| A recent article in the Wall Street Journal named | | | | coax the dolphin to join your group, giving you a |
| Roatan the Caribbean's next "it" spot - an | | | | chance to pet them. |
| underdeveloped island that is poised to become a | | | | Guests can then snorkel and swim freely with the |
| major tourist destination. | | | | dolphins in 20 feet of water. Guests are accompanied |
| These days there is a definite buzz about this | | | | by a dolphin behaviorist and videographer and |
| peaceful island lying just 30 miles off the coast of | | | | photographer to capture the memories. The dolphin |
| Honduras. No wonder: Roatan features lush tropical | | | | swim requires children to be at least 13 years old. |
| forests, warm turquoise water, and sugar white | | | | Divers can also chose the institute's Dolphin Dive |
| beaches without the crowds. | | | | program, which lets you interact with dolphins off a |
| Continental Airlines now flies directly to the islands | | | | reef wall in 60 feet of water. This dive lasts |
| from Newark, New Jersey, and Houston, Texas. | | | | approximately 45 minutes. Participants in the Dolphin |
| Delta flies directly from Atlanta, Georgia. Major cruise | | | | Dive must be certified scuba divers. |
| lines are stopping by more frequently, and both | | | | Not enough for you? The institute also offers a |
| Carnival Cruise Lines and Royal Caribbean are | | | | Trainer for a Day program, which gives you the |
| expanding their ship terminals to bring more | | | | chance go behind the scenes and work with the |
| passengers. Celebrities including Michael Douglas and | | | | staff as they feed and care for the dolphins. |
| Richard Gere have been spotted on the island in | | | | Participants will learn dolphin training techniques during |
| recent months. | | | | a hands-on session with the dolphins. |
| Roatan has long been famous among scuba diving | | | | 3) See Coral While Staying Dry. Even if you are not a |
| aficionados. The island sits atop the world's | | | | diver, you can get a glimpse of Roatan's gorgeous |
| second-largest barrier reef system and features | | | | reef formations with a ride on the Coral Reef |
| some of the best diving in the Western Hemisphere. | | | | Explorer. This glass-bottomed boat seats 25 persons |
| Scuba diving is still the main attraction drawing visitors | | | | below the water line in air conditioned comfort. |
| to the island. | | | | Passengers look through windows at multi-colored |
| But Roatan offers much more than diving and makes | | | | coral, tropical fish and graceful Spotted Eagle Rays. |
| a great family vacation destination. | | | | The Coral Reef Explorer departs daily from West |
| Whether visiting with your family, making a stop-over | | | | Bay Beach and you can expect the tour to last |
| on a cruise ship, or taking a break from diving, here | | | | approximately 50 minutes. |
| are five Roatan adventures you can enjoy. | | | | 4) Horseback Tours. What could be more romantic |
| 1) Zip Through the Rain Forest. Roatan features lush | | | | than a horseback ride along Roatan's pristine white |
| tropical forests where wild parrots and monkeys | | | | beaches? Guided horseback tours start in West End, |
| roam freely. A canopy tour is a great way to get | | | | passing through some of Roatan's best scenery |
| close to nature while having some exhilarating fun. | | | | before ending at the West Bay, where you can take |
| Guests climb to a tree-top platform, and then move | | | | a quick swim. |
| among the trees by gliding on zip lines or walking | | | | Tours last approximately 90 minutes and are suitable |
| over swinging bridges. It's a thrilling ride. | | | | for beginners as well as experienced riders. |
| Roatan has several canopy tours from which you can | | | | 5) Pet an Iguana. Perhaps the most unusual attraction |
| chose. Palmetto Bay features a 20 platform tour that | | | | on Roatan is Sherman Arch's Iguana Farm. This |
| includes a climbing wall and swinging bridges. The | | | | private preserve is real treasure and a real treat for |
| West Bay also features a 16 platform tour including | | | | kids. |
| two bridges. Please keep in mind that canopy tours | | | | Over 2,700 of the big, spiny lizards roam freely on its |
| require children to be at least four feet tall. | | | | grounds, which are located just east of French |
| 2) Swim with the Dolphins. The Roatan Institute for | | | | Harbor. The iguanas are tame, having been raised in |
| Marine Sciences on the island's north shore features | | | | cages until old enough to fend for themselves. Come |
| several dolphin encounter programs that are open to | | | | during the early afternoon feeding for the best |
| the public. | | | | chance to hold and pet an iguana. |
| One of the most popular tours on the island is their | | | | More to See and Do |
| dolphin swim. Guests are taken to Bailey's Key, a | | | | TropicalREZ, a Roatan central booking agency, can |
| white-sand island frequented by schools of dolphin. | | | | assist you with Roatan hotels and tours. Relax and let |
| During an initial 20-minute beach encounter, trainers | | | | them do the work! |