Anyone been to Roatan?

[DPD6030]

Has anyone been to Roatan? I'm headed there in April on a cruise and can't decide what to do. I've looked at the excursions and not much seems interesting to me. I might just stay on the ship and party while others are off the ship.

[Porch Dweller]

Yes, my wife and I were there December of 2012 with some other family on a cruise stop. We were in the same boat (pun intended) as you as far as excursions; none really caught our fancy. Where the cruise ships come in they've built up a tourist trap area with stores and a bar or two...standard stuff for a poor area that's a cruise stop. Outside this area is a place where you can hire a car and driver along with an English-speaking tour guide. That's what we did. There were five of us and with tip it cost around $120 which is a heck of a lot less than it would have cost to go on an excursion.

They took us pretty much completely around the island. The tour guide was born and raised there so she had quite a bit of info to share. For lunch we went to the end of the island with a lot of beaches where it's built up a bit for the new surfing tourist industry and had lunch at a great restaurant on a pier. I asked about stopping at a store where we could get some aged Flor de Cana rum and they took us to a small shopping plaza that also had touristy/souvenir stuff that was at the same time nicer and cheaper than the stuff at the port.

While down at the beach end we were approached about three times by locals trying to sell us Cuban cigars and even Honduran ones. The smokes all looked like they'd been rolled half an hour prior.

We had a great day and were glad we did it the way we did. Whatever you decide, enjoy your time.

[Blueface]

Have never been there but on my bucket list for one thing and one thing alone.........
Diving.

[Porch Dweller]

Originally Posted by Blueface

Have never been there but on my bucket list for one thing and one thing alone.........
Diving.

Oops, where I said "surfing" in my post I meant "scuba diving". That's what happens when I post before having coffee.

[equetefue]

was there last year. Pretty place and lots to do. People are very friendly so we felt good about getting a cab and ask the driver to take us to good snorkeling beach, which he did. He also stayed with us the entire time we were there and had a blast.

Looking forward to going back

[Goldie]

It's a cool place, and makes you feel really humble. We did a driving tour of the area and when you drive past someone's home and can see from the front door to the back door as you drive by, it makes you very thankful for what you have.

My only bit of advice would be that there is an old dude who sells cigars on the docks by the port. I will tell you right now that the cigars look mediocre, and smell not so great, but they are awesome. I bought two five packs and am still kicking myself four years later because I didn't buy a **** load of them. They were no joke, awesome.

Have fun otherwise.

[Remo]

Drew,

There is a little thing called fly fishing and Roatan is becoming the new "it" place, I suggest taking a 4 pc. 8 wt. and hit the flats!!

[DPD6030]

We may just do the island rent a car tour thing or perhaps go to Little French Key for the day.

Originally Posted by Goldie

It's a cool place, and makes you feel really humble. We did a driving tour of the area and when you drive past someone's home and can see from the front door to the back door as you drive by, it makes you very thankful for what you have.

My only bit of advice would be that there is an old dude who sells cigars on the docks by the port. I will tell you right now that the cigars look mediocre, and smell not so great, but they are awesome. I bought two five packs and am still kicking myself four years later because I didn't buy a **** load of them. They were no joke, awesome.

Have fun otherwise.

I'll be looking for this old dude

Originally Posted by Remo

Drew,

There is a little thing called fly fishing and Roatan is becoming the new "it" place, I suggest taking a 4 pc. 8 wt. and hit the flats!!

I don't fly fish my man but wish I did and wish I didn't live in MI. Too cold and too much darn snow. Maybe someday I'll fly south and break my wings so I have to stay south.