National Geographic writes, "The waters around this collection of coral cays are a marine biologist's dream: protected by the government, off-limits to commercial divers and fishermen, and busy with creatures that may not yet have names.

The actions taken in preserving the underwater environment has left the Cayos Cochinos' waters as the healthiest and most pristine marine life in the Bay Islands.

[citation needed] Both Garifuna villages offer cheap lodging for backpackers who wish to stay in either East End or Chachahuete in hammocks or hostel-like huts.

Smaller boats also leave from La Ceiba, Sambo Creek, Nueva Armenia and from dive shops in Utila.

The islands are part of the Islas de la Bahía y Cayos Cochinos Important Bird Area (IBA), designated as such by BirdLife International because they support significant populations of white-crowned pigeons, chimney swifts and yellow-naped amazons.