When you are not diving, it’s nice to get out and stretch the legs some times. I really appreciate a good walk. Especially after living on our little Cays for the past two months. It turns out that diving is a lot different from walking, and my legs have more or less forgotten what walking is all about.
The problem is that Jewel and Pigeon Cays, where we live, have but a single sidewalk between them. The length of this sidewalk is somewhat inadequate, spanning around 400 meters, and I feel like the locals will start to think me crazy if I start speed walking laps every day.
Jewel Cay and Pigeon Cay
But the island of Utila, which we have come to call the mainland, has a lot more to offer by way of walking. There’s enough roadways to walk around for a few hours without doubling back on yourselves as long as you avoid the traffic. You can go to the fresh water caves at Pumpkin Hill, and you could check out the “drug plane”.
There is a crash site about an hour’s walk from town on the North side of the island, not far off the main road and the beach. Local legend has it that the plane crash landed in the middle of the night several years ago. When the police arrived on the scene, they discovered 1 ton of cocaine hidden in the walls of the aircraft. At least that’s the explanation given for why the whole aircraft has been completely gutted. How much truth there is to the story, I couldn’t say.
Finding the plane can be a bit of a trick. We had a guide, who had been shown the site before. If you ask around, you should be able to find someone who knows roughly where it is. Once you turn off the beach and head back inland you find yourself in the most gruelling part of the hike bushwhacking through trees and vines, and balancing on sharp, uneven ground made from ancient uprooted coral mounds. It’s not exactly hard, but it’s not a walk in the park either. Wear a good pair of shoes.
Walking on Coral
The Cockpit
The Fuselage
Emergency Exit
Climbing on the Wreck
A Bit Broken Up
Posing for the Photo
Nice article. I’ll admit it was the title that sucked me in.. “What?!?” I love finding unique and random destinations like that, places and things that you won’t find in any guide book. Keep up the travels!
We’ll keep sharing what we’re up to. So far, some of our favourite things have been from word of mouth and not from a guide book. Xocomil Waterpark in Guatemala was another great example.