Positioned close to the biggest barrier reef within the Caribbean Sea, Roatan is a well-liked cruise vacation spot for good purpose. And we have now compiled a listing of among the finest issues to do whereas your ship is in port.
Not solely is that this stunning island house to one of many finest diving and snorkeling places on the planet, it additionally has a wealthy cultural heritage which you can discover on certainly one of many excursions provided.
Roatan, Honduras is 36 miles lengthy and about 4 miles extensive with a lot of the inhabitants on the western half. A few of the finest seashores are additionally on this aspect of the island.
We’ve a listing of 16 issues to do in Roatan, however let’s begin with some details about the cruise port itself.
Cruise Port Information
There are two completely different piers that cruise ships cease at when visiting Roatan. Carnival cruise ships will go to Mahogany Bay whereas different cruise traces will cease at Coxen Gap. The piers are a pair miles away from one another.
There are numerous buildings and companies across the vacationer facilities that embody eating places, outlets, and different small institutions the place you will get no matter you want for the day.
The official language of the island is Spanish, however with many individuals talking English within the vacationer areas, you’ll not want a lot assist discovering your means round. There are buses and vehicles which might be obtainable for pick-ups and drop-offs in the event you select to go on an tour farther away from the port, and with many outlets and eating places accepting US {dollars}, you received’t need to convert your forex.
1. West Bay Seashore
This personal seaside is an effective selection for households due to the shallow water that lets you go far out within the ocean with out being in too deep. Dad and mom can permit their youngsters to splash round within the water as a lot as they need whereas they take pleasure in a drink of their selection and work on their tans.
The shallow water is nice for image taking and underwater exploration as a result of you should have an ideal have a look at the ocean life and coral within the water. When you deliver alongside an underwater digicam, the waters permit for crystal clear photographs of the life that goes on beneath the waves.
2. Scuba Diving
You may take scuba diving classes at Roatan Dive Middle and prepare to go underwater for some sea diving. With starting classes that train you the fundamentals of how one can placed on and use your scuba gear, you should have all the talents you must take to the water.
All scuba gear is included within the worth of the teachings and you should have every thing you must start your underwater journey. Whereas diving, you’re going to get to see varied sea life and creatures that reside within the heat waters of Roatan and make reminiscences which you can hold eternally.
3. Horseback Driving
In Roatan, you may select to go horseback driving on the seaside and get classes on how one can journey correctly earlier than heading out on a journey of your personal. These horses are used to folks and are educated for inexperienced persons and kids riders.
On the West Bay, you should have particular person or group classes from skilled riders and horse house owners who will present you the ropes so you’ll really feel comfy across the horses. Then, when you’ve had sufficient follow, you’ll journey collectively alongside the water for a pleasant gallop on the seaside.
It is a best choice for animal lovers and provides you the chance to pet and stick with the horses as you learn to work together with them.
4. Native Eats
If an outside journey just isn’t aside of your trip itinerary, then you may go for some nice native meals on the eating places close to the port. With a brief stroll to Eldon’s Grocery store, you will see the within cafeteria that serves native dishes and island favorites. This selection is definitely in the midst of Coxen Gap port, so that you received’t be venturing far.
Nevertheless, if you wish to go a little bit additional on your meal, then take a taxi from the port alongside the coast to different choices that serve Honduran specialties and fascinating fusion dishes with native fish and meats. You may as well seize a chilly beer, Salva Vida is the native favourite, and relaxation up for the stroll again to the docks.
5. Camp Bay Seashore
Wish to sit on a seaside, however not be surrounded by dozens of different vacationers? Then the Camp Bay Seashore is your golden vacation spot. You may hire an ATV to journey via the world, however you will want a taxi journey to get to the seaside itself. With a semi-secluded space of land, this 2-mile lengthy space is a quiet place to have a picnic or lay on the nice and cozy sand, however you even have a superb variety of medium-sized waves that come to the shore for youthful youngsters and adventurous adults to leap into.
The realm is lined with palm bushes that often have a couple of coconuts rising on the prime, which some locals will take down and drink the candy milk from. This space is quieter than different seashores and likewise makes for a romantic getaway for {couples} that want to keep away from crowds of households with plenty of youngsters working round.
6. Monkey and Sloth Hangout
This distinctive and surprising tour is one that you just received’t quickly overlook. With the chance to hang around and get to know the sloths and monkeys in a managed atmosphere, you may pet and maintain them whilst you go to the Monkey and Sloth Sanctuary of French Cay Roatan.
Right here, you will notice the completely different monkeys, sloths, and different tropical animals that reside on the sanctuary and get to know a bit about every of their consuming and sleeping habits. With these humorous creatures providing a singular probability to see them of their pure habitat up shut, it is possible for you to to carry, hug, and snap a couple of photographs with these pleasant creatures to point out off to your family and friends.
7. Dune Buggy Rides
Up for some journey? Then a journey across the island of Roatan on a dune buggy could be simply the factor. These all-terrain automobiles may be rented at distributors working on the docks and rode everywhere in the trails across the island. These buggies will take you off the primary path and away from the opposite vacationers for some enjoyable that avoids the big crowds that can flock to the seashores and eating places.
These buggies additionally supply the chance to show this tour right into a double-adventure with a journey to one of many stunning seashores or to the monkey and sloth sanctuary. You may have guides that take you across the island to ensure you get to your supposed vacation spot, or you may simply journey round by your self. Simply make it again to the cruise ship earlier than it takes off!
8. Ziplining
As one of many principal excursions of Roatan island, ziplining is without doubt one of the finest adventures you should have whereas docked right here. You may journey on a excessive cable via a tropical forest for an unforgettable time. You’ll fly via the air and have the ability to see sights from a excessive vantage level for the perfect views round.
From sure areas of the zipline, it is possible for you to to see the Caribbean waters and untouched areas of the island. Nevertheless, if you’ll go along with a household, just remember to discover out in regards to the age, peak, and weight limits for this tour. Youthful youngsters who’re too small might need to opt-out and those that are over the burden restrict might not have the ability to both.
9. Kayaking
With personal waters which might be made for friends and guests staying on the resorts within the areas, you could find many excursions which you can’t get anyplace else on the island. The Little French Key is without doubt one of the personal areas that you have to entry via the resort. In case you are coming from the cruise port, you’ll arrange your tour via the resort and achieve entry to the world for the day.
Right here, you may go kayaking within the nonetheless waters with rental tools from distributors alongside the shore. You’ve got single or multi-person choices that can maintain the entire household on your selection of journey. As soon as you’re accomplished you may retailer the kayaks and spend the remainder of the day on the personal seaside.
10. Recent Fruit Carts
In order for you the flexibility to take a look at the native produce, however don’t need the trouble of heading to a busy sit-down restaurant on the town, then you may keep near the ship and look out for the well-known Roatan fruit carts. These small carts are run by locals who provide their very own fruits and flavors from across the island.
You may have a recent pineapple or mango for a refreshingly candy deal with with out having to go a lot additional than the port gates. Cease in at one of many outlets on the docks for a bottle of tajin or different spice so as to add some additional taste to your fruit.
11. Manwakie Eco Nature Park
Get your fill of family-friendly journey with the assistance of the Manwakie Eco Nature Park. This park is in West Finish, close to the West Bay Seashore, and homes many alternative unique animals. This park is not going to solely provide the alternative to take a look at all of the wonderful animals which might be housed there however affords guides that can train you in regards to the historical past of Roatan Island.
Photos are allowed on this park so you may deliver a digicam or cellphone with you to take some fast snaps of your favourite animals to seize the reminiscences. After the tour of the park is finished, you’ll be guided to the seaside the place you may spend the remainder of the day lounging by the ocean.
12. Roatan Island Tour
For these vacationers who wish to get to see all the islands in a short while, you may e-book a visit for a full Roatan Island Tour. This guided tour will present you all the primary sights on the island, offer you a while on among the hottest seashores, and take you to native bars and grills for a fast chunk between adventures.
This tour begins early and ends proper earlier than you must head again to the dock, however you will notice a snapshot of all of Roatan in a day and get to expertise a number of excursions collectively. You may customise the journey with a fast horseback journey or hike alongside the way in which and ask to go to particular eating places on Roatan for an individualized tour that meets the entire group’s needs and wishes.
13. Snorkeling
Roatan is legendary for it’s unbelievable offshore reefs, so don’t miss a possibility to dive beneath the floor to verify them out.
When you’d wish to see what’s beneath the water’s floor however aren’t a fan of scuba diving, then snorkeling is a superb selection. You may keep nearer to the floor, however nonetheless get to see the tropical creatures that decision the Caribbean Sea their house.
Rental tools is accessible on the West Finish of the island the place you may pay distributors money to take out their tools for a couple of hours of underwater exploration. Individuals of all ages will take pleasure in this tour, and after you’ve returned your snorkeling tools, you’ll already be on the seaside for a couple of hours of lounging earlier than heading again to the cruise ship docks.
14. Garifuna Historic Tour
The Island of Roatan has a wealthy and various historical past that begins with the Garifuna folks. This tour will provide you with details about the historical past of the Garifuna folks, their customs and traditions, and train you in regards to the land they reside on.
This tour affords stops at an animal sanctuary will you’ll be taught in regards to the native wildlife of the land, then it should take you to the Garifuna Cultural Middle the place you’re going to get to see a presentation of the Garifuna folks’s native dances.
This tour will provide you with extra perception into the island and its historical past in addition to train you about one other tradition and its values and traditions. With a tour that features a look into the lives of the native folks, first-time guests to the island will particularly love this selection of tour.
This tour affords dock pick-ups and drop-offs and reveals you a number of areas of the island for an immersive expertise.
15. Glass Backside Boat Excursions
This fascinating and thrilling tour possibility is a singular strategy to discover the underwater creatures and plant lifetime of the island. These excursions will take you out into the Caribbean Sea and alongside the coast of the island to see the creatures that reside there, and the coral reefs alongside the underside of the ocean.
These boats look very small from the shore however have a cabin that’s beneath the water that comes with glass throughout the boat so vacationers can see straight out into the water at sea creatures swimming by. You may even see many several types of fish, turtles, and sea cucumbers cross your path for a close-up view of their scaly our bodies or vivid fins.
The cabin of those boats is a bit small to boost the viewing expertise, so it’s nice for households which have young children so a number of folks can match collectively within the observatory on the identical time. In case you are not a fan of the tight area, then you may have a look from the highest deck.
16. Combo Excursions
Many excursions on this island assist you to create a combo tour with a number of excursions put collectively for a complete day of excursions. Every of the boat excursions will supply the chance to cease at a number of seashores all through the day or will watch for you on one tour to take you to your subsequent cease.
With choices like a combo tour of the glass backside boat and horseback driving, you’ll catch a journey on the boat and look ahead to sea creatures on the way in which to the seaside, the place you should have your horseback driving classes. Then, you’ll take that very same boat again to the unique spot for a two-in-one deal with.
These excursions are customizable however have to be arrange forward of time. So, if you recognize what you wish to do, e-book prematurely to get essentially the most out of your journey.
17. Gumbalimba Park
Animal lovers will discover a fantastic expertise at Gumbalimba Park, proper close to West Bay Seashore. The park does have an entrance price, however has lots to supply. Guests can discover unique birds like macaws and peacocks, and spot capuchin monkeys throughout the world. You may as well go zip lining, take a nature path, go kayaking, or simply calm down by the pool or seaside. There’s a museum within the park as effectively, and it’s possible you’ll even spot a sloth whilst you’re there.
Video of Issues to do in Roatan
Conclusion
The Island of Roatan is a tropical paradise within the Honduras Bay Islands that provides many wildlife and water sport adventures to vacationers and locals alike. In case you are getting ready for a historic tour of the island, otherwise you wish to take a journey on the zipline, you’ll lots to do on this island for the entire time your cruise ship is docked right here.
