Mahogany Bay

Located in Dixon Cove on the southern end of Roatan Island, the largest of the Bay Islands in Honduras, Mahogany Bay - also known as Mahogany Bay Beach or Mahogany Beach - is a 250-meter-long man-made beige sand beach.  The beach is part of the famous Mahogany Bay Cruise Ship Port, owned and developed by the Carnival Corporation, which serves as a major docking point for several cruise lines, including Mahogany Bay Carnival Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Regent Seven Seas, Holland America, and many others.  The beach is adjacent to the cruise terminal, positioned on the shores of the western Caribbean Sea. It has a beautiful backdrop of a well-developed complex with shops, restaurants, and excursion offices, providing many amenities to visitors as they disembark from their ships.

The beach is also famous for the nearby shipwreck of a German cargo ship, M. Alexand, popularly known as the Roatan Shipwreck, which was used to transport cement to the island when construction was at its peak in the early 1980s.  The ship suffered mechanical problems and was towed to Dixon Cove; ultimately, it was beached and eventually started to bilge, with its rear end sitting on the bottom of the sea at a depth of around 60–70 feet.  The hull of the cargo ship sits a few meters from this beach, and today, it is home to a variety of marine life, including fish, coral, and other sea creatures, making it a popular spot for snorkeling and diving.

Mahogany Bay has many other amenities, including lifeguards, restrooms, showers, cabanas, sun loungers, floating beach mats, a parasol rental facility, a beach equipment rental facility, a pharmacy, gift shops, restaurants, bars, hotels, duty-free shops, and a nearby cruise terminal. 

In addition, there is the “Magical Flying Beach Chair,” a ski lift-style ride that transports visitors from the cruise terminal to the beach over a distance of about 1,200 feet. 

Mahogany Bay has a family-friendly beach that offers many fun activities, including swimming, sunbathing, snorkeling, diving, sailing, parasailing, jet skiing, windsurfing, paddleboarding, photography, picnicking, and boating.  If you plan to go into the water, the beach is a safe spot to swim.  The water near the beach is calm and shallow, which is ideal for canoes, kayaks, and small boats.  If you want to enjoy snorkeling, the shallow waters and clear visibility allow divers and snorkelers to explore the vibrant coral reefs and marine life of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef.  It is worth noting that the beach is a designated marine protected area, aimed at preserving its natural beauty and ecosystem.  Visitors can also book mangrove tours, subwing rides, ATV tours, glass bottom boat rides, zip line trips, and diving, snorkeling, and fishing excursions.  If you enjoy photography, there are many points near the beach known for taking the best Mahogany Roatan photos.  There are numerous beachfront bars that are open late along the beach, making it the ideal location for visitors to enjoy beach parties and a vibrant nightlife.   Dogs are not allowed on the beach, and the beach is open from sunrise until sunset.

Mahogany Bay offers an access path for people with disabilities.

Getting to Mahogany Bay Beach is easy - the beach is located near Mahogany Bay Cruise Terminal in Coxen Hole.  Visitors can easily book a ride on the Magical Flying Beach Chair, which transports guests of all ages directly from the cruise terminal to the beach.  Visitors can take a day pass for $14, which will allow unlimited rides on the chairlift.  Alternatively, there is a shaded walking path that will get you from the cruise terminal to the beach in a few minutes.

Mahogany Bay contributes significantly to the Roatan Island economy, and with the development of the Mahogany Bay Port, thousands of tourists arrive each year via cruise ships sailing the Caribbean.  The Mahogany Bay cruise terminal is a two-berth station that can accommodate a couple of ships at the same time and can bring 8,000 passengers to Roatan.  For more details, please check the Roatan Cruise Ship Schedule.  It has a 20-acre welcome center for tourists to plan their onshore and water excursions.

There are many attractions near Mahogany Bay.  Gumbalimba Park is a family-friendly beachfront park spread over 20 acres and is home to a suspension bridge over a lagoon with many turtles, a freshwater pool, walking trails, a butterfly sanctuary, a botanical garden with over 50 species of plants, and animals.  Visitors can enjoy many fun activities, including animal encounters, snorkeling, kayaking, snuba diving, and zip-lining.  Little French Key is a small, uninhabited island located just off the coast of Mahogany Bay, where visitors can enjoy swimming, snorkeling experiences, diving, kayaking, paddleboarding, jet skiing, horseback riding, zip-lining, and beautiful beaches, which are easily accessible via a boat ride from the mainland.

Mayan Eden Eco-Park is home to a butterfly garden, a small zoo, and many botanical gardens.  Visitors can enjoy many fun activities, including zip-lining, walking trails, animal feeding and petting sessions with capuchin monkeys and tropical birds, and guided tours that provide insights into the flora and fauna of the region.  The park also features replicas of Mayan artifacts, sculptures, and architectural elements, giving visitors a glimpse into the ancient civilization that once inhabited the region.  The Roatan Rum Company is a family-owned distillery perched on a hill, offering breathtaking views of the Caribbean Sea.  It provides an opportunity for visitors to learn about the rum production process and enjoy complimentary tastings of a variety of rums.  It also has a gift shop that sells a wide range of rum products, including bottles of their unique rums, rum cakes, and other rum-infused goodies.  If you are looking for another nearby attraction, the Roatan Institute for Marine Sciences is a scientific research center dedicated to preserving the natural resources of the region through education and research.  It features marine laboratories, a museum, an education center, a dolphin training and research center, and a coral nursery where corals are grown and eventually out-planted onto the reef.  Visitors can enjoy guided tours that offer an interesting insight into the importance of preserving the unique ecosystem.

If you get hungry, there are many great restaurants near Mahogany Bay.  Gio's Restaurant is a beachfront upscale restaurant positioned right on the beach that serves amazing salads, pizzas, ribs, seafood, meat, and poultry dishes.  Smoky Grill serves soup, salads, burgers, tacos, pasta, pizzas, seafood, meat, pork, and poultry dishes.  El Velero Azul - Las Palmas serves incredible pizzas, fajitas, seafood, beef, meat, and poultry dishes.  Azure Restaurant and Bar serves incredible salads, burgers, sandwiches, risotto, steaks, seafood, beef, meat, and poultry dishes.  If you are looking for another good and affordable nearby restaurant, Snapper's Restaurant serves amazing seafood.

If you are looking for a hotel near Mahogany Bay, there are many great options nearby.  If you are looking for an upscale hotel, the 4-Star Roatan Yacht Club is 11 minutes away by car and offers many amenities, including an outdoor pool, hot tubs, a fitness center, a nearby marina, a dive center, and a restaurant.  A more affordable hotel is the beachfront 4-Star Mahogany Bay Resort & Beach Club, Curio Collection by Hilton, which offers many amenities, including an outdoor pool, a kid’s pool, hot tubs, a fitness center, a spa, a game room, and a restaurant.   Another moderately priced option is the beachfront 4-Star Barefoot Cay Resort, which has many amenities, including an outdoor pool, a spa, and a restaurant.  A more reasonably priced option is the oceanfront 3-Star The Meridian, which offers many amenities, including an outdoor pool and a terrace with sun loungers.  If you are looking for another good and affordable nearby hotel, the 3-Star Blue Bahia Resort offers many amenities, including an outdoor pool, a hot tub, a spa, a fitness center, and a restaurant.