Roatan is an island off the coast of mainland Honduras. There are two cruise ports in Roatan, so if you are travelling to Roatan, check to see which port your cruise line is using. If you are in Mahogany Bay, you may want to choose Bodden tours. They charge a flat rate for their basic, “Best of” tour and offer add-on prices for options.
There are some tours available in the cruise terminal area, but our instructions were to exit the port area and walk up the hill to find our guide holding a sign. Easy-peasy.
The four of us had the air conditioned van to ourselves. One is an avid Dr. Pepper drinker, so the guide took us on a quest to feed his addiction. Going to the grocery store was an experience in itself. It looked just like one of our locally owned groceries in the US, but the produce choices were interesting. We also enjoyed stopping at roadside stands for souvenir shopping.
The optional Monkey House was a great experience. After a warning to secure hats and glasses, we entered the cages. The monkeys are nature’s version of Oliver Twist, lifting items from unsuspecting travelers before they ever know what happened.
Who needs to pay for a scalp massage when this guy is around?
I toyed with the idea of zip-lining while here, but none of the rest of my group was interested, and I believe the experience is best when shared.
Next, we toured Parrot Tree Plantation. I would not mind spending a week here!
We also added the option to snorkel. Our guide dropped us off with a snorkeling guide: J C Murillo Tours. What clear water and beautiful fish. He had snorkeling gear available or folks could bring their own.
He told us that sometimes vacationers will spend the day with him fishing and snorkeling. Then he will take them to the beach and cook their catch for them.
If I ever return to Roatan….
As a cruise stop: I will take the chairlift over to the beach at Mahogany Bay to see what that experience is like.
As a stay at a resort: I would definitely call JC Murillo to spend the day fishing and snorkeling.