5 Great Things To Do On The Caribbean Island Of
5 Great Things To Do On The Caribbean Island Of Roatan
A recent article in the Wall Street Journal named Roatan the Caribbeans next it spot an underdeveloped island that is poised to become a major tourist destination.
These days there is a definite buzz about this peaceful island lying just 30 miles off the coast of Honduras. No wonder: Roatan features lush tropical forests warm turquoise water and sugar white beaches without the crowds.
Continental Airlines now flies directly to the islands from Newark New Jersey and Houston Texas. Delta flies directly from Atlanta Georgia. Major cruise lines are stopping by more frequently and both Carnival Cruise Lines and Royal Caribbean are expanding their ship terminals to bring more passengers. Celebrities including Michael Douglas and Richard Gere have been spotted on the island in recent months.
Roatan has long been famous among scuba diving aficionados. The island sits atop the worlds secondlargest barrier reef system and features some of the best diving in the Western Hemisphere. Scuba diving is still the main attraction drawing visitors to the island.
But Roatan offers much more than diving and makes a great family vacation destination.
Whether visiting with your family making a stopover on a cruise ship or taking a break from diving here are five Roatan adventures you can enjoy.
1 Zip Through the Rain Forest. Roatan features lush tropical forests where wild parrots and monkeys roam freely. A canopy tour is a great way to get close to nature while having some exhilarating fun. Guests climb to a treetop platform and then move among the trees by gliding on zip lines or walking over swinging bridges. Its a thrilling ride.
Roatan has several canopy tours from which you can chose. Palmetto Bay features a 20 platform tour that includes a climbing wall and swinging bridges. The West Bay also features a 16 platform tour including two bridges. Please keep in mind that canopy tours require children to be at least four feet tall.
2 Swim with the Dolphins. The Roatan Institute for Marine Sciences on the islands north shore features several dolphin encounter programs that are open to the public.
One of the most popular tours on the island is their dolphin swim. Guests are taken to Baileys Key a whitesand island frequented by schools of dolphin. During an initial 20minute beach encounter trainers coax the dolphin to join your group giving you a chance to pet them.
Guests can then snorkel and swim freely with the dolphins in 20 feet of water. Guests are accompanied by a dolphin behaviorist and videographer and photographer to capture the memories. The dolphin swim requires children to be at least 13 years old.
Divers can also chose the institutes Dolphin Dive program which lets you interact with dolphins off a reef wall in 60 feet of water. This dive lasts approximately 45 minutes. Participants in the Dolphin Dive must be certified scuba divers.
Not enough for you? The institute also offers a Trainer for a Day program which gives you the chance go behind the scenes and work with the staff as they feed and care for the dolphins. Participants will learn dolphin training techniques during a handson session with the dolphins.
3 See Coral While Staying Dry. Even if you are not a diver you can get a glimpse of Roatans gorgeous reef formations with a ride on the Coral Reef Explorer. This glassbottomed boat seats 25 persons below the water line in air conditioned comfort. Passengers look through windows at multicolored coral tropical fish and graceful Spotted Eagle Rays.
The Coral Reef Explorer departs daily from West Bay Beach and you can expect the tour to last approximately 50 minutes.
4 Horseback Tours. What could be more romantic than a horseback ride along Roatans pristine white beaches? Guided horseback tours start in West End passing through some of Roatans best scenery before ending at the West Bay where you can take a quick swim.
Tours last approximately 90 minutes and are suitable for beginners as well as experienced riders.
5 Pet an Iguana. Perhaps the most unusual attraction on Roatan is Sherman Archs Iguana Farm. This private preserve is real treasure and a real treat for kids.
Over 2700 of the big spiny lizards roam freely on its grounds which are located just east of French Harbor. The iguanas are tame having been raised in cages until old enough to fend for themselves. Come during the early afternoon feeding for the best chance to hold and pet an iguana.
More to See and Do
TropicalRez a Roatan central booking agency can assist you in booking Roatan hotels and tours.
The Honduran Ministry of Tourism web site features a good overview of Roatan and the other Honduras Bay Islands.
About the writer: John Anton is a freelance writer specializing in the travel industry.
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