Turtle Bay Eco Resort, Honduras: A Review

While I lived and worked in Honduras, I made it a goal to visit all of the Bay Islands. Each of the islands is different with unique vibes and things to do. Cayos Cochinos (technically a part of Roatan, though they are separate), seemed like an exciting place to explore. When I discovered I could go there for more than just a day trip, I jumped at the chance. Turtle Bay Eco Resort offered my boyfriend and I the opportunity to enjoy the beauty of the Honduran islands in a peaceful setting.

Location

Located off the coast of Honduras, Turtle Bay Eco Resort is on one of the 15 islands that make up Cayos Cochinos, part of the Bay Islands. The resort is one of the only places you stay if you want to spend more than just a day on the islands. It also isn't very big, allowing guests to get the private island experience at an affordable price.

Getting There

When you book a stay at Turtle Bay Eco Resort, keep in mind that getting there is only possible by boat. The resort offers complimentary boat rides from the coastal town of La Ceiba, home to the biggest carnival in Central America. These rides are only available on Wednesdays and Saturdays. If you book outside of these days, you will have to pay $150 for the trip. I booked a 4-night stay from Saturday to Wednesday. For a cheaper stay, think about booking a 3-night stay from Wednesday to Saturday.

The boat is not large, and on particularly windy or rough days, you will get wet. Luckily for me, I traveled there with perfect weather, and honestly didn't get a drop on me. Apparently, this is extremely rare. Even on nice days, the waves can get over the sides of the boat. Luggage is placed under a tarp for the journey, but pack your valuables carefully (plastic bags may be your best friend). Also, a light jacket or raincoat is advised.

The Room

With just 5 lodges available at the resort, it is truly a private experience.

Our room at the resort was spacious with a king-sized bed. Large windows along one wall let in a lot of natural light as well as ocean breezes. It also came with a sunset shower, that let us take in the view while bathing. An overhead fan helped to keep us cool at night.

Rooms do not come with their own wifi, but it is available in the common areas.

Diving, Snorkeling & Paddle Boarding

The highlight and main draw for visiting Turtle Bay Eco Resort is the time spent in the ocean. Honduras is home to the second largest reef in the world, and all sorts of creatures make their home in the waters there. While my boyfriend and I did not take part in the diving (I had gone recently and was looking for something a little more low key), snorkeling was a great option!

I snorkeled every single day! There is a great reef just off the beach from the resort where you can spot sea turtles, manta rays, an octopus, tons of fish, and sometimes a barracuda. I had such a blast splashing around taking it all in!

For those interested in diving, the resort has PADI certified Dive Instructors. if you visit the the resort is not very busy, you will get one-on-one attention and can really choose what you want to do and where you want to dive, within reason. It is a great opportunity to brush up on your skills, or explore the waters in the area.

Turtle Bay Eco Resort also has Stand Up Paddle boards for guests to use. These are included in the price of your stay. Nothing quite beats an afternoon of SUPing, am I right?

Hiking

If you are more of a land creature, you can explore the island by hiking. There is a lighthouse located about 45 min from the resort on a well marked trail through the jungle. On the way, keep your eyes out for the infamous pink boa constrictor that makes its home here. I actually almost stepped right on one while hiking! It startled me so much, I forgot to snap a pic. Boo.

Once you reach the lighthouse, you can climb the ladder located inside to the top for a 360 view of the island and the surrounding area. The breeze is unbeatable, and the climb (while scary!) is worth it.

You can also choose to hike over to the other side of the island where a local fishing village is. Enjoy a large beer (called a ‘caguma') after making it there. This hike only takes between 20-30 minutes, but includes a pretty steep incline right before the village.

Island Hopping

Probably one of my favorite activities I did at Turtle Bay Eco Resort was an island hopping tour of some of the 15 islands that make up Cayos Cochinos. A staff member took us out on the boat and brought us to several islands, where we had the opportunity to snorkel and lounge. The islands had perfectly white sand and the bluest water I have ever seen. Many of them were tiny! And with no one there, we got a truly private beach experience!

The last stop on the tour was a local Garifuna fishing village named Chachahuate. It is a popular place for people to visit during lunch to eat freshly caught fried fish prepared by the locals. The tiny island has tons of homes built close together, and was a fascinating place to briefly visit and enjoy a beer. I loved meeting the local people who call the islands their home and seeing how they lived their lives.

Food

While you may come to Turtle Bay Eco Resort for the scenery and activities, you will stay for the food. The resort serves three meals a day, which are included in the price of your stay. They employ a private chef to cook the meals, and they are FANTASTIC. If you have dietary restrictions, be sure to tell them prior to your arrival. I didn't have any and enjoyed all sorts of amazing meals, some local and others not. Everything was incredible and delicious. I don't have pictures because I devoured all of them almost immediately. And bonus: dinner always comes with a dessert. It was always my favorite part of the day.

The Staff

A highlight of staying at Turtle Bay Eco Resort was the incredible staff. They went above and beyond to ensure that our time there was perfect. When we got bit by sand flies (see warning below), they gave us so many things to help combat the itching and the bites. They let us go out on the dive boat to try snorkeling in a new location, and gently encouraged us to dive. While we didn't take them up on the diving offer, I know that had I chosen to dive, it would have been a most enjoyable experience.

I also really liked eating all of our meals with them. Because we visited during the low season, there were not many guests. This meant that we basically had the resort to ourselves and got lots of individualized attention. The staff was also great about respecting our space and letting us use our vacation to relax, and really do whatever we wanted.

Warning

When you come to any of the Bay Islands, you must be prepared for the bugs. Mosquitoes can be easily handled with any bug spray or lotion. Turtle Bay actually didn't have many when I visited.

However, there were quite a bit of sand flies, also known as ‘no-see-ums.' These little buggers are pretty hard to see, and you don't always feel them biting you. I got it pretty bad the first day before I realized I had to REALLY lotion up if I was going to be hanging outside. Strong bug spray is key and also baby oil, which provides a protective layer that the bugs find it hard to bite through. After getting out of the water, make sure to rinse off, since salt attracts them. Once I properly ‘oiled up,' I didn't have a problem.