Thirty-six miles off the northern coast of Honduras lies the largest of the Bay Islands, Roatan. Near the west end of the island, at the top of a mountain called Creation Rock, zip-line tour guides fit adventurous participants with harnesses, safety lines, gloves, pulleys, and helmets.
A few simple sitting and braking instructions, and then it's time to soar with the parrots across the jungle canopy. Your heart pounds as you leap off the first platform. Halfway to the next station, you open your eyes. That’s when you realize that this isn’t scary--just great fun!
The tropical landscape looks different from every cable run. Glance out between the branches to the turquoise ocean far below. Miles of white beaches caress the base of the mountains in the distance. Branches below the cables and platforms create a green sea, hiding the forest floor. Near the end, you break out of the jungle and glide high across a lake surrounded by orange hibiscus, purple bougainvillea, and crimson roses.
With two highly skilled guides assisting participants on each of the 13 steel platforms, the group moves through the course at a quick pace. Guides hook and unhook the pulleys to the 11 safety lines and zip-lines for you. The cables are 120 to 160 feet long.
The course ends in a park-like setting. Smell the delicate fragrance of the orchid blossoms in the tropical gardens. Walk along the beach. Quench your thirst at the snack bar. Watch other zip-liners on their final runs. Personal souvenir photographs framed in banana tree paper are available for purchase.
Schedule your zip-line adventure tour at West Bay Canopy Tours in Roatan by contacting Anthony’s Key Resort at 800/227-3483, or use the following link, Anthony's Key Resort.
The canopy tour is listed under the optional activities. If you are arriving in Roatan, Honduras, by cruise ship, you must book the tour through your cruise line’s shore-excursion desk because of contracts between the companies. The cost runs $89 per adult and $79 for children under 12. Book early; it sells out quickly.