Cuero y Salado and Southwest Caye, Honduras
A gray overcast dawn soon turned to blue as we made our way to the junction of two Honduran rivers, the Rio Cuero and Rio Salado. A line of ocean breakers guarded the river mouth, but we soon passed through them and cruised to where kayaks awaited our eager guests. Cuero y Salado Refugio de Vida Silvestre is a National Wildlife Refuge that protects these spectacular wild rivers that run through this coastal forest. Within minutes we were paddling silently up this beautiful waterway with the high peaks of the Cordillera Nombre de Dias fringing the distant skyline. A Zodiac full of guests caught up with the kayakers and we all entered the towering green walls of a gallery forest. Our divemaster found a group of Mantled howler monkeys looking down upon us. Most of us looked far up into their big dark eyes, shaggy dark coats and languid body positions.
We explored a few of the many river channels that seemed to go on forever. We found vines that wound around and dangled over the many branches that emerged from masses of leaves and disappeared into more green. The white shaving-brush blossoms of provision trees added color, many species of palms brought a textural diversity, and mounds of leaves filled every space in this tropical garden.
The afternoon cruising brought us to a tiny coral island named Southwest Cay within the Bay Islands. Scuba divers left first for dives on the outer reef. Swimmers and snorklers were dropped off next in a protected area surrounded by a spectacular reef with a coconut palm island that offered welcome shade. Colorful reef fish wound their way through sea fans, gorgonians, and branching corals. Soon we were back to the Sea Lion for a comfortable evening as we motored on towards new adventures in Belize.
A gray overcast dawn soon turned to blue as we made our way to the junction of two Honduran rivers, the Rio Cuero and Rio Salado. A line of ocean breakers guarded the river mouth, but we soon passed through them and cruised to where kayaks awaited our eager guests. Cuero y Salado Refugio de Vida Silvestre is a National Wildlife Refuge that protects these spectacular wild rivers that run through this coastal forest. Within minutes we were paddling silently up this beautiful waterway with the high peaks of the Cordillera Nombre de Dias fringing the distant skyline. A Zodiac full of guests caught up with the kayakers and we all entered the towering green walls of a gallery forest. Our divemaster found a group of Mantled howler monkeys looking down upon us. Most of us looked far up into their big dark eyes, shaggy dark coats and languid body positions.
We explored a few of the many river channels that seemed to go on forever. We found vines that wound around and dangled over the many branches that emerged from masses of leaves and disappeared into more green. The white shaving-brush blossoms of provision trees added color, many species of palms brought a textural diversity, and mounds of leaves filled every space in this tropical garden.
The afternoon cruising brought us to a tiny coral island named Southwest Cay within the Bay Islands. Scuba divers left first for dives on the outer reef. Swimmers and snorklers were dropped off next in a protected area surrounded by a spectacular reef with a coconut palm island that offered welcome shade. Colorful reef fish wound their way through sea fans, gorgonians, and branching corals. Soon we were back to the Sea Lion for a comfortable evening as we motored on towards new adventures in Belize.
