Roatan
Roatan is the largest of Honduras's Bay Islands, set in the Caribbean Sea near one of the longest barrier reefs in the world. A day here is good for snorkeling and diving over the reef, a swim at West Bay Beach, and a jungle or wildlife outing inland. Most visitors stay in the western part of the island around Coxen Hole, West End and West Bay.
The most reviewed first. Prices are per person, booked with our partner, Shore Excursions Group.
Island Boat Cruise, Iguana Park, Snorkeling and Beach
Roatan Eco Park and Reef Snorkeling with Chocolate and Rum Tastings
Natural Wonders of Roatan Mangroves, Horseback Riding, and Snorkeling
Monkeys, Sloths, Horseback, and Ziplining with Lunch
West Bay Beach
West Bay Beach is a mile-long white sand beach on the west coast of Roatan, with a reef a short swim offshore. It is the island's best-known beach day and a main draw of West Bay.
West End
West End is a small village on Roatán's west end, full of restaurants, bars, shops, galleries and beaches. Visitors swim off its sand, walk the paved main road and head out on the water.
Gumbalimba Park
Gumbalimba Park is a jungle park on Roatan with free-flying macaws, a Monkey Village, sloths on the grounds and a canopy zip line. Visitors walk trails through the tropical growth and meet the animals up close.
Iguana Farm
The Iguana Farm is a sanctuary for endangered green iguanas on Roatán. Visitors can get close to the animals and learn how the species is being protected.
The Sloth Sanctuary
The Sloth Sanctuary on Roatán is a place to meet sloths up close, and to hold them, with staff guiding the visit. It is a land wildlife stop where the animals are handled by staff.
Port Royal National Park
Port Royal National Park is a trail park on the eastern side of Roatán, with paths that climb to viewpoints over the Caribbean. It is a quiet place to walk.
Camp Bay Beach
It is a place to swim, lie in the sun and kayak the nearby mangroves.
Oak Ridge
Oak Ridge is a small fishing village at the eastern end of Roatán, known for brightly colored wooden houses built on stilts over the water. It is pleasant to walk through at an easy pace.
Punta Gorda
Punta Gorda is a Garifuna village on the East End of Roatan, where visitors watch traditional dances, eat Garifuna food and hear the community's history. It is the place to go for Roatan's living culture.
Fort Consolation
Fort Consolation is a pirate-era fort ruin on a hill above the Port of Roatan in Coxen Hole. You walk the ruins on foot and take in the harbor below.
Coxen Hole
Coxen Hole is Roatan's main town and capital, known locally as el pueblo. Its main road is the place to hunt for unique gifts and local crafts.
Little French Key
Little French Key is a private resort island just off Roatán's coast. Visitors come for pristine beaches, beachfront bars and restaurants, and time in the water snorkeling, kayaking and paddleboarding.
Pigeon Cay
Pigeon Cay is a deserted cay off Roatán where boat trips stop for a nurse shark encounter and snorkeling. Visitors reach it on a half-day tour that also includes Jade Beach.
Half Moon Bay
Half Moon Bay is a sheltered bay on Roatán with a shallow reef for snorkeling and a free sailboat moored offshore. Visitors swim, snorkel and jump from the boat.
Good to know
Snorkeling
The reef off West Bay Beach is the main draw. Its water is calm and clear, and the reef sits close to shore. From West End, a strong swimmer can head out toward the white buoys and reach a shallow reef about 200 meters out. Organized snorkel trips usually run 4.5 to 5.5 hours and often include a beach stop or lunch.
Zip lining
Roatan has named canopy zip lines through the jungle. Gumbalimba Park, on the main road to West Bay, has a canopy line that you can reach by taxi. Several zip tours pair the ride with a stop at a white sand beach. Most zip excursions run about 4 hours.
Wildlife and birding
Gumbalimba Park is known for its monkeys, macaws and sloths, and its garden trails are an easy walk. The Sloth Sanctuary and the Iguana Farm near French Harbor are other stops. Combined wildlife tours usually take about 4 to 5 hours.
When to go
Good weather is common in the Bay Islands in any month. Days when cruise ships are in bring thousands of extra visitors to the beaches and towns, so a quieter day may be easier to find on other days.
Good to know
- Wear long pants and long sleeves, and reapply high-strength bug spray after leaving the water. Sand flea bites can itch for days or weeks.
- US dollars are generally accepted, but change is mostly given in Honduran lempiras.
- Prices for food and goods often rise sharply on days when cruise ships are in, so it is best to wait before buying.
- Island life moves slowly. Plan extra time for meals and transport, and book tours in advance.
Coming by ship
Ships usually stay about 9 hours in Roatan, and most arrive between 8 and 10 am.
Getting ashore and around
From West End, a water taxi runs in daylight to West Bay Beach in about 10 to 15 minutes, for about US$5 a person. It usually waits until there are four passengers. Buses run every 15 minutes between Coxen Hole and West End during the day, leaving from opposite the market. Camp Bay is at least an hour by car from West End, so save the east end for a longer day.
Questions people ask
Can you snorkel at West Bay Beach in Roatan?
Yes. Take a taxi to West End, then a water taxi to West Bay Beach, which takes about 10 to 15 minutes. The reef is a short swim from the sand. Water taxis run during daylight and wait for four passengers.
Is Camp Bay Beach a good day trip from Roatan?
It is a longer trip. Camp Bay is at least an hour by car from West End, and the road turns to dirt. A four-wheel-drive vehicle is not needed. Most visitors treat it as a full-day outing.
These places share what it's known for.
