Roatan is a quaint little island off the coast of Honduras and one of the top destinations for SCUBA diving in Central America and the Caribbean. Whether you’re looking for a dive vacation or somewhere to just escape, look no further than Roatan, Honduras! The area is beautiful and the people are so friendly. It reminds me a lot of one of my favorite places in Belize!
Colorful boats in Halfmoon Bay on the West End of Roatan, Honduras
Although this wasn’t our first trip to Roatan, it was the first time visiting in over a decade. After planning the trip for April 2020 and then postponing due to Covid-19, we were super excited to finally be traveling. This was our first international trip in almost two years, and although there were a few extra steps to go thorough (and a little bit more anxiety associated with travel), it was so wonderful to get to travel again!
Roatan is an especially easy destination for Americans since almost everyone on the island speaks English as their first language, they accept American currency and even use the same outlet type as the USA. Unlike the mainland of Honduras, Roatan has a very little crime and we never felt unsafe walking through town, even at night. In addition to being a great dive location, Roatan also has so many things to offer that non-divers also view it as a great vacation!
Waterfront Walking Along the Beach Front Road in West End
Under the Sea
Most people who visit Roatan come via cruise boat or to SCUBA dive. The diving is top notch and all based on the Mesoamerican reef, the second largest barrier reef in the world. The entire reef is a marine sanctuary and highly protected with beautiful corals, which means the macro photography is great! We also saw some larger sting rays, eagle ray’s, and so many turtles and octopi. All of our dives in Roatan were guided by local dive guides in small groups of 2-6 divers.
Reef Views on the Wall in Roatan, Honduras
The night dives in Roatan are phenomenal; we saw many types of lobster and two octopus in one single dive. If you’re there during a new moon, don’t miss the “string of pearl” night dive. This dive ends by sitting in a sandy area, turning off all your dive lights, and watching for glowing pulsating lights to appear all around you that often resemble a string of pearls. It is an incredible sight and feels like you’re in another world. After some research I learned that the glow comes from microscopic ostracods that give off a bioluminescent glow to attract a mate. Here’s the article in case you’re a science nerd like me! It truly is an incredible sight and makes for one of the top night dive experiences I’ve ever had! We were told that the use of a camera, even without flash, would cause the “pearls” to disappear, so I’ll just have to rely on my memories.
An Octopus Hunting at Night in Roatan, Honduras
Stroll Through Town
(West End)
West Bay and West End are the two most visited parts of the island. While you’ll find many of the nicer resorts and hotels in West Bay, West End has more of a laid-back vibe that we appreciated. Half Moon Bay is the perfect place for swimming, with many amazing shops and restaurants right on the water. The guys liked hanging out at Frank’s Cigar Bar while the girls shopped around town. One of our favorite shops was the Rusty Fish where we purchased gifts to take home that were made from recycled goods. And don’t miss the tour of at the Roatan Chocolate Factory! After seeing the coffee shop downstairs, breakfast there will certainly be on the schedule next time we visit!
West End, Roatan, Honduras
Immerse in the Culture
We wanted to visit a lot of places scattered around the island, so we decided to pack it all into one day to save time. Cleve’s Tours came highly recommended and now we know why; his tour was both educational and fun! He took us to all of the sites that we wanted to see including the Monkey & Sloth hangout, Iguana & Marine Park and Mangrove tour; keep reading for details about each spot individually below. Cleve arranged expert tour guides for us at each destination, and gave us a driving tour of the entire island. He included many of the small towns and communities in Roatan that aren’t included in the typical island tour.
A Lobster Boat Docked in French Caye
I’ll admit that I was a little skeptical about doing an island tour at first, but this was by far the best way to see the entire island. It was amazing getting to visit the east end of the island, where few tourists visit. Cleve taught us about the five distinct cultures of the island and stopped multiple times to buy us local snacks, lunch and even some cold water, soft drinks and beers. If you want to see the ‘real’ Roatan, you won’t regret taking Cleve’s Island tour!
Hold a Sloth
(French Cay)
Daniel Johnson’s Monkey & Sloth Hangout offers a chance to get up close and personal with many of the animals that call Honduras home. Their animals have either come from animal rescues or were born at the Hangout. We loved holding the sloth and allowing the monkey’s to climb all over us! Be sure to listen to the instructions about removing loose objects before visiting the monkeys; as they are very inquisitive! The sloth’s move slower than you can imagine and are free to roam the area. We also visited with many exotic birds and the views of the water were incredible there!
Holding a Sloth at Daniel Johnson’s Monkey & Sloth Hangout
Monkeying Around with Young Capuchin Monkey’s
A sloth Hanging out Over the Beautiful Blue Water at Daniel Johnson’s
Feed the Iguanas
(French Harbour)
Did you know that if an Iguana loses part of its tail, it grows back? During our visit to the Arch’s Iguana Park, we also learned about the three different types of Iguanas that are native to Roatan. In addition to learning about Iguanas we got to feed them and even held a tiny baby. There were also a few small shops for souvenirs. A short walk down to the water gave us a beautiful view of Little French Cay and a bay filled with tarpon.
Iguana’s waiting for a snack at Arch’s Iguana and Marine Park
Cruise through the Mangroves
(Jonesville/Oak Ridge)
The water taxi ride through the mangroves around Oak Ridge was one of my favorite parts of our island tour. The community of Oak Ridge is known as “Little Venice” because it is one of the few fishing villages where homes are still built over the water. After seeing Oak Ridge, we rode through the beautiful canals that lead us through mangrove tunnels into Jonesville. The water was a beautiful teal color and the mangroves were enchanting with occasional mangrove crab sightings.
Views through the Mangroves between Jonesville and Oak Ridge
Learn from Indigenous People
(Cayos Cochinos)
Cayos Cochinos a nearby chain of islands where you can get a feel for how the Indigenous people live. It requires a 20 mile, about an hour, crossing but takes you to a remote chain of small islands full of culture. Since the area is listed as a world heritage site, the reef is pristine. Most tours include snorkeling and a visit to a Garifuna village that has been on one of the tiny islands since the 1800’s. Unfortunately, since the trips leave early in the morning, return late at night and dependent on favorable sea conditions, we were unable to go during our one week visit to Roatan. If you have the time, the trip was highly recommended.
Explore the Jungle
(Sandy Bay)
Carambola Gardens is a 40 acre protected area with a botanical garden. It includes a small mountain hike that only takes about 30 min. One of my favorite things about Roatan is that it has a beautiful jungle instead of being a typical arid island. Carambola Gardens is a wonderful place to really take in the native plants and amerce yourself in the jungle. At the end of the walk to the top, you have a beautiful view.
Where to Eat & Stay
Roatan is divided into multiple sections. We really enjoyed the laid back atmosphere of West End and highly recommend staying on this side of the island! Checkout some of the avaliable hotels and condos here!
We really enjoyed all the amazing food each night while we were in Roatan and all of the places we ate were in walking distance of our hotel. There are way too many great restaurants to mention here, so I’ll be creating a separate post all about them and the wonderful place we stayed! Be sure to check back for the future post!
I hope you’ll enjoy Roatan, Honduras as much as we did and I’d love to hear about all your adventures! Let me know what your favorites are in the comments below 🙂
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