Short of chartering a private plane for an island tour, taking a canopy ride is one of the best ways to enjoy fantastic views of the island, with an adrenaline rush tossed in for free. Children (as young as four!) are welcome on the canopies — for those that require hand-braking, the child is strapped to a guide. There are several rides on the island from which to choose.

Gumbalimba (tel. 504/9914-9196, 8 a.m.–4 p.m. daily, US$45, or US$35 with a ticket to the animal park) has the corner on the West End/West Bay market simply thanks to its location between the two. There are 18 lines that start in the hills and lead down to the beach. The canopy tour takes about an hour, sometimes a bit less, and transportation is included in the price.

Equally convenient, however, is South Shore Canopy Tour (tel. 504/9904-7855, southshorecanopy [at] yahoo [dot] com, 8 a.m.–4 p.m. daily, US$45), a 12-line tour covering three kilometers. The starting point is on the road between West Bay and West End, closest to the West End side. Transportation is included.

Close to Palmetto Bay is the Jungle Canopy Tour (tel. 504/445-4151, U.S. tel. 877/540-9692, US$45), with 12 lines, two suspension bridges, and a climbing wall. Speed here is controlled by design rather than your hand-brake, which makes it a bit easier. Children should be at least four feet tall. There is an animal park next door (not as fancy as Gumbalimba, but only a couple of dollars entrance fee).

Surely the most unique of the lot, but rather far-flung for those staying in West End or West Bay, is Pirates of the Caribbean Canopy (tel. 504/455-7576, www.roatancanopy-pirates-of-the-caribbean.com, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Mon.–Fri.). There are two different rides: The easier version has nine lines, five bridges, and a rock wall (US$45), while the “extreme” has eight long lines totaling 2,683 meters, including one 1,837-meter line, reputed to be the longest in the Americas (US$65). Speed here is controlled by design rather than with hand-brakes. Night tours are available by appointment. There is a free short trial zipline at the entrance for those who want to test the experience before putting their money down. The canopy is east of French Harbour; there are signs right on the highway.