UPDATE: The United Nations unanimously adopted a resolution stating that deposed Honduran President Manual Zelaya should be restored to power. (CNN)

As of Tuesday, the U.S. Department of State has placed a Travel Alert on Honduras. American citizens should defer all non-essential travel to Honduras until further notice, because of "the current unstable political and security situation."

On Sunday, Honduras President Manuel Zelaya was removed by the Honduran military and sent to Costa Rica. President Obama has called the action a coup, "not legal", and has pledged the United States will "stand on the side of Democracy". (USA Today) Zelaya will address the United Nations in New York Tuesday (BBC News).

If you're presently in Honduras, check the Consulate's frequently updated Public Announcements on Honduras travel for safety information. The Honduras government has imposed a curfew from 9pm until 6am -- please abide by it for your own safety. There have been a number of demonstrations in the Tegucigalpa area, though "calm prevails" in the rest of the country. As always, steer clear of demonstrations or public gatherings of people.

On a personal note, I would be in Honduras right now if my travel plans hadn't fallen through a couple weeks ago. Honduras is a remarkable nation, and I hope with all my heart these issues can be resolved calmly and without altercation.

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras -- The Honduras president Jose Manuel Zelaya was arrested by the Honduran military Sunday morning, says CNN. He had vowed to move forward with a referendum Honduras's Supreme Court ruled illegal.

Zelaya's four-year term as Honduran president ends January 2010, and he can't be up for re-election under Honduran law. According to CNN, the referendum "would ask voters to place a measure on November's ballot allowing the formation of a constitutional assembly that could modify the nation's charter to allow the president to run for another term."

What does this mean for Honduras travelers? As always, stay far away from demonstrations large gatherings of people; there is always the possibility they might turn violent. At the time of this post, there has been no reported unrest. Keep an eye on local Honduras news, just in case.

Volunteering with sea turtles is something I haven't yet done, but have wanted to ever since I was a kid. Discovery Channel documentaries of the lumbering mothers laying eggs and the hatchlings scampering for the sea intrigued me. I always mourned for the babies snatched by gulls and other animals, and of course, the eggs gathered by illegal poachers.

Costa Rica is home to 5 of the 7 varieties of sea turtle -- including giant leatherback and hawksbill turtles -- and there are numerous turtle nesting sites where travelers can volunteer. Endangered sea turtles really do need help. Volunteers take part in a range of activities, like collecting data on the nesting behavior of female turtles, monitoring nest sites, and spreading sea turtle awareness in local communities. Here's a selection of some top programs for volunteering with sea turtles:

• Volunteer Visions Turtle Conservation - Playa Buenavista, Guanacaste (Pacific Coast). $650 US for two weeks, including room & board.
• BaseCamp Centers Sea Turtle Project - Gandoca-Manzanillo in Limon (Caribbean Coast). $1520 US for 4 weeks, including room & board. Other BaseCamp locations include the Osa Peninsula and Playa Matalpo on the Pacific Coast.
• i-to-i Turtle Conservation & Surf Lessons - Playa Samara on the Nicoya Peninsula or Playa Matalpo (both Pacific Coast). Learn to surf while you help save endangered sea turtles! $1425 for 1 week, $220 each week thereafter. iIncludes room & board.

Photo by Marcio Scatrut

Approximately 850,000 visitors enjoy Belize vacations every year. Considering the population of the entire country is 300,000, that's pretty impressive! Many Belize travelers opt for all-inclusive packages or cruises, and there's nothing wrong with that.

But other travelers prefer the flexibility that comes with planning their own Belize vacation. We've put together some of the best Belize vacations and travel itineraries to simplify your preparation process. From the white beaches of the Belize Cayes to the meandering rivers of Cayo District, these travel routes are perfect for mixing and matching, or for combining into one extraordinary trip.