Tiger Island, Honduras is a quite fishing village in the Golfo de Fonesca. It is inhibited by a 2568 ft high extinct volcanic that lends itself for the Tiger Island, Honduras is a quite fishing village in the Golfo de Fonesca. It is inhibited by a 2568 ft high extinct volcanic that lends itself for the spectcular vista it presents as the backdrop to the island.
This unique town in the island of the tiger is the largest town on the largest pacific island of Honduras. Although an island, it is fairly easy to get to Amapala. You must first get to the fishing town of Coyolito, buses to Coyolito run frequently from San Lorenzo, as well as from Choluteca. Once in Coyolito, you can hire a motor launch to take across the channel to the island. Both rides to the island are a remarkable journey to be enjoyed and at times the views and flora are breathtaking.
Without question the first impression that strikes you upon arriving for the eight minute boat ride to the island is the conical volcano. There is also a road that leads to the top of almost perfect conical extinct volcano on the island From here, you can enjoy spectacular views of the Gulf. If you are headed for El Salvador, there is cuasi regular service to La Union in El Salvador. There is local immigration and customs service at Amapala, so getting a stamp on your passport prior to departure is no problem.
Regretfully, I have to report there are no tigers on Tiger Island. Isla del Tigre is within the larger Gulf of Fonseca which is shared by three countries: Honduras, El Salvador and Nicaragua. The island is the largest of a small archipelago of islands. All three countries can viewed at one time and boat rides are offered as well.
The island fishing village is small friendly village of locals that begin there day at sunrise and sell their catch that day at the Port of Amapala. Many native Hondurans drive for many miles to purchase the seafood of their choice. The variety of fish and shrimp is without question fresh and many time the clients are waiting for the boats to dock and unload their catch.
The entire archipelago is part of a significant marine and terrestrial reserve as is the large volcanic peak seen across the strait from El Tigre known as Sacate Grande. This peak once an island itself until connected by a causeway to the mainland through the mangrove swamps is where the road now ends at Coyolito and where small launches to Amapala can be taken. Extending back east from the archipelago is a deep bay--Bahia de Chismuyowhich is completely ringed by near pristinemangroveforests and wetlands and is targeted for management by both countries that border it, El Salvador and Honduras. The mangroves and wetlands ringing the gulf are among the largest, least degraded and most important example of this aquatic ecosystem between South and North America.
My visit there was short and I regret I didn't have more time to see more. I enjoyed talking to the locals and having a few beers with them at the many bars along the beach. It was a real pleasure to move out at the break of dawn with two island fisherman to learn their craft.
Their wooden boats are more like a 20 ft. John boat but are stable and easy to control. It allows the fisherman plenty of room to store all their equipment and nets and their catch when they haul the nets in.
I was in luck because the haul for the day was their best in several weeks and it elicited smiles from them until they unloaded the catch and sold it all. Selling was a simple process because the Hondurans were offing prices as the boat touched the cement dock. It did not take long to strike a good price for both parties and we were head back to Tiger Island unbeknown to be to celebrate their good fortune at their family bar. That was indeed a great time and I hated saying my good-byes to the Medina family. vista it presents as the backdrop to the island.
This unique town in the island of the tiger is the largest town on the largest pacific island of Honduras. Although an island, it is fairly easy to get to Amapala. You must first get to the fishing town of Coyolito, buses to Coyolito run frequently from San Lorenzo, as well as from Choluteca. Once in Coyolito, you can hire a motor launch to take across the channel to the island. Both rides to the island are a remarakable journey to be enjoyed and at times the veiws and flora are breathtaking.
