Honduras Travel

Upon my arrival in Honduras, my initial thoughts were, “OK, another vacation.” After two weeks away from home, “vacation” ceased to apply. I was living in Honduras and would live there for six weeks.

After riding in a packed bus without air conditioning, we arrived in El Obraje and hitchhiked in the back of a pickup to reach our host family. Don’t be alarmed: Hitchhiking in Latin America is the equivalent of taking a taxi in New York, and it’s free.

El Obraje is a serene community: Everything is green, butterflies are everywhere. After a 20-minute uphill hike with 50 pounds of luggage in 113-degree heat, I arrived at my host family’s home.

An Inland Empire marine biologist is on his way to Honduras this month for a turtle awareness biological tour and will take four Yucaipa Valley locals with him for the experience.

Dr. Stephen G. Dunbar is heading up a group of 10 people from Loma Linda University on an eight-day tropical, marine biology excursion starting Sept. 10.

Tagging along for the adventure will be Cindi and Kenneth Wright and Elmar and Darilee Sakala. While some participants on the official university trip will receive academic credit, the class is geared toward non-specialists interested in learning more about tropical, marine environments.