Honduras · Bay Islands

Cayos
Cochinos.

The marine monument of the Honduran Caribbean

1 place
1 open
checked Oct 2026
8 sources

Before you go,
understand the place.

Cayos Cochinos is an archipelago of two small islands and smaller cays, with reefs of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, according to Visit Honduras.

Best time to go: According to Canada, the rainy season runs from May to November and can cause flooding and landslides, and the hurricane season from early June to the end of November in the Atlantic and the Caribbean. It is an approximate national pattern, not a climate record for each region or a guarantee for the islands. Follow COPECO's alerts.
Getting there: This guide does not calculate road routes or travel times and offers no arrival points. This guide does not yet describe the boat trip to the cays. The HCRF mentions its boats for the scientific station, not a tourist service.

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1 place
The marine monument
Cayo Cochino Menor, where the HCRF checks visitors in and charges admission to the monument; its welcome centre publishes hours and fees.
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Cayo Cochino Menor (Cayos Cochinos Marine Natural Monument)
Cayos Cochinos (Bay Islands). The pin is the island in OpenStreetMap; it is not an access point.0 km in a straight line from the regional map centre
Entry
non-resident with a certified tour operator US$10 + tax
Hours
Daily, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Booking
Not stated
An island in the Cayos Cochinos Marine Natural Monument where the Honduran Foundation for the Protection and Conservation of Cayos Cochinos (HCRF) has its scientific station and welcome centre, where visitors check in and pay admission. The HCRF manages the area with the ICF and the Navy; industrial fishing is prohibited in the expanded zone, according to the HCRF.
Source: HCRF – Welcome Center & Scientific Station · 2026 · +3
Practical details and sources
Entry
Admission, plus tax: US$5 for Honduran residents, US$10 for non-residents arriving with a certified tour operator and US$20 for private non-residents, according to the HCRF (undated page). It is separate from the price of tours.
Hours
Welcome centre: every day, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., according to the HCRF.
Tip: The HCRF asks visitors not to damage plants or wildlife, to keep to marked areas and to ask permission before photographing people; about 250 Garífuna people live on the cays of East End and Chachauate, according to the HCRF.
Sources: HCRF – Welcome Center & Scientific Station · HCRF – About Us · HCRF – Tips & Guidelines · HCRF – Garífuna culture

Cayos Cochinos · Practical guide

The essentials

The Cayo Cochino Menor welcome centre and the marine monument

Cayos Cochinos · Practical guide

Practical tips

The HCRF admission (US$5, US$10 or US$20 plus tax, depending on the visitor) is separate from the price of tours.
ZOLITUR says its regime applies to the Bay Islands «except Cayos Cochinos»; this guide does not confirm what that means for passenger fees.
According to the United Kingdom, there is a hyperbaric chamber on Roatán and recompression facilities on Utila, but emergency medical care on the Bay Islands is extremely limited.

Safety and precautions

According to the United Kingdom, Honduras has one of the highest violent crime rates in Latin America and incidents can also happen in tourist areas. The Bay Islands are generally safer than the rest of the country, but there have been attacks on visitors, including on the ferries to and from the mainland, and petty theft is a problem on Roatán, Utila and Guanaja.
Canada considers the Bay Islands generally safe, with less violent crime, although petty crime sometimes occurs. While there, it advises avoiding the Coxen Hole, Los Fuertes and Suampo neighbourhoods after dark, and avoiding isolated beaches and areas.
The US Department of State advises reconsidering travel to Honduras because of crime and terrorism (level 3, advisory of 25 August 2026) and advises against travel to the department of Gracias a Dios (level 4).
According to state television TNH (20 September 2026), the National Defence and Security Council decided on 18 September not to apply a new state of exception; Honduran media date the end of the regime begun in December 2022 to 26 January 2026. The United States advisory of 25 August 2026 still described it as in force in 226 of the 298 municipalities. This guide does not confirm the current situation. Canada notes that the authorities periodically declare states of exception: always carry ID and follow the authorities' instructions at checkpoints.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to visit Cayos Cochinos?

Admission, plus tax: US$5 for Honduran residents, US$10 for non-residents arriving with a certified tour operator and US$20 for private non-residents, according to the HCRF (undated page). It is separate from the price of tours.

What are the welcome centre's hours?

Welcome centre: every day, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., according to the HCRF.

Can you visit Chachauate?

Chachauate is a Garífuna fishing community; the HCRF asks visitors to respect its traditions and privacy and to ask permission before photographing people.

Cayos Cochinos · Practical guide

Sources consulted

Information checked in October 2026. Prices, hours and rules change: confirm them with the official source before you travel.

Before you go,understand the place.

Themed guides

The marine monument

Everything you can do

Lakes, rivers and waterfalls · 1

Cayo Cochino Menor (Cayos Cochinos Marine Natural Monument)

The essentials

Practical tips

Safety and precautions

Frequently asked questions

Sources consulted

Other destinations

Before you go,
understand the place.