By Diana Selkirk
The Bay Islands of Honduras - Unlike the rest of Honduras, the language of the Bay Islands is English - with a twist. Peppered with words like “steam’n” (to go boating) and “looking glass” (mirror), the local language harks back to the era of English pirates. And now, as it was then, the Islands welcome anyone longing to break from a nefarious past.
In Exile on a Caribbean Island - Guanaja:
The tallest of the three main Islands, Guanaja is the Island that draws visitors who are seeking isolation and privacy. The resorts around Guanaja are often small, family run eco-resorts that specialize in diving, kayaking or hiking.
The major settlement is the ramshackle town of Bonacca. With tightly packed, old-Victorian houses, narrow wooden walkways and crisscrossing canals – Bonacca exuberantly spills over its tiny cay. There are no cars on the Island and most families own a small boat for transportation.
Visitors to Guanaja are often surprised by this unspoiled Caribbean paradise. The Caribbean pine jungles and white sand beaches probably have not changed much since Columbus first arrived and sighted the Paya Indians manning their giant canoes.
Express yourself on Utila:
Utila has just one main street. It is heavily trafficked by a couple of old pick-up trucks that serve as taxi’s; a few ATV’s; miscellaneous scooters whose owners transport trays of donuts or sacks of coconuts from one end of town to the other; bicycles in various states of disrepair; children in tidy school uniforms; dogs chasing cats, and (while we were there) an escaped pig. Music blares from a variety of sources competing with bicycle horns and shouted greetings. Taco stands, frying fish and over ripe mangos make the humid air thick with a jungle odour.
One of the charms of Utila is that tourists and locals mix freely. Most of the shops and restaurants are little family run places that are just as likely to cater to their neighbors as to international visitors. This is the Island to come to if you are seeking a neighbourhood that becomes ‘home’ in a few days. If you are looking for a restaurant where they will learn your name and your favourite dish (and maybe even remember when you return a few years later) and a hotel where the guests and owners mingle over the Caribbean sunset, Utila may be the place. Popular with budget travelers looking for inexpensive diving, Utila also boasts higher end resorts.
