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OMOA |
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 Spreading inland from a deep bay at the point where the mountains of
the Sierra de Omoa meet the Caribbean, the fishing village of OMOA has
become increasingly popular in recent years, with travellers coming here
for total rest and relaxation. Once a strategically important location
in the defence of the Spanish colonies against marauding British pirates,
today the village dozes lethargically under the heat of the Caribbean
sun, with its one outstanding sight, the restored Fortaleza de San
Fernando de Omoa (Mon-Fri 8am-4pm, Sat & Sun 9am-5pm; US$1.30), standing
in mute witness to this colourful history. Now isolated amidst tropical
greenery a kilometre from the coast, having been beached as the sea has
receded over the centuries, the triangular fort was originally intended
to protect the port of Puerto Barrios in Guatemala. Work began in 1759
but was never fully completed, due to a combination of bureaucratic
inefficiency, problems with materials and labour shortage. The steadily
weakening Spanish authorities then suffered the ignominy of witnessing
the fortress being temporarily occupied by British and Miskito military
forces in October 1779.
The rather narrow village beach , lined with colourful fishing boats,
offers stunning views west across the curve of the bay and the mountain
backdrop. At weekends hordes of day-trippers turn up and it's often too
crowded for comfort. Better swimming can be had by walking five minutes
or so out of the village in either direction, while fifteen minutes
around the headland to the east is a much wider and usually emptier
expanse of beach.
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