Adventure Travel Honduras: Iguana For Dinner
March 4, 2000
While waiting for a boat to Wawina, a group of iguana hunters arrived with their catch of the day. They had over 20 of the critters ranging from 3 to 5 feet long. I was asked if I had ever eaten iguana. Niether the menu at my favorite Burger King nor the deli section of my Safeway has ever featured iguana, so, no, I’d never tried it. It sounded quite exotic and I thought it would make a lively journal entry. I plunked down 35 lempiras ($2.50) for my four-footer that Laura was eager to prepare for me.
The reality was not as exciting, nor exotic as the idea. The captured iguanas are kept alive until cooked with the tendons from their claws tied together behind their backs like convenient little handcuffs. This effectively immobilizes them but a few of the fiestier ones will still bite. These unlucky troublemakers have their heads stomped until they calm down. In transit, they are flung around by their tails, much like a piece of luggage. It gets worse from there but I think I’ve said enough.
I was finally served my bowl of iguanna stew, I could only stomach one tiny taste. It was an experience that could easily convert one to vegetarianism. At the very least, I won’t be eating iguanna again anytime soon.
