Our journey this month begins in the village of Copan Ruinas, just twelve kilometers from the Guatemalan border. An hour and a half drive from Copan Ruinas is the crossroads town of La Entrada, your gateway to the Honduran interior. Taking a right in the center of La Entrada will lead you to Santa Rosa de Copan, the heart of western Honduras. A left turn will lead you to San Pedro Sula, the modern commercial hub of the country and the jumping off point for the North Coast.

La Entrada is an uninteresting speck of a town with a newly-paved highway running right smack through it, but it's a good place to gas up and drink a cold pop. Although it's not conveniently or pleasantly situated, take a few minutes to visit the Archeological Museum next to the La Entrada Municipal Market.

A better choice for a short stopover on your Copan-La Entrada trip is the newly opened El Puente Archeological site. Just after passing the town of La Florida on your way to La Entrada, you'll see a sign to El Puente. From the turnoff, it's six kilometers to the ruins. Recently excavated and restored by Japanese archeologists, the site has some large temples and a lovely colonial inspired visitors center.

After exploring El Puente, head into La Entrada and take a right. Next stop...Santa Rosa de Copan. This year's rainy season has damaged the newly-paved highway from La Entrada to Santa Rosa. Drive with caution especially at night. Santa Rosa is the commercial center for western Honduras. Tobacco, corn and cattle are the mainstays of this area's economy.

Don't miss the Flor de Copan cigar factory where cigars are made the old-fashioned way--by hand. It's a fascinating process to watch. Ask politely at the main office for a guided personal tour. Cigars rolled at this factory are sold in some of the finest tobacco shops in Europe, Asia and the United States. You can purchase a box or two or three at the office.

After the long drive from Copan Ruinas and your tours of El Puente and the cigar factory, you'll likely be starving. Although this may sound strange, Santa Rosa boasts one of the finest pizzerias in Honduras. Pizza Pizza is owned and operated by ex-pat and ex-US Embassy staffer Warren Post and his sweet Miskito wife, Orlanda. This bistro bakes up one of the freshest, most flavorful pies this side of Little Italy in New York City.

Santa Rosa is a good base for exploring western Honduras. People are friendly to visitors but this area has been untouched by tourism so expect some long, hard stares from locals in remote villages as they are unaccustomed to seeing outsiders. Spectacular mountains (the highest in Honduras), National Parks, rivers and wildlife offer many ecotourism possibilities. Lovers of traditional ceramics will enjoy the work of the Lencas. The weather in this area is a refreshing change from the coast--be sure to bring a sweater or jacket.