Oak Ridge tour from Roatan: Venice of the Caribbean

Watch the Venice of Roatan come alive from the water

A private tour from Roatan to Oak Ridge, the Venice of the Caribbean, with hotel pickup and an English or Spanish-speaking guide who takes you through three stops on the east end: the Garinagu settlement of Punta Gorda, the waterfront fishing village of Oak Ridge where locals travel by canoe, and the Pirate boat at Isery. The tour includes a water taxi ride through the harbor and multiple photo stops. It runs between three and six hours depending on how long you linger at each site.

Step-by-step itinerary

Sightseeing tour to Oak Ridge and Punta Gorda

• Travel to Punta Gorda settlement
• Receive briefing on Garinagu culture
• Explore colorful houses in Punta Gorda
• Head to Oak Ridge, Venice of Roatan
• Take photos of fishing village
• Observe local life on waterfront
• Stop at Isery Pirate boat for photos

The experience

How do you get to the Venice of Roatan without renting a car or booking a taxi? Your guide picks you up from your hotel and drives you east to Punta Gorda, the oldest settlement on the island and home to the Garinagu, an Afro-descendant culture whose arrival shaped the island's history. A short briefing explains what you're seeing: the colorful wooden houses that line the water are the real draw here, and they photograph well from the road. Then you head to Oak Ridge itself, where the tour shifts from driving to watching: this is where the Venice comparison actually lands. Houses sit on stilts over the water, and locals move between them in small canoes instead of walking streets. You'll ride a water taxi through the harbor to see the village from the water, which is the only way to understand how people actually live here.

On the way back, you stop at Isery, a pirate-themed boat near Punta Gorda that's positioned for photos. The whole route is built around stops and sightlines rather than a fixed schedule, so how long the tour takes depends on how much time you spend at each place: anywhere from three to six hours. Your guide speaks English or Spanish and handles all the driving. You just show up at your hotel at pickup time. The water taxi is included, as are the multiple photo stops. Food, drinks and tips are separate.

What’s included

• Round-trip private transfer from your hotel.
• English or Spanish-speaking guide.
• water taxi through Oak Ridge harbor.
• multiple photo stops at Punta Gorda, Oak Ridge and Isery.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (18 to 35 years) · Under 18: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 15 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 3 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Roatan Five Stars Tours

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to reach Punta Gorda and Oak Ridge by water taxi: the only way to see how Oak Ridge actually functions as a working village, not just pass it by road.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

What is Oak Ridge actually like when you get there?

Oak Ridge is a fishing village built on stilts over the water where locals travel by canoe instead of walking on land. The houses are wooden and colorful, and the water taxi ride through the harbor is the main way to see how the village is laid out and how people move around it.

What's included in the price?

Round-trip private transfer from your hotel, the guide, the water taxi through Oak Ridge harbor, and multiple photo stops at Punta Gorda, Oak Ridge and Isery. Food, drinks and gratuities are not included.

How long does the tour actually take?

The tour runs between three and six hours depending on how long you spend at each stop. There's no fixed schedule, so the length depends on your pace and how many photos you want to take.

Is there anything to know about getting around during the tour?

Most of the tour is by private vehicle with your guide, but you'll ride a water taxi through Oak Ridge harbor to see the stilted houses and canoes from the water. The tour is wheelchair accessible and suitable for all fitness levels.