Snorkeling in Roatan: Coral Reef, Sloths & Private Island

The 2nd largest coral reef barrier in the world sits minutes from the dock.

This Roatan shore excursion combines snorkeling at one of the world's largest coral reef systems with a visit to Jungle Top Adventure animal sanctuary and a private beach break on Brady's Cay. You spend 1 hour 20 minutes in the water exploring coral, tropical fish and occasional nurse sharks, then 45 minutes on land with sloths, capuchin monkeys, scarlet macaws and parrots before settling into 3 hours of beach time with food and drinks at your chair. A driver and guide pick you up at the ship exit, handle all transport in an air-conditioned vehicle, and provide snorkeling equipment. The whole outing runs 5 hours.

Step-by-step itinerary

Animal sanctuary and snorkeling adventure

• Pickup from exit gate
• Drive 20 minutes to animal sanctuary
• Take photos with exotic animals
• Enjoy 1 hour drift snorkel exploration
• Relax on private beach with waiter service
• Return to ship

The experience

Your driver meets you at the ship gate and drives 20 minutes east across Roatan to Jungle Top Adventure, where you have 45 minutes to photograph sloths, capuchin monkeys, scarlet macaws and yellow-headed parrots in their natural habitat. The animals move at their own pace, so you see them as they are (not staged or rushed), and the guide narrates in English or Spanish as you move through the sanctuary grounds.

From there you head to the snorkeling site on the 2nd largest coral reef barrier in the world. You drift for 1 hour 20 minutes through water clear enough to see the reef structure itself: colorful coral formations, schools of tropical fish, starfish and the occasional nurse shark moving through deeper channels. The reef sits in shallow water, so even if you are new to snorkeling the visibility and the marine life make the time feel longer than it is. When you surface, a private waiter is waiting on the beach with beverages and lunch, so you do not have to leave your chair to eat or order.

You spend roughly 3 hours at Brady's Cay Private Island after snorkeling: enough time to dry off, eat, swim again in the shallows if you want, or simply sit in the sand. The island is small and private to this tour, so it does not feel crowded. Transport back to the ship is included, and the whole outing fits inside a typical port day without cutting into the afternoon.

What’s included

• Private transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle.
• snorkeling equipment.
• bottled water.
• all fees and taxes.
• a guide fluent in English or Spanish.
• and beach service with food and beverages at Brady's Cay Private Island.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (11 to 90 years) · Child (5 to 10 years) · Infant (under 5): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 23 pickup points.

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

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Roatán Breakaway Tours

Is this one for you?Book this if your ship docks in Roatan and you want snorkeling plus wildlife. The tour picks you up at the port gate and includes the reef visit, animal sanctuary, and beach time, all timed to return before departure.

Traveler reviews

4.84★★★★★★★★★★

412 verified traveler reviews

5 ★365

4 ★34

3 ★9

2 ★2

1 ★2

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 10 years); Infant (under 5): free.

How long do I actually spend snorkeling in the water?

You have 1 hour 20 minutes in the water at the coral reef site, drifting through the snorkeling area and seeing coral, fish, starfish and occasionally nurse sharks.

What animals will I see at the sanctuary?

Jungle Top Adventure holds sloths, capuchin monkeys, scarlet macaws and yellow-headed parrots living in their natural habitat on the grounds. You spend 45 minutes there photographing and observing them with your guide.

Is snorkeling equipment provided, or do I need to bring my own?

All snorkeling gear is included in the tour, so you do not need to bring or rent equipment separately.

What happens during the beach break on Brady's Cay?

You have approximately 3 hours on the private island after snorkeling, with a waiter at your service bringing food and drinks to your chair. You can swim, relax on the sand or both.

Does the tour include lunch?

Island-style cuisine is served during your beach break at Brady's Cay, though you choose what to order from your chair. Alcoholic beverages and sodas are available for purchase.

What is the total time for this excursion?

The entire tour runs 5 hours from pickup at the ship gate, including 20 minutes of driving, 45 minutes at the animal sanctuary, 1 hour 20 minutes snorkeling, and 3 hours at the private beach.