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Bay Islands · Honduras
Reef snorkeling, West Bay Beach and scarlet macaws.
Roatan sits on the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, the second-largest barrier reef in the world. Snorkel it by boat or from West Bay Beach, or meet monkeys and macaws at Gumbalimba Park.
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See Wildlife
West Bay
Meet white-faced monkeys, scarlet macaws and iguanas, then explore the pirate museum cave or ride the 13-cable zipline. The park is open daily from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; entry is $45 for adults and $25 for children 12 and under.
See Gumbalimba Park Prices (opens a new tab)Unwind Beach
West Bay, 5 miles from Coxen Hole
Royal Caribbean calls it a classic Caribbean beach day, with sand for sunbathing and water for swimming and casual snorkeling. It is about 5 miles in a straight line from Coxen Hole and 8 from Isla Tropicale, so you need a ride.
Read Royal Caribbean's Roatan Guide (opens a new tab)Explore Conservation
West End
Rangers from this non-profit patrol the reef with the Honduran Navy, and it installs the dive moorings and swim zones that keep boats off the coral. Its EcoStore is in West End, about 4 miles from Coxen Hole in a straight line.
About Roatan Marine Park (opens a new tab)Skip the excursion desk
Where your ship docks decides the route: the Port of Roatan in Coxen Hole or Isla Tropicale.
If you do one thing here
The reef runs past Mexico, Belize, Guatemala and Honduras, and Roatan's stretch has been inside the Bay Islands National Marine Park since 2010. At about 2,500 square miles, the park is the largest marine protected area in Honduras.
Royal Caribbean says a guided snorkel boat suits first-timers; beginners should pick one with instruction and a sheltered entry. You can also snorkel from the sand at West Bay or at Maya Key. Wear reef-safe sunscreen, and Roatan Marine Park asks for a $10 voluntary reef fee.
Reef Fee Details (opens a new tab)Visit Maya Key (opens a new tab)
Roatan's recorded homicide rate is a little below the Honduran average, and the UK government calls the Bay Islands generally safer than the mainland.
Crime figures: UNAH national violence observatory, bulletin 71 (January to December 2025), table 2: Roatan 14 homicides, 23.6 per 100,000; Honduras 2,633 homicides, 26.2 per 100,000. The percentage is our maths. Distances are straight-line from OpenStreetMap coordinates.
Make it part of your voyage
Carnival, Royal Caribbean, MSC, Norwegian and Princess call at Roatan. Find cruises that visit.
Roatan has two cruise ports: the Port of Roatan in Coxen Hole and Isla Tropicale, which opened in 2009 as Mahogany Bay. Royal Caribbean generally docks at Coxen Hole and Princess at Isla Tropicale; Celebrity says either. Your line's daily planner shows yours.
Roatan recorded 23.6 homicides per 100,000 residents in 2025, about 10% below the Honduran rate of 26.2. The UK government calls the Bay Islands generally safer than the mainland, warns of petty theft and advises a reputable guide.
The UK government advises avoiding side roads in remote areas and taking care at isolated beaches and tourist sites. Celebrity says some parts of the city are walkable from the cruise terminal.
Isla Tropicale has its own Blue Flag beach and pool area, per Carnival. Maya Key has a beach and pool about 0.7 miles from the Port of Roatan. West Bay Beach is about 5 miles from Coxen Hole and needs a ride.
Royal Caribbean says West Bay Beach suits casual snorkeling and guided boat trips suit first-timers. Maya Key, near Coxen Hole, lists reef snorkeling. Roatan Marine Park asks for a $10 voluntary reef fee.
Celebrity says there is a shuttle to town and taxis and water taxis are common. At Isla Tropicale, Carnival lists shops, a beach, a chairlift and a pool area. Gumbalimba Park sells entry directly, with port pickup on its online package.
Celebrity says shopping at Coxen Hole is minimal. Carnival lists 52 shops and local artisan kiosks at Isla Tropicale.
We found no official taxi fare list, so agree the price before you get in. Celebrity says taxis, car rentals and water taxis are common.
We found no official page that says ride-hailing works on Roatan. Celebrity points to taxis, car rentals and water taxis.
US dollars are widely accepted, the UK government says. Gumbalimba Park takes US dollars and lempiras in cash, cards and Apple Pay, and has no ATM on site.
Hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30 and peaks around September 10. We found no official monthly temperature or rainfall figures for Roatan.
