Carnival Valor - Tabyana, West Bay, Cruise Dock

I decided the $33 for the excursion to Tabyana wasn't such a bad deal. It included transportation, beach chair and some non-alcoholic beverages.

The bus ride was interesting along a dirt road with everything - houses, pets, cars, covered in dust/dirt kicked up by vehicles on the road.

Past by some sights on the way and noticed one of the canopy tours and Gumbalimba (sp?) just before Tabyana.

You could sign up for the canopy tour at the office at Tabyana. $35 for 45 minutes and 11 stations. Not sure of any other details.

Lockers were available. You provide your SS card and $5 to the office and they give you a locker number, lock, and key. When you return your key, they give you your SS card and $2 back.

There was food available for sale, but I wasn't interested, so didn't check out. Next to the food area was a beverage are which is where you would get the included drinks. I had brought water with, so didn't check out that area, either. Now I'm kind of curious about both.

Went on the beach to check it out. Look pretty crowded, yet still lots of chairs left. Decided I didn't want to walk back to check my stuff so just found a chair and plopped my stuff down on it.

Then went snorkeling until tired and then played the find my stuff on a chair that looks like everybody else's stuff on a chair. Eventually found my chair and gathered possessions and went walking up West Bay Beach.

When I got to the edge of Tabyana, noticed some security people shooing those without wristbands from the chairs and other amenities. The rest of West Bay beach had more people and fewer chairs. Also had vendors, but not obnoxious.

Passed by some places that have websites, so I'll have to check those out for next vist.

In the meanwhile, once again, too many pictures:

zydecocruiser's Album:Valor - Roatan - Tabyana

Click on the link above to view the 152 pictures in this album. As the recipient, you can download, re-share and order prints and merchandise containing these pictures. Please do not use the owner's pictures in an unexpected way. <img id="pageCounter" border="0" height="1" width="1">

Very informative, thanks for sharing. We're still trying to decide what to do on our day in Roatan, it helps to hear from others who have been. :D

so they don't have a bar at tabyana beach? we like to have a few cocktail on the beach.Is there one near by?

No real beach bar anywhere that I noticed in West Bay. At Tabyana there was at least one guy set up with an ice chest and liquor bottles on top. You could certainly purchase some cocktails there and I imagine beer. Didn't take a picture - another missed opportunity. Up and down the beach you could see vendors with assorted drinks and snacks. Maybe have to go off the beach to find a real bar.

Also, I was there a few days before Easter, so no doubt not all the people were cruisers in West Bay - probably a number of spring breakers, too.

Thanks for the info! I plan on booking the Tabayana excursion through the ship when I sail in June. :)

Your pictures are awesome! Thanks for sharing!

What kind of camera did you use? The pictures are so clear and great!

so they don't have a bar at tabyana beach? we like to have a few cocktail on the beach.Is there one near by?

Tanner,

There are a number of places up & down the beach where you can get cocktails, including some assorted vendors who just set up under various palm & coconut trees selling beers, sodas & such out of coolers.

Several of the resort-type places have extensive bars with most anything you'd want.

Thanks. I use a Canon S1 IS - first cruise with it so still learning. also have a waterproof case for it so use same camera above and below water. Let Adobe Photoshop Elements autofix.

Noticed I butchered some of the captions - can't change the view above, but here is a slightly corrected version - probably still have some mistakes:

zydecocruiser's Album:Valor - Roatan - Tabyana

Click on the link above to view the 152 pictures in this album. As the recipient, you can download, re-share and order prints and merchandise containing these pictures. Please do not use the owner's pictures in an unexpected way. <img id="pageCounter" border="0" height="1" width="1">

Thanks SeaPa for the info!!! maybe we need to go to an AA meeting instead of the beach Uh!!!!!!

I agree- your pictures are absolutely beautiful- very professional looking; some great under water shots

Great pictures!! Can't wait to be there in 2 weeks!!!:D

Zydeocruiser, How far did you have to swim at Tabyana to get those great reef pics? Also, about how deep was it? Thanks.

Thanks all.

I don't really know how far out I swam - a few hundred yards? One or two of the pictures are looking back at the beach. But snorkeling isn't really swimming, it is really floating and you just take your time. Around the reef it isn't deep at all - from 0 to maybe 15-20 ft down, away from the reef, it might be 30-40 ft even that far out. Not really sure, but I could always see the bottom. In one of the pictures you can see a couple of scuba divers.

There was no noticeable current, but the small wave action made it easier swimming back to shore than swimming out.

The reef stuff begins a lot closer than that. Maybe 100 ft ? And there is lots of stuff to see without going out as far as I did. Some of the pictures I posted are from within 300 ft of the shore.

They have lifeguards whose main mission seems to be keeping you from swimming over the very shallow parts of the reef, which comes right up to the surface. Anyway, the lifeguards are on kayaks and could get to anyone in seconds.

If the water had been rough, I would have done it differently. Instead of cutting through the reef (which said lifeguards didn't seemed pleased with), I would have take the long way around. Overall, that would be safer - cutting through the reef you can run into deadends. You don't want to run into the coral because it can kill the coral and scratch/cut you.

As I said, you can see lots of stuff without going out as far as I did, but I wasn't the only one that went out that far. Another option would be to look for a boat snorkel trip that starts you out on that side. I saw some of those, but don't have any names.

I guess finally, you don't start out by swimming to the horizon, start looking close to shore and only go out as far as you are comfortable.

Oh yeah, bring some fish food and make some friends!

Great photos! How much did it cost to rent the snorkeling equipment? Are there places along the beach to walk ? what about restaurants? sounds like it's just vendors?

What time did you arrive? Thinking that getting there early - take first bus from cruise ship would be best. What time did the first bus leave?

What was included for drinks? water, soda??

thanks,

mary

Hi,

Very nice slideshow!!! We are cruising in February and this gave us a nice view as to what to expect in Roatan. Thanks so much!!!!

Canadian Cruisers

Great photos! How much did it cost to rent the snorkeling equipment? Are there places along the beach to walk ? what about restaurants? sounds like it's just vendors?

 

What time did you arrive? Thinking that getting there early - take first bus from cruise ship would be best. What time did the first bus leave?

 

What was included for drinks? water, soda??

 

thanks,

mary

So sorry - just saw this. I bring my own equipment so not sure what rentals cost - I would think $10 or less. You can walk up in down the beach - most people do. There are a number of hotels/restaurants along the way but I haven't tried any.

First bus gets first choice of locations for lounge chairs, but lots of chairs and room available.

Tea, water, and punch were included. No food on the Carnival excursion, but before I paid for food at Tabyana, might take a stroll to see if I could score a lobster lunch for less.

Hi,

 

Very nice slideshow!!! We are cruising in February and this gave us a nice view as to what to expect in Roatan. Thanks so much!!!!

 

Canadian Cruisers

Thank you. I was there just again a few weeks ago...

http://www.zydecocruiser.com/valor_06/RO/RO_icu.htm

Thank you so much for your pictures. We just returned and our cab driver dropped us off at a resort furthest from Tabayana. There was no snorkling there, so had it not been for your pictures, I would not have known to swim down to the reef. It was amazing. I passed a stingray on the way and a large reef shark! I was not expecting that and slowly swam ashore and hiked the rest of the way. Like you, we swam way out. Few people from Tabayana swam out to what I call the "real" reef. Best snorkling I have ever had and a perfect day. The whole beach area was so beautiful.