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La Ceiba
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Cayos Cochinos
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Cayos Cochinos

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Cayos Cochinos
4.5
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
368 reviews
Excellent
287
Very good
52
Average
19
Poor
4
Terrible
6
Sarah H
Columbus, OH24 contributions
Beautiful Reserve...do not go with TouristOptions tour!!!!!
Solo
The Marine Reserve is a stunningly beautiful area and well worth a visit. I hope to return and spend a few days. However be very, very cautious of the company you book a tour with. I used Tourist Options and it was a huge mistake. Despite operating since the early 1990's they are disinterested (at best) in safety and gave almost no information / education during the tour. The boat ride to and from the area was done at an extreme rate of speed with the boat careening in the air on two occasions and landing so hard there were back injuries. Once to the snorkeling area the guides provided no guiding...in fact the only time they pointed anything out was when they called us over right into the middle of a school of jellyfish. Very painful. The stop through the Garifuna village of Chachahuate was supposed to be a cultural learning time including music, dance, walking tour, and a tasty lunch. Instead got over cooked fried fish and was charged twice for the food. The only interaction with the locals was kids hawking junk jewelry and a child 'little person' that was repeatedly sent over to beg from us. Very disturbing and sad. No music, no dance, just begging.
Written February 21, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Richard C
21 contributions
A "must visit" if you go to Honduras
My wife and some family members visited Cayos Cochinos on a trip to Honduras in January of 2018. I would have never thought of this as a "bucket list" item until I was there. This was definitely not only the the highlight of our Honduras trip, but one of those experiences you will never forget. Cayos Cochinos is actually a group of islands, most of which are small and appear to be uninhabited. Depending on which tour you take you may actually get to visit your own desert island and snorkel some of the most beautiful coral reefs in the world. Because this is a nature preserve, it is protected from commercialization, so you get the opportunity to experience indigenous people the way they have lived for hundreds of years. I can't emphasize enough how beautiful it is and although a little pricey, it is well worth it.
Written February 21, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
TihoDi
29 contributions
nice place
the place is very good.. islands are great for snorkeling.
But excursions are in rush, you can not just stay there and relax... everything is "go... go... go..."
if you want to stay thee for a few days, you should make a reservations WAY before your travel, and when you're there, it's usually too late.
Written February 20, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Wdwphd57
Jacksonville, FL20 contributions
Big boat, a new engine, knowledgeable Captain
Couples
Before making a trip to Cayo Cochinos make sure of the following a) you are aware it is 26 miles from West Bay, Roatan, b) sea conditions vary a lot throughout the day. Waves at the beginning of the trip may be 1-2 ft in the morning and 5-7 by afternoon so charter a big boat and not a 24 ft panga. c) make sure the engine on the boat is relatively new and there is an emergency radio on board d) make sure you guide/captain knows the area, where to dock, where to snorkel, where to eat. Ask very specific questions like, how many dive spots will we have, what will we see at different spots. When did you visit Cayos last. Do you have pictures?

Our trip was a disaster We had read about Cayos Cochinos, talked to the locals and were excited to go. Several of the locals offered to take us. We chose a Captain who spoke the best English and seemed to know the most about Cayos and snorkeling in the area. Halfway to Cayos, the engine stalled out. We then realized our boat was not equipped with a radio. Eventually Capt. repaired the engine but it only ran at idle speed. We reached Cayos after 6 hours. Capt did not know the area nor where to dock. By luck we found Turtle Bay. The folks at Turtle Bay helped our Capt repaired the boat and we began our return with 5 to 7 foot swells lapping over the gunnel of the small panga. We arrived back at West End Bay an hour after dark soaked, wet and bruised.
Written July 22, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
SueBMaine
Northport, ME153 contributions
Not for everybody, but we loved it
this trip is billed as a cultural and snorkeling tour. We went along with eight others on a small boat from Roatan to Cayos Cochinos. The trip across was fine, although we heard it could get bumpy, it was not for us. Our first stop was to one of the islands where we had to watch a mandatory video. Then we were off to snorkel, and then to the small island where the Garafuna people live in huts on one acre. There were Pelicans, Magnificient Frigatebirds all over. Children from the island were selling trinkets for $5. We had lunch cooked by one of the local women which was delicious: poached red snaller (half a fish) ,rice and beans, coconut bread and tostones (fried plantains). All good. Then we snorkeled again. There were fewer fish here than on Roatan, but the reefs were alive and fabulous. We did see a few new fish we had not ever seen here, including a porcupine fish of a different variety then we usually see, which looked like it was wearing camouflage. This was an all day trip and we were charged $180 per person plus the very costly 15% Honduran tax. Fortunately, we got one trip free after viewing a time share presentation at Infinity Bay in Roatan. I believe the trip is much cheaper from La Ceiba. For the final price we paid, it was most worth it, but if we had to fork out the $400, which we almost did, I am not sure it was. Be careful, some of the excursions to this place go by water taxi, and I can only imagine how scary that could be crossing over from Roatan. Make sure you are getting a modern boat.
Written February 13, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Helen B
Ottawa, Canada229 contributions
BEAUTY
Family
A day tour from The Lodge at Pico Bonito. Our guide Elmer was amazing. The drive to get on the boat was about an hour, and then another 30-40 minutes on a boat. Stopped at the Monumento natural marino to watch a short video and a quick look around. Then off to snorkel for over hour, in the second largest coral reef in the world. Back on the boat for a short ride to the next island for a fresh fish lunch with rice and beans, and plantain. It was cooked to perfection. on the way back to the mainland we were lucky to see a school of dolphins catching their dinner.
Written December 28, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Alicia P
2 contributions
Easy & superb snorkeling
Couples
This was my first time snorkeling and I'm a mediocre swimmer, but the coral reefs are just a step off the beach and are are incredibly dense with life. It felt like I had just stepped into a wonderful nature documentary, with fishes of all sizes and colors darting around you (yes there are jellyfish), yet I barely had to swim far from the beach.

We went with a Garifuna-run tour that left Sambo Creek at 7am and returned at 1pm, with a scheduled lunch stop at a Garifuna restaurant on one of their islands. I got fried fish with rice and beans, fried plantain, and a coke; it was all very delicious.

Tips for the trip: eat before leaving or bring snacks since you may or may not eat lunch out there (I suppose it depends on your specific tour), wear your bathing suit under your clothes so that you don't have to wait in line to change in a questionable bathroom, bring drinking water, bring exact change ($), bring a waterproof bag if you have one or a few plastic bags to protect anything you don't want to get wet, and a towel or two.
Written February 16, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
ketchikan_AKRound4
ketchikan, AK11 contributions
Underwhelmed
Couples
Locals pressured us to make purchases of local craft items. We did not want to purchase items made from endangered tortoise shells. Local adults pressured us to tip for services like showing us the location of the restroom. When snorkeling you were required to hold or wear a life jacket and areas were restricted. Marine life was not at all special compared to Bay Islands reefs. Disappointing experience. Not likely to return.
Written September 19, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Juan307
Miami, FL66 contributions
This is like a day trip to paradise!!!
Couples
Love the trip,we got the boat at Sambo Creek early in the morning when the sea is calm,the islands are beautifull,the lunch at the Chachahuate Island is a most at the last island with the garifunas(honduras of african descendant) the prepare a nice fry fish with fry plantains and rice mix with red beans, you can also buy beer at the place. This restaurant is just a picnic table on the sand in front of the beach,very simple but really good.
This trip you can mix it with a scuba dive time or snorkeling,the reef around this area are protected and the view is amazing.
Written July 30, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Jason B
Brooklyn, NY9 contributions
2nd Largest Barrier Reef in the World
Family
Simply stunning. It was an easy boat ride from our hotel (Palma Real) to the islands. We spent one day snorkeling and we wished we had done a couple more.
Written June 18, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Cayos Cochinos (La Ceiba) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go