Traveling to Roatán on a cruise and want to know what the must-do activity is?
Whether you are an animal lover, traveling with junior cruisers, or just enjoying learning, you are going to treasure this cruise stop. Find out all you need to know about the Monkey Sloth Hangout in Roatán. In this review of a tour, we booked directly with Daniel Johnson’s Monkey Sloth Hangout.
With time at a port of call stop limited, it is important to prioritize how you will spend your time.
There’s so much to do in Roatán, Honduras and this is the perfect cruise stop to do a tour on your own.
From blue, abundant reefs teaming with fish and endless diving and snorkeling opportunities, to laid-back beach days, fruity cocktails, or even a heart-racing jungle, zip-lining experience.
Our first stop on our Western Caribbean cruise was the port of call Mahogany Bay, in Roatán, Honduras. We also visited the Centro area of Cozumel and found the most amazing tour in Belize to the ruins of Altun Ha.
Since this would be our first visit to Roatán, I researched “What are the must-see and must-do experiences in Roatán?”
Just like other ports of call, the same tours kept getting mentioned. I found that there were just a few things to do in Roatán on a cruise stop if you don’t dive, snorkel, or hang out at a beach.
I also found that this cruise stop is a great port of call to do independent excursions. There are many opportunities to make a day trip in this pretty area.
So many reviews mentioned Daniel Johnson’s Monkey Sloth Hangout as the best tour in Roatán.
This independent tour can easily be done while on a cruise stop at Mahogany Bay, Carnival Cruise’s port at Roatán.
You cannot book this excursion through your ship. This was intentional by the owner, Daniel Johnston, as he wanted to keep the tour as affordable as possible and open to as many guests as possible. Ship excursions can be expensive and limit who can have the experience.
Knowing this is the best shore excursion in Roatán and a bucket list activity for some, we booked early. Again, we booked our tour on our own and did not through our cruise line, and you can too!
A photo gallery and updates can be found on The Hangout Facebook page.
Even know this was our second port, our entire group looked forward to this port of call and we picked this cruise to do this very activity!
Our group of 7 adults could not wait to hold a sloth in Roatán and interact with Spider Monkeys at the Hangout.
I knew this was going to be a great stop when I saw this view of a shipwreck as we pulled into port early in the morning.
The sun was shining and the sky was clear and the temperature was perfect.
Before I go straight to the review, I want to answer a few common questions cruisers have about Roatán.
What county owns Roatán Island ? Roatán belongs to the country of Honduras.
Where is Roatán located? Roatán is around 35 to 40 miles off the northern coast of Honduras in the Western Caribbean between the island of Guanja and Utila.
Do they Speak English in Roatán? Since most of the economy of Roatán comes from tourism, most people speak English and Spanish. In non tourist businesses like the pharmacy, you may encounter workers that came over from mainland Honduras and do not speak English.
How many cruise ports are in Roatán? There are two cruise port terminals in Roatán. Mahogany Bay and the Port of Roatán Towne Center, AKA, Coxen Hole.
The larger of the two Mahogany Bay is owned by Carnival Corporation which includes Carnival Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, Seabourn, P&O Cruises (Australia), Costa Cruises, AIDA Cruises, P&O Cruises (UK) and Cunard.
The Port at Coxen Hole, on the southwest coast is where all other cruise lines dock and is the smallest of the two ports. Cruise lines such as Royal Caribbean, NCL, MSC Cruises, and Viking Cruise lines stop here.
Meeting your tour
How do meet up with your tour?
I have to tell you that Roatán has been one of the easiest ports to exit.
No walking through endless mazes of shops. No salespeople trying to make a sale.
Just a nice, clean shopping area you easily exit to get to the tours.
Both private tours and tours book through your cruise line will meet outside the Port shopping area.
You will find ship-sponsored excursions right outside the shops and private tours a bit further down the road.
Just walk straight out of the shop area, and up the hill and find your awaiting tour guide.
We choose to tour directly with a guide from the Hangout, but you can book tours visiting the Hangout and making other stops from other tour companies besides Daniel Johnson’s.
There were many tours from the Hangout. Each of the employees was wearing a blue Pittsburgh Steeler shirt on (backside) with the Hangout Logo on the front.
So many white vans were waiting for all the private tour groups.
Besides our tour, other tourists were waiting to go on city tours of Roatán, snorkeling, or zip lining.
While you can find many other tour companies offering similar tours in Roatán, why not go straight with the Hangout, instead of paying a middleman?
You may save money and know you are getting the best tour from the folks who operate the Monkey Sloth Hangout.
City Tour
Many tour groups go to the Hangout each day to see the different species of animals, so the order in which you go is staggered. Our tour began with a tour of the island or city tour. Other parties began with the animal encounters, and still, others found themselves snorkeling at the beginning of the tour. Our tour guide was a friendly, mature woman with a very quiet voice. Our expedition vehicle was a late-model, white minivan.
Our driver drove very slowly, and she explained that Roatán does not have stop signs or stop lights. Everyone stops and goes only by courtesy. That’s so different than our home in the Phoenix area!
Driving around Roatán was a bit unnerving at times. I am not sure that I would enjoy driving here on this island!
The first stop we made on our city tour was a chocolate factory. We would have our adventure with Monkeys and Sloths later.
Chocolate Factory
On the chocolate factory tour, we were given a brief explanation of how chocolate is made and the history of chocolate that went back to Mayan times. We did not see how chocolate was made or get the chance to make our own.
We were given several samples of different kinds of chocolate and allowed to purchase some chocolate to take home. Like many organized tours, this is a filler spot so that you will purchase items. We had a similar experience while in Carnival Panorama doing a ship excursion in Cabo San Lucas. We visited a glass factory and as expected, they had a store with blown glass items for sale.
This portion of your tour does not cost extra, but the shop owners are depending on you to buy some of their products. Purchasing chocolate and other items is how they can keep tours like this chocolate tour or tequila tours free. Some of these shops only take cash. Keep this in mind when planning how much money to bring.
I enjoyed the chocolate bar that had chilies in I and bought a small six-pack to take home. It had a sweet taste with just a small zing of spice.
I think I ended up purchasing the 6 pack of sample bars. It’s a good thing I didn’t buy more because my dog ended up sampling them as well.
This stop at the chocolate factory took only about ten minutes and then we were on our way to the next stop.
While on our city tour, we saw many colorful homes and buildings. The two homes below were my favorites, painted such vibrant Caribbean colors. Commercial buildings, as well as homes, are all painted in traditional Caribbean colors.
Pharmacia
We continued our island tour completing an entire loop. Since I was sick with a respiratory infection, I had our driver stop at a pharmacy.
I was able to purchase one without a prescription a Z-Pack. I just had to show my ID. Three pills were about $17, and I was given change in Honduran Lempira.
It is very easy to purchase prescriptions in both Roatán and Cozumel as long as you know what you are wanting. It also is very helpful to have someone in your group that can speak the local language. My Spanish is not the best, especially when native speakers speak so quickly.
You might like to learn some local language before going to a new place like Roatán.
If you have prescriptions you normally take, it is a good idea to make a copy of or take a picture of the label.
When you have less common prescriptions, it is a good idea to have your pharmacy at home translate the prescription into whatever language you might be traveling to.
I knew exactly what prescription I needed since I tend to get sick big time once every other year and always am prescribed Azithromycin (Z pack).
My Spanish skills are almost enough to get me by, but I was relieved that my tour guide’s Spanish was fluent, as mine is not.
Many people in Roatán speak English because it was under English rule for many years, but most people do speak Spanish, as Roatán does is in Honduras.
I am told that most of the Pharmicia’s are run by those from mainland Honduras, so they are more likely to speak primarily Spanish and less likely English.
The Hangout
One of the 3 best things to do in Roatán is to stop at the Monkey Sloth Hangout, owned by Daniel Johnson. Our next stop was here.
You can book an excursion directly on the Hangout website.
Many other tours may include a stop at the Monkey Sloth Hangout, but if you want the best price, book directly through Daniel.
You can ask questions and see updates on the Hangout Facebook page.
When you get to the Hangout, you will pay in cash for your tour.
Pro Tip 1:
If you have members of your group that doesn’t want to snorkel (or can’t) but want to ride the boat and watch, you can pay a lesser amount and don’t need to worry about sitting out or being left behind.
You will be given a wristband if you are snorkeling.
Each group goes in to see the animals together, so don’t worry about family members being separated. Our private group was seven adults.
We waited patiently under a covered area out of the sun for our turn. (There are a few items that you can purchase here. I should have bought a magnet here with the sloths, but failed on this.)
Hint: If you are wanting a sloth magnet and they have any left, buy it here.
Finally, our guide came and got us. I believe his name was Emmanuel. He accompanied us into the cages and gave us directions, and helped us hold the animals.
Pro tip 2:
Before going into any of the cages with the animals, especially the monkeys, make sure to leave any loose belongings outside. If you wear glasses or have sunglasses, leave those outside.
***You have been warned!***
Hold Sloths
Ask anyone. The top thing to do in Roatán is to hold a sloth.
Do you want to hold a sloth? Holding a sloth was on my bucket list.
Even masculine, tough Millennials sporting thick manly beards had fun holding the sloths. Our well-groomed wives did too!
What’s it like to hold a sloth?
Holding sloths was just like holding a baby, so don’t be afraid to attempt this, and make sure to have your camera ready or someone in your group takes photos for you and so forth.
Just make sure to follow your guide’s instructions on how to hold them and how to hand them back. You don’t want to harm the animal.
Let me tell you sloths are cool. They move R-E-A-L-L-Y slowly, and kind of snuggle into you.
I think they pose for photos too!
Maybe you won’t notice, but these animals have a smell about them. I am sure it is not their natural smell.
My son mentioned that they smelled like human body odor.
If you are coming to the Caribbean, please shower first and wear deodorant.
You don’t want the sloths smelling of you and your b.o. for weeks. (end of rant)
Each member of our group held one sloth.
There is a male and a female. I think I held the male, as he is the fancy-looking one of the two animals.
Refreshments
Be sure to bring your water or snacks or ask to stop for some. No refreshments were provided on this tour. Our tour guide did ask if we wanted to stop somewhere and eat, but we wanted to go back to the ship and clean up after snorkeling.
Monkey’s
Next, we got into the cage with the Monkeys.
Before entering the cage with the monkeys, our guide warned us to not take ANY belongings into the cage that we could not part with.
These monkeys are known to steal items from everyone they can. Then, before you realize your items are gone, the monkey will be at the top of the cage and your items will be gone, permanently.
Some of the items that the guide warned about included eyeglasses, wallets, and jewelry.
Since I wear spectacles, I removed them and placed them in my bag that I left outside of the cage for safekeeping.
Remember my warning above?
As soon as you get into the cage monkeys jump down onto you and start to pick-pocket you.
The monkeys’ hands are fast, and they are all over you. It was kind of creepy. They rifle through your pockets and play in your hair.
I didn’t have anything in my pockets, but one monkey attempted to steal my hair band right from my hair.
Luckily, I grabbed it just in time!
These monkeys are thieves!
It was comical to see the monkeys fly down from the top of the cage, hop off your head, or climb down your leg using you as a tree!
After the monkey encounter, we also had the opportunity to get in a cage with exotic birds.
The parrots were very colorful and could say words in both English and Spanish.
Their Spanish is better than mine, eek! I’d better start practicing my Spanish.
Snorkeling
The final activity that you must do in Roatán on a cruise is snorkeling. I bet you are wondering why Roatán for snorkeling.
Everyone has heard of the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, but have you heard of the Meso-American Barrier Reef?
Roatán sits on the Meso-American Barrier Reef.
This reef is the second-largest barrier reef in the world.
We could have probably done snorkeling at any of our four ports on this trip, as the reef runs right down the Western Caribbean, but since we were able to add snorkeling to our tour package for just a bit more, it made this private tour that much easier and budget friendly.
The final part of the tour was Snorkeling. You are already right at the water and don’t need to drive anywhere.
Keep in mind that since this is the Caribbean, the sun will be much stronger than you are used to.
This site may contains affiliate links, which simply means if you purchase something after following one of our links, we may get a small commission. Find out more in by reading the full affiliate disclosure.
Plan ahead. I made sure each of us had a rash guard or swim shirt to protect our delicate skin from sunburn. I bought each member of our group one like this Kanu Surf Rash Guard found on Amazon. They have women’s sizes too. After ordering both, I decided I liked how the men’s shirts fit better. Many brands make sun-protective clothing. This particular brand I found to be affordable. I prefer to not pay for a name.
We also brought reef-safe sunscreen. I found two brands that had good reviews and are readily available in stores and online at Amazon. Think Sport (Baby) and Blue Lizard Sensitive. I like how the bottle changes color when harmful rays are present. When I am just hanging out at home or in the pool, my day-to-day sunscreen is Neutrogena Ulta Sheer Dry touch.
Both can be found on Amazon.
Please make sure if you are planning on snorkeling, or swimming in the ocean that you bring reef safe sun protection.
Regular sunscreens are responsible for damaging the world’s reefs. The brands I have mentioned are products that I have purchased and used with success. I bring these items to each of our cruises. Remember to check the expiration dates on your sunscreen and other cosmetics. You could have a bad reaction to products that have expired.
I also purchased a long sleeve swim shirt from Costco. You will need to look next year for one if you would like one from there. Check their website or pop in your local store. You might get lucky and catch these items on clearance, but the best selection will be nonexistent. Long sleeve rash guards UPF-rated are available on Amazon year-round. Make sure that the shirt you plan on using has the words UPF 50+ mentioned in the listing and on the tag when you receive it. If the clothing does not specifically state Ultra Violet Protection, return it and purchase from a different seller.
What is UPF 50+?
UPF, or ultra Violet protection factor is a rating for clothing. This protection is in the material and will not wash out.
Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) indicates how much UV radiation (both UVB and UVA) a fabric allows to reach your skin. For example, a UPF 50 fabric blocks 98 percent of the sun’s rays and allows two percent (1/50th) to penetrate, thus reducing your exposure risk significantly.
skin cancer dot org
At the beginning of the snorkel tour before boarding the boat, you will go to a little hut or shack building and check out your equipment. They will ask what size shoes you wear.
Expert tip:
Before walking away, make sure and try on **both** of your snorkel fins. Don’t assume that because one fits well, that the other will too.
One of my sons made this mistake and ended up with one that was too loose.
Next, after collecting your equipment, you will board the boat.
Normally I think this is where your snorkel guide would ask who has snorkeling experience and if you are a good swimmer, but it was late in the day and this part was bypassed.
Only one person in our group of seven had ever been snorkeling before.
For the two of us, this ended up being a deal breaker.
I really would have liked to have stopped at a shallow spot and gotten some instruction, but instead, we went right out to deep, choppy water to wing it.
Our group also only had one snorkel stop and I believe our tour was sold as two stops.
After a short boat ride, the boat was anchored offshore. It was a beautiful day, but the water was choppy.
The guide instructed us to jump in.
We all jumped in just fine, but for whatever reason, I could not keep water out of my mask no matter how hard I tried.
Not a great experience for those who had never been snorkeling before.
The waves were hitting me in the face, I could not control my breathing and began to somewhat panic.
The snorkel guide had my son and I get out of the water since we were struggling, so he would help figure out what was the problem.
He stood around for a minute, looked around, and then jumped back in the water.
The guide gave up on us and swam quickly out to the rest of the group.
Oh well, we were on our own.
Our group was probably a football field’s distance away at this point and in deep water.
I did put my face into the water a few times and the view beneath this barrier reef did not disappoint.
Imagine looking into a giant fish tank.
The water is so clear, that you can see to the bottom.
If only I could have made it work for me!
All was not a loss. Since it was a beautiful day, I ditched my mask and fins, threw on a personal flotation device and jumped back into the water, and floated for the remainder of the time.
My son was too overwhelmed, he actually had a panic attack, so he just sat there on the boat and did not get back in the water.
Update: My son says he was not overwhelmed. It was his big old burly man beard that kept his face mask from sealing to his skin.
When I got back in the water, I put my face into the water for a few moments and held my breath. The water was so clear, it was like looking into a fish tank. I wish the snorkeling thing would have worked out for me.
Update: I have since bought a full-face snorkel mask from Greatever on Amazon. I’m still waiting to try it out. I’ll have to leave a review of it here and let you know what I think.
Maybe twenty minutes later the rest of our group returned and back to the dock we went in our small boat.
After tipping the animal experience guide and the snorkel guides, we gathered our belongings and found our driver.
Although this was not our dream snorkel excursion, we still had a good time interacting with the sloths and monkeys, and floating in the warm Caribbean water wasn’t bad either!
We were glad that we chose to find a tour and experience the 3 best things to do in Roatán and do it through Daniel Johnson at his Hangout.
After holding sloths, interacting with monkeys, and snorkeling, our final stop was the Roatán sign for pictures, and then returned to the cruise port area.
Our driver did give us the option to stop for lunch or any other place, but we were hungry and choose to go back to the ship. There was plenty of time to see more of Roatán.
On this Western Caribbean itinerary, we also stopped at Belize, Cozumel, and Costa Maya. Not all Western Caribbean cruises stop at Roatán. If they do, make sure to book your Roatán tour early as they do fill up quickly.
If you are looking for things to do in Belize on a cruise, check out private tour operator King David. We toured Altun Ha, Altournative Belize Services has many other private tour choices for groups of all ages and sizes.
If you are stopping at Costa Maya, and want a chill day, just lying in a beach chair sipping a drink, try Maya Chan.
Tips for successful snorkeling
- If you’ve never snorkeled before, speak up.
- Ask questions.
- Make sure all your equipment fits.
- Take sea sickness prevention if needed.
- If possible, practice snorkeling before leaving home.
- Wear protective clothing and reef-safe sunscreen.
- Bring a water-safe camera for underwater photography.
- Know how to work your underwater camera.
Who should do this tour?
- Men
- Women
- Kids, older than 5
- Anyone who loves animals
- People who are interested in animal conservation
- Families
- Singles
What to do in Roatán Cruise port besides tours?
If you don’t want to do a tour here in Roatán for whatever reason, the port area of Mohagany Bag is a great place to just hang out in.
There is a large, beautiful pool, a shopping area and a beach to take advantage of.
There is a chair lift (additional cost. Purchase tickets through your cruise ship)that you ride that will give you a birds-eye-view of the port area
Many favorite tourist trap eateries like Senor Frogs can be found in the port area to eat or have some drinks and people watch.
I would highly recommend that if this is your first trip to Roatán, or if you haven’t been to the Monkey Sloth Hangout, give it a go!
Final Thoughts
Although our day trip to Roatán was not perfect, we had a great time during our Mahogany Bay Isla Roatán private excursions with the Hangout and enjoyed our adventures in Roatán interacting with monkeys, sloths, and snorkeling. So no matter if you are looking to cross an activity such as holding a sloth off your bucket list, or just want to snorkel, Daniel Johnson’s Monkey Sloth could be a great choice for your next stop in Roatán.
If we ever get back, I am sure there will be many other adventures in Roatán and places for us to see!
The Hangout is a great independent tour for any new cruisers to try while visiting Roatán.
Did you enjoy this post? Share some love!
Have you been to Roatán?
Let me know how you spent your day in Roatán Message Me
For the love of sloths
Daniel Johnson’s Monkey & Sloth Hangout
Roatan Honduras, Heaven at Little French Key
Roatan Honduras Cruise Port Guide
What to do in Roatan Hondurans on a cruise stop
FAQs
What is a sloth?
Sloths are sluggish tree-dwelling mammals of southern and central America in tropical rain forests. According to the World Wildlife Fund, sloths move through the canopy at a rate of 40 yards per day.
Hey cruiser: If you liked this article, please subscribe to our newsletter or consider joining our Facebook community for more tips, tricks, and cruising info. You can also follow us on Instagram and Pinterest for more cruising inspiration.
Do sloths smell bad?
Sloths smell just like the trees they live in. They have no sweat glands so they do not produce their own body odor.
what did sloths do to earn popularity?
It could be that humans are envious of how lazy sloths are and that they wish they could be too!
Why do sloths move so slowly?
Sloths move so slowly to avoid predators.
How often does a sloth go to the restroom?
Amazingly enough, sloths relieve themselves only once per week. It takes 30 days to digest one leaf.
Cruise stop Roatán
One-on-one sloth encounter
Must do in Roatán
Daniel Johnson Monkey Sloth Hangout
Independant tours in Roatán
What can you do for a day in Roatán on a cruise stop
snorkeling in Roatán
City tour in Roatán
How to spend a fun day in Roatán
Is Roatán a good port of call
What to do in Roatan on a cruise stop