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Cayos Cochinos: Honduras Has A Well-Kept Secret

By Jane Goodwin | April 11, 2007

The tiny Honduran islands called the Cayos Cochinos are breathtakingly beautiful and quite different from any other islands in Central America.

The islands are a Marine Protected Area and are managed by the Honduran Coral Reef Foundation. The coral reef here is part of the world’s second largest coral reef system, known as the Meso-American Barrier Reef. There is a scientific research station on Cayo Menor, the smaller of the two main islands in the system.

Cayos Cochinos has been identified by the Smithsonian Institute, The Nature Conservancy, the Word Wildlife Fund and the World Bank as one of the key sections of the Barrier Reef system to preserve. The reefs are the least disturbed ecosystems in the Bay Islands complex and have had a strong and active NGO (non-governmental organization) working with local communities, private sector bodies and government organizations to help manage the reefs and their fisheries over the last 10 years. For the purposes of conservation and the maintenance of the natural monument, there is a tariff upon entering the protected area based upon the number of people and length of stay.

There are several trails in Cochino Grande that start right at the Plantation Beach resort, making it a very attractive alternative for the explorer. One of these trails leads to the highest point on the island, where there is a lighthouse. If you are willing to try climbing up to the top, you will enjoy a spectacular 360-degree view, with a 20-mile radius.

Diving, snorkeling, hiking and bird watching are but a few of the alternatives available to the nature lovers who visit the keys. Many cultural activities can be enjoyed, such as dancing, fishing, local art and food. Cayos Cochinos is a true paradise that fortunately is being preserved for future generations to enjoy.

The people of Cayos Cochinos are descendants of West African slaves (survivors of a shipwrecked Spanish ship) and the indigenous Carib Indians. Their intermarriage formed the Garifuna people.

The islands can be accessed only by boat, but there are many tours and private boats to hire. For yachters, Cayos offer safe moorings with buoys already in place to help protect the reef. Plantation Beach Resort is very “yachtie” friendly and yachters can radio in to make a reservation for a meal here on channel 12 “Trinity”. Yachters must remember, however, that anchoring is illegal here because of the fragility of the coral reefs.

Cayos Cochinos is a truly unique place, with its volcanoes and beaches, and coral reefs, and its location has helped keep it pristine. It’s not easy to travel to Cayos Cochinos, but it’s well worth it once you get here.

There are a few small resorts here, but this is not a trip for people seeking luxury. The Cayos Cochinos of Guatamala are for people seeking nature.

Make the effort. You’ll be glad you did. Check out the video; don’t those people look glad?

Sphere It

Topics: Friends and Family, Culture, Travel / Relocation, Lifestyle, Destinations, Retirement Overseas |

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