cruiser987123

In Roatan we hired a private driver who took us to a wildlife refuge with butterfly gardens, native animals, and monkey to hold. Then he drove us to West Bay Beach, where the water is crystal clear and you can rent snorkel equipment, or just walk out and see the fish right below. Cost of the whole day was much cheaper than a shore excursion. 

By renting a private taxi for $25-30pp you can go wherever you want on the island. This is good if you know what you want to do in Roatan, and if you don't, the taxi driver will have good recommendations. Whatever you do in Roatan, book an excursion and go out and see the island. When you get out of the port gates there are plenty of tours and taxis available at a better rate and will be much more enjoyable than a tour through the cruise line.

We rented a taxi driver for the day who was able to take us to Maya Eden (much like Gumbalimba but more recommended by locals and cheaper) and Tabyana beach. It cost $30pp to rent a taxi driver for the whole day, $10 admittance to the park ($45pp for zip lining and park) and $7pp entry to Tabyana beach complete with chair rentals and access to facilities. Maya Eden has three types of monkeys which could be held, a butterfly and hummingbird garden and other animals. They also had ziplining available, which we did not do but was highly recommended. Then at Tabyana we relaxed in the water, and did some snorkeling (you don't even need snorkeling gear, you can see the fish right through the water). They did have monkeys on the beach, however some were on a leash, and it is just not the same as in the park.

When we visited Grand Turk, we went to Governors beach, took a taxi from port for very cheap (just walk to the left as if you are leaving the shopping area and there are tons of taxis waiting). Admittance was free and chairs were available, snorkel gear was available for rental and there was also a snack shack with food and drinks. The beach was the most beautiful beach I have ever been to, the water was beautiful and the sand powder soft. An extra plus, as every wave rolls onto the beach, it comes with beautiful sea glass, so the shore is lined with it. We enjoyed a long walk down the beach picking up shells and sea glass, more beautiful than we had ever seen.

Roatan- Tabyana Beach is by far the best choice while in Roatan, amazing snorkeling, beautiful sand, crystal clear water,

we rented a taxi driver for the day for $30pp (just walk to the end of the shops in port and there are dozens waiting) who took us to Tabyana and to a park called Maya Eden where we held monkeys, birds, butterflies, and saw some Mayan ruins

Belize- the city itself is very poor, not one of the ports where you can walk to a beach and find something to do except shopping (the shopping in port however was great), would strongly recommend an excursion, however do not book through the cruise line! when you walk into port there are tons of tours available that are much cheaper than carnival -zoo, snorkeling, city tours, mayan ruins, horse and carriage rides, scuba diving, private beaches .... Belize is a good port if you DO something, but if you don't go on an excursion, it is just another touristy port

We just returned from our cruise, and stopped in Roatan. We decided to rent a taxi and go to both Tabyana Beach and a park preserve. We rented the taxi driver out for the entire day, $30 per person to take us wherever we wanted on the island for the whole day! First we went to a park called Maya Eden, similar to the better known Gumbalimba Park. The parks are the same, but Gumbalimba costs $30pp where Maya Eden is only $10pp! We got to hold three types of monkeys, saw Mayan Ruins, walked through the largest hummingbird and butterfly farm on the island, saw and held parrots, tucans and the Roatan 'rats' the island is named after. We then took a 10 minutes drive to Tabyana beach, the most beautiful beach on the island. For an entry fee of $7pp we got admission to the beach and a chair rental. Once on the beach we were also given access to the docks, water slides in the water, and all the on site facilities. The cost for the three of us all together was just about $150. If we had booked a similar park and beach tour through Carnival it would have been $90pp. Plus, we were just the three of us, and traveled through the island at our own leisure.

My dad, sister and myself will be visiting Roatan in June and have decided we would like to travel to the West End of the island, and hopefully go to both Gumbalimba park to see the monkeys and also make our way to West Bay Beach to relax and maybe snorkel. We saw that our cruise line (Carnival) does have an excursion there, however, the excursion includes a canopy tour, ziplining and other parts we are not interested in. We heard it is possible to just take a taxi to West end beach and then walk to Gumbalimba. Wondering if anyone has done the same, or been there and seen it is not possible?

Thanks for your input!!!