The Landlocked Travelers

Roatán, Honduras, is a beautiful Caribbean island and a popular cruise port. It is the largest of the Bay Islands of Honduras and has a rich history dating back to its indigenous inhabitants, the Paya and Pech tribes. The island was later discovered by Spanish explorers in the early 16th century and became a strategic port for trade and a haven for pirates during the colonial era. Today, Roatán is known for its natural beauty, diverse marine life, and vibrant culture.

There are several exciting activities you can enjoy during your cruise stop in Roatán:

1. Snorkeling and Diving: Roatán is surrounded by the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, the second-largest coral reef system in the world. The crystal-clear waters offer excellent snorkeling and diving opportunities, allowing you to witness stunning coral formations and a wide variety of marine species.
2. Beach Relaxation: If you prefer a more laid-back experience, Roatán boasts gorgeous beaches with white sand and swaying palm trees. You can unwind by the shore, swim in the azure waters, or indulge in beachside activities.
3. Zip-lining: The island’s lush tropical forests are perfect for exhilarating zip-line adventures, providing a unique perspective of Roatán’s natural beauty from above.
4. Wildlife Encounters: Visit Gumbalimba Park, where you can interact with friendly monkeys and other exotic animals. It’s an excellent opportunity for animal lovers and families.
5. Island Tour: Consider taking a guided tour to explore Roatán’s highlights, including its charming villages, scenic viewpoints, and local culture.

In addition to your cruise line’s offerings, you can see some popular shore excursions here.

We visited Roatán on our MSC Divina cruise in October/November of 2022. Our ship was docked there from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm. After doing some research, we decided on Daniel Johnson’s Monkey & Sloth Hangout. Four of us did Transportation / Hangout / Las Palmas beach (no island tour) and the other two did Monkey snorkeling #2 / Las Palmas beach (no island tour). We found the prices to be very reasonable, and the whole experience was great from start to finish!

I booked everyone’s tours via their website. They then sent me a confirmation email with instructions on where to meet our tour transportation. They gave us detailed instructions on how to leave the port area and where to wait for our tour guide to arrive. It was very straightforward and much appreciated! Our meeting time was scheduled for one hour after our ship docked in port.

Pro Tip #1: When shore excursions are scheduled for a certain amount of time after your ship has docked, be aware that if your scheduled ship arrival time changes, the excursion time will change as well. Let's say you are scheduled to arrive in port at 9:00 am, and your excursion meeting time is one hour after, then you would meet your tour guide at 10:00 am. But if you made good time during the night and your captain clears the ship for debarkation at 8:00 am, that means your excursion meeting time will be 9:00 am instead. Likewise if you are later than scheduled, these times get adjusted. Your excursion group can and will leave without you if you are not at the meeting point at the agreed upon time.

There were 8 people on the tour, the 6 of us, plus a mother & daughter from the US, so a nice small intimate group. We hopped in the van and were driven to the monkey and sloth sanctuary first. Along the way, our guide gave us some history and current information about Roatán. None of us had been there before, so we all found it interesting, especially the part about it being a great place to buy a home and retire to! 😮 🏝

Here are some pictures we took on our way to the monkey and sloth hangout.

Pro Tip #2: Something to note with Daniel Johnson's Monkey and Sloth Hangout is that you pay for your excursion when you get there, and it's best to use cash (USD) as they add a hefty fee to your total if paying by credit card. 

Being the cat lover that I am, the first thing I noticed when we got to the monkey and sloth sanctuary were these three cuties:

Finally it was sloth time! The tour guide explained all about the sloths and how they are taken care of at this sanctuary. They are free to hang out in the trees. Guests are taught how to hold them carefully so that they are comfortable and calm. I asked how they know if the sloth is ok with all of these people holding it? The guide told me that when an individual sloth has had enough, they will exhibit certain signs and try to get away from the person who is holding them. The guide then brings the sloth back to its hangout, and brings a different one back to continue. They are never forced to do anything with the tourists. This was such an amazing experience! The sloths are so sweet. 🥰🦥

Then it was time for a little monkeying around! We were told to take off our hats, glasses, jewelery, etc., and take everything out of our pockets. These little guys love to steal any loose items they can get their hands on! 🐒

Next we were shown the beautiful macaws! 🦜

Now the second half of our tour would begin. Two of us went on a snorkeling adventure, and the other four went to a beach club, where we had drinks and went into the water to cool off. Mom and Jerry chose the Dirty Monkey, and I settled on the Mojito. Mom came nowhere close to finishing hers, so Jerry was a gentleman and helped her out. 😉

After a while, the rest of our party who had gone snorkeling was brought back to join us at the beach club. We ordered food and more drinks, and then the tour driver brought us back to the port. We had a little extra time to do some shopping at the stores in port, and then we headed back on board to shower and get ready for dinner!

All in all, we felt Roatán was absolutely beautiful and would recommend the excursion that we did. If you’re looking for something different for your next stop in Roatán, click here to see tons of different activities to experience on your stay!

Have you been to Roatán, Honduras? What did you think? What activities did you enjoy? Let me know in the comments!

Need more information on cruises so that you can enjoy Roatán too? Contact me or visit my travel advisor website – Landlocked Travel. I’d love to help you plan your next trip!

Thanks for reading, and SEA you soon!

Shelly

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