Cayos Cochinos Tourist Information

Lying just a few miles off the coast from La Ceiba, Cayos Cochinos can usually be seen from the coast on a clear day. What seems as a midsize mountain island is actually several different islands. Cayos Cochinos is actually conformed by 13 different keys or small islands. Of the 13 keys, two are actually small islands: Cochino Grande and Cochino Pequeño. Considered as part of the Bay Islands, the keys are the hardest to get to, despite the fact that they are the closest to the mainland.

The only means of getting to the keys is be boat. Plantation Beach Resort, the only resort on the keys has a regular transportation service with a fast speed jet boat leaving La Ceiba's "puerto de cabotaje" at approximately 5:00 p.m. on Saturdays. The return is a week later in the morning. The cost of the transfer is $30.00 US dollars. Other alternatives are to hire your own boat, which will be considerably more expensive. For the more adventuresome type, you can travel overland to Nueva Armenia, located east of La Ceiba and hire a boat from there. To get to Nueva Armenia, you must take the road to Trujillo and get as far as Jutiapa, located about 33 km. from La Ceiba. From here, you must follow a dirt road to the town of Nueva Armenia, located only 8 km. from Jutiapa. The road is not in very good condition, but can be traveled in a regular car. If you do not have a car, you can take the direct bus to Nueva Armenia, which departs from the La Ceiba bus terminal at 11:30 am daily. The trip will take a couple of hours.

Once in Nueva Armenia, there are several people that can help you arrange the crossing to the Cayos Cochinos. The most reliable and definitely recommended is Rene Arzu. Rene has several motorized dugout canoes, and the trip will take about two hours. Due to the fact that you will be traveling in open seas, departures are always planned early in the morning to insure the best weather. This means that if you will be traveling on the bus, you will have to overnight in Nueva Armenia. Rene's sister has a small basic hotel and can put you up and arrange for food as well at very inexpensive rates.

Cayos Cochinos has been declared a Biological Reserve by the Honduran Government. As such, it is protected by law, and anchoring off the reefs is absolutely prohibited, as well as any type of commercial fishing (there are moorings for the visiting boats and yachts). The results are already being seen, the fish population is growing back. Fortunately, due to the difficult access to the keys, its reefs are about as virgin as could be, having been hardly touched by man.

One exiting aspect of this marine reserve is the fact that the Smithsonian Institute has made a 100 year commitment with the Honduran government to help manage the park and conduct a very serious scientific study of the reef and its sustainable development. As such, the park is actually patrolled by park rangers who are well equipped with boats and communication. The island of Cochino Pequeño is all owned by the reserve, and there is a research station on it. This is the base of the park rangers.

Cayos Cochinos is a true paradise that fortunately is being preserved for future generations to enjoy. Diving, snorkeling, hiking and bird watching are but a few of the alternatives available to the nature lovers who visit the keys.

© by Honduras Tips

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