The north coast towns of Tela, La Ceiba, and Trujillo, which grew because of the fruit company investments and transshipments of bananas, no longer provide the only outlets to shipping abroad. Today Puerto Cortes is the site of a large new port that serves as the Caribbean terminus of the transisthmian route across the country. Honduras still produces more bananas than any of its Central American neighbors, but coffee, cattle, sugarcane, lumber, tobacco, and seafoods are significant contributors to regional economies. Industrialization has also begun. The leading products are soft drinks, beer, cement, cooking oil, light textiles, seafood, and rum.
Tourism has great potential for producing much-desired foreign capital.
The clear, warm Caribbean waters are ideal for sport diving, and the coral-sand beaches and climate contribute to a setting favorable for international tourism. The famous Mayan ruins at Copan, which date from the Classic period of AD 300 to 900, and the well-preserved colonial fort at Omoa attract many visitors. History and Government Honduras was first brought to the attention of Europeans in 1502 during the fourth and last voyage of Christopher Columbus. He sailed along the north coast and made at least two stops to meet the Indians and to take possession of the land for the Spanish crown. After inspecting the Islas de la Bahia and stopping at the large protected bay at Trujillo, the little fleet of four ships sailed around the eastern shore into more favorable weather.