The $160. transfer from the mainland ($80.per person) is a bit excessive, then a $10. park fee added felt like we were being gauged a bit, but the genuine energy of the people at Plantation Beach was a welcome relief. Had we more time I certainly would have stayed longer just to justify the transfer cost.

We needed to be at a destination at a certain hour and by George they delivered us on time and for the most part dry.

The next generation has refreshing plans to attract a younger crowd and I am wishing them the best luck. They deserve it.

I am a diver, so let's start out with the essentials. The diving is spectacular! The resort is located on Cayos Cochinos, of the Caribbean coast, which was declared a marine park nearly twenty years ago. There are too many cool dive sites to mentioned, but I'll mention a couple. Pelican Wall, which dropped to a depth of seventy feet?, Lionshead, which had giant boulders teeming with life, cool swim thrus, hundreds of interesting species of fish, etc. That is just a few. The diving, I have been told, is very similar to the more well known Bay Islands of Roatan, Utila, and Guanaja. I have dove in Grand Cayman, Bonaire, and Belize in the Caribbean, and I found it comparable, but better in the sense of its isolation and prstineness.

The BEST part is the Plantation Beach Resort is the ONLY resort on Cayos Cuchinos, and the government won't let any more in. It was grandfathered in after the marine park was established. So what this means is, you are just about the only divers on the sites. You really don't see any other dive boats ( a couple of tour operators come in from Roatan). We had the sites completely to ourselves, and they were pristine. Captain Danny has worked the waters for fifteen years, and was extremely knowledgeable about the dive sites and waters. I always felt safe.

As for the resort itself, Plantation Beach Resort is very intimate. There are usually only a few guests at a time. There are three dining tables, but when I was there everyone ate together, which was nice. The food was tasty home cooked fare. The local fisherman would stop by every morning with fresh red snapper or Yellow Tail, so there was a fresh( fresh!) fish meal just about every day. So tasty! The rooms are rooms...with spectacular views. Anyway, you should only be sleeping in your room, as there is a lot to do.

The island is stunning. There are no roads, and beautiful beaches right around the corner, though I just mostly dove. There are also a couple of nice paths on the island, but, again, I mostly diving. There are also ( harmless to humans) pink Boa's. This is the only place in the world they exist. They just hang out and eat birds. I saw one and they are super chill. Yes, there are sand fleas, so bring deet. I got a few bites. But sand fleas are everywhere in the islands and the Caribbean in general.

If you like the hustle and bustle of lots of cheesy tourist restaurants, and really like the crowds, Plantation Beach resort may not be for you. But if you want a real scuba adventure, as well as a really peaceful, stunning environment with friendly people,Plantation Beach Resort is the place to go. There are a bit more logistics involved in getting there, but Rio and Roger are extremely helpful in getting all the details worked out.

Oh, I was traveling alone and it was no problem.

Let me know if you have any questions.

My husband and I spent five days at Plantation Beach Resort at the beginning of December. Our hosts were extremely accommodating, friendly and helpful. They showed us where the best snorkeling was (and even walked there with us), took us on a hike to the lighthouse and gave us a boat ride to the village of East End. At the same time, we had all the privacy we could wish for and could sit undisturbed , watching the ocean, for hours on end. Although Roatan was initially our one and only reason for going to Honduras, our experience on Cayos Cochinos convinced us that we didn’t need Roatan’s commercialization and we decided not to go. Our time at Plantation Beach Resort was one of the most relaxing vacations I have ever had. Unless you desperately need a souvenir T-shirt or pampered luxury, I highly recommend it.

I just came in this morning from Plantation Beach Resort, where I stayed for five nights. Next year I will be staying longer. I had a beautiful room, overlooking the bay. The food was simple but excellent. The weather was unpredictable (it's still winter storm season) but, in the end, it didn't matter. I read books and relaxed in a hammock and watched the ocean and learned how to snorkel and laughed with the staff (who do their best to give you top-notch service). The island is small and completely safe, which meant that I could go exploring and have little adventures all by myself. Meals are eaten together and quickly become a time to share stories with other guests and the English-speaking staff. If you want a few days "off the grid" and don't require constant entertainment, this is an ideal place to go. I feel like I've discovered my own little piece of tropical paradise.