Maya Key in Roatan, Honduras was our first stop on our New Year’s Caribbean cruise. It also turned out to be my favorite shore excursion of the trip.
We got off the
Emerald Princess almost as soon as it docked and got on a bus that dropped us off at a boat, which would take us to the island. As soon as we got on the boat to Maya Key, the rain started coming down in sheets, and I started getting worried about what we were going to do on a beach in a downpour.
Thankfully, the rain stopped shortly after the five-minute boat ride, and it turned out to be a beautiful day. The best part of Maya Key is that there is so much to do. Other than the nice beach area, they had a pier perfect for snorkeling, an animal sanctuary where they led tours on how they rehabilitated the animals, a sea lion habitat, a replica of Mayan ruins with a museum, and a great gift shop.
Chris loves animals, so of course, we had to check out the animal sanctuary first. All of the animals were in the sanctuary for one of two reasons: they were hurt, or they were seized from people who owned them illegally. There were many colorful birds, several kinds of monkeys, alligators, and even two jaguars.
After Chris got his fill of the animals, we headed to the snorkeling area. Maya Key was one of my favorite places to snorkel because when you get off the pier, you are not instantly in 100 feet deep water. Because I only snorkel once or twice a year, I often forget the correct breathing techniques. Maya Key gave me the opportunity to practice the techniques in shallow water where I could still see plenty of beautiful fish and sea urchins before heading to the deeper waters.
Our excursion to Maya Key also included a delicious Caribbean lunch, featuring chicken, fish, rice, and plantain chips. After lunch, Chris and I explored the Mayan ruins, visited the sea lions, and relaxed on the beach.
Honestly, I would go on this cruise again just to visit Maya Key (though we also want to try Little French Key). My only complaint is that I wish we could have stayed longer!
