Roatan has two dedicated cruise piers — Isla Tropicale (Carnival family ships) on the south coast, and Port of Roatan at Coxen Hole (Royal Caribbean, NCL, MSC, Celebrity). Both are docked; no tender required.
💡 Pro move: USD is accepted everywhere near tourist areas. Keep small bills — change can be scarce. Always agree on taxi fare before getting in; there are no meters on the island.
Two dedicated cruise piers serve Roatan — Isla Tropicale (formerly Mahogany Bay) for Carnival group ships, and Coxen Hole for Royal Caribbean, NCL, MSC, and others.
| Cruise Line | Typical Berth / Arrival | Dock or Tender |
|---|---|---|
| Carnival, Princess, Holland America | Isla Tropicale Cruise Center (formerly Mahogany Bay), south coast — private beach, pool, shops, chairlift📍 | Docked |
| Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, MSC, Celebrity and others | Port of Roatan / Coxen Hole, adjacent to the island capital📍 | Docked |
Roatan packs world-class reef diving, jungle zip lines, wildlife parks, beautiful beaches, and authentic Garifuna culture into a single shore day.
The Mesoamerican Barrier Reef — the world's second largest — runs along Roatan's north shore. Guided boat tours from West End and both piers reach sites with sea turtles, eagle rays, parrotfish, and healthy coral. West Bay Beach also has snorkel-ready reef starting just 50–100 yards offshore in clear, shallow water.
Find Roatan snorkel & dive tours →Operators including South Shore Canopy and Roatan Zipline Adventures run zip-line courses high above the jungle with ocean views. Courses typically include 8–12 platforms and cables up to 400 meters long. Often combined with a beach stop or wildlife park visit.
Find Roatan zip-line tours →A well-established wildlife and nature park in the West Bay area where you can meet trained macaws, interact with capuchin monkeys, walk through tropical botanical gardens, and snorkel in the park's protected cove. Family-friendly; about 18 minutes by taxi from Coxen Hole.
Find Gumbalimba Park tours →Consistently rated among the Caribbean's best beaches, West Bay has a long stretch of white sand, calm turquoise water, and a shallow reef just offshore. Beach clubs rent chairs and serve food and drinks — or walk the public beach for free. Best reached by taxi from either pier or by water taxi from West End.
Find West Bay Beach day passes →The Garifuna people have deep roots along Central America's Caribbean coast. Guided visits to Garifuna communities near Punta Gorda on Roatan's north coast include drumming and dance, traditional food (hudut fish stew, cassava bread), and a look at a culture unlike anywhere else in the Caribbean.
Find Garifuna culture tours →Guided ATV tours wind through Roatan's interior villages, jungle roads, and scenic overlooks with ocean views. Several operators offer loop tours combining ATVs with a beach stop — a great way to see beyond the terminal areas.
Find Roatan ATV tours →Coxen Hole is walkable from its pier for a quick local market browse; West End village is a short taxi ride away and perfect for a relaxed stroll to West Bay.
From Coxen Hole pier, walk into the island capital — a working Honduran port town with colorful buildings, a local market, and street vendors selling fresh fruit and snacks. Not a polished resort area, but good for a quick look at real Roatan before jumping in a taxi to West Bay.
🗺️ See full route in Maps →West End is Roatan's laid-back dive hub — a low-key strip of dive shops, beach bars, open-air restaurants, and souvenir stalls fronting a calm bay. Walk Main Street from the public dock south toward Half Moon Bay, stopping for fresh ceviche or a cold Salva Vida beer. Catch a water taxi to West Bay Beach from the dock at the far end.
🗺️ See full route in Maps →Climate normals for Roatan, Bay Islands, Honduras (2014–2023 averages). Pack for the month you sail — highs, lows, and how many rainy days to expect.
| Month | Avg High | Avg Low | Rainy Days | Sunrise | Sunset |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 79°F / 26°C | 76°F / 24°C | 19 | 6:17 AM | 5:33 PM |
| Feb | 79°F / 26°C | 76°F / 24°C | 12 | 6:11 AM | 5:48 PM |
| Mar | 80°F / 27°C | 77°F / 25°C | 9 | 5:53 AM | 5:56 PM |
| Apr | 82°F / 28°C | 79°F / 26°C | 6 | 5:30 AM | 6:01 PM |
| May | 83°F / 28°C | 80°F / 27°C | 7 | 5:15 AM | 6:09 PM |
| Jun | 83°F / 28°C | 81°F / 27°C | 10 | 5:14 AM | 6:19 PM |
| Jul | 83°F / 28°C | 80°F / 27°C | 15 | 5:22 AM | 6:22 PM |
| Aug | 84°F / 29°C | 81°F / 27°C | 15 | 5:30 AM | 6:10 PM |
| Sep | 84°F / 29°C | 81°F / 27°C | 18 | 5:34 AM | 5:47 PM |
| Oct | 83°F / 28°C | 80°F / 27°C | 22 | 5:38 AM | 5:24 PM |
| Nov | 81°F / 27°C | 78°F / 26°C | 23 | 5:49 AM | 5:11 PM |
| Dec | 80°F / 27°C | 77°F / 25°C | 20 | 6:06 AM | 5:16 PM |
Source: Open-Meteo ERA5 (10-yr daily averages)
Upcoming cruises that call at Roatan, Bay Islands, Honduras. Dates, prices, and ports of call change — always confirm with the cruise line before booking.
Itineraries and prices change — always confirm with the cruise line before booking. Some links are affiliate links that may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you.