These environments attract a multitude of other plants and animals, including a vast variety of brightly colored tropical fish. Not only are these structures incredibly beautiful, but they are also crucial to the survival of life on Earth. In this article, you can discover five more fun facts about coral reefs and view some photos of our snorkeling & diving adventures around Roatan island.

1. Coral reefs protect wildlife

‘Barrier’ reefs get their name because they protect shallow warm waters from the open sea. This protection creates an important habitat for many types of tropical fish and rare plants.

2. There are three different types of coral reef

Coral reefs can be divided into three types: fringing reefs, barrier reefs, and atolls. Fringing reefs are close to shore, whereas a barrier reef will lie further out to sea. Often, atolls will be mistaken for islands because they are so large and generally appear on the rim of a lagoon.

3. Coral needs sunlight to grow

Coral needs sunlight to grow, which is why they thrive in shallow water. As a result, you’re unlikely to find a coral reef deeper than 45 feet. Furthermore, they also tend to prefer tropical seas, as the seawater is warmer and clearer.

4. They also clean the water

Coral reefs also promote better water quality. The plants, animals, and organisms act as a filter, trapping debris that makes the surrounding environment cleaner. Subsequently, coral reefs tend to grow larger in areas with stronger currents as the wave patterns deliver more nourishment to the ecosystem.

5. Coral reefs can treat cancer

Scientists have discovered that organisms within coral reefs can be used to treat cancer and other illnesses. For example, by studying coral reefs, scientists have been able to develop proteins that attack cancer cells.

Roatan Coral Reef

Check our shore excursions section: Click Here also please check our reviews at TripAdvisor and if you want to learn more about the wildlife experience we are ready to customize your day by adding more fun activities.

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There are more shipwrecks around Roatan island, but in this article, we will focus on the “Snyg” shipwreck. This shipwreck is located on the north shore of the island, below we will give you some history and what our shore excursion includes.

The island is beloved for its stunning beaches and superb marine life thanks to being located along the second biggest barrier reef on earth. If you are considering this place as your next tropical getaway, let us take you to those uncommercial areas and enjoy a local snorkeling experience.

Happy guests enjoying the Shipwreck Snorkeling

History of the “Snyg” Old Steamer Shipwreck

It was the night of August 18, 1899, and a northwestern wind had been blowing on Roatan for over three days. On the north shore of Roatan, a 100-foot metal boat Snyg battled the seas seeking shelter from her journey from Florida to La Ceiba. Snyg was a steamship and like many boats of that era had a secondary means of power: a mast and two booms. Snyg was flying a Greek flag and carrying live cargo: mules and oxen destined to work at the banana plantations of northern Honduras. Her captain and part of the crew were Greek.

The inhabitants of the village of Crawfish Rock were woken up in the middle of the night by lights and sounds of distress. There were oxen bellowing and mules kicking. Snyg was in trouble and its crew was trying to find the channel entrance across the reef. This proved not to be an insurmountable challenge. Boat navigation and weather were quite different 120 years ago.

“Back then the only way to navigate was to use a sextant. You had to locate a celestial body and a horizon line. That was often not possible,” said Charles Osgood, 69, a retired boat captain and a boat engineer from Roatan. “We used to have northern [winds] that would blow for four, five days. The island would run short of food. The weather patterns have changed now.”

George Edward Osgood, from Coxen Hole, was asked to help the distressed Snyg. “She was billed, and way on top of the reef,” remembers Charles Osgood, grandson of George Edward. George Edward was in his 30s at the time and ran a boat repair business on Osgood Cay.

The Cay was strategically placed just south of Coxen Hole and it used to be named Bennett Cay, then Big Cay, then Osgood Cay, and now it is called Maya Cay.

The Cay belonging to Guillermo Bruchard was eventually purchased at a government auction in 1912. George Edward held it in family hands for a hundred years.

What is included in this snorkeling tour?

This is a 3 stop snorkeling tour including the following:

• Round Transportation from cruise port, vacation rentals or resorts
• Snorkeling Gear
• 3 Stop Snorkeling: Shipwreck, starfish & coral reef garden
• Tropical refreshment (drinks & snacks)
• Stop for photos
• Local guide
• Stop for local shopping (Optional)
• Check rates & full shore excursion here

When to go snorkeling Roatan island?

The climate in Roatan is tropical. Snorkeling is possible all year-round, except very occasionally when the weather and sea conditions don’t allow it because of the storms or strong winds.

The three months of the rainy season (from October to December) account for as much precipitation as the other nine other months put together (January to September, the summer season).

December and January are the coolest months of the year (about 77°F/25°C), and July and August are the warmest (an average of almost 30°). The water temperature is between 79 and 86°F (26 and 30°C) all through the year, with a peak in August-September.

Check our shore excursions section: Click Here also please check our reviews at TripAdvisor and if you want to learn more about the wildlife experience we are ready to customize your day by adding more fun activities.

The post Roatan Shipwreck Snorkeling appeared first on Roatan Five Stars Tours.

Because leaves are low in energy and nutrients, sloths have evolved large, slow-acting, multi-chambered stomachs filled with friendly bacteria to help break them down. A well-fed sloth’s stomach can make up to two-thirds of its total body weight, and digestion can take a month or more!

Fun fact: three-toed sloths head down to the ground about once a week to “do their business,” often in the same spot, covering it up afterward. While this makes them more vulnerable to predators, it also nourishes their favorite trees and supports the tiny ecosystem that lives in their fur, yes, including moths that complete their life cycle thanks to this quirky bathroom routine!

Important Update – Sloth Handling Policy

Earlier this year (2025), new government regulations were implemented to protect the well-being of sloths in Roatan. As part of these rules, handling sloths is no longer allowed. While many visitors dream of holding these gentle creatures, this change ensures they live stress-free, healthy lives in their natural environment. We can still enjoy watching them up close, learning about their fascinating behaviors, and capturing amazing photos without causing them harm.

More Wildlife Species

At the eco-park, we also learned about capuchin monkeys, colorful scarlet macaws, yellow-headed parrots, and the indigenous Agouti, also known as the Roatan island rabbit. The friendly staff will share extensive information about the wildlife species.

• Sloth at the eco park
• Yellow-headed parrots
• Capuchin monkeys
• Feeding the monkeys
• Having fun
• Scarlet macaw
• Capuchin monkeys
• Yellow-headed parrot
• Local market shopping

About the Sloths

The sloth is so named because of its very low metabolism and deliberate movements, sloth being related to the word slow. This supports their low-energy diet of leaves and avoids detection by predatory hawks and cats that hunt by sight.

Sloths of the present day are arboreal mammals noted for slowness of movement and for spending most of their lives hanging upside down in the trees of the tropical rain forests of South America and Central America. The six species are in two families: two-toed sloths and three-toed sloths.

Baby sloths learn what to eat by licking the lips of their mother. All sloths eat the leaves of the cecropia.

Two-toed sloths have a diverse diet of insects, carrion, fruits, leaves, and small lizards, ranging over up to 140 hectares. Three-toed sloths, on the other hand, have a limited diet of leaves from only a few trees, and no mammal digests as slowly.

They have made adaptations to arboreal browsing. Leaves, their main food source, provide very little energy or nutrients and do not digest easily, so sloths have large, slow-acting stomachs with multiple compartments in which symbiotic bacteria break down the tough leaves. As much as two-thirds of a well-fed sloth’s body weight consists of the contents of its stomach, and the digestive process can take a month or more to complete.

Three-toed sloths go to the ground to urinate and defecate about once a week, digging a hole and covering it afterward. They go to the same spot each time and are vulnerable to predation while doing so. This behavior may be related to maintaining the ecosystem in the sloths’ fur. Individual sloths tend to spend the bulk of their time feeding on a single “modal” tree; by burying their excreta near the trunk of that tree, they may help nourish it. Recent research shows that moths, which live in the sloth’s fur, lay eggs in the sloth’s feces. When they hatch, the larvae feed on the feces, and when mature fly up onto the sloth above.

More Wildlife Species

At the eco-park, we also learned about the capuchin monkeys, scarlet colorful macaws, yellow head parrots, the indigenous Agouti or Guatusa, also known as the Roatan island rabbit. The staff at the park are very friendly and will share a lot of information about the wildlife species.

Check our shore excursions section: Click Here also, please visit our reviews at TripAdvisor and if you want to learn more about the wildlife experience, we are ready to customize your day by adding more fun activities.

The post Roatan Sloth Parks: Discover Sloths and Wildlife in Their Natural Habitat appeared first on Roatan Five Stars Tours.

Ingredients

• 2 pounds lionfish (skinned, boned and cleaned) cut into 1-ounce strips
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3 eggs, lightly beaten
• 3 tablespoons cold water
• 2 cups fine panko bread crumbs
• Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
• Vegetable oil, for frying
• 1/2 head purple cabbage, finely shredded
• 1 bunch cilantro, leaves picked
• 1 bunch chives, chopped
• 3 limes, cut into wedges for garnish
• Cotija cheese crumbled (optional)

Preparation

Cut the pieces of fish into 1-ounce strips. Set up a cooking station of flour, lightly beaten eggs with water added, and then the seasoned bread crumbs. Season each station with salt and pepper. Dredge the pieces of fish in flour, egg, and then bread crumbs and set aside on a clean dish. Once all the fish is breaded, deep-fry in small batches in (375 degrees F) vegetable oil, and set fish on paper towels on top of a brown paper bag. (Tip: I keep my Whole Foods brown paper bags for this purpose. Great to absorb oil when frying bacon too.) Keep warm until ready to serve.

Serve the tacos family-style where everyone can add as much or as little to their taco as they wish. Assemble the fish in a pile on a plate; the chile sauce in a bowl; the Cotija cheese in a bowl; and the salsa in another. Set a pile of shredded purple cabbage, cilantro leaves, chopped chives and lime wedges next to the fish. Toast the corn tortillas lightly over an open flame, or warm in a skillet and serve.

𝗗𝗶𝘃𝗲 in Roatan 𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗨𝘀

✌️Private Diving
✌️Lionfish Spearfishing
✌️Fun Diving Packages for hotel guests
✌️Learn to dive (DSD Course)
✌️Open Water Course
✌️Advanced Open Water Course
✌️Dives with Cruise Ship Guests

Learn more about Scuba Lionfish Hunting in Roatan: Click Here

The post Lionfish hunting and tacos in Roatan island appeared first on Roatan Five Stars Tours.

The sloth is so named because of its very low metabolism and deliberate movements, sloth being related to the word slow. This supports their low-energy diet of leaves and avoids detection by predatory hawks and cats that hunt by sight.

Sloths of the present day are arboreal mammals noted for slowness of movement and for spending most of their lives hanging upside down in the trees of the tropical rain forests of South America and Central America. The six species are in two families: two-toed sloths and three-toed sloths.

Sloth Diet

Baby sloths learn what to eat by licking the lips of their mother. All sloths eat the leaves of the cecropia.

Two-toed sloths have a diverse diet of insects, carrion, fruits, leaves and small lizards, ranging over up to 140 hectares. Three-toed sloths, on the other hand, have a limited diet of leaves from only a few trees, and no mammal digests as slowly.

They have made adaptations to arboreal browsing. Leaves, their main food source, provide very little energy or nutrients and do not digest easily, so sloths have large, slow-acting stomachs with multiple compartments in which symbiotic bacteria break down the tough leaves. As much as two-thirds of a well-fed sloth’s body weight consists of the contents of its stomach, and the digestive process can take a month or more to complete.

Three-toed sloths go to the ground to urinate and defecate about once a week, digging a hole and covering it afterward. They go to the same spot each time and are vulnerable to predation while doing so. This behavior may be related to maintaining the ecosystem in the sloths’ fur. Individual sloths tend to spend the bulk of their time feeding on a single “modal” tree; by burying their excreta near the trunk of that tree, they may help nourish it. Recent research shows that moths, which live in the sloth’s fur, lay eggs in the sloth’s feces. When they hatch, the larvae feed on the feces, and when mature fly up onto the sloth above.

Reproduction

Pale- and brown-throated species mate seasonally, while the maned sloth breeds at any time of year. The reproduction of pygmy three-toed sloths is unknown. Litters are of one newborn only, after six months’ gestation for three-toed, and 12 months’ for two-toed. Newborns stay with their mothers for about five months. In some cases, young sloths die from a fall indirectly because the mothers prove unwilling to leave the safety of the trees to retrieve the young. Females normally bear one baby every year, but sometimes sloths’ low level of movement actually keeps females from finding males for longer than one year. Sloths are not particularly sexually dimorphic and several zoos have received sloths of the wrong sex.

The average lifespan of two-toed sloths in the wild is currently unknown due to a lack of full-lifespan studies in a natural environment. Median life expectancy in human care is about 16 years, with one individual at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Zoo reaching an age of 49 years before her death.

Check our shore excursions section: Click Here

The post Learn about the Sloth in Roatan appeared first on Roatan Five Stars Tours.

Many friends or tourists who want to visit and know Roatan, Honduras ask us if it is safe to travel? Our answer is YES.

In general, Roatan is a safe island, however, theft can be an issue, as it is in many tourist areas. Certain parts of the island should be avoided, however, as they are not considered so safe.  

Understanding your location and proximity to your hotel is important for your safety. You will most likely see beggars in Roatan, it is best not to interact with beggars.

If you happen to rent a car, do not be surprised if the police are doing “check-ups”. In this case all cars passing the particular roadway are required  to stop for an identity check and possibly a car search.

When traveling internationally, it is always important to keep your passport or international identification card with you.

Traveler’s insurance can be a smart consideration, especially if you are planning rigorous physical activity, during your trip abroad.

Crime should always be reported to not only local authorities and your hotel/tour group, but to your national embassy as well. 

The Daily Nas team visited our country Honduras for the first time and they were very surprised at all the benefits that this five-star country offers and the false news that comes out on Google and other media.

Some personal safety advice for travelers visiting Roatan island:

• Don’t carry a lot of cash (Only for tips, local shopping & restaurants/bars)

• Have more than one credit and debit card

• Carry a credit/debit card with limited funds

• Don’t take jewelry or anything you can’t afford to loose

• When not at home lock the unit and lock up laptops, iPads, etc.

• Do not sleep with patio doors open

• Ask for a safe in your room/condo to keep your passport etc. in

• Have a photocopy of your passport

• Stay out of dark unfamiliar places

• Don’t get excessively drunk in public places

• Don’t take off with someone without knowing them first

• Consider lodging with electronic locks on the hotel or resort door and to forget using keys

Safety In Roatan island?

When asked, “Is Roatan, Honduras is safe?” one can honestly answer that it’s no more unsafe than any mid to large USA or Canadian city.

By using common sense safety precautions one can enjoy a vacation in Roatan without any problems – something that’s done by thousands of groups of friends and families every year.

Now that you know that Honduras is a wonderful country and Roatan is safe for tourists, you can visit the things to do in Roatan (excursions) at the following link: Shore Excursions

The post Is Roatan Honduras Safe for Tourists? appeared first on Roatan Five Stars Tours.

The islands are a Marine Protected Area and are managed by the Honduran Coral Reef Foundation. The coral reef here is part of the world’s second largest coral reef system known as the Meso-American Barrier Reef. There is a scientific research station on Cayo Menor, the smaller of the two main islands in the system.

National Geographic writes, “The waters around this collection of coral cays are a marine biologist’s dream: protected by the government, off-limits to commercial divers and fishermen, and busy with creatures that may not yet have names.

About Cayos Cochinos

The Cayos Cochinos archipelago has no roads, cars or bikes. There is a hiking trail that connects residences and beaches on Cayo Grande. There is a lighthouse on the highest point of the island which can be hiked to through scenic jungles which are home to the only pink Boa Constrictors in the world. The only inhabitants of the islands are Garifuna fishing villages (Chachauate and East End), 9 private homes on Cayo Grande, and 6 homes on the 13 smaller keys. The islands are accessible by boat from La Ceiba or by sailboat charter departing from Utila or Roatan.

The actions taken in preserving the underwater environment has left the Cayos Cochinos waters as the healthiest and most pristine marine life in the Bay Islands. The Honduras Coral Reef Fund is responsible for upholding the environmental restrictions and protecting the marine park, and collect a park entrance fee from all those who enter.

Both Garifuna villages offer cheap lodging for backpackers who wish to stay in either East End or Chachahuate in hammocks or hostel-like huts.

Private Boat Trips to Cayos Cochinos

Cayos Cochinos is accessible from Roatan, our boat captains are ready to take you to Cayos Cochinos, more details of this island hopping experience, also smaller boats also leave from La Ceiba, Sambo Creek and from dive shops in Utila. There are daily trips from La Ceiba.

Conservation in Cayos Cochinos

Established as a key area of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System, the Cayos and surrounding waters were declared a marine reserve in 1994, with the help of the Smithsonian Institution, in order to protect all marine and terrestrial flora and fauna within a 460 km² area. The reserve extends eight kilometers in all directions. Laws prohibit all commercial fishing, netting, and trapping within the marine park. Local Garifuna are permitted to fish with hand lines, but prohibited from netting and spearfishing. In designated areas, there is a lobster diving season for qualified Garifuna fishermen. Since 1994, the Smithsonian Institution, World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Honduras Coral Reef Fund, Operation Wallacea and other non-profit organizations have helped preserve the natural beauty of the area.

Info Credit: Wikipedia
Trips to Cayos Cochinos: Click Here

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It is reported that in the early 1600s shipwrecked slaves were integrated to the population of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. By 1763, there was a group of Black or Negroid people who spoke the Carib language (Garifuna) and practiced Carib ritual (such as Couvades or Gubida) called the Black Caribs. Another of their spiritual service is called the “Dugu”, in which a high priest (Buyei) contacts ancestors for help in resolving problems. Their spiritual contact is called an Owehani. Their singers are called Gayusa.

The French settled on Saint Vincent and bonded with the Garinagu in the min 1600s. Later on war broke out between the French and the English. The Black Caribs sided with the French but unfortunately the British won that war. The Black Caribs were not contented with the English. They rebelled against them over and over again and war followed this continued for over 150 years. By the end of last English-Carib war which lasted from 1795 to 1796 the Garinagu population was estimated to be about 5,000 in numbers.

English farmers on Saint Vincent were outnumbered by the Caribs and were unable to live peacefully among them. In 1796, The Black Carib leader Joseph Satuye was killed in a fight (duel) with Sir Ralph Abercromby a British military commander early in the month of March. The following year (1797), approximately 5,000 Garinagu people were packed aboard the HMS Experiment (military ship) and taken to the island of Roatan, Honduras.

Punta Gorda, The Garifuna Community in Roatan

Punta Gorda community was founded in 1797 by Garifuna a micture of Africans and the yellow Caribs of Saint Vincent in the western caribbean. The Garifuna began aiding the French in the war against the British won the war and punished the Garifuna by mourning them on the island of Roatan. The Garifuna is the only group of natives that have conserved and preserved their customs, traditions and culture. They have created the famous music called Punta.

The community was declared National Monument, for being the First Garifuna Community in Central America. At Punta Gorda, you can visit the monument or statue of the first leader of the Garifuna people Joseph Satuye. This community has many small restaurant and bars where you can enjoy a variety of dishes, the most popular the Machuca.

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Men such as Edward Tech (The famous Black Beard), Kidd, Roberts, John Coxen, Captain Morris and Captain Jackman anchored their convoy at Port Royal Roatan in 1665. Captain Sharp, Van Horn, Ned Low, Edward Teach and a Welch man naed Henry Morgan and other Pirate leaders visited the Bay Islands frequently during this same period. It is believed that captain John Coxen lived and commanded a band of pirates in the south western area of Roatan known today as Coxen Hole, from around 1687 to 1697. Historian claimed that after the destruction of Port Royal in Jamaica by the powerful earthquake of June 7th, 1692. Port Royal at Roatan island became home to many of these ruffians.

Privateering officially came to an end with the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713 – 1714, as a result of this treaty, Spain and France ceased hostilities towards Great Britain; therefore, the era of piracy continued on a smaller scale in the West Indies, In 1670, Spain and Great Britain signed the Treaty of Madrid giving “all those lands, islands, colonies, and places whatsover situated in the West Indies” over to Britain. This treaty established and recognized Britain as a world power thus reducing Spain’s reign and dominance over the American continent.

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