Customizable Best Of Roatan Island Tour in Honduras

Dolphus’s tour was the highlight of our cruise! He was so informative and friendly. It was really interesting getting a view of the island, including where the locals live. He took us to the Mayan Eden animal sanctuary which was a great experience as well, and also to the chocolate factory and rum tasting place. He also made a great recommendation on where to have lunch. Definitely recommend this tour, my husband and I had the best time!

What a perfect day! Michael was amazing, took us everywhere we wanted and helped us a lot The day in Roatan was unforgettable!

Amazing experience with our driver Dolphus who drove us to the mangroves and to many other beautiful spots around the island!

We booked this online with Tripadvisor/Viator. Forgot to view tickets before we got on cruise, organized that with Guest Services on our Princess cruise. Booked a 10am tour, got off ship a 830am to do a little shopping at port before leaving. Called tour operator at phone number provided. Someone answered, I'm told it was Ron by other operators at port, was told not to worry someone is already there waiting. Re-emphasized 10am appointment, yes no problem we'll be here. Shopped until about 945am, headed to exit to find cab stand just outside. I'm handicapped, in a wheelchair, and my wife begins looking around expansive cab stand (room for 20 cabs and probably 10-12 large tour buses). No sign of somebody with sign to announce Rotan Adventure Tours. Waited 10 minutes until 10am, still no sign. Called Ron again, was told he's waiting outside the Green Gate. Asked some cab drivers if this was the green gate? No, the Green Gate is over the hill and at bottom of other side. Looked up hill, trying to decide if i can do that hill in my manual wheelchair. No way. Have to rent a cab to get me, my wheelchair and my wife over that hill. We paid. Going downhill on other side there was a woman sitting on the curb with 'Roatan Aventure Tours' sign in hand. I rolled down my window and said i was there for the tour with her. Language barrier I guess, she just motioned to the bottom of the hill. Cab driver finished drive to bottom of hill and dropped us off in an uneven gravel and dirt parking area where other tour operators were picking up their fares. One gentleman put us in his cab, said yes, he was our guide and began talking about what we could expect today. When he asked to see our e-tickets, he realized we were not who he was expecting and very courteously dropped us in some shade under a tree while he went to find our tour operator for us. He was very helpful, but he represented Roatan Ocean Tours. Found our tour operator on the hill and returned with him. We basically began our tour at 1045am, and ship was leaving port at 330pm. All of this was the only bad experience of our day. Our tour guide's name was Jordan Johnson, his friends just call him JJ. Great guide. Car had good A/C, JJ was in a good mood, our moods were starting to brighten again, and it was a beautiful, hot day in Honduras. We told JJ what we wanted to see and do while we were here. I had gathered a list of 5-6 things that looked interesting to us to give him an idea of how to organize the day. As we drove he explained that Roatan as an island really relied on tourism to keep things running. We noticed low hanging fruit everywhere, in yards, beside the road, at factories and roadside stores. JJ explained that mangoes grow everywhere. He said they are so invasive that he can barely stand to eat them anymore. Our first stop was at very modern gas station for something to drink and a restroom break. It was surprising how clean and new everything was at the station while the rest of the landscape more natural, worn and not as shiny and new. JJ drove us down on the beach, up through the one-way street near where he grew up, some houses pretty, well-kept and others older, dirtier, not as well kept. Mangoes adorned every yard. Next, we went to the Roatan Rum Factory where we sampled the rums, the rum cakes, and the frozen rum drinks out behind the factory with a view that we all wish we had of valley and rolling land. We purchased pineapple rum cake, a bottle of Rum Crema and frozen rum drinks on the veranda as JJ continued to tell us of his life growing up here. From there we headed to the Mayak Chocolate Factory. Very crowded parking here as many are here for the chocolate and the other shops, 3 or 4, located here. We went inside to view, through a window, some of the steps of chocolate production. There is an area straight ahead of the entry doors that explains the process from cacao beans to the chocolate that we can sample here. From the museum area to the two chocolate fountains where you can sample the dark chocolate and the white chocolate on a taster stick. Then to viewing window where the workers were preparing frozen chocolate treats for our guilty pleasure. Next to the chocolate bar collections that are for sale and lastly to the best part of all...the frozen treats. All three of us got a double dipped ice cream bar, vanilla ice cream dipped first in white chocolate then dipped again in dark chocolate. I thought my wife was going to kill me when a piece broke off my bar and hit the floor. Another casualty of over-zealous consumption of chocolate and ice cream. JJ looked amused. On to the Gumbalinga Jungle Park. We got there kind of late in our day as the large tour buses were getting ready to exit the park and head back to the cruise terminals. We were a little concerned if we would have time to get through the whole park before we had to get back to the ship. JJ assured us that we should be fine as he would try to return us to the cab stand. We opted for the golf cart tour to save me the walking. It was surprisingly $50 each. I told JJ he would have to sit this one out. The driver started us out at this humongous tree. It's a Cottonwood Tree, he said. He collected a sample of the cotton blowing through the air to show us. He said it was more than a hundred years old as my wife went to stand between two exposed roots that were taller than her 5'9" body. Amazing sight to behold. Our new guide went on talking about the flora and fauna as he drove us to our first stop, a suspension bridge. I got out my cane to see if i could make it up the steps to the bridge. (about 6 steps) What a delight for my wife and I. A suspension bridge through the bamboo over a river cove while 2 red macaws flew over our heads during our crossing. The other side of the bridge proved a little more challenging for me physically as there were about 20 natural stairs down to the golf cart. Saw the macaws next, had them land on our shoulders and perched just above our heads. On to the monkeys, where we had them all to ourselves with the trainer close by. They responded well to him as he rewarded nuts and Smartie candies. Left there to go into a cave, remade for the park to talk about the history of the area and possible treasures buried there. Lastly to a insect museum where all of the bugs were dead and pinned to several boards explaining what they were scientifically. There was one frame in there with beetles bigger than the palm of my hand. Time to leave. Jordan got us back to the terminal at 320pm so we could get back on before departure. We had such a great time visiting Roatan with Jordan. We would love to come back with more time to spend with our new friend.

Dauphas was the best. He we waiting for us when we got off the ship at Isla Tropical. He took us to see sloths and capuchins at AJ's, he took us to go on a tour of the mangrove tunnels, and took us to a local spot for lunch. Dauphus was explaining everything about the island to us between locations and even stopped to get us some cassava bread.

It was so nice to get out of "Cruise world" and into the real world with a local who could support our day's adventure. Michael picked up immediately on the types of experiences we wanted to have with our day for our family and young kids. He provided exceptional suggestions, and helped make it all work together seamlessly. We also learned a lot about life on Roatan.

Outstanding! Orrie will take you everywhere and save you money in doing so! We went to the sloth/monkey zoo ($15 pp) the cacao souvenir market place, both rum outlets, and spent the afternoon at the clean, rock free West Bay playa ($30 pp) where they served delicious and reasonably priced conch salad, fresh caribbean lobster!, and banging margaritas!

Orie was amazing! I’m so glad I booked this tour! He customize the trip exactly what we were looking for, and he was so knowledgeable about the island and its history! Orie is the best!

I like that it qas customizable and private and intimate. The driver was very accommodating ans knowledgeable.

Best experience I’ve had traveling. Joel was great local. He translated and talked to the locals in their native language and the other locals in Spanish. Saved more money then what the taxi service cost by getting his price and not ripped of by knowing we’re tourists. Just tell him what you wanna do and he will get you there. Ask for the local experience. We went on a boat tour with another local and he road with us. Definitely recommend. Got to experience all of the island in 8 hours.