Guanaja Island: Sshh… A Secret in the Caribbean.

Guanaja island, Guanaja honduras, Guanaja photos

I had to pinch myself as my tiny 20-seater plane with an open cockpit, circled a lush mountainous island surrounded by the deep blue Atlantic Ocean. It looked a little like Isla Sonora from the Jurassic Park movies. The plane descended sharply as the hillocks parted to reveal a tiny airstrip, which ended just a few feet away from the ocean. The airport was only connected to the rest of the island by boat.

Oral, like the toothbrush – our host at La Giralda introduced himself and led us to his boat. His face was tanned from years in the sun, body muscular from years of rowing, demeanour laid back from his island upbringing.

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A rainbow welcomes us to Guanaja. Notice the pilot deplaning the kids!
Guanaja honduras, Guanaja photos
Life in Guanaja.

That there were no streets on the island we knew, but that the capital town of Guanaja was built on stilts on the water, we didn’t. Called Bonacca, it was originally two islands, connected by a boardwalk that was gradually (manually) filled with rocks and sands to expand the town. From a distance, we could see people rowing their fishing boats in its bylanes. The Venice of the Caribbean?

Read: Honduras: We Travel to Realize Everyone is Wrong About Other Countries

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The town of Bonacca, built on stilts!
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The by-lanes of Bonacca town.

Along a tranquil bay in the ocean, we arrived at La Giralda. It was once the home of a Caribbean family – and what a home it was. A beach villa, aesthetically built with local pinewood, an infinity pool and the infinite Atlantic Ocean in its front yard! Four more villas, each with its own quirks, were built far apart, to host world-weary travellers like us who wanted to experience what might be the Caribbean’s best kept secret.

Over coconut rum, Oral regaled us with stories of island living. Word got around so fast among this closely-knit island community that if we started walking from one end of Bonacca, people on the other end would already know us before we got there. Hurricane Mitch hit the island for 3 long days in 1998, and the locals all gathered in a few homes and drank, because being content was the only way to die. In the end, no one died, even though the entire forest, the two major hotels, most houses and schools, and tourism on the island (it was once a secret haunt for Hollywood celebrities) were totally destroyed. Every islander had a Mitch story; Oral himself had held on to a tree on the leeward side of the mountain for an entire day so as not to be swept away by the growling wind.

Even now, amid the pristine beauty and slow-paced island life, a shipwreck here and a bare slope there, were stark reminders of nature’s fury all those years ago. Life on the island was split in two parts – before Mitch and after Mitch.

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The little red dot on the left of the hill is La Giralda. In front, a wreckage from Hurricane Mitch.
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Our Villa Almirante at La Giralda.
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Swimming in the infinity pool at La Giralda.

For five days, we woke up to humming birds fluttering in the balcony of our Villa Almirante, attempting to count the shades of blue in the ocean beyond.

With Oral, we snorkeled off Michael’s Rock into the world’s second biggest coral reef, spotting octopus, lion-fish and a mind boggling variety of colors in the underwater world. Kayaking and Standup Paddle boarding in the stormy ocean, we felt like sailors out to explore uninhabited islands.

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Oral chilling with a beer near Michael’s Rock.
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SUPing in the Atlantic Ocean!

Across the coast from La Giralda, we met a small German community who had made the island their home. The first of them had arrived in the early 90s and inexplicably decided to stay. The others had followed. Far away from civilization, we sat drinking German beer, eating spatzle, and listening to The Scorpions!

By the time we hit the local bar at Bonacca, our faces were tanned from the sun and muscles sore from kayaking. Guzzling beer, I wondered what if I burnt my return ticket, bought a little piece of land, and never left this paradise; would the islanders accept me as one of their own?

Just then, more beers arrived on our table instead of the bill we had asked for – the locals on the next table had bought us drinks and sent us an invitation for a party! Just like that, I had my answer.

Bonacca photos, Bonacca bar
The local bar in Bonacca.
Guanaja island, Guanaja honduras, Guanaja photos
A taste of Caribbean living.

 On which island have you left behind a part of you?

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Note: I was hosted by La Giralda in Guanaja. It was impossible not to fall in love!

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26 Comments

  1. Roberto Amaral says:

    Beautiful… Shivya, keep digging out planet Earth’s secrets!!!

  2. sumthingofeverything says:

    Great .. Bonacca is a true secret.. quite unlike how many of us know of Carribean.. well written ..just that your signature photo is missing

  3. Although we’ve traveled in Honduras I have to admit that I’d never heard of this place. Really intrigued now and want to visit. Thanks for sharing!!

  4. Looks beautiful there Shivya… in answer to your question at the end I would have to say the South Island of NZ.

  5. irene mildred hyde ebanks says:

    guanaja in honduras central america is the most beautifuul island ever wow what a beauty…

  6. Great post with all informative description..:)

  7. I left mine on the little island of Burano in Italy but then again I haven’t yet visited a paradise island in the Caribbean. The islanders seem to have understood life correctly.

  8. This one is Brilliant. And I like the Christmas Snow Flakes effect on the page… 🙂

  9. What a lovely island secret. And you even managed to get some Swabian Spätzle and German beer. Now, that’s a holiday!

  10. Pingback: Sshh… A Secret in the Caribbean. | The Talking Sloth - Asia
  11. suvasiniiyer says:

    Definitely Secret Island i guesss.. its beautiful

  12. Beautiful pictures and the article ! quick qn – is it Atlantic ocean or Caribbean sea ?

  13. Breathtaking pics of Guanaja in Honduras Central America. Continue unveiling such beautiful secrets around the world, Shivya.

  14. Stephanie says:

    Thank you for posting. I spent time in Utila and wanted to go to Guanaja , something about its name captured my soul. After reading your well written descriptive post I know why. I am returning to Utila soon and will not miss going to this magical island Thank you!!

  15. Kyrra moore says:

    This is my hometown an it is; yes a secret well guarded !!! I Welcome everybody to visit and became enchanted with our culture.

    Thank you for the lovely description, next time you are on the island let me know to invite you to some real island food.

  16. funtravelog says:

    Hi Shivya, nice pictures and thanks for sharing this blog on Honduras. We’re very keen to explore the Caribbean islands which are off the beaten path and this one shall be kept on our radar 🙂

    Cheers!

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