As we eased into port of Roatan, on the Bay Islands off Honduras, a lush hillside of palm and banana trees invited us in. A few estate-like homes dotted the shoreline while modest homes were tucked into the hills wherever there a flat space was available. Cars ambled along the coastal highway, a few here and there, but nothing like the bumper-to-bumper congestion you would find in most towns on a Monday morning.
We had scheduled a mid-morning excursion to the back country of Maya Eden Nature Park where we hoped to encounter local wildlife like butterflies, Capuchin monkeys, Macaws, parrots, hummingbirds, and sloths.
Sloths are known to be the world’s slowest moving animals, but my wife says that’s only because scientists have not studied my activities. She often describes me as sloth-like, particularly when she is in a hurry or if we’re going to an airport, but I take that as a compliment.
The race does not always go the swiftest, you know.
It was an 80-degree morning as it is most every day of the year on these tropical islands, first explored by a ship of French Pirates in 1510. We met our excursion guide on the gangway and were off to see the local wildlife.
The Park had pens of butterflies in various stages. We discovered that many from North America, such as the monarchs, often winter in Honduras. The fatten up in America, catch the trade winds and sail across the Caribbean to the humid climate of Central America.
We played with the birds and monkeys and thought once we saw a sloth move, but he didn’t. Conserving his energy, you know.
We also went on an all-terrain dune buggy excursion. If a friend at home said, “Hey, let’s rent some ATV Dune Buggies and ride through the jungles of Central America in vehicles with no brake pads and marginal steering capabilities, I would say, ‘Are you out of your mind?’”
But if you’re on a cruise, you’ll do anything if it’s an excursion.
“Dangerous dune buggies? $139 a person? Hey, sign me up.”
So Nancy and I climbed in a buggy and roared through the back woods, up and down steep hills, across muddy creeks, through dust and rocks with basically no brakes and survived. And it only cost us $139! Aren’t cruises special?
At 5 PM, we shoved out of Roatan and headed for Belize.