Southwest Caye, Utila and Jeanette Kawas National Park, Honduras
We approached the group of small but picturesque sandy islets located just west of the main island of Utila. Approximately 400 people live here and are the direct descendants of the first group of immigrants that moved here from the Cayman Islands in the 1980’s. They eventually relocated to these smaller islands to escape the voracious appetites of the notorious sandfly that inhabits mainland Utila.
Once ashore at our paradisiacal sandy caye, the hammocks, chairs and beach were occupied by our guests. It took no persuading to get anyone into the inviting colorful water. The aqua blue waters of sand and sea grass were marred only by the huge expanses of the darker colors of the fringing and patch reefs and their inhabitants. The divers donned their scuba tanks and discovered a large green moray eel visiting a cleaning station, which are underwater “car washes “ where fish are cleaned of parasites, dead skin and scale by other juvenile fish or shrimp. Leaving our tropical paradise was not going to be easy, but all too soon it was time to move on back to the mainland to visit the wild region of Punta Sal and its interior.
As we neared the coastline, we knew that we were getting closer because of the huge jutting figures of the rocky shoreline. Punta Sal loomed ahead of us and once again our anchor dropped, down into the muddy waters of the emptying Rio Tinto. The rain had started and the dry season had come to an end. The Jeanette Kawas National Park is one of the most biologically diverse nature reserves that Honduras has. The peak of Punta Sal stands at 176 meters and the area surrounding it encompasses an area of about 782 square miles which is relatively flat. The best way to take a look at this park was by river and so our guests opted to ride along in the Zodiacs or take a slower pace and paddle up the river. Almost immediately we spotted the mantled howler monkey up high in one of the fig trees. We could see the trees bow down under the weight of the monkeys as they moved along steadily, perhaps in search of new and succulent leaves. An arcing yellow figure flew across the river. The keel-billed toucan had just made an entry and several more were sighted. A small but sturdy dugout went by and we waved to the people who have made this area their home - the Garinagu. And the sunset seemed to go on forever.
We approached the group of small but picturesque sandy islets located just west of the main island of Utila. Approximately 400 people live here and are the direct descendants of the first group of immigrants that moved here from the Cayman Islands in the 1980’s. They eventually relocated to these smaller islands to escape the voracious appetites of the notorious sandfly that inhabits mainland Utila.
Once ashore at our paradisiacal sandy caye, the hammocks, chairs and beach were occupied by our guests. It took no persuading to get anyone into the inviting colorful water. The aqua blue waters of sand and sea grass were marred only by the huge expanses of the darker colors of the fringing and patch reefs and their inhabitants. The divers donned their scuba tanks and discovered a large green moray eel visiting a cleaning station, which are underwater “car washes “ where fish are cleaned of parasites, dead skin and scale by other juvenile fish or shrimp. Leaving our tropical paradise was not going to be easy, but all too soon it was time to move on back to the mainland to visit the wild region of Punta Sal and its interior.
As we neared the coastline, we knew that we were getting closer because of the huge jutting figures of the rocky shoreline. Punta Sal loomed ahead of us and once again our anchor dropped, down into the muddy waters of the emptying Rio Tinto. The rain had started and the dry season had come to an end. The Jeanette Kawas National Park is one of the most biologically diverse nature reserves that Honduras has. The peak of Punta Sal stands at 176 meters and the area surrounding it encompasses an area of about 782 square miles which is relatively flat. The best way to take a look at this park was by river and so our guests opted to ride along in the Zodiacs or take a slower pace and paddle up the river. Almost immediately we spotted the mantled howler monkey up high in one of the fig trees. We could see the trees bow down under the weight of the monkeys as they moved along steadily, perhaps in search of new and succulent leaves. An arcing yellow figure flew across the river. The keel-billed toucan had just made an entry and several more were sighted. A small but sturdy dugout went by and we waved to the people who have made this area their home - the Garinagu. And the sunset seemed to go on forever.
