Guanaja Island
After we enjoyed our usual “anchor-set-rum”, we were
officially welcomed by the tame Sandy bay Dolphin. She stays in the small bay between the boats
on anchor. We anchored just in front of the German owned (Hansito) Manatee bar/restaurant which serves good
German sausage etc.
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| Bonnaca |
Guanaja is about 70 km off the north coast of Honduras, and 12 km from the island of Roatan. Most of the approximately 10,000 people who live in Guanaja lives on one of the cays off Guanaja, called Guanaja or Bonnaca or Low Cay (or just simply, The Cay).
The densely populated cay has been described as the Venice of Honduras because of the waterways that run through it. There is only one small road on the island linking the towns of Mangrove Bight and Savannah Bight, so nearly all transportation is done over water (water taxi).
The Cayman Islanders/Caracol people settled in Northern Honduras (specifically, the Bay Islands) since the early 19th century, which explains the diffusion of Spanish and English language. Caracol is a Spanish term that literally translates as conch, snail or shell and relates the people of the Bay Islands to their unique environment and their seafaring culture.
English is the first language of all native islanders regardless of race and Spanish is spoken second, whereas mainland Honduras is primarily Spanish speaking.
In late-October 1998, most of the buildings and homes on the island were destroyed by Hurricane Mitch. The majority of the mangrove and pine forests, which were destroyed as a direct consequence of the passage of the hurricane sweeping across the island for two days, are slowly making a comeback.
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| Dunbar Rock |
We enjoyed a day of hiking with Jean-Pierre (our guide), Brigitte, Francois and Fabrice to Michael Rock Peak (1,350 ft.), the tallest of the Bay Islands. This makes for incredible view of the Caribbean Sea and the island.
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| LOST? |
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| Panoramic view from Michael Rock. |
We thoroughly enjoyed this "unspoiled", tranquil Guanaja. We stayed for a couple of days and left for Roatan Island on on Tuesday the 12th of June.
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| Thanx Fabrice & Francois of "Caravel", Jean-Pierre & Brigitte of Ti-Bag for a unforgettable and wonderful time! |
After we enjoyed our usual “anchor-set-rum”, we were
officially welcomed by the tame Sandy bay Dolphin. She stays in the small bay between the boats
on anchor. We anchored just in front of the German owned (Hansito) Manatee bar/restaurant which serves good
German sausage etc.
In late-October 1998, most of the buildings and homes on the island were destroyed by Hurricane Mitch. The majority of the mangrove and pine forests, which were destroyed as a direct consequence of the passage of the hurricane sweeping across the island for two days, are slowly making a comeback.
We enjoyed a day of hiking with Jean-Pierre (our guide), Brigitte, Francois and Fabrice to Michael Rock Peak (1,350 ft.), the tallest of the Bay Islands. This makes for incredible view of the Caribbean Sea and the island.
