SHORE EXCURSIONS

Discover the lost Caribbean in Roatan with a shore excursion to Tabyana Beach, a place where coconut, grape, and almond trees converge with a seemingly endless white sand beach and the clear turquoise waters of the Caribbean. Enjoy a swim in the beautiful water, take a stroll on the beach, kick back and relax as you listen to Caribbean music. When you’ve worked up an appetite there’s hamburgers, hot dogs, BBQ chicken, beans & rice, cole slaw, watermelon, pineapple, papaya, lemonade and iced tea waiting for you. At Tabyana Beach, it's all about relaxation, natural beauty and a whole lot of fun!

Witness the natural beauty of the Caribbean at Roatan's finest preservation park – Gumbalimba Park. Explore unspoiled trails where flowers and butterflies give way to the shade of the tropical forest canopy. Make the crossing over Gumbalimba Pond via a scenic rope bridge. Delight in the tranquil sounds of the garden waterfall. Befriend the brilliant winged inhabitants of the Bird Sanctuary where friendly parrots and macaws bring the colors of the Caribbean alive. Ever dreamt of frolicking with monkeys? Enter the Monkey Refugio and meet the white face capuchin monkeys.

Roam through the Botanical Garden and learn more about the native exotic plants. Enter into the Insectarium and discover the world of insects. After exploring, dive into the freshwater pool or take a dip in the Caribbean. Come to Gumbalimba where history and nature awaits you.

Spend hours luxuriating at Sol y Mar, an exclusive beach club where everything you could possibly need for an exceptional experience is included. Upon arriving at the waterfront resort, you will be free to do whatever you please, a liberating thought considering all the options. You might stretch out on a lounge chair and bask in the sun, stroll the lengthy private beach without a care in the world, and relax in the shade of a towering coconut palm or under a thatched palapa. Chances are, you will want to take a refreshing swim in the turquoise sea as the waves gently lap the shore. The ambiance is completely laid-back at Sol y Mar, a name that appropriately translates to “sun and sea.” An island-style buffet lunch is also included. Unlimited drinks – both alcoholic and non-alcoholic – are included, as well.

OVERVIEW

Settle in for a spectacularly scenic drive that includes the north and south coasts of Roatan before enjoying free time at a beach resort. From the top of the Panorama Hill, you will be treated to a magnificent view of Coxen Hole and your cruise ship. Not far away, you will find the Eco Caribbean Culture Park, where you might meander the winding garden paths, see macaws and cappuccino monkeys, and sample fresh fruit drinks and pastries. You might also delve into the history of the Paya Indians – the island’s original inhabitants – and learn about Captain Henry Morgan, the Welsh-born pirate that supposedly hid out Roatan in the late 1600s. Continuing on through the interior of the island and the fishing town of French Harbour, you will soon arrive at Las Palmas Beach Resort. where You will spend hours at this waterfront oasis, relaxing however you please with a refreshing tropical drink in hand.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Enjoy a wonderfully panoramic drive around the island, stopping for photos along the way.
• Become immersed in the culture and history of Roatan at the Eco Caribbean Culture Park.
• Enjoy samples of tropical drinks and pastries at the park.
• Spend hours relaxing on a gorgeous stretch of sand at Las Palmas Beach Resort.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Bring a swimsuit, sunscreen and towel.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Dive into a timeless adventure with the combination of Tabyana Beach Day and the Gumbalimba Preservation Park Tours. Spend a day in the “Lost Caribbean” and bask in the sun at the edge of turquoise waters. Palm trees provide shade for those who would like to stay out of the sun. Package includes admission to the beach, use of changing and shower facilities, round-trip transportation and a BBQ style lunch.

At Gumbalimba Park discover a park where nature, history and adventure surround you. View the monkeys and macaws or stroll through the gardens. Roam through Coxen's Cave where the in-depth history of the island awaits you. Enter into the Insectarium and discover the regions insects. A short drive takes you over to Tabyana Beach where you can enjoy the crystalline waters of the Caribbean or lounge on the beach with the cooling trade winds.

Your adventure begins at the cruise ship pier, where you’ll be met by your Captain and crew. After a scenic 30 minute bus transfer get ready to board your waiting 60 foot, modern, sailing catamaran. After a short safety briefing, you’ll set sail along the scenic coast of Roatan in stunning turquoise Caribbean waters. During your sail to the snorkeling point, you’ll be fitted with your snorkeling equipment and given safety instructions. There is plenty of room to stretch out on the forward sun deck and ample comfortable shaded seating. There’s also a bar serving soft drinks and purified water before snorkeling. After approximately one half hour, you’ll arrive at the snorkeling point.

Snorkeling here is about the best the Caribbean has to offer. Enter the crystal clear, warm water, via the center stair case. Get an up close view of beautiful living coral and a large variety of tropical reef fish. All levels of snorkeler's, novice, intermediate and advanced snorkeler's will enjoy this site. Your snorkel guides will direct you to the best areas and make sure you are comfortable. After all snorkeling is finished (approximately 60 minutes) you’re invited aboard to enjoy unlimited rum punch, rum drinks, fruit punch, soft drinks and a rotisserie roast chicken lunch with rice, pasta salad, cabbage salad and fresh fruit in season. Kick back and relax, listen to Caribbean music as you sail to the disembarkation point for your return transfer to your ship, approximately 30 minutes. One of the crew will accompany you back to the ship and be happy to answer any questions about Roatan & Honduras. Feel free to take home complimentary local Honduran currency as your souvenir and free digital photographs taken while onboard your tour.

Enjoy a 5-minute boat ride to an 11-acre private island where you’ll spend the day relaxing on a white sand beach under swaying palm trees or lounging poolside. Maya Key has a lot to offer the entire family, from snorkeling on the second largest barrier reef to animal encounters with exotic wildlife that make the island their home. All of the animals have been donated, confiscated, injured, or rescued. You can explore the life-size replicas of the Copan Mayan Ruins, the Mayan Interpretation Center /Art Exhibit Center, and the animal rescue center all on your own or join one of our many tours that take place throughout the day. Snorkeling equipment and lockers available for rent. Enjoy a delicious island-style lunch which is included. Honduran souvenirs are available for sale on a cash or credit card basis.

When you're this close to the second largest reef system in the world, snorkeling is at is best. Tabyana Beach is the only place in West Bay where you can literally walk off the beach and get to the reef channel within 70 feet. Whether a beginner or experienced, snorkelers can see a variety of marine life in the warm, clear turquoise waters. Discover the lost Caribbean here where coconut, grape, and almond trees converge with a seemingly endless white sand beach and the clear turquoise waters of the Caribbean.

Enjoy the strains of Caribbean music and the cooling trade winds as you relax in paradise. When you’ve worked up an appetite there’s hamburgers, hot dogs, BBQ chicken, beans & rice, cole slaw, watermelon, pineapple, papaya, lemonade and iced tea waiting for you. At Tabyana Beach, it's all about relaxation, natural beauty, and, of course, a whole lot of fun!

OVERVIEW

Sit back and relax while riding through the tropical countryside and pause along the way at attractions that best reflect the Honduran way of life. As you pass through the commercial district of Coxen Hole, you will get an authentic sense of the town’s easy-going atmosphere. For a closer look at island life, you will browse Roatan Plaza Mar, a favorite spot for arts and crafts. The ultimate view of Roatan’s southern coast awaits at El Mirador, the lofty lookout above Coxen Hole harbor. While visiting the Roatan Rum Company, you will sample a moist cake infused with rum that will showcase the versatility of this locally distilled spirit. For a historical perspective, you will pass the island’s oldest Methodist Church on the way to the colorful sign that spells out Roatan in oversized letters.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Admire the sweeping tropical vistas while enjoying a carefree ride through the countryside.
• Come away with an overall understanding of local life after seeing a variety of attractions.
• Pause to browse an arts and crafts store and to sample rum cake.
• Take a selfie at the multi-colored, over-sized Roatan sign with the sea as a backdrop.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Savor a gourmet tasting of seven classic Caribbean dishes whose ingredients and histories the chef will explain in fascinating detail. On the way to the Azul restaurant in the Blue Roatan Resort, you will pass through a lush naturally beautiful setting that will become even more inspiring at the resort. While preparing the dishes, the chef will describe their cultural roots and how the ingredients subtly influence the flavors. Although the menu often changes seasonally, you can expect to sample appetizers such as plantain cream with smoked cheese and main dishes that will likely include fillets of crispy fish, sous vide chicken and tender beef. Each course will be prepared with locally sourced spices. Many other them will feature sauces and purées that reflect the island’s Afro-Caribbean culture. Dessert is typically a coconut mousse with a tropical reduction. Following this gourmet experience, you can relax however you please at the resort’s exclusive beach club.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Sample seven gourmet dishes at an excellent restaurant in a private resort.
• Learn about how the history of each course and where the ingredients were sourced.
• Gain an understanding of Roatan’s cuisine and the many cultures that influence it.
• Spend free time relaxing on the resort’s beach club.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Bring a swimsuit, towel, hat and sunscreen.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Explore the colorful marine life that inhabits the world’s second-largest barrier reef system by learning to SNUBA, an exceptionally fun recreational watersport that is a cross between scuba and snorkeling. Upon reaching the beach at the Blue Harbour resort, you will receive a brief introduction to SNUBA, which will give you the freedom to dive to depths up to 20 feet. Unlike traditional diving, SNUBA uses an air supply that floats on the water’s surface. You simply breathe through the long tube that connects it to you. There is no telling what you will see, as the waters are home to neon-colored parrotfish, rock beauties, blue tangs and mahogany snappers. You might even see hawksbill sea turtles, a species named for the shape of its head, which tapers to a point that resembles a raptor’s beak. After the SNUBA outing, you will have time to swim, sunbathe and relax on the beach.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Learn to SNUBA – a cross between scuba and snorkeling – on a vast barrier reef.
• Observe a variety of brightly colored tropical fish and perhaps even sea turtles.
• Relax on the beach afterwards, amazed by how easy it was to SNUBA.
• Enjoy a Caribbean-inspired lunch.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Bring a swimsuit, towel, hat and sunscreen.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Walk along the ocean floor wearing no equipment other than a diving helmet for an up-close view of the marine life darting about the coral reef off the Blue Roatan Beach Club. After a brief introduction to helmet diving, you will be ready to explore the crystal-clear waters. Helmet diving is easy to learn. Just slip the helmet comfortably over your head so it rests on your shoulders. Air is supplied to the helmet through a tube connected to an air tank on the water’s surface that follows wherever you walk. There isn’t an air regulator or mouthpiece, so you can breathe just like you normally do. You can even wear prescription glasses or contact lenses because your head will not get wet while helmet diving. You can expect to observe fish such as sergeant majors, blue tangs and perhaps a sea turtle or two. Following the helmet-diving adventure, you can spend free time on the beach.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Walk along the ocean floor, breathing through a helmet with its own air supply.
• Never even get your head wet the entire time that you are underwater.
• See a huge variety of neon-colored tropical fish and maybe a hawksbill sea turtle.
• Enjoy a Caribbean-inspired lunch and spend free time relaxing on the resort’s beach.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Bring a swimsuit, towel, hat and sunscreen.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.