Our Day Of Touring Roatan went from wildlife and lush tropical terrain, to enjoying a beer at the local brewery. It was all good!
Phil Swan and I will be your tour guides. We will be exploring several of the island’s exciting attractions. So, sit back and enjoy this fabulous day!
The island of Roatan offers a plethora of natural elements. Its majestic mountains and lush valleys provide a perfect environment for animals like sloths, wild pigs, and white faced-capuchin monkeys. The sky is filled with various birds such as Amazon Parrots and colorful Macaws. We will also visit a few local establishments that offer scenic views and refreshing beverages that will quench your thirst on a warm day! What are we waiting for, “Let’s get started!”
Our first stop is to a rescue and preserve park by the name of AJ’s Monkeys & Sloths. Here is where we got close and personal with some of Roatan’s local wildlife. The founding family and the volunteers who operate this care facility, dedicate countless hours working with animals that are displaced for one reason or another. They nurse and then release them back into the wilderness.
Have you ever had a sloth hang onto your shoulders? I don’t think to many people have. Not only are they adorable, but very docile as well. Every move a sloth makes seems calculated. They will hang on you for as long as you let them.
Due to their slower metabolic rate, sloths live on very small amounts of food. It is interesting that the Hibiscus flower is one of their favorite treats. With that said, I ended up feeding my sloth one of these bright red flowers.
As I mentioned earlier, “Roatan’s blue skies are filled with a variety of birds.” And one of those feathered creatures is the Amazon Parrot.
These midsize-short tail parrots are native to the Americas and Caribbean islands. I guess if a sloth can hang on me, why not let the parrots use me as a snack stand! The AJ’s guide coaxed the birds with treats to create a Kodak moment!
The next rescue cage we visited was also a member of the parrot family. The Macaw’s rainbow colored feathers can be seen flying in pairs all around the island.
Like the Amazon Parrot, the Macaw is also native to Central and South America, Mexico and the Caribbean islands. I’m not quite sure what you would call this pose, but the Macaws seemed pretty comfortable with it.
Roatan’s Capuchin White Face Monkey is a very rambunctious animal. The first thing our guide told us before entering the cage was to take everything out of our pockets. These nimble creatures were used in France and Italy by street organ grinders. They would send the monkeys out to pick pocket unsuspecting tourist. Luckily, I took my cellphone and wallet out of my pockets before entering the cage.
We had a great time mixing it up with some of Roatan’s wildlife. We here at ‘You, Me and The Dock’ would highly suggest visiting AJ’s Monkeys & Sloths. But before we continued on with our day of touring Roatan, it was getting close to lunch time. Phil Swan, who is our host and tour guide, already had a place in mind with a view.
Phil took the wheel and drove us to Kristi’s Overlook. This local eatery offered some awesome views of the sloping terrain that led down to the Caribbean Sea. This made our dining experience that much better.
Kristi’s prepared their food with the freshest ingredients, and their drinks were quite refreshing on this rather warm day. We couldn’t have asked for a better place to have lunch! After taking a few pictures, we were on the road again to our next adventure!
Phil showed us places like Palmetto Bay and the City of Corozal. When driving by Mahogany Bay Harbor – an exclusive Port of Call for Carnival & Princess cruise lines – we got a glimpse of an old Ship wreck. From what I found out, it is suggested that this dilapidated freighter must have broken up at the keel during a storm.
Did you know that Roatan has its own craft brewery? It’s just minutes away from Palmetto Bay. The Roatan Island Brewing Company is our next stop!
We pulled into a parking lot that was surrounded by a forestry like landscape with a tropical flare. A well groomed path lead us to a mountain styled building. The property looked like a smaller compound with plenty of seating under a canopy of shade trees that provided a relaxing environment. I was getting anxious to get inside and check out the beer menu.
Phil brings his tour groups here to taste some of the island’s home brews. Once inside, the Brewery’s employees welcomed us with open arms.
The grinders, steam generators, and an assortment of tanks are right inside the door in plain site. We stepped up to the bar and with some assistance, ordered our brews.
I couldn’t choose just one flavor. So, I took a sampler that included a Pale Ale, Lager, Pilsner and an IPA. After getting our beers, we walked outside and found a table.
After ordering your beverages, there are three places to sit. You can choose to relax in an open air room with ceiling fans, a wrap around deck, or out back amongst the natural landscape. We decided to sit out back under the trees.
It can’t get any better than kicking back with a cold brew while enjoying nature. Although, I did spy a dunk tank off to my left. On a hot summer island day, I bet there aren’t to many people who would turn down an opportunity to get dunked!
I wish we could have shown all the photos taken during our fabulous tour. From the mountains to the sea, Roatan’s roads weave through some of the island’s beautiful terrain. If you stay at Villas de Cisnes, Phil Swan will offer exclusive tours of the island and many of it’s popular attractions and amenities. Take a few minutes to watch the attached video. It will provide a closer look at our day of touring Roatan.
Photography: Anthony & Maureen Scopel
Video: Anthony & Maureen Scopel
Article Creator & Formatting: Anthony Scopel
Video Production: Anthony Scopel & Matt Kemper
Associate Editor: Maureen Scopel
Technical Mastering & Web Support: Matt Kemper
Publishing Provide By: You, Me and The Dock
“A big shout out to Phil Swan for a fantastic island tour
& Mark Flanagan, owner & operator of
Roatan Island Brewery for some great brews!”
