Location: French Cay, Roatan, Honduras | ajsmonkeysandsloths.com Price: Very affordable – around $10 to $15 per person plus optional photo package Duration: About 45 minutes to an hour Best for: Animal lovers, wildlife enthusiasts, anyone who has ever wanted to be within arm’s reach of a sloth Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (full stop, no caveats)
I need to tell you about the moment the sloth reached out toward me and I instinctively shuffled backward like I was in trouble with the law.
Because technically, I could have been. In Honduras, holding a sloth is now illegal – a government wildlife protection measure that went into effect to protect sloths from the stress of being repeatedly handled by tourists. So when the sloth at AJ’s, who the staff described as extremely people-oriented and genuinely fond of human company, stretched out his arms toward me in what was clearly an invitation for a hug, I did what any rule-following, slightly paranoid person would do: I took a respectful step backward and tried to look like someone who had absolutely not considered hugging a sloth.
He reached out again. I shuffled back again. The staff laughed. Jude laughed. The sloth looked unbothered. I felt simultaneously honored that a sloth wanted to hug me and deeply committed to not accidentally committing a wildlife violation in a foreign country.
It was one of the best moments of the whole trip.
What AJ’s Monkeys and Sloths Is
AJ’s Monkeys and Sloths is a wildlife sanctuary and eco-park located in French Cay, Roatan, dedicated to wildlife education and conservation. The animals here are rescued and well cared for, living in a natural environment with staff who clearly love them. This is not a performance attraction – it is a sanctuary where you get to get genuinely, surprisingly close to animals that you would never encounter anywhere else in your normal life.
The experience takes you through several stations: guinea pigs first (yes, guinea pigs, stay with me), then the sloths, then macaws and parrots, then the monkey enclosure. Each stop has a knowledgeable guide who gives you context about the animals – their names, their personalities, their histories – and facilitates the interaction safely for both you and them.
The employees are super friendly, funny, and help you make the most of every interaction. That was absolutely our experience. The staff at AJ’s are genuinely enthusiastic about these animals and it shows in every single interaction, which makes the whole visit feel warm and personal rather than like a processed tourist experience.
About the Sloth Situation (Important to Know Before You Go)
As of new government wildlife protection measures, observation of sloths and selfies only are now permitted – holding sloths is no longer allowed. I want to be upfront about this because some older reviews mention holding sloths and I do not want anyone to arrive expecting that and be disappointed.
Here is the thing though: not being able to hold the sloth does not diminish the experience at all. You are still right there with them. You can still get incredibly close. The staff set up branches and positions where the sloths can still interact with you on their own terms – and as I can personally attest, some sloths are very interested in interacting with you on their own terms. The law protects them from being stressed by forced handling, but a sloth who chooses to reach toward you is doing exactly what he wants to do.
Our sloth was doing exactly what he wanted to do. Repeatedly. In my direction. And honestly, being chosen by a sloth – even if you cannot reciprocate – is its own kind of magic.
The Guinea Pigs, Macaws, and Monkeys
The tour starts with guinea pigs, which I was not expecting to care about and ended up genuinely charmed by. You hold them, they are soft and round and completely unbothered, and the guide tells you fun facts including the slightly alarming information that they are considered a delicacy in parts of Central America. You nod and hold your guinea pig a little tighter. I also learned (sadly) that the reason my pet guinea pig died so quickly when I was a child is that they love being with each other. So, mine from my childhood (40-something years ago) most likely died from a heart attack since we didn’t know we should have had at least two. RIP Mollie. So, if you are reading this and considering a guinea pig as a pet, grab a pair of them. They will be happiest.
The macaws and parrots are spectacular – big, colorful, sassy birds who are very interested in your hair and your earrings and your general presence. One reviewer had a macaw try to remove a hair clip. This is not an exaggeration. These birds are curious and interactive and the photos from this station are incredible.
The monkeys are the chaotic finale and they deliver completely. White-faced Capuchin monkeys who jump on your head with zero warning, investigate every object on your person, and treat you as a piece of furniture they have always owned. They jump all over you and will steal things off your body – earrings, fans, hair clips, all fair game. Secure anything precious before you go in. The guide is right there managing the energy but the monkeys are their own bosses and they know it.
The Rabies Question (You Are Not the Only One Who Thought About This)
Okay I have to talk about this because it crossed my mind and I cannot be the only one.
Before we went to any of the animal encounters in Roatan – AJ’s, Gumbalimba, all of them – I had this low-grade background worry about what happens if a monkey scratches me or a bird nips me and I have seen too many nature documentaries. And okay, maybe I had a distant memory of that Dustin Hoffman movie from the 1990s – Outbreak, that is the one – where a monkey spreads a catastrophic virus and suddenly everyone in a California town is in trouble. So. I asked.
The answer was completely reassuring: all the animals at the reputable sanctuaries in Roatan, including AJ’s, receive regular veterinary care. The vets come out to the facilities, the animals are vaccinated – yes, including rabies shots – and the whole operation is overseen with the animals’ health as a priority. Roatan takes its tourism seriously and that extends to making sure the wildlife encounters they offer are safe for both the animals and the visitors.
You are not going to get Outbreak-ed by a Capuchin monkey at AJ’s. I just want to say that clearly for anyone who, like me, briefly worried about this.
The Photo Package: Get It
AJ’s offers a photo package for $10 per person – for that you receive over 50 photos delivered to a Google Drive via email within a week of your visit. Get the photo package. The staff photographer follows you through every station and captures all the moments you are too busy experiencing to photograph yourself – the sloth reaching toward you, the monkey on your head, the macaw investigating your ear. The photos are genuinely excellent and the price is beyond reasonable.
We had our own photos from outside the enclosures and some from the monkey section, but the professional package photos from inside the interactions are the ones that really capture what it felt like to be there. Worth every dollar.
A Note on Animal Welfare
I care about this and I think most travelers do too. AJ’s is a genuine sanctuary – the animals are rescued, they receive regular veterinary care, and the no-holding-sloths policy is being followed correctly. The guides clearly love the animals they work with. You can tell when animals are stressed and cared for versus when they are not, and everything at AJ’s felt right. The staff answer questions about the animals’ wellbeing openly and enthusiastically, which is always a good sign.
Roatan as a whole takes this seriously – the island’s tourism depends on its wildlife and natural environment and the community understands that. Every reputable operator I asked about animal care gave me the same answer: vets visit, animals are vaccinated, welfare is monitored. That consistency across multiple operations says something about the island’s values.
Practical Things to Know
Book in advance especially on cruise ship days – AJ’s can get busy when ships are in port and the experience is better with a smaller group.
Get the photo package. $10 per person, 50+ photos delivered digitally. Non-negotiable recommendation.
Secure your earrings and hair accessories before the monkey enclosure. They will be investigated and possibly removed.
Bring cash for tips. The guides are wonderful and earn it.
It is hot. You are in an outdoor sanctuary in Honduras. Wear light clothes, bring water, and apply sunscreen before you arrive.
The facility is small – this is not a sprawling park. It is intimate and that is part of what makes it special. Do not go expecting Gumbalimba’s acreage. Go expecting a personal, up-close encounter with animals you will remember forever.
The JB Roams Way: Our Final Take
The sloth tried to hug me three times and I kept shuffling backward and honestly that story alone is worth the price of admission. The monkeys were chaos. The macaws were divas. The guinea pigs were unexpectedly delightful. The staff were wonderful. The whole thing cost almost nothing and delivered one of the warmest, most joyful hours of our trip.
If a sloth reaches toward you, know that he trusts you. And know that the law is the law. Shuffle backward respectfully and take the moment for what it is – a wild animal choosing your company – and let that be enough.
It is more than enough.
That is the JB Roams way.
FAQ: AJ’s Monkeys and Sloths Roatan
Can you hold the sloths at AJ’s Monkeys and Sloths? Not anymore. Honduras passed new government wildlife protection measures prohibiting tourists from holding sloths, and AJ’s follows this law. You can still get very close, take photos, and interact with them on their terms – some sloths are quite people-oriented and will reach toward you. The experience is still extraordinary.
How much does AJ’s Monkeys and Sloths cost? Admission runs approximately $10 to $15 per person. The photo package is an additional $10 per person and includes 50+ professional photos delivered digitally – highly worth it.
What animals do you see at AJ’s Monkeys and Sloths? Guinea pigs, sloths, scarlet macaws, Amazon parrots, and white-faced Capuchin monkeys. Each station has a guide who facilitates the interaction and shares information about the animals.
Are the animals at AJ’s well cared for? Yes. AJ’s is a genuine rescue sanctuary. All animals receive regular veterinary care including vaccinations. The staff clearly love the animals and the no-holding-sloths policy is followed correctly. The whole operation has strong animal welfare values.
Will the monkeys scratch or bite at AJ’s? The monkeys are supervised by guides throughout the interaction. Light scratches are possible since they use you as a climbing surface, but bites are very uncommon and the guides manage the animals carefully. And yes – all animals receive proper veterinary care including vaccinations, so the Outbreak scenario is not something you need to worry about.
How long does a visit to AJ’s take? Approximately 45 minutes to an hour for the full tour through all animal stations.
Where is AJ’s Monkeys and Sloths in Roatan? French Cay, near French Harbour, Roatan. It is about 40 to 45 minutes from West Bay by car.
AJ’s Monkeys and Sloths | French Cay, near French Harbour, Roatan, Honduras | ajsmonkeysandsloths.com | Approximately 44 minutes from West Bay
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