Welcome To an untamed Roatan

free roaming macaws, white-face monkeys, and native iguanas.

Gumbalimba Park is a privately owned, eco-adventure and history park on the island of Roatan. The park was established in 2003. The name Gumbalimba Park comes from a tree native to the island called, gumbo limbo, but, the islanders know and call it Gumbalimba.

Helpful Tips & Tricks

Click below to learn more about what you might expect from a day visit to Gumbalimba Park in Roatan Honduras. We want to be sure you get the most out of your next visit, so we’ve put together a list of good things to know for you.

About GUMBALIMBA PARK

Gumbalimba Park is located in West Bay, Roatan, Bay Islands, Honduras. This beachfront park offers not only the water activities and leisure of the beach and ocean, but also diverse attractions in over 20 lovely acres. There's a treasure to be found here for everyone in the family (and who knows, maybe some pirate treasure, too)!

GUMBALIMBA Park TOUR

The tour includes activities such as walking through trails, crossing on a suspended bridge of 237 feet long over a small lagoon, visiting various animals in their natural state. The animals that you will see are the green and black iguanas, agoutis, white-faced monkeys, Scarlett and Green Macaws, parrots, and other species of fauna. Gumbalimba also provides a program that rescues and rehabilitates animals or is in need of an appropriate living environment. Some of the animals that you will be interacting with are the monkeys and macaws, where you will be allowed to take pictures with them. In addition, we will be seeing local fauna, an insectarium, and a cave/museum with a brief history of our island. 

TRAVEL TIMES FROM PORTS 

• The approximate travel time from Mahogany Bay to Gumbalimba Park is 45 minutes. 

• The approximate travel time from The Port of Roatan to Gumbalimba Park is 25 minutes. 

Gumbalimba Park features and all inlcuded

*A guided tour inside the park

*Animal preserve with jump-on-your-shoulder monkeys, free-flying exotic birds, macaw pictures, and other sightings of native animals.

*Botanical gardens with over a 200 species of plants and trees, several man made waterfalls, a picturesque hanging bridge over a natural pond serving as habitat to some turtles.

*Peaceful sandy beach with lounge chairs situated for the sunlovers. Showers and bathrooms. This is Gumbalimba’s beach not Tabayana. Towels not included.

*“Coxen’s Cave” has artwork and history painted on the cave walls, life-size pirates, treasure, weapons and maps, serving as a classroom for the Bay Islands’ history.

*Freshwater pool with a kiddie pool

*A place to bring your books and enjoy the quietness and serenity of nature.

Trivia:

Gumbalimba Park is named after one of the native tree species in Honduras, the Gumbolimbo Tree. This tree has a bright red, peeling, smooth bark and dark green leaves. In the years past, many islanders itilized these trees as fence posts on Roatan. Many of the Gumbolimbo trees are able to resprout from a broken branch!

About Roatan

The island of Roatan is divided into two "Municipios" (similar to a county) of Roatan and Jose Santos Guardiola. The island of Roatan is the largest and is one of the seven islands that makes up the Bay Islands of Honduras.  

The average population on Roatan is approximately 104 thousand inhabitants. It is estimated that some 15% -20% are foreigners from the U.S., Canada, and Italy. These expats are the owners of some of Roatan's largest businesses.

The island of Roatan is 82.88 Kilometers squared or 32 square miles. 

ROATAN PORTS OF CALL

There are two main ports on Roatan: Port of Roatan, located in the main town of Coxen Hole and Mahogany Bay, located in Dixon Cove.

Port of Roatan, was unofficially active in 1998, and Mahogany Bay officially opened on December 2, 2009. 

Tourism is the predominant industry of the island of Roatan, and the high season for tourism is from October to March. 

COXEN HOLE's NAME

The town of Coxen Hole got its name after the pirate Captain John Coxen ("Coxon"). Coxen used the area as his “hideout” or “Fox Hole.” 

INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS

The island of Roatan has an International Airport, serving both national and international flights. There are direct flights from Roatan to Miami, Texas, Atlanta, Cayman, Italy, Canada, and other countries of the world. 

CORAL REEF

Roatan is known worldwide for its beautiful, white, sandy beaches, clear waters, and for its trees and vegetation remaining green all year round. The Bay Islands are surrounded by the second largest Coral Reef Barrier in the world (the largest in the northern hemisphere). The reef stretches from the Gulf of Mexico down to the Bay Islands. 

HANDICAP ASSISTANCE

If anyone has difficulty walking for a period longer than 20 minutes, suffer hypertension, or has any physical condition that impedes them from undergoing any physical activity, we recommend our Golf Cart Tour. The price is $10 per person.    

PERSONAL BELONGINGS

Please supervise your personal belongings at all times. Gumbalimba Park will not be liable for any lost items. And, please do not leave your personal belongings on the bus. Once we arrive at the park, you will not be seeing your driver anymore, so if you enjoyed the ride and you would like to thank him, you are more than welcome to do so at this time.  

MONKEY INTERACTION GUIDELINES

What is permitted and needed for the Monkey tour? 

No food or drinks of any kind are allowed in the monkey area. 

PRO TIP: You can take a drink along your tour, but before we enter Monkey Town, we have a basket nearby where you can leave your drinks. After you are finished with Monkey Town, then you can pick up your belongings.

No backpacks, bags, fanny packs, sunscreens, bug sprays, lipsticks, gels, etc. are permitted. The reason for this is monkeys in the park are not caged, and they are free to roam. Monkeys are also very curious. When they see a bag, they believe that you have food in the bag, so they will try to open it and get whatever is in it, and sometimes take it up the tree.  

Take special care with hats, sunglasses, earrings, necklaces, jewelry, hearing aids, medications, etc. 

If at any time you lose any articles, notify one of the handlers. Do not try to take it away from the monkey, because the monkey might feel threatened and they will act on their defense.  

• Do not restrict the monkey’s movements.

• Do not hug, chase, or pet the monkeys.

• Strollers are not allowed in the monkey area (consult with your guide). Parents, please supervise your children.

• Do not feed the monkeys.

• You can bring your cameras under your own responsibility.

• The monkeys can be afraid or intrigued by cameras. Please, no flash; it affects the animal’s eyes.

• When pictures are taken, maintain 6 feet between you and the monkeys.

• Keep your distance, if you do not want to interact with monkeys, inform your guide.

• Remain calm and gentle with monkeys. Do not push them.

• Thanks for your cooperation.

Things you can take on the tour: Camera, hat, phone, sunglasses, and small wallets.

GUMBALIMBA SOUVENIR SHOP

At our gift shop, guests can purchase locally made and traditional souvenirs, ponchos, bug spray, and rent lockers. 

GUMBALIMBA Restaurant

After the tour, you can order a quick lunch at the Oasis, or snack anything that may interest you.

Lunch options:

* Plain Hot dog with fries

* Hamburger with fries

*5-piece chicken tender with fries

*Chicken Sandwich with fries

other types of snacks are avaialable that are not mentioned above.

GUMBALIMBA LOCKERS

Gumbalimba Park offers lockers for rent, so that guest can store their personal belongings. Lockers are $5. The locker size is two x2 feet. There are two locker locations, one is near the restrooms by the Palapa (# 151-200), and the second one is next to the Souvenir Shop and Oasis snack shop (#1-150). 

GUMBALIMBA OASIS

In the island oasis, you can purchase smoothies made out of natural fruits. The restaurant is located in the building with the red roof. At the end of the tour, you can enjoy and relax in the freshwater pool or swim in the ocean. 

GUMBALIMBA ACTIVITIES

Other amenities offered by the park are the zipline and golf cart services at an additional cost.

UPON ARRIVAL

Once we arrive, everyone will have a 10-15 minute break to use the restrooms, purchase lockers, or drinks prior to our walking tour. If anyone has difficulty walking for a period longer that 20 minutes, suffer hypertension or has any physical condition that impedes them from undergoing any physical activity, we recommend our Golf Cart Tour or Train. The price is $10 additional per person.

Please supervise your personal belongings at all times, the company will not be liable for any lost items. And, please do not leave your personal belongings on the bus. Once we arrive at the park, you will not be seeing your driver anymore, so if you enjoyed the ride and you would like to thank him, you are more than welcome to do so at this time.

TRAVEL TIMES

On our drive we will be passing through several communities starting with Constellation Bight, then Gravel Bay, Pensacola, Flowers Bay, until we arrive to our final destination, “Gumbalimba Park”, located in West Bay.

• Travel time from Mahogany Bay to the park is approximately 45 minutes.

• Travel time from Port of Roatan to the park is approximately 25 minutes.

ABOUT ROATAN

• The island of Roatan is divided into two Municipios (similar to a county) of: Roatan and Jose Santos Guardiola.

• The average population on the island is approximately 104 thousand inhabitants between the two municipios. 15% -20% are foreigners from the U.S., Canada and Italy, and are owners of larger businesses.

• The island is 84.4 km2 (square) long or (32 square miles) between the 2 counties.

• The island of Roatan is the largest, and is one of the 7 islands that makes up the Bay Islands of Honduras.