Roatán Details

Roatán is one of three Bay Islands located some 30 miles off the Caribbean coast of Honduras. The rustic, banana-shaped island with its luxuriant foliage and idyllic beaches is only about 29 miles long and 2 miles wide. The Payan Indians were the original inhabitants but were wiped out by the Spanish slavers in the 1500s. The island passed into British hands in the 17th century and finally became a part of Honduras in 1859. Today, the people are a mix of eight different cultures including English, Spanish and North American. But they share at least one thing in common: an unparalleled pride in their homeland. A pristine continuation of the Belizean Reef surrounds Roatán, and scuba divers have discovered the unspoiled underwater garden, teeming with marine life.

The ship will anchor offshore, and we will be ferried to and from the island of Roatán. We haven't yet picked an itinerary for our time here, but we have several options:

  • Roatán Highlights (3 hours) - Roatán has no shortage of natural wonders, and you will see most of them on this tour: brilliant blue waters laden with colorful coral, palm-fringed beaches cooled by constant trade winds, exotic plants and nature trails abundant with wildlife and lush green vegetation. Depart from the ship, docked in Coxen Hole, the capital of the Bay Islands province. Near the West End of the island is Sandy Bay and Anthony's Key Resort. Here you will visit the Institute for Marine Sciences, a research and educational center, containing a series of displays depicting the island's history. Watch a bottlenose dolphin show. Next you will visit the Tropical Treasures Bird Park, which houses 50 different species of birds including Amazon parrots, Macaws and Toucans. You will return to the ship along a lovely, tree-lined road.
  • East End Island Tour (4 hours) - A small private tour through the undeveloped East End of the island gives you a unique opportunity to enjoy the landscape and soak up the local culture. Along the way your guide will brief you on the history of Roatán and Honduras. You will stop to enjoy a show by Carib Indians known as the Garifuna Dancers. You'll be able to walk in the beautiful gardens, enjoy some jam tasting, take a boat ride through Oak Ridge Mangrove Tunnel and browse for hand painted souvenirs.
  • Tabyana Beach Resort (4½ hours) - Enjoy the serenity of Tabyana Beach, Roatán's most beautiful beach and one of the world's most pristine stretches of white, powdery sand. Sit under the shade of a coconut tree and enjoy the scenery from the island's West End. Then enjoy a delicious all-you-can=eat barbecue lunch and complimentary tropical drink surfside. Afterwards, browse in the gift shop.
  • Coral Reef Explorer (1 hour) - Enjoy the beautiful living reefs on Roatán without getting wet! The Coral Reef Explorer is your window to the incredible underwater world just off the coast of Honduras.
  • Dolphin Encounter (2½ hours) - Enjoy a close encounter with the friendliest creature of the sea, the bottlenose dolphin. Get your feet in the water and observe these intelligent mammals up close. Enjoy a rare opportunity to touch, feed and interact with them in waist-deep water. Afterwards, visit the museum and gift shop at Anthony's Key Resort. You will be able to purchase a video of your dolphin encounter.
  • Roatán Sightseeing and Beach (3½ hours) - This tour combines the lush scenery of Roatán with time at one of its most beautiful beach resorts. Your tour will include several unique photo stops including the airport tower that will offer a commanding view of your ship in the harbor. A stop at Sherman's Iguana Refuge will introduce you to the hundreds of colorful iguanas, which were once hunted for food but are now protected. In addition to the wonderful wildlife, you will enjoy a stop at Fantasy Island Beach Resort where you will be served a complimentary drink. You will have about two hours at the beach so don't forget your beachwear, towel and sunscreen lotion.
  • West Bay Sea Kayaking (6½ hours) - Imagine gliding solo over a crystal clear sea, so close you can spot the parrotfish feeding and feel the rays of the sun dancing on the surface of the water. Sea kayaking is the ideal way to see this beautiful island from an entirely different perspective. If you are a novice, it's easy to learn. Begin with a short drive to Half Moon Bay in West End. You will get outfitted and receive an orientation to kayaking before you paddle out to West Bay. Wrap your day with a delicious homemade lunch.
  • Roatán Dive In / Tabyana Beach (4 hours) - A scenic 40-minute ride will bring you to Tabyana Beach on the island's West End. The virgin and pristine reef is located just off shore is home to many exotic species of fish. Your Dive In instructors will take you on a guided tour. Later, you will enjoy a delicious beach barbecue and complimentary tropical drink. You can browse for gifts in a shop nearby before returning to the ship.
  • Roatán Dive-In Scuba / Anthony's Key Resort (4 hours) - The term "world class diving" is no exaggeration when it comes to Roatán. The island is bordered by a wide assortment of colorful marine life. The reefs are known for their spectacular "drop off" - places where the reef plunges vertically into untold depths. Your professional local dive operator will take you on a two-tank scuba adventure to these beautiful reefs. This excursion includes lunch at Tabyana Beach.

Of course, we might also just do some exploring on our own.
If you've been to Roatán and have suggestions for us, please share them!