While many Caribbean islands have become commercialized and overrun with tourists, there are still hidden gems waiting to be discovered. One such treasure is Mahogany Bay, located on the island of Roatan off the coast of Honduras.
Roatan is the largest of the Bay Islands and is a popular destination for visitors. However, Mahogany Bay remains relatively undiscovered and offers a peaceful escape from the crowds.
The island is also home to Guanaja and Utila, both smaller and less visited than Roatan. While Western Caribbean cruises often stop at popular destinations like Grand Cayman and Cozumel, a visit to Mahogany Bay offers a unique and tranquil experience.

When arriving by cruise ship, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, and NCL dock at Coxen Hole on the eastern side. Alternatively, Princess, Holland America, Costa, Regent, and Carnival Cruise lines use the Mahogany Bay Cruise Center, located in Coxen Cove.
Arriving at the Mahogany Bay cruise port, on the Carnival Glory, a rusty shipwreck, a flying chair lift, and miles of sandy beach greeted me at sunrise.
Like many cruise ports, the modern welcome center is quite commercialized. But, outside of the cruise terminals and tourist hot spots, parts of Isla Roatan exude a primitive lifestyle.
What To Expect On Roatan Island?
Although many Spanish-speaking residents originated from Jamaica and the Cayman Islands, today, English is universally spoken. Being English, the ability to communicate eliminates stress, especially when ordering in restaurants.
While the lempira is the national currency of Honduras, most businesses accept the US dollar. It’s essential to carry some cash as smaller companies and taxi drivers do not accept credit cards.
Since Isla Roatan, Honduras lays close to the equator; it experiences hot weather year-round. The dry season goes from February to June, but these are the hottest months to visit. November to December are the cooler months; however, these the wettest months.
With 3,000 mm of annual rainfall, downpours can happen during the rainy season. When packing for the Caribbean, bring clothing made for natural fibers, a hat, and reef-safe sunscreen.
While rental cars are available near the cruise ports, taxis are plentiful and inexpensive. I negotiated a rate of USD 40.00 for the whole day I was in port. My taxi driver took me to other parts of the island and waited for me while I participated in shore excursions.
Things To Do In Mahogany Bay, Roatan
Like Cozumel, Roatan lies next to the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef. Its rich ecosystem attracts snorkelers and divers globally to see its colorful corals. Sea turtles, nurse sharks, stingrays, and manatees populate these waters too.
Being a region with a rich exploration history, it’s no surprise shipwrecks are prominent due to shallow waters. If seeing a Spanish Galleon or exploring sunken treasure interests you, consider a diving excursion.
Without a diving certificate, tour operators provide snorkeling excursions, snuba, and glass-bottom kayaks, which are just as much fun. Beyond diving, there are lots to see and do on Roatan.
1. Ride The Flying Beach Chair
- Location: Outside the Mahogany Bay Cruise Center | Cost: USD 14.00 for adults USD 8.00 children (4 to 12 years)
Mahogany Bay’s unique flying chair lift may look out of place on a beach. However, the repurposed ski lift chair transports cruise passengers from the Roatan cruise port to Mahogany Beach. While the ride covers ¼ mile and easily walkable, the lift offers beautiful ocean and tree canopy views.
Being close to the cruise port, passengers have access to the white sand beach without traveling too far. Should you prefer a water activity, kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, aqua cycles, and snorkel equipment are available for rent.
Take relaxation to the next level with a massage in an outdoor pavilion, complete with ocean wave sounds. If you want to connect with family, WiFi is reasonable at just USD 5.00.
2. Enjoy A Zipline Adventure
- Location: Various locations | Cost: varies
While Cozumel’s port excursions are centered around the ocean, Roatan has some adventurous activities. It has some of the best zipline parks in the Caribbean, and most are available at reasonable prices.
The “Clip ‘N’ Zip” adventure, outside the Mahogany Bay cruise center, has eleven zip lines ranging from 150 feet to 1,600 feet. This course offers one of the safest tours on the island, using three cables instead of two.
At the end of the one-hour excursion, the last zip line travels over the water and ends at the beach. Since it’s located within steps of the cruise terminal, this zipline adventure commands the highest prices.
Alternatively, Pirates of the Caribbean claim to be the number one zipline in Roatan. Their extreme zipline package has 15 long zip lines and costs USD 85.00 and includes the 15-minute transfer to and from the cruise ship.
Other companies include King Kong Extreme Zipline, South Shore Canopy Zipline, and Mayan Eden. At Mayan Eden, we fed the monkeys, saw some sloths and toured a butterfly sanctuary.
3. Take An Island Tour
- Location: French Cay | Cost: USD 40.00+
With pick-up and drop-off at Mahogany Bay, enjoy a day touring Roatan while learning its history and culture. Booking with Daniel Johnson includes entrance to their Monkey and Sloth Hangout too. At USD 40.00 per person, it’s a budget-friendly option for an all-day excursion.
During the tour in an air-conditioned van, the driver will stop for plenty of photo opportunities. The tour includes the popular West End, Coxen Hole, West End Beach, and an option to stop at Las Palmas Resort for lunch.
Other stops may include the Roatan Rum Factory to sample rum and rum cakes and Rusty Fish Craft Market. The Rusty Fish eco-friendly store ingeniously recycles junk into new-found treasures. During my tour, I noticed a lighthouse home on a hillside which I found quite quirky.
4. Visit An Iguana Farm
- Location: Brooksy Point Rd, French Cay | Cost: USD 12.00
Located east of the cruise terminal, families will enjoy Arch’s Iguana and Marine Park. Iguanas were once hunted and eaten as a protein source, to the point of almost becoming extinct. The iguana sanctuary opened in 1980 to protect the creatures and allow them to thrive.
In the park, the 4,000 iguanas roam freely and happily munch on leaves offered by visitors. In fact, it’s a bit of a feeding frenzy when the giant lizards see a person with food.
Everywhere I looked, iguanas of different sizes and species crawl around quite lazily. While iguanas look intimidating with their spiny backs, they are actually gentle.
Although the iguanas are the park’s star attraction, you may also encounter parrots, monkeys, and scarlet macaws. Nearby, the oceanside enclosure has bass and hungry tarpon.
While the park isn’t huge, expect to spend an hour here and combine it with the sloth and monkey sanctuary nearby.
5. Swim With Dolphins
- Location: Bailey’s Key, off Anthony’s Key | Cost: USD 65.00+
Located on Bailey’s Key, Roatan Dolphin Encounter allows visitors to experience personal time with Atlantic Bottlenose dolphins. Unlike most dolphin swim tours, these dolphins live in the ocean, not a cement tank.
Dolphin Encounters have a variety of excursions, from basic facetime to the popular dolphin swim and snorkel. While professionals take photos, you can take your camera for candid shots too.
The swim and snorkel excursion includes the encounter but an additional thirty minutes of free snorkeling with the intelligent mammals. Snorkeling freely in the ocean gives a feeling of being part of the pod. Cameras are not allowed during the free swim.
6. Hug A Sloth At The Sloth Sanctuary
- Location: French Cay | Cost: USD 13.00
What better way to enjoy a lazy day in the Caribbean than mingle with the world’s slowest tropical mammal, the sloth. Native to Central and South America, sloths spend their days in trees and sleep up to 18 hours a day.
AJ’s Monkeys and Sloths, and Daniel Johnson’s Monkey and Sloth Hangout are both located in the French Key area. While visitors are rarely allowed to hold a sloth, each visitor has a chance to hold one at the sanctuary.
You’ll also have a chance to hold a parrot, macaw, and monkey, as long as the monkey is willing.
Sloths are gentle creatures that always look like they’re smiling. At Daniel Johnson, travelers have the option to add on other activities, such as ziplining, snorkeling, and an island tour.
7. Spend The Day At West Bay Beach
- Location: West End, Roatan
When seeking the best beach in Roatan, pass on Mahogany Bay Beach in favor of West Bay Beach. With white sand, turquoise waters, and endless beachside patios, I could understand why readers voted it one of the best beaches.
With calm currents and crystal-clear water, West Bay offers the best snorkeling opportunity on Roatan, with spry coral and vibrant tropical fish. Whether you want to lay on a beach or take to the water, West Bay Beach has something for everyone.
The tranquil waters are perfect for young swimmers, but there are plenty of adventure tours for thrill-seekers.
It takes approximately half an hour to access West Bay by taxi, and the drive is picturesque. Should there be more than one ship in port (as it was the day I visited), the beach area becomes quite crowded.
8. See The Jungle On An ATV
- Location: West Bay Beach or West End | Cost: USD 85.00+
For adventure seekers, explore Roatan’s jungle trails on an ATV. After a brief safety video, hop on for a thrilling off-road ride. Tours include round-trip port transfers and optional beach time, with excursions lasting three to five hours.
Enjoy panoramic views from hilltops, pass through villages, and, on some routes, glide through Roatan’s mangroves. Experience the island with the wind in your hair and sun on your back!
Easy to operate and suitable for most, ATVs offer a fun ride—but expect to get dusty or muddy. After all, it’s an ATV adventure!
9. Relax At Little French Key
- Bailey’s Key, off Anthony’s Key | Cost: USD 95.00+
If you’re seeking a less crowded beach than Mahogany Bay, head over to Little French Key, Roatan’s gem. The Little French Key offers a paradise getaway on a private island with turquoise waters, three oceanside restaurants, and aquatic sports.
Activities include standup paddleboarding, snorkeling, kayaking, swimming with horses, or seeing the exotic wildlife at the animal rescue center. The basic discovery packages cost USD 95.00 but do not include food.
The USD 245.00 VIP package includes swimming with horses, a 30-minute massage, a VIP lounge, and a mini pig interaction for the ultimate adventure. If you’re familiar with swimming with pigs in the Bahamas, you’ll understand this bucket list interaction.
10. Take A Scuba Diving Lesson
- Location: West Bay Beach | Cost: USD 89.99+
Roatan offers plenty of water sports, including beginner scuba diving at the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, accessible without prior certification. An English-speaking, certified PADI instructor leads a half-day course starting with an hour of scuba orientation and a dive video, followed by practice in shallow waters.
Once comfortable, divers venture to 40-foot depths, exploring vibrant marine life among coral reefs. With a four-to-six person limit per group, this intimate experience ensures safety.
Pack a bathing suit, change of clothes, reef-safe sunscreen, towel, and a waterproof camera to capture memories. If you’re already certified, you’ll have access to many diving spots in Roatan.
11. Visit Gumbalimba Park
- Location: West Bay, Roatan | Cost: USD 30.00+
If you’re visiting Roatan by cruise, Gumbalimba Park is a perfect one-day adventure, combining an iguana farm, sloth sanctuary, and zipline.
The main attraction is a scenic rainforest trail with a rope suspension bridge where macaws, iguanas, and friendly white-faced monkeys roam freely, often climbing onto visitors for great photo opportunities.
For extra thrill, add a zipline tour through the lush canopy. Afterward, relax on the nearby beach or try water activities before returning to your ship. Gumbalimba Park offers a packed day of fun for all ages.
12. Enjoy Flora At Carambola Gardens
- Location: Sandy Bay across from Anthony’s Key | Cost: USD 10.00, USD 15.00 for a guided tour
If there are two things you must enjoy in Honduras, it’s the ocean and the jungle. With 40 acres of stunning flora, the Carambola Botanical Gardens provides an unforgettable experience for botanists and naturalists.
Its pristine botanical garden has oodles of jungle trails are perfect for hiking and being one with nature. Expect to spend an hour or two admiring the fruit trees, medicinal plants, and exotic orchids. During your walk, watch out for the monkeys scurrying along with limbs as you seek out the Chocolate Tree.
For adventurous individuals, hike Carambola Mountain for panoramic views of the rainforest, colorful flora, and the world’s second-largest coral reef. Along the hike, admire the “Iguana Wall,” a steep cliff that naturally protects the parrot and iguana species.
13. Go Parasailing
- Location: West Bay Beach | Cost: USD 70.00+
Roatan, Honduras, is breathtaking, but seeing it from the sky with Roatan Parasail at West Bay Beach adds an unforgettable thrill. Soar over one of the world’s best beaches for an exhilarating experience you won’t forget.
The tour lasts about an hour, with each person getting 10-12 minutes of flight time, enough to take in stunning panoramic views. My top parasailing memory was a tandem ride in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, proving the experience safe if operators maintain their equipment and distance from other boats.
Pair your parasailing adventure with a beach day at West Bay for the perfect day in Roatan.
14 Chill On The Beach
If you’ve had a few busy days visiting other ports, Mahogany Bay provides the ideal destination to have a relaxing day.
While Mahogany Bay features a man-made beach, the waters are warm and there’s plenty of space to grab a lounger. For those who need to “connect,” you can purchase Wi-Fi for USD 5. The beach area has souvenir shops, good restaurants, and bars to great drinks.
15. Take A Horseback Ride
- Location: West Bay Beach or cruise terminal | Cost: USD 69.99+
Roatan offers a dream excursion for ocean and horse lovers alike: a scenic horseback ride along trails ending at the beach, where you can swim with the horses. Friendly, skilled handlers ensure a memorable experience, and lockers are available for your belongings.
Closed-toed shoes are required (rentals available). This ride suits all levels, even beginners. Photos are taken throughout and emailed for a small fee.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, Roatan is a paradise isle of monkeys, iguanas, sloths, and an underwater world with one of the best reef systems. From water to land, there’s no end to the vacationer’s activities.
During my one day in Roatan, I rented a taxi for the day and toured the island. My tour included shopping in Coxen Hole, West Bay Beach, Ziplining, and seeing monkeys, sloths, and iguanas.
This budget-friendly isle allowed me to experience all of this for under USD 100.00 per person. When will you discover the beauty of Isla Roatan?
Veronika
Wednesday 31st of March 2021
Yay, definitely adding this place on my bucket list!
Forever Karen
Thursday 1st of April 2021
It's definitely a bucket list destination! I hope you make it there sometime soon.