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Largest of the Bay Islands, Honduras
Photo: User: (WT-shared) Velorian at wts wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 1.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Roatán is the largest of the Bay Islands of Honduras, in the Caribbean Sea. The island rests on an exposed ancient coral reef, rising to about 270 metres (890 ft) above sea level. Offshore reefs offer opportunities for diving. In 2020, it was home to about 110,000 people, concentrated in the western part of the island.
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Offers tours
They normally have 15-20 butterfly species in a 3000 sq ft enclosure.
Only local Roatan brewery
Spanish and English lessons with certified teachers, wonderful time and extra activities in the Islands, spanishroatan@yahoo.com.
Roatan Insiders - Excursions & Tours
Local tour operator specializing in shore excursions for cruise ship passengers and island visitors. Itineraries include visits to West End village, West Bay Beach, and wildlife sanctuaries featuring sloths, monkeys, and parrots. The company also offers specialized tours to the Roatan Island Brewing Co. and snorkeling trips to private cays. Round-trip transportation is included in tour packages.
42' Hatteras Sportfish for charter. Deep sea fishing, diving, snorkeling, or take a trip to a nearby island like Utila or Cayos Cochinos. This boat has good penn reels and fighting chairs and the interior is fitted with couches, flat screen TV, DVD player, kitchen, bathroom. Also available for overnight charters.
Learn how to scuba dive with multi-day classes; or take a professional dive and discover the underwater ruins of Roatan.
Stay at the Sundancer cabanas in Sandy Bay and walk down to the beach to access some of the best diving on the island.
Coconut Tree
The only PADI Career Development Center in Roatán. The shop offers 4 daily dives: the morning boat leaves at 09:00 for 2 dives and returns at around 12:30. The afternoon dives go out at 13:00 and 14:30 respectively. Night dives are available every Tu & Th. The shop's 2nd boat, Potlicker, is dedicated for cruise ship visitors on various cruise ship schedules. 1-day experience program, PADI Discover Scuba Diving, for those who want to try scuba diving for the first time; inc. basic theory in the classroom, a short session in shallow confined water, followed by a 45-60 min dive in the afternoon. Instructor Development Course run monthly. Friendly, experienced staff. Nitrox and Trimix are available. Snorkelers welcome.
Local fisherman providing fishing charter, snorkeling or an island tour by boat
With Pescado Roatán, bonefish and permit on the fly.
Scuba diving Roatan private charters. Guest choose dive times and dive locations. Honduran owned and operated.
Tours from 1,000 feet to 2,000 feet for 1½-4 hr.
While Steel Pan Alley has its origins as a free school teaching the local children to play Trinidad steel pans, the school also offers the Steel Pan Alley Experience, where visitors can come and learn to play the pans. In a single morning or afternoon session, visitors can go from zero music experience to playing three songs in just one hour. All proceeds go directly to supporting the school.
Tyll's Dive Shop
Scuba divers with a small family atmosphere. Caters to small groups of 8 or less. Offers 3 dives a day starting M-Sa at 09:00, 11:00, and 14:00, Sundays and night dives upon request. Prices include all dive rental equipment. Small dive classes are offered from Open Water to Dive Master. 1-on-1 dive instruction available, Crowd-free diving, multilingual staff, well-maintained dive equipment and an on hand technician. All of the dive Instructors are PADI Certified as well as emergency first aid responders.
Horseback riding on the beach at West End.
Location is approximate
A Beach Bar on the end of a 40-ft dock stretching into the waters. Offers fishing trips on the Cayuca boat. Reef snorkel a few hundred meters from the dock, bring your own snorkeling gear, or rent a package for US$5 a day. Camp on the beaches of Asylum for free with your own equipment, or rent a camping package for $5 a night. Local residents of Roatán can utilize the camping packages for free. Asylum's Mermaid Grill will cook any fish you catch and prepare a meal for you.
Lounge style feel with changing rooms, showers, and beach beds. Free Wi-Fi.
All-you-can-eat lobster and steak on Sunday and Wednesday. This restaurant is a hidden gem on the island. It is very popular with the people who own vacation homes on the island. It is low-key, and has some of the best food offered on the island.
The only Indian restaurant in Honduras. Progressive Indian cuisine. Air-com dining and year round sunset views. Reservations required.
Roatán Sushi
Sushi. Quiet, romantic and away from the 'boom, boom, boom' of the beach. Reservations required.
Serves Monster Nachos with choice of chicken, steak or lobster. Also lobster burger & fresh quesadillas.
West Bay at Bananarama
On the beach with plenty of room at the covered bar as well as at outdoor tables, large flat-screen TV, cold and blended drinks, and island-style fresh fast food. Activities almost every night include karaoke, crab races, fire dancers, live music, trivia.
Serves hotdogs, chili dogs, chicken salad sandwiches and daily specials. Offers a variety of toppings such as tequila caramalised onions, Habanero aioli and sauerkraut.
Brick oven fired Napoli style pizza available with a variety of toppings including gorgonzola & broccoli.
Internet Cafe, Wine Bar & Lounge
Serves coffee and cold beer. Pastries, sandwiches, pizza and tapas in a relaxed atmosphere with soothing tunes. Fully licensed, with a large selection of wine and spirits. Free WiFi. A 2-minute walk from West Bay Beach.
Sunday barbecue with cold beer. A palapa bar/restaurant built over the water, good if you are on the less populated east end of the island.
formerly Black Pearl and before that Loafers
DJ. Good on Fridays.
Haunt of locals who stay out late.
Look out the back for live music.
Good place to start the night.
Caribbean Pirate themed bar. Mix of locals, expats and tourists. Great sunsets. Happy Hour 17:00-21:00 every day. Good for dancing after 21:00.
Turtlegrass
A water access only restaurant on the largest bay on Roatán. Seafood gumbo to cheeseburgers, cold Honduran beer and fruity island drinks. Boat transportation provided from Oak Ridge. Also a great stop for those on the mangrove tour.
Rustic Honduran surroundings, spacious tables and the best ocean views, sunset drinks, food menu also available.
Great accommodations for travelers on a budget. All cabins have air-con and a refrigerator. Cabins in West End & West Bay. Associated with Coconut Tree Divers.
Rustic eco-lodge, small casitas with kitchenettes, bunk lodging and package pricing including diving and lodging. New fishing and diving boats, numerous activities; diving and kite boarding, strolling through the gardens, and tasting homemade jams and jellies. Includes the Crow's Nest restaurant. Backpacker dorms with bunk beds and common bathrooms. Casitas – cabin style rooms with double beds and private bathrooms. Condo style rooms with double beds and private bathrooms.
Clean, quiet, and affordable rooms located just one block from the west bay beach. Air-con, TV, DVDs to borrow, beach gear to rent, internet cafe. The owner, Glen, is fantastic and very accommodating, and he also cooks breakfast every morning.
The only hostel in the West End, a 5-minute walk from the beach strip. Offers dorm rooms and private rooms, a nice large common area, kitchen and free WiFi.
Private cabanas on the palm studded hillside and lagoon. Serene and peaceful with views of the ocean. Diving available on site.
Clean bungalows on a beautiful beach, free use of kayaks, restaurant, breakfast is included.
Eco lodge offering diving, fly-fishing and eco adventures. The lodge has access to some of Roatán's healthiest reef. Great base for exploring the caves of Helene, hiking the island of Morat and visiting the pristine Pigeon Cayes. Accommodation is in over-the-water cabanas each with a private dock, swim ladder and hammock.
Renovated air-conditioned bungalows surrounded by lush tropical plants, mango and avocado trees. Pool, massages available at Serenity day spa. Candlelight dinner available (6-course meal with a bottle of wine for total of US$60 for pair). The price of breakfast at Tasty Tarpon Restaurant is included in the room price. Daily specials are as follows: Monday: French toast vanilla butter & powdered sugar; Tuesday: egg baleada Honduran specialty; Wednesday: banana pancakes, caramelized bananas, bacon; Thursday: egg baleada Honduran specialty; Friday: omelet with cheese, toast & pineapple jam; Saturday: tipico (typical Honduran breakfast); Sunday: waffles with caramelized pineapple & bacon, US$2 mimosas. Available Tu-Sa 08:00-17:00, Su-M 08:00–15:30.
A beach side resort with 8 cabanas, pool, on-site restaurant & dive shop. Run by a very friendly US expat.
Hillside cabanas nestled in tropical flora and fauna, private swimming pool, ocean view bar & restaurant, diving & various other activities available.
A beach front oasis with 6 Villas each with 2 bedrooms, full kitchen, living room and balcony overlooking ocean. 400-foot private dock for great reef access. Week, month or long term rental.
Resort with air-con rooms, satellite TV, refrigerator, telephone and tennis courts.
Luxury Roatán Resort & vacation villas by Roatan's white sandy beaches.
1-2 bedroom villas with kitchens, 250-ft swimming pool and a diver center.
Luxury condos located right on the beach facing the sunset on the Caribbean Sea. 2 bedroom, 2 baths. 3 bedroom, 3 baths. 3 bedroom, 3 bath penthouse with 1,900 sq ft rooftop that has full kitchen, BBQ pit and private pool. Each condo has full stainless steel granite counter-top kitchen, central air-con, U/V water filtration, comfortable living room with couch that folds into bed, flat screen TVs with cable in every room, washer/dryer, free WiFi, and beach side swimming pool. Wheel chair accessible with elevator.
Buy up and have a cookout.
Near the airport overlooking Coxen Hole
Beachware, gifts, and other vacation essentials - bikinis, sarongs, swim trunks, sunglasses, snorkel gear, sunscreen, hats, phone/device chargers and local souvenirs.
By boat
The island is visited by some cruise lines, such as Princess, Royal Caribbean, Carnival, and Norwegian Cruise Lines.
By bus
Buses run every 15 minutes between Coxen Hole and West End during the day. They depart from opposite the market in Coxen Hole.
By taxi
There are hundreds of taxis, and you must bargain to get the best rates. Ask the price in advance and if it seems high, ask another.
By water taxi
There are water taxis during daylight that link West Bay and West End for US$5 per passenger (June 2024) (or US$10 if you want the boat to leave with less than four people).
By scooter
Renting scooters is a very economical and fun way to see the island.
Choose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Coxen Hole · International · RTB
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