Cruise Port Day in Roatan, Honduras
There are a lot of great options for spending your cruise port day in Roatan. You can see sloths, go to private resorts, snorkel, scuba dive, zip-line and so much more.
You can also easily book a private tour in Roatan.
We sailed on Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas into the port of Coxen Hole. This is the cruise port for most Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, and Norwegian Cruise Lines. If you are sailing on Carnival, Princess, Holland, Costa, or Regent Cruise Lines, you will likely port in Mahogany Bay. So, keep that in mind!
This was our first visit to Roatan and our group of 8 had two big priorities.
1. See adorable sloths
2. Snorkel the MesoAmerican Reef
After reading reviews and sending a few exploratory emails I booked a private tour in Roatan with Bodden Tours.
A Private Tour in Roatan, Honduras – With Bodden Tours
There are many reputable tour companies with good reviews in Roatan, Honduras. So, do your homework (Start on Pinterest), and then go for it! Spoiler alert! We were very happy with our choice!
I reached out to them regarding tour options and their quick response was clear and professional. They offer many tour packages as well as the option to book a private tour in Roatan. This option appealed to me, as we were a multi-generational group of 8.
Booking a private tour gave us the flexibility to accomplish our priorities but also to make adjustments that day depending on the mood of our group. Can you relate?
The price at the time of our booking for a group of 6 or more was $25 per person. This cost was for a full day of transportation to/from the cruise port and anywhere in between with an assigned driver.
Meet “San” Francisco.
The check-in process was super easy. We walked to the meeting point in the cruise port terminal, and I handed them my confirmation email. They quickly found our group on their list and we were introduced to our driver for the day. As we walked to his vehicle, he stopped and introduced us to Victor Bodden who thanked us for our business and wished us an excellent visit in Roatan.
Francisco confirmed our wish list for the day and we were on our way.
First stop, monkeys and sloths!
Booking with Victor Bodden, our sloth opportunity was available at Victor’s Monkey Business.
I am in LOVE with Sloths.
Victor’s Monkey Business
When we arrived at Victor’s Monkey Business we paid our $5 per person entrance fee as well as made our payment for our private tour. A deposit was NOT required to make our tour reservation and we did not pay at the cruise port. Everything was handled at Victor’s Monkey Business. Apparently, this was the launch place for all of the Bodden Tours.
Cash is King in Roatan – but make it crisp!
In many small Caribbean islands, including Roatan, U.S. Currency is widely accepted. However, the banks are very strict about their condition. Companies, beach vendors, etc. will NOT take any cash that has been damaged. They will push back at even a small corner rip. So, please plan accordingly. Thankfully, Victor mentioned this in his email communication.
Credit cards are excepted but there is a supplemental tax/fee placed on credit card purchases as well so they will recommend cash. I was happy this question was addressed ahead of time and was prepared with crisp bills.
At Monkey Business, we were assigned an employee who guided us through several animal exhibits including monkeys, birds, and finally the sloths. The tour was educational and a great value at only $5 per person. We were invited to tip our guide at the end of our tour, which we were happy to do.
I think Brian got a kick out of being the Monkey favorite.
Francisco met us at the exit and we were on our way again. The conversation was relaxed and easy and he provided just the right amount of information about the area.
We toured the diving community of West End and along the way we chatted about how we would spend the rest of our day. Francisco gave us some options for accommodating the snorkelers in our group as well as those who would not be snorkeling.
There are free beaches in Roatan where you can simply lay out a towel and relax the day away. Beaches where you can pay a small fee and have chairs/umbrellas and access to facilities. There are also private beaches that are higher in price but do not allow vendors in their area.
Bananarama Dive & Beach Resort at West Bay Beach.
Francisco took our group to what I had heard was a fun spot, Bananarama Dive & Beach Resort at West Bay Beach. Those of us that wanted to snorkel the reef could do so right off the beach and the others could lounge in the sun or shade for a reasonable price of $10 per person. This fee included loungers!
The resort also gave us access to WiFi, changing facilities, restrooms, dining options, beachside bar service, games, and even some musical entertainment.
Francisco, escorted us to the desk to pay our $10 fee and then onto the beach to make sure we were able to choose a location that suited us. He then spoke with a bar server and asked him to take good care of our group as well as spoke to the beach security guy located near our loungers.
After snorkeling, Brian and I spent most of our time at the beach chatting with the super-friendly security guard. We asked him so many questions about his home and life in Roatan. The personal interactions we have when we travel are my absolute favorite!
Want to know more about our snorkeling adventure? Check out my Seavenger Snorkel gear review.
Beach Notes:
- The beach was very busy but it wasn’t wild. Everyone was just relaxing and enjoying themselves.
- There were many vendors along the beach but as with most beaches, a polite “no, thank you” is respected and West Bay Beach was no different.
- The facilities at Bananarama Dive & Beach Resort were excellent
- Please wear reef-safe sunscreen!
We spent several hours relaxing, snorkeling, eating, and visiting Bananarama. When it was time to return to the ship, Francisco was waiting in the parking lot to take us back.
The Perfect Cruise Port Day in Roatan, Honduras!
Roatan turned out to be our group’s favorite island on the trip. It was more than just the adorable sloths, too! Having the flexibility to explore at our own pace and feel secure and at ease with our driver was a wonderful experience. I would absolutely book with Victor Bodden Tours again. The professionalism and service were top-notch!
Roatan had a unique vibe that was special. Growing up, I had always been under the impression that Honduras wasn’t safe. But, at least for Roatan, I felt very safe the entire day. We really enjoyed our private tour in Roatan and we can’t wait to visit again.
As we were gathering our beach belongings a small group called out to me. They wanted to know about our cruise and so of course, I wanted to know their story as well. The 3 couples were enjoying their last day of a 2-WEEK STAY IN ROATAN! They said they just keep coming back because they love it so much.
Of course, I checked prices and you can get a two-bedroom beachfront villa at Bananarama for around $250 per night and smaller options under $200! That’s cheaper than our pre-cruise hotel in Miami!
Cost Recap:
- $25 per person for a private driver (6 or more people)
- $5 Entrance fee for Victor’s Monkey Business (pay this at the same time as your private tour fee). You can take all of the personal images you’d like as long as you are respectful of the animals.
- $10 per person entrance fee for Bananarama Dive & Beach Resort (includes lounger and facilities)
- Variable – Food/beverage not included with tour or beach fee
Have you been to the beautiful island of Roatan?
Let me know how you spent your cruise port day in Roatan in the comments below or in our Facebook community.
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