Roatán cruise port guide: what to do in your hours ashore
Roatán, the largest of Honduras' Bay Islands, has two cruise ports on its south coast. The Town Center port sits at the edge of Coxen Hole, the island's main town, and takes most cruise lines. Carnival brand ships usually berth at Mahogany Bay at Dixon Cove, about 5 km to the east, which has its own shopping area and private beach. The island's best-known beach, West Bay, and the reef just off it are at the western tip, roughly half an hour from Coxen Hole.
Roatán today: weather, what is open and what fits →
Plan by time ashore
Under 4 hours
Coxen Hole on foot, Gumbalimba Park, Daniel Johnson's Monkey and Sloth Hangout, Arch's Iguana and Marine Park, Zip-line canopy tour
4 to 6 hours
West Bay Beach, West End and Half Moon Bay, Reef snorkelling trip
6 hours or more
Little French Key
Getting around from the pier
- Taxi: Taxis have no meters. A "colectivo" picks up other passengers on the way; ask for a private ride if you want to go straight there. Always settle the price first, and check whether it is in dollars or lempiras and per person or per car.
- Walk into Coxen Hole: From the Town Center port you can walk out of the gate into Coxen Hole: a working Honduran town with a market, banks and street food, not a tourist strip.
- Minibus: Local minibuses run from Coxen Hole west to West End and east to French Harbour. Flag one down and pay the conductor about a dollar; cheap, crowded and slow on busy days. being verified
- Water taxi: Small boats shuttle between West End and West Bay along the reef, a quick and scenic alternative to the road. Agree the fare on the dock. being verified
Money and language
Money: Honduran lempira (HNL). US dollars are accepted by taxis, tour operators and most businesses that deal with visitors; change is often given in lempiras.
Language: Spanish is the national language, but English is the everyday language of many islanders, so getting by in English is easy.
Opening hours
Shops at the two cruise ports open when ships are in. In Coxen Hole and West End most shops and restaurants open daily from morning to evening.
On Sundays many local shops and banks in Coxen Hole close; the cruise port shops, West Bay and West End stay open for visitors.
Weather
Daytime highs of 28–31°C all year. Warm all year. October to January is the rainiest stretch, with frequent heavy showers; the island lies south of the main hurricane track, but storms do pass between June and November.
Things to do
Town
Coxen Hole on foot
Walk out of the Town Center port into the island's capital: busy main street, small shops, baleadas from street stalls and a view of daily island life. Keep valuables out of sight.
Nature
Daniel Johnson's Monkey and Sloth Hangout
A small private animal park near French Harbour where you can see and hold sloths and monkeys. Short visits; close to Mahogany Bay and easy to combine with the iguana farm.
Tours & prices (4)
Super Man Zip Line, Monkey Sanctuary and Beach
Daniel Johnson's Monkey/Sloth Sanctuary and Snorkel
Monkey and Sloth Sanctuary Tour
Monkeys and Sloth Snorkel Adventure
Nature
Arch's Iguana and Marine Parkbeing verified
Thousands of iguanas roam a family property on the water at French Cay, with pools of fish and turtles. Small entry fee; best in the morning when the iguanas are active.
Nature
Gumbalimba Park
A nature park near West Bay with tame capuchin monkeys, parrots, gardens and a zip line; often sold together with beach time at West Bay. Entry fee.
Tour
Zip-line canopy tourbeing verified
Several zip-line parks run cables over the forested hills between Coxen Hole and West Bay. Most include pickup at both cruise ports and fit easily in a half day.
Tours & prices (4)
Super Man Zip Line, Monkey Sanctuary and Beach
ATV, Zip Line, Monkey and Sloth Sanctuary and Beach
Roatan Superman Zip Line with Monkey/Sloth and Snorkel
Roatan Jungle Top Zip Line Shore Excursion with Monkey/Sloth
Town
West End and Half Moon Bay
A laid-back village of dive shops, cafés and bars along a sandy road, with the small, sheltered beach of Half Moon Bay at its north end. Good for a slow lunch by the water.
Water
Reef snorkelling tripbeing verified
Roatán sits on the Mesoamerican Reef, and boats from West End and West Bay reach healthy coral within minutes. Many trips include transport from the cruise port. A marine park fee may be charged.
Beach
West Bay Beach
Roatán's long white beach, with calm water and a reef close enough to snorkel from the sand. Resorts and beach bars rent loungers. The busiest place on the island on ship days.
Beach
Little French Keybeing verified
A small private island off the south coast with a beach, restaurant and animal enclosures, reached by a short boat ride. Entry includes the boat; food and drinks extra.
Frequently asked questions
Which cruise port will my ship use in Roatán?
Most ships dock at the Town Center port in Coxen Hole. Carnival brand ships usually use Mahogany Bay, about 5 km east, which has a chairlift to its own beach. Taxis and tours leave from both.
How far is West Bay Beach from the Roatán cruise port?
About 25 to 30 minutes by taxi from Coxen Hole and a little longer from Mahogany Bay. Agree the price and the return pickup time before you set off.
Can I pay with US dollars in Roatán?
Yes, dollars are widely accepted. Make sure a taxi fare quoted as "20" means dollars or lempiras, and carry small notes, since change usually comes in lempiras.
Is Roatán safe for cruise passengers?
The tourist areas, West Bay and West End are generally fine by day. Use taxis from the official stands or arranged tours, keep valuables out of sight in Coxen Hole, and do not wander off the main roads.
Roatán cruise traffic: about 1.4 million cruise passengers in 2025.
Labels saying being verified mark local tips we have not confirmed yet.