My favorite stop on my first cruise was Roatán, Honduras. Here are 4 reasons why I'm already planning a trip back.

I took my first cruise ever in April onboard the largest cruise ship there is — Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas.

The ship stopped at four ports during the seven-night cruise — Roatán, Honduras; Cozumel and Costa Maya, Mexico; as well as Royal Caribbean's own private island in the Bahamas.

Each stop was about seven hours, so I only got a taste of these places. After my day in Roatán, I knew I wanted to go back for a longer trip. Here's why it left such a lasting impression and what I liked best about the island.

Read more: Step aboard the world's largest cruise ship, which is so big it has 8 'neighborhoods' spread across 18 stories

When we pulled up to Roatán on the cruise ship, I thought it looked like a small, green mountain range in the middle of the ocean. Beyond its shores are villages and tropical forests, according to the Roatán Tourism Bureau.

Most of the island's native people were wiped out by Europeans in the 16th century, according to the bureau. Then, the Spanish and British fought over control of Roatán until the mid-19th century, when the British ceded the island to Honduras, according to the same source.

Today, Roatán's economy relies on tourists, The New York Times reported in February.

"I think at least one person in every household relies on the tourism sector," Gabriela Ochoa, a program manager for the Roatán Marine Park, told the New York Times. "Basically, this island runs on tourism."

Read more: I went to the Caribbean for the first time on the world's largest cruise ship and wish I had more time in these 2 ports

For my day in Roatán, I booked an excursion through the cruise line that would go to a Mayan Eco Park for a guided hike through tropical forests on Ocelot Mountain. I picked this tour because I love hiking in new places and I wanted to see what it was like inside a tropical forest.

A bus picked the tour group from the port and brought us through the capital city of Coxen Hole to get to the park for a hike through the jungle.

We spent an hour or two in jungle terrain, which was lush and shaded with rich green grass, leaves, and vines. It was beautiful.

I wished I had time to relax and enjoy the view in one of the hammocks placed periodically throughout the hike. If I wasn't on a limited tour, I'd probably spend all day hiking these trails, I thought.

Read more: I went to the Caribbean for the first time on the world's largest cruise ship and wish I had more time in these 2 ports

During the trek, we crossed two suspension bridges, which was a new experience for me.

The first one was short, preparing me mentally for the second bridge, which I thought might be scary since our tour guide said it was longer.

I ended up loving the feeling of being suspended above the forest, but we passed through so quickly that I didn't have time to fully enjoy the view of the forest from the middle of it. I wish I could have crossed it again. Next time, I'll return and take my time walking across to get more than just a glance.

Coxen Hole is the capital of Honduras' Bay Islands, as well as a business district full of offices, stores, and local restaurants, according to the Roatán Tourism Bureau.

I only was able to pass through while on the way to my excursion, but during my drive, I saw buildings and outdoor shops selling essentials and souvenirs, from fans and cold drinks to key chains and sculptures. People passed through the narrow, bustling roads on bikes and on foot, which made me want to get off the bus and see what it's like to be a pedestrian in this city.

But Coxen Hole isn't the only community in Roatán that I want to go back to explore. West End, a town I didn't get to ride through, is one of the most visited on the island thanks to its stunning coastal views and waterfront restaurants, according to the same bureau source. I'd love to see it for myself.

Read more: 8 things I learned when I sailed solo on my first cruise, from how to meet people to having to pay a 'single supplement'

The island is surrounded by one of the largest barrier reefs in the world, according to the Roatán Tourism Bureau. In fact, it's second in size only to the Great Barrier Reef.

The reef has coral canyons that are home to a wide variety of marine life, from eels to sharks, and schools of fish, The New York Times reported.

I'm glad I spent my limited time in Roatán hiking through tropical hills, but I want to go back to visit its beaches and look underneath the ocean's surface.

Read more: I just went on my first cruise — here are 15 things that surprised me the most about this type of travel

Back onboard, I longed for more time in Honduras and went to the ship's top deck to get a better look at the island before departing. As we started to sail away, I saw houses and streets at the foothills of the mountainous jungle and wondered about the lives of the people inside them.

I now want to plan a trip back to Roatán on my own to see more of the island and take a longer hike.

Read more: I packed for a weeklong cruise with just a carry-on and a backpack. Here are 10 items I'm glad I brought and 7 things I wish I had with me.