Roatan has two cruise ports — Mahogany Bay, a private Carnival-owned terminal, and Coxen Hole (Town Center Pier), the original port closer to independent taxis and local operators — and which one your ship uses changes how you'll get around. Either way, the island's best-known stop, West Bay's Tabyana Beach, is public and doesn't require a paid day pass, which makes Roatan one of the easier Western Caribbean ports to do independently rather than through the ship.
| Site | What it is | Price | Time needed | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tabyana Beach / West Bay | Roatan's most famous beach, public access | Free; no day pass required | Half-full day | Snorkel right off shore over a coral reef |
| West End | Laid-back village with shops, restaurants, bars | Free to walk; food/drinks extra | 2-3 hrs | Reachable by water taxi from West Bay |
| Gumbalimba Park | Wildlife park with monkeys, macaws, and a zipline add-on | General admission + optional zipline fee | 2-3 hrs | One of the most popular ship-organized excursions — also bookable independently |
| Daniel Johnson's Monkey & Sloth Hangout | Hands-on sloth and monkey sanctuary, French Harbour | From ~$56 for a combined 3-hour tour | 2-3 hrs | ~40 min from West End; book ahead, groups fill fast |
| Arch's Iguana Farm | Sanctuary with hundreds of free-roaming iguanas | ~$10/adult, $5/child | 1 hr | Combined tours from ~$45/person also available |
| Little French Key | Private island day pass with beach, animals, water activities | Day pass, check current rate | Full day | Popular alternative to West Bay for a quieter beach day |
| Mary's Place snorkeling | Dramatic underwater canyon dive/snorkel site | Excursion pricing varies | Half day | Better suited to certified divers/experienced snorkelers |
| Mahogany Bay beach club | Chairlift + beach club at the Mahogany Bay port itself | Pricing varies by add-on | Half-full day | Zero transportation needed if your ship docks here |
| Coxen Hole local market & shopping | Duty-free shops and local crafts near the port | Free to browse | 1 hr | Easiest option if your ship departs early |
| Half Moon Bay / Sandy Bay snorkeling | Calm, shallow reef good for beginners | Taxi fare only, ~$15-20 one-way | 2-3 hrs | Less crowded than West Bay |
The sloth and monkey sanctuary tours are genuinely capacity-limited and sell out on busy cruise days — booking a fixed time slot in advance avoids showing up to a full group. [Replace this box with your actual excursion-booking affiliate link once approved.]
Example: Book independent Roatan excursions →Mahogany Bay vs. Coxen Hole: what changes
| Mahogany Bay | Coxen Hole (Town Center Pier) | |
|---|---|---|
| Ownership | Private Carnival-operated port | Public port, closer to town |
| On-site beach club | Yes, with chairlift access | No — need a taxi to reach a beach |
| Independent taxi access | Available, but a longer drive to West End | Faster access to West Bay, West End, and local sites |
| Best for | A low-effort beach day without leaving the port | Independent exploring and local culture |
The bottom line
West Bay's Tabyana Beach is the single best reason most people visit Roatan, and it costs nothing to access independently — the real spending decision is whether to add a sloth/monkey sanctuary visit or Gumbalimba Park on top. Confirm your ship's specific port (Mahogany Bay or Coxen Hole) before planning taxi logistics, since it meaningfully changes drive times to everything else on this list.