There have been a few new activities that have started up in the last few years, so I thought it was about time to update my list of activities that I send out to guests to include any options that might be interesting. I prefer to visit a place and see what it's like before suggesting it to anyone, so today I went to check out Manawakie Park. I recruited Sylvia to come visit with me.
Manawakie Park (named with the island pronounciation for Man of War Cay, the area near where they're located) is on the island that runs along the north side of the island between Sandy Bay and French Harbour, also known as Mud Hole road. They're open from Mon through Saturday, from 7am to 4pm, and the cost is $35 per person ($18.40 for kids 5-11). They offer free transportation as long as there are at least 2 people.
Their super friendly staff is headed up by William. The park offers guided tours through different sections- old school building styles, bush medicine, island history, all with lots of local knowledge provided, as well as an animal section that has macaws, monkeys and sloths. There's a snack shop and a gift shop on property, and a professional photographer if you'd like to purchase any photos of your experience.
The monkeys are hilarious. The guide warned us that they're pickpockets, to make sure to take anything out of our pockets, take off sunglasses, leave our purses behind before going in the monkey cage. I thought I had followed the instructions, but in 2 seconds I realized that I had left a 20 lempira note in my pocket, because that was all the time that it took for Poncho to get over to me and rob me! He quickly scurried away with his ill-gotten gains, and stubbornly refused to return the money, preferring to rip it to shreds. The monkeys are also a little cheeky, they stuck their heads down both of our shirts to check out what was down there.
For me, the best part of the tour was hearing our guide explain about how various plants and trees are used medicinally. I've been on the island for 23 years, and have learned a bit about bush medicine, but I learned some new stuff today. Did you know that you can boil the leaves from a lemon tree and breathe in the vapour to help with headaches? I have a little lemon tree growing in our yard, I know what I'm going to try next time, instead of reaching for a bottle of tylenol :)
Manawakie Park (named with the island pronounciation for Man of War Cay, the area near where they're located) is on the island that runs along the north side of the island between Sandy Bay and French Harbour, also known as Mud Hole road. They're open from Mon through Saturday, from 7am to 4pm, and the cost is $35 per person ($18.40 for kids 5-11). They offer free transportation as long as there are at least 2 people.
Their super friendly staff is headed up by William. The park offers guided tours through different sections- old school building styles, bush medicine, island history, all with lots of local knowledge provided, as well as an animal section that has macaws, monkeys and sloths. There's a snack shop and a gift shop on property, and a professional photographer if you'd like to purchase any photos of your experience.
The monkeys are hilarious. The guide warned us that they're pickpockets, to make sure to take anything out of our pockets, take off sunglasses, leave our purses behind before going in the monkey cage. I thought I had followed the instructions, but in 2 seconds I realized that I had left a 20 lempira note in my pocket, because that was all the time that it took for Poncho to get over to me and rob me! He quickly scurried away with his ill-gotten gains, and stubbornly refused to return the money, preferring to rip it to shreds. The monkeys are also a little cheeky, they stuck their heads down both of our shirts to check out what was down there.
For me, the best part of the tour was hearing our guide explain about how various plants and trees are used medicinally. I've been on the island for 23 years, and have learned a bit about bush medicine, but I learned some new stuff today. Did you know that you can boil the leaves from a lemon tree and breathe in the vapour to help with headaches? I have a little lemon tree growing in our yard, I know what I'm going to try next time, instead of reaching for a bottle of tylenol :)
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