Cayos Cochinas offers a dive resort, Plantation Beach Resort (www.plantationbeachresort.info), in a biological reserve.

For more info, contact the Honduras Institute of Tourism, 800-410-9608, www.letsgohonduras.com. A good Internet resource is www.bayislandstourism.com.

I'd like to find a golf school and resort where my wife could relax at the pool and spa and my 5-year-old would have planned activities. It would be nice to find an affordable resort within 250 miles.

Michael Keune

McLean