Roatan, kept on a card.

Where the photos are in Roatan

1. West Bay Beach

   A long stretch of white sand and clear, shallow water on the western tip of the island, often ranked among the best beaches in the Caribbean. It is roughly a 20 to 30 minute taxi ride from either dock, so plan a full block of time.

2. Gumbalimba Park

   A beachfront park in West Bay with white-faced capuchin monkeys and a long bamboo suspension bridge. Photography of the animals is generally welcome, and the bridge makes a good upright photo.

3. West End Village

   A lively strip of shops, bars and local color on the west side of the island, about 20 minutes from the Coxen Hole pier and about 35 from Mahogany Bay.

4. Mahogany Beach

   At the Mahogany Bay dock you can ride a chair lift over the water to a beach steps from the port, a ready-made photo before you have even left the terminal.

5. Coxen Hole

   The town beside the Port of Roatan dock, within a 15 to 20 minute walk of the pier, for street scenes and local shops.

How the light works

West Bay faces west, so if you have the time, the afternoon light on the sand is soft and warm, but your ship will probably leave before sunset. Take the group shot on the beach in the middle of the morning, when the light is clean and the beach is emptier, and keep your phone dry in a zip bag when you go in the water.

Before you go ashore

Roatan has two cruise docks, and which one you use depends on your ship: the Port of Roatan at Coxen Hole, and Mahogany Bay at Dixon Cove. Mahogany Bay has recently been renamed Isla Tropicale, so you may see either name on your itinerary. Both are 20 to 35 minutes from the beaches by taxi. Many places take U.S. dollars, and you will usually have eight to ten hours in port.

Details checked September 2026. Piers, fees and schedules change, so confirm with your ship's daily plan.

Questions people ask

Is Mahogany Bay the same as Isla Tropicale?

Yes. Mahogany Bay at Dixon Cove has been renamed Isla Tropicale after a redevelopment, so guides and itineraries may use either name. The other Roatan dock is the Port of Roatan at Coxen Hole.

How far is West Bay Beach from the cruise docks?

Roughly a 20 to 30 minute taxi ride from either dock, about seven or eight miles.

Can I take photos of the monkeys?

Photography at Gumbalimba Park is generally welcome, but rules vary by attraction, so ask before you hold or feed an animal for a picture.