Best Western Caribbean Ports on Royal Caribbean Wonder of the Seas

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 preserve with hiking trails and wildlife.

Passing through so quickly made me wish I could explore the streets on foot.

Different species fluttered around the enclosed natural space. Butterfly wings and budding flowers brought vibrant pops of color that contrasted the layers of green leaves.

The jungle terrain was lush and shaded with rich green grass, leaves, and vines.

I could have spent all day hiking these trails if I weren’t on a guided group tour.

The first one was short, preparing me mentally for the second bridge, which I thought might be scary since our tour guide said it was longer.

I ended up loving the feeling of being suspended above the forest. I wish I could have crossed it again.

Instead of shopping, I chose to explore the area outside the store to get a better sense of my surroundings until it was time to go back to the ship.

As we started to sail away, I saw houses and streets at the foothills of the mountainous jungle and wondered about the lives of the people inside them.

I want to plan a trip back to Roatan on my own to see more of the island and take a longer hike.

The island is known for its large and untouched wild nature area and surrounding coral reefs. Since I’d never been to Cozumel, I was excited to see what it looked like outside the port.

When I booked my Royal Caribbean excursion to ancient ruins and a nearby beach, I didn’t realize I’d be spending the whole day in Tulum.

The ferry made me seasick, and I was disappointed that I wouldn’t have any time in Cozumel. But I thought I’d come back.

We took a bus to the ancient Mayan ruins and the beach.

In ancient times, Tulum was a successful trading hub and one of the last Mayan cities.

The ancient walls were next to forests. So I enjoyed some nature on the way.

Some of the temples were rebuilt on top of existing temples, the tour guide said.

To me, the coolest part of this experience was knowing that archaeologists were able to learn so much about the history of this site only by observing what’s left of it.

The beach was a relaxing way to end the day after a history lesson. And although I enjoyed my time in Tulum, I was still left wondering what it would have been like to spend the day in Cozumel.

I also had fun at the last two ports, Costa Maya, Mexico, and CocoCay, Royal Caribbean’s private island in the Bahamas. But neither stood out to me quite 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 travel bucket list. I’ll definitely be back.