Travel Tips Roatan – Found on the northern coast of Honduras, in the beautiful surroundings of the Caribbean Sea, Roatan is the tropical island of dreams.
Surrounded by one of the most biodiverse coral reefs in the world, the island has long been a favorite among divers and snorkelers looking to explore the incredible variety of marine life that lives off the coast.
Travel Tips Roatan
Away from the stunning beaches and picturesque coastline, Roatan has a beautiful, green and mountainous interior that is becoming an ecotourism hot spot, with adventure opportunities awaiting those willing to explore.
What To Know About Roatán Island In Honduras
From high-end hotels to basic beach accommodations, a trip to Roatan can be for everyone. Get ready to explore the water, the jungle, and the intriguing, multicultural history of this Honduran island. To help you plan your trip, here is our ultimate guide to visiting Roatan Honduras.
From beautiful reefs and endless diving and snorkeling opportunities to relaxed beach days, sunset cocktails or even an intense jungle zipline experience. There’s a lot to do in Roatan, Honduras, and here’s the best of it all.
The snorkeling and diving opportunities are perhaps the main reason to visit Roatan. Being surrounded by the second largest barrier reef in the world means that the underwater life is some of the most diverse in the world.
There are several excellent companies that can organize reef trips and also offer diving courses. Most are located on the west side of the island, to cater to the tourists staying here.
Traveling Tips To Roatan In Honduras
If diving or snorkeling isn’t for you, but you’d still like to experience the majesty of the reef, your best bet is to join a glass-bottom boat tour.
These travel to the best spots around and allow you to really see the best marine life without ever having to get in the water.
Roatan is truly a tropical paradise and some of the best beaches in the Caribbean can be found around the island. The most popular ones are in the west.
Visit West Bay Beach for the whitest sand and most tropical view in Roatan. However, if you want a little more seclusion, travel to the far east and visit Camp Bay Beach.
Scootering Up The Roatan Coast
It’s much more isolated and remote, but the effort involved in getting there will mean you’re the only person on the beach.
Aside from the beaches, Roatan has a large area of dense jungle to explore in the interior of the island. There are several eco-adventure tours that take visitors through the jungle canopy, exploring the island’s fauna and flora while experiencing the thrill of ziplining through the trees.
Roatan has legendary nightlife in Honduras. Due to the number of tourists who visit, in high season, the festivities can go on well into the night.
There are many great beach bars, most of which are located in the popular West End, as well as more relaxed beachfront restaurants, where it’s easy to relax all day and watch the sun go down with a cocktail on the beach. hand
Places & Tips For A Vacation In Roatan, Honduras
Some great places to check out on your visit to Roatan, Honduras are: Booty Bar & Caribbean Restaurant, The Reef Rider, and Larry and Luey’s Fly High Bar
Roatan Honduras is just a small, narrow island, just under 40 miles long and only 5 miles wide at its longest stretch.
It’s small, but perfectly situated in the middle of the beautiful Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, the second largest barrier reef in the world, after the Great Barrier Reef of Australia of course.
The island is located 40 miles off the north coast of Honduras, and is the largest of the seven islands in the bay and the largest settlement in the region.
Overwater Bungalows In Roatan, Honduras: Mango Creek Lodge & More
As a popular diving and vacation destination, Roatan is well connected and relatively easy to travel around. Several major airlines offer direct flights from the US, from hubs such as Miami and New York, but these are usually only seasonal based on demand.
Roatan is well connected to the large Honduran city, San Pedro Sula. There are daily flights from the city to the island, and San Pedro Sula is well connected internationally, especially to the United States and the surrounding Central and South American nations.
The more adventurous traveler can even take a ferry from the Honduran mainland to Roatan. The island is a short drive from the coastal town of La Ceiba and a fast, modern catamaran makes the trip twice a day, in the morning and again in the afternoon, connecting Roatan to Honduras in 70 minutes.
Many cruise lines also visit the island during the Caribbean cruise season, and this can be a great way to see the highlights of Roatan on an excursion without whistling. However, it can be busy when the ships are docked.
This Vacation Discover The Island Of Roatan In Honduras For Some Deep
Getting around Roatan is easy, considering the small size of the island. The airport and ferry terminal are located at Coxen’s Hole, which serves as the island’s main transport hub and the best place to find services and shops.
From here, buses run around the island at regular intervals. There are also plenty of taxi drivers on the island looking for fares, just make sure you barter before accepting a lift.
Scooters can be rented daily and are an efficient way to travel around Roatan, but they can be potentially dangerous for those not used to riding them or the roads.
Roatan experiences very consistent temperatures throughout the year, with a hot and humid climate throughout the year. The tropical climate, however, means that the island experiences distinct wet and dry seasons.
The Hidden East End Of Roatan
The dry season runs from July to January, while the wet season runs from February to June. The area does, however, experience the odd shower even in the supposed dry season, so be prepared for that.
The best time to visit is of course the dry season, especially if you are visiting Roatan for snorkeling or scuba diving. The water is clearer at the end of the dry season, when the runoff from the rainy season has dissipated and the surrounding coral is best seen.
The dry season, of course, is also when cruise ships tend to visit and prices can be significantly higher than in the low season.
The vast majority of accommodations in Roatan are located on the west side of the island. Coxen Hole may be the transport hub, but most holidaymakers will choose to stay elsewhere, along the more scenic stretches of coast.
What To Do On Roatan: 1 Week Itinerary
West Bay and West End are not far from Coxen Hole and are favorites for holidaymakers. There’s a wide range of standards and prices available across the island, from high-end luxury hotels like Xbalanque Resort to more modest hotels for budget travelers like Reef House Resort, you’re sure to find accommodation for all travel styles and budgets.
Read reviews and check prices with our hotel finder, which brings you the best hotel deals on the web. Our search engine pulls results from all the major booking sites, including Expedia, Hotels, Booking and more. All the options, all the offers, all in one place and just for you. Language and currency in Roatan
Roatan is part of Honduras, which is a majority Spanish-speaking nation, but due to its complicated colonial history, the main language, unlike the rest of the continent, is actually English.
This is reflected in the place names and names of the inhabitants and you will find that English is the number one language used.
My Favorite Roatan Excursions & Day Trips (not Just For Cruisers!)
US dollars are widely accepted on the island, but you’ll find that paying in US dollars will cost a premium, so it’s best to exchange your money on arrival at Coxen Hole at the many currency exchanges, for get the best rates on the island. . The local currency is the Honduran Lempira.
Mainland Honduras has an infamous reputation for violent gang-related crime and many of the cities are not that safe for tourists. However, don’t let that stop you from traveling to Roatan, because the island is a very separate entity from the rest of the country.
Violent crime from the mainland is rarely found on the island and with the local economy dependent on tourism, they go to great lengths to ensure visitors feel safe. Petty theft can occur, as anywhere in the world, but Roatan is a safe vacation destination.
Travel Gear and Packing: Check out our packing lists and travel gear guide to make sure you’re bringing the right items on your trip.
Best Places To Eat + Sleep On Roatan, Honduras
Book your hotel: compare prices and book with our tailor-made hotel search engine. You should also check out our tips for finding cheap accommodation.
Protect your trip – don’t forget your travel insurance! Protect your investment and yourself. Read Is travel insurance worth it?
If you need more help planning your trip, be sure to check out our Step-by-Step Trip Planning Guide, where we break down our process for getting the trip planning process right every time.
Lina is an award-winning photographer and writer who has been exploring the world since 2001. She has traveled to 100 countries on 7 continents. Member:
