Chachahuate

Those who wish to appreciate a different side of the Cayos [1] for considerably less money can take a boat from Nuevo Armenia, near Jutiapa [2] on the mainland coast, or from Sambo Creek [3] near La Ceiba [4], to the Garífuna village of Chachahuate on Lower Monitor Cay.

This is the sort of place, as one visitor commented, where you should go with an open mind and heart. Because of its isolation, Chachahuate is one of the more traditional and friendly Garífuna villages in Honduras [5], so keep that in mind and try to be a relaxed and amiable guest.

An effort is being made to develop ecotourism on the island, and there are now rooms and organized meal service available through the group Ruta Garinagu Cayos Cochinos [1]. The mainland coordinator, Chichi, can arrange transportation from Nueva Armenia to Chachahuate (US$130 for round-trip in one day, US$160 for round-trip with a stay of 2–3 days—per boat, not per person), as well as make sure that there are meals and rooms available during your stay. Chichi can be reached at tel. 504/9840-8617 or 504/9937-1702, or you can stop into Hotel Chichi in Nueva Armenia and ask for her.

A room in the basic Hotel Chichi is US$5.25 per person, as are the rooms in the simple cabins on Chachahuate (no hot water, and the bathrooms are public baths outside the cabins). In addition to the cabins, there is one hotel, El Pescador, which Chichi can also reserve, for US$8 per person. Meals typically consist of a plate of fried fish with rice, beans, and plantain, or machuca, a fish soup with plantain. Those who have stayed gave glowing reports about the experience.

Large groups can ask Chichi about the privately owned cay with a guesthouse. Each room in the guesthouse sleeps up to 10.