The Roatan Iguana Sanctuary

Arch’s Iguana And Marine Park is a Roatan-based tourist attraction that prides itself on conservation and preservation education by providing a natural area for thousands of iguanas to live without fear of being hunted.  In the past, the Roatan iguana was almost made extinct on the island due to hunting.  Sometimes known as the “chicken of the trees” its meat was used to make a popular local stew.

The iguana sanctuary was established in the late 1990s and is comprised of 12 acres of land featuring forest, jungle paths and docks that lead out to the sea.  There are as many as 4000 iguanas on the property and visitors are able to feed, touch and hold the lizards.  Every year, a certain number of iguanas are set free to bolster the wild population on the island.

The sanctuary is also home to many educational efforts.  Local students and teachers can visit the park free-of-charge and learn about sustainable agroforestry practices, conservation of the island’s flora and fauna and reforestation techniques.  The park donates plants to school-run plant nurseries and local reforestation projects.  It also runs a recycling program which makes use of donated and found plastic containers to be used as planters and construction materials.

The Roatan iguana sanctuary is also home to white nosed coatis, white faced monkeys, land turtles and sea life such as tarpon and lobsters.  The park is open from 8am to 4pm, costs $8 for entrance and is fully accessible with pathways for wheelchairs.