EXPLORING ROATÁN’S FISHING VILLAGES
Excursion details
In this excursion of approximately five and a half hours, you’ll have the chance to discover Roatán’s fishing villages on the north and south coasts. Each has its own unique culture and atmosphere, and there’s a chance to sample local food, too.
A transfer of around 35 minutes takes you to the first stop – a panoramic viewpoint, where you can admire and photograph Roatán’s landscapes for around 15 minutes. Next, travel for around 20 minutes to Punta Gorda, a village on the northern coast and Roatán’s oldest permanent settlement. It’s known as a Garifuna community (the Garifuna people are descendants of Africans and Caribbean indigenous groups), and its local residents are sometimes referred to as the guardians of this unique culture.
Enjoy some scenic views during a brief interlude at a palapa, a traditional open-sided structure with a thatched roof, before watching a fishing demonstration by a local fisherman for around 15 minutes. Afterwards, the catch of the day will be cooked up for you in a tasting session lasting 20 minutes or so.
Following a brief transfer, the next stop is Oakridge on the south of the island. Nicknamed the ‘Venice of Roatán’, this pretty village is known for its brightly painted wooden houses on stilts. Sip on a fruit punch as you take in the views for 20 minutes or so, before an approximately one-hour guided trip on a traditional cayuco boat to explore Oakridge by water. Today, the village is home to tight-knit fishing families, but as you’ll learn, it was once a hideaway for pirates, who – legend has it – cut the mangrove tunnels you’ll travel through, using their machetes.
The guided tour continues through these tunnels toward neighbouring Jonesville, where you’ll enjoy a seafood lunch at another palapa over approximately one hour. Finally, a brief transfer to the parking area is followed by a return journey to the port of approximately 45 minutes.
Important Information: The order of stops may vary. Guests are recommended to bring sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat. Hole in the Wall offers a cash bar.
Guests should inform the Shore Excursions Desk in advance should they have any food allergies. Menu subject to change. Given the island’s infrastructure and narrow, winding roads, smaller buses are used for transportation in Roatan, allowing for easier navigation and more efficient travel through the island
