Honduras is just a quick two-hour flight away from Miami, and yet you feel like you're a million miles away once you land, finding yourself surrounded by crystal clear aqua waters and rolling hills so lush and green you'd be tempted to pull out an Irish cliché to describe them. But there's no better way to immerse yourself in the rainforest experience than by booking in with The Lodge at Pico Bonito.

Just 30 minutes from La Cieba International Airport, The Lodge at Pico Bonito is actually located on the fringe of Pico Bonito National Park – and at the base of an 8,000-foot mountain – giving adventurous travelers the perfect back yard to hike, bird-watch and swim in. The Lodge offers guided activities every day – unless you want to venture out on your own, in which case they have handy guides for every amateur explorer eager to identify many of the 400 species of birds in the area. They even have an on-site serpentarium, and butterfly garden. And while there's newly-installed wi-fi for those who just can't disconnect, you'd be a fool to waste your time on the Internet when you could be basking in nature's splendor while sipping a cocktail on the deck overlooking the mountain.

But just because you're in the depths of a rainforest doesn't mean your accommodations are rustic. Yes, you're in a cabin, but each is outfitted with a king or two queen-size beds with luxurious bedding, spa-line amenities, air conditioning and ceiling fans (for those who prefer an arctic feel) and complimentary bottled water, among other treats. I highly recommend taking advantage of the hammock on your deck. Nothing beats napping while monkeys leap from the cacao trees within reach from your walkway.

The Lodge at Pico Bonito has created such a name for itself that it's the hotel of choice for celebs such as Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta Jones, and it's not hard to see why. No visit to Honduras would be complete without at least a one night stay. It's well worth it.