Caribbean cruise port could ban popular activity
Many cruisers consider this the prime draw of this popular cruise port called on by Royal Caribbean, Carnival, and many other cruise lines.
Roatan is one of the most popular destinations for cruisers on several major cruise lines. Royal Caribbean ships, for example, often dock at Roatan’s main cruise port, while Carnival Cruise Line utilizes its private Mahogany Bay port a few miles away.
In all, Roatan, which is part of Honduras and is located about 45 miles away from the mainland, has become the most-visited cruise port in all of Central America.
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To be sure, there is a lot to do in Roatan. There are excellent beaches, many places to shop, and much more. But Roatan is perhaps best known for its animal encounters – particularly when it comes to sloths and monkeys.
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I cruised on Royal Caribbean’s Wonder of the Seas in December with my family, and we booked a sloth and monkey interaction tour. And the biggest reason we wanted to do it was because we could hold the animals (well, we didn’t exactly hold the monkeys – we were locked in a cage with them, and they climbed all over us). Image source: Matt Frankel/ComeCruiseWith.com
Roatan’s animal attractions could change
Recently, Honduras’ attitude towards Roatan’s animal-based attractions has changed. In late January, the nation sent a document to animal owners that aimed to crack down on the “over manipulation of wildlife” on Roatan Island. This specifically includes “carrying and holding animals for exhibition and taking photographs.”
The guidelines apply to endangered or rare species, including sloths, monkeys, and parrots, all of which are frequently used in Roatan’s animal-centered shore excursions. In fact, the tour I took in December prominently featured all three, with opportunities to physically hold or interact with each one.
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Several cruise lines offer excursions that are not likely to be impacted – specifically, those that are simply meant to visit the animals. For example, some tours visit animal sanctuaries but don’t advertise the ability to hold any animals.
On the other hand, several popular locations on the island, which are generally booked without the involvement of the cruise lines, offer highly interactive experiences – including the one I visited as part of a tour.
The tour company I booked through, Discover Roatan, posted on their website on March 1:
“Recent developments in wildlife protection efforts in Honduras that may affect your experience at Roatan’s animal parks and sanctuaries. Recently, the government of Honduras, through the Wildlife Department of the National Institute for Forest Conservation and Development, Protected Areas and Wildlife (ICF), has conducted several raids and confiscated various endangered and protected animal species at the mainland’s port city of La Ceiba.”
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The company issued an update on March 5, clarifying that the government or its agencies have not made any final determinations. So, to be perfectly clear, visitors can still interact with wildlife, including sloths and monkeys, for the time being.
However, this is a very fluid situation, so if an animal excursion is on your to-do list for your Roatan stop, be sure to keep up with recent developments.
You can still visit your favorite animals in Roatan
Even if the determination is made to shut down physical interactions with animals, Roatan’s sloth and monkey tours aren’t necessarily going away, they are just becoming more restrictive. For example, instead of actually holding a sloth, you might be able to take a selfie with one that is perched on a nearby branch. And instead of actually being inside a monkey cage where they can climb all over you, cruisers might be restricted to observing them from outside the cage.
It's not completely clear how the rules will be implemented. For example, does a monkey choosing to climb on your arm count as you handling or holding wildlife? But it’s likely that significant changes are coming to some of Roatan’s most popular tours.
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