For me, take a cruise is like watching previews at the cinema: you can get a sense of the plot, aesthetics and overall atmosphere of each upcoming film, but you’ll have to return to the cinema to hear the full story.
I decided this during my first cruise in 2022. The seven-night voyage aboard Royal Caribbean’s Wonder of the seas stopped in four ports: Roatan, Honduras; Cozumel and Costa Maya, Mexico; and Royal Caribbean private island in the Bahamas, Perfect day at CocoCay.
Passengers had approximately seven hours at each stop to explore the area. For me it was only enough time to get a taste of each place, and the first two ports left me wishing I’d had more time to explore. Here’s how I spent my hours in Roatán, Honduras and Cozumel, Mexico.
The first port stop was Roatan, where I booked a nature excursion.
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Roatan is an island off the coast of Honduras, surrounded by one of the largest barrier reefs in the world.
I spent my day there on an excursion I booked through Royal Caribbean. We went to Mayan Eden Eco-Park, a nature reserve with hiking trails and wildlife.
A tour bus took us from the harbor to the eco park and drove through the capital Coxen Hole.
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The street was lined with vibrant buildings and open-air markets. Moving through it so quickly, I wished I could explore the streets on foot.
Once we arrived at the park, we entered a butterfly sanctuary.
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Several species fluttered around the confined natural space. Butterfly wings and budding flowers provided vibrant pops of color that contrasted with the layers of green leaves.
After visiting the butterflies, we spent the next hour or two hiking a trail on Ocelot Mountain.
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The jungle terrain was lush, shaded by rich green grass, leaves and vines.
I wish I had had time to relax in one of the hammocks placed periodically throughout the hike.
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I could have hiked these trails all day if I wasn’t on one guided group tour.
We crossed two suspension bridges, which was a new experience for me.
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The first one was short and mentally prepared me for the second bridge, which I thought would be scary because our guide said it would be longer.
Although it was exciting, I ultimately enjoyed the feeling of being above the forest. I wish I could have crossed some more.
On the way back to the port in Roatan we stopped at a gift shop.
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Instead of shopping, I opted to explore the area outside the store to get a better sense of my surroundings until it was time to head back to the ship.
Back on board, I went to the top deck of the ship to get a better look at the island before leaving.
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As we sailed away, I saw houses and streets at the foot of the mountainous jungle and wondered about the lives of the people inside.
I want to plan a trip back to Roatan on my own to see more of the island and do a longer hike with more suspension bridges.
The next day I woke up on Cozumel, the largest island in the Mexican Caribbean.
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Having never been to Cozumel, I was curious to see what it looked like outside the harbor. The island is known for its large, unspoilt nature reserve and surrounding coral reefs.
I booked an excursion in Tulum, a 45 minute ferry ride.
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When I booked my Royal Caribbean excursion to ancient ruins and a nearby beach, I didn’t know I would spend the whole day there Tulum.
The ferry made me seasick and I was disappointed that I wouldn’t have more time in Cozumel. But I thought I would come back.
The ferry took us to Playa del Carmen on the coast of mainland Mexico.
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After the ferry ride, we hopped on a bus to the ancient Mayan ruins and beach.
Our first stop was the Mayan ruins.
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In ancient times, Tulum was a successful trading center and one of the last Mayan cities.
We entered through a small tunnel in the old wall that surrounded the site.
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The old walls were next to forests. So I enjoyed some nature along the way.
Inside, there were several preserved stone structures and temples from the 13th century.
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Some temples have been rebuilt on top of existing temples, the guide said.
The centuries-old architecture and its history amazed me.
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For me, the best part of this experience was knowing that archaeologists could learn so much about the history of this place by simply observing what is left of it.
After the ruins tour we went to the beach, where I swam in the clearest water I had ever seen.
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Swimming and lounging on the beach was a relaxing way to end the day after a history lesson. And while I enjoyed my time in Tulum, I still wondered what it would have been like to spend the day in Cozumel.
Roatan and Cozumel were the most memorable destinations of my trip.
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While I had fun at the last two ports, Costa Maya, Mexico, and CocoCay, Royal Caribbean’s private island in the Bahamas, neither stood out to me as much as the first two, where I really felt like I was experiencing a new country.
After my cruise I added Roatan and Cozumel to my cruise travel bucket list. I’ll definitely be back to get the full picture.
