"Hog Islands" of Honduras

Diving, snorkeling, hiking and bird watching are but a few of the options available to the nature lovers who visit the Hog Islands and their keys. The Garifuna inhabit the surrounding area and cultural activities can be enjoyed such as dancing, fishing, local art and food. Each Hog Island is a true paradise that fortunately is being preserved for future generations to enjoy.

The Hog Islands form part of the world’s second largest Barrier Reef system, known as the Meso-American Barrier Reef system, and have 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 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 the Hog Island of Cochino Grande that start right at 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.

Lying just a few miles off the coast of La Ceiba, the Hog Islands can be seen from the coast on a clear day. The Hog Islands are a group of islands Cayo (Cochino) Menor, Cayo (Cochino) Grande, and 13 small coral cays, lying 30 kilometers northeast of La Ceiba, Honduras. Since 1993, the Hog Islands were designated a Marine Protected Area. In 2003, it was declared a Marine Natural Monument with the Honduras Coral Reef Fund (HCRF) administering the conservation of the area.

How to get there/Places to stay

From La Ceiba, Plantation Beach Resort (located on Cochino Mayor) can help arrange for transportation if you are staying with them. They are a long established diving resort, offering outstanding diving, snorkeling, sea kayaking and trails around these small islands. The trip will take between one and one and a half hours, depending on surf conditions. Schedules can be arranged according to your needs with the resort. Their telephone numbers is 442-0974. The food at Plantation Beach Resort is superb and its bar offers beer and an extensive selection of liquors.

The only means of getting to the keys is by boat. But there are several departing locations: La Ceiba, Sambo Creek, Nueva Armenia, and Roatan.

A unique alternative is to participate in a scientific expedition in conjunction with the HCRF Marine Research Center on Cayos Menor, sponsored by the Cayos Cochinos Foundation. As this expedition is dive-based you need to have a dive qualification to take part, or acquire one as part of the pre-expedition diver training session. Currently, the Foundation is working with the local communities of the Cayos Cochinos along with Nueva Armenia to develop ecotours in the area and they are expected to begin offering tours during 2005 season. For more information, contact the Cayos Cochinos Foundation in La Ceiba at 443-4075 (76) or email at fundcayos@caribe.hn.

For yachters, Cayos offer safe moorings with bouys 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”.

If you are looking for a less expensive alternative on the keys, the Garifuna community living at Chachauate key can put you up for a small fee. Although the island is quite basic, there is no running water and no electricity, there are some new latrines, and food is available. Rene Arzu can help you arrange for accommodations there, which will range from Lps. 80 to 100 a night and up.

If you have your own boat, and plan on visiting the keys, you should bare in mind that anchoring is illegal, due to the fact that the coral reefs are damaged every time an anchor is used. However, moorings are available in the channel between the two larger keys. Most of them are located on the west side of Cochino Grande, almost in front of the Plantation Beach Resort.