Roatan Private Mangrove Tunnels, Garifuna Village & Venice of the Caribbean Culture Tour |
We pick you up at your cruise ship port where you will board your private air-conditioned vehicle, along with your English speaking driver/guide.
As we drive through Coxen Hole, the capital of Roatan Island, you will see our people and how we live, market vendors, and you will hear of the island's colorful history, information which is provided to you by your Roatan born and raised driver/guide. You will enjoy a charming blend of cultures, people and language.
As you continue to French Harbour, home to many shrimping, lobster and fishing boats, you will see local fishing villages and shipwrecks along the coast.
At French Key, you can visit the Roatan Iguana Preservation Farm if you like, where you can interact with and feed our vivid green Iguanas, see birds, monkeys, and a natural aquarium with lobsters, tarpon, and other marine life.
On this tour, your English speaking guide will provide you with Roatan Island history and information, make suggestions of places and things to see, and make stops where you can wander around, take pictures, find local vendors and souvenir shops etc. (These stops are optional.)
You will encounter beautiful hilltop views, lush tropical jungle, colorful ocean views of distant islands and coral reefs; visit local villages; see how our people live and our culture. If you would like to stop at these villages to get out of your vehicle to take pictures of the surroundings, just let your driver know and he will do so.
Next, it is on to the highlight of this trip, Jonesville and Oakridge, known to many as the "Venice of the Caribbean", named so because of the many canals through the mangrove swamps there. The unique traditional houses are built on stilts in the water, with the only access being via water.
At Oakridge, you will board a motorized dory for a trip through the protected mangrove tunnels. A dory is a wooden canoe-type boat with a small motor attached. There are wooden benches inside the boat that vary in size (4-5 ft long). Some boats have a little wooden canopy for shade while others are completely open. While enjoying your dory ride, you will see beautiful vistas, and your dory captain tells you about the mangrove tunnels, local living, etc. You will pass by some local towns like Jonesville, Lucy Point and Jonesville Point where, in times past, the only way to get from one town to the next was by boat through the mangrove tunnels. (Your driver waits for you, along with his vehicle, at the Oakridge parking lot area.)
On this tour, you can occasionally see wildlife like herons and other birds, iguanas, crabs, etc. in the Mangrove Tunnel's unique ecosystem - great photo ops.
Next but not least, if you would like to visit Hole in the Wall Bar and Restaurant for drinks or lunch at your extra expense, feel free to tell us.
When you return back to Oakridge, you driver is waiting for you at the parking lot, where you board your air-conditioned vehicle and continue on your tour to Punta Gorda's Garifuna Oceanfront Village, home to our country's African descendants community, who made their way to Roatan Island in 1797 from Africa by way of St. Vincent. From that day until today, they still maintain their traditions and language.
At Punta Gorda you can get out of your vehicle to explore the village, meet its people, and experience the culture, often bumping into the locals playing their drums, blowing conch shells, singing and dancing to the beat. This village is located right in front of the ocean, its houses built on stilts along the beach and on the hillside with palm-leaf roofs. You can also find places to eat and drink (local food: fried plantains with fresh fish, lemonade, etc.) while enjoying the people, views and tranquil ocean breeze (food and drink at your extra expense).
You may like to stop at Turquoise Bay (this is a beach resort that has a bar and restraurant) to swim or just relax. If you would like to stop there, just ask your driver to do so (as your driver will make this suggestion).
Tour Includes:- Private tour, with your English speaking driver/guide.
- Pick up at cruise ship dock, tour as described above, and return transportation back to cruise ship dock.
- Air-conditioned, clean, spacious vehicle; English speaking driver and guide (who is with you, and waits for you all the time).
- Photo ops and stops
- Dory ride through the mangroves
- Punta Gorda Village
- Beach stop (optional to you)
- insect repellent
- sun block
- hat
- long sleeves at your need
- swim suit and towel if going to the beach
Tour Duration
*We return you to you ship at the conclusion of your tour no later than 1 hour before your ship's departure, sooner if you wish.
You will not be rushed at any time; we like our guests to explore our island and enjoy your tour at your own pace...
But, if you would like an approximate duration of this tour, it is 4 to 5 hours.
Price/Cost for this tour
2 people: US$50 each person
3 people and up: US$40 each person
If interested in visiting our Iguana Preservation Farm, please add $8 each person.
Very important: This is a private tour just for you and the people traveling with you, along with your English speaking driver and guide, all in comfort of an air-conditioned vehicle.
Method of Payment for your Tour
Theris Roatan Tours/Dixon Tours require a $30 deposit to make a reservation, done via PayPal to 
. If you agree to make your deposit, just send me an email in acceptance, after which I will send you a PayPal invoice so you can make your deposit. Please follow the PayPal instructions in the email in order to make your deposit. Once you have made your deposit, PayPal will notify me, and I will email you instructions on how to meet your private driver with air conditioned vehicle for your tour with us, Theris Roatan Tours/Dixon Tours.
Please print the meeting instructions and a copy of your PayPal deposit receipt and bring them along with you when you meet the Theris Roatan Tours/Dixon Tours representatives at your cruise ship port.
The remaining balance of your tour is payable only in US$ cash to your driver at the end of your tour when you are back at your cruise ship port no later 1 hour before your ship's departure time (sooner if you wish).
Refund and Cancellation Policy
If your cruise ship is rescheduled to Roatan a day sooner or later, please note that your tour is not cancelled - it is automatically transferred to your new arrival date. Although we are usually aware of these changes, notification on your part of any schedule changes your ship may make regarding Roatan is always appreciated and ensures your day on Roatan will not be lost.
Your deposit is refunded in full to you if your ship does not sail, does not dock at the Roatan Island Cruise Ship Port due to inclement weather or ocean conditions, or if you have to cancel your tour/reservation for any reason. Notification of cancellation must be made via email, or phone call before your ship arrives at the Roatan Island Cruise Ship Port.
Please make notification to the numbers below:
If calling from North America, please dial 011 first. Check your long distance provider for international rates to Roatan.
Meeting Time and Instructions
We suggest to our guests that you meet us, DIXON TOURS, 1 hour after your ship has docked. That way we make an early start on your tour, and ensure you a longer stay with us while touring Roatan Island. Don't rush yourselves as we will be waiting for you, and we know it takes time for you to get off the ship.
(If you would like to meet us at a specific time, please feel free to let us know.)
Once your tour is booked and your deposit made, meeting instructions will be sent to you via email. Please print and hand carry a copy of your meeting instructions.
Thank you, from Theris, Enry Dixon & Friends
www.therisroatantours.com
Roatan, Honduras, C.A.