Discover the Island Paradise of Roatan Honduras

Considered the largest island in the Bay Islands of Honduras, Roatan provides all that you would expect from a Caribbean paradise — white sand beaches, clear blue waters and luxurious accommodations. Whether you prefer relaxation or adventure, this guide will help you plan your getaway.

Getting There

There are two primary ways to get to Roatan, by flight or cruise ship. Roatan houses the Juan Manuel Galvez International Airport, one of four international airports in Honduras. Several cities in the United States offer non-stop flights to this airport including, Miami, New York City, Atlanta and Houston.

The island is also a popular port of call for cruise ship lines, including Royal Caribbean, Princess and Carnival cruises. Click here to access travel planning resources like United Vacations for easy access to booking both travel and accommodation deals quickly and easily.

Accommodation Options

As tourism grew throughout this tropical island, a variety of accommodation options were built to accommodate the increasing amount of visitors. Accommodations vary in style and price from Balinese-style villas and beachfront bungalows to traditional hotel rooms.

With the majority of hotel properties spread out along the beaches of the island, most hotel and resort properties offer some sort of ocean view or are within a short distance of the water.
Travelers also have their choice of either a traditional stay or all-inclusive packages depending on the property.

For the Water Lover

Roatan is located next to the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, the second largest barrier reef system in the world.

With the mix of the reef and crystal clear water, it’s no surprise that two of the top attractions on the island are snorkeling and scuba diving.

With largely calm waters, on most dives you are likely to find sea life such as colorful reef fish, schools of blue tangs, turtles, eagle rays and the occasional nurse or hammerhead shark.

Night diving is also popular for seeing squid, octopus and bioluminescence.

Roatan also offers additional water activities such as kite surfing and paddle sports. For those who prefer to stay on the beach, Roatan is well known for its beautiful white-sand beaches, which range from the popular West End and West Bay beaches to more secluded and private coves.

Other Activities

For those looking for something more adventurous, Roatan offers zip line adventures through mangrove forests.

In fact, several different companies offer different zip line tours throughout the island, with some lasting as long as 90 minutes.

For hikers and nature lovers, the island offers several botanical gardens. One can also hike into the famous Helene caves for an otherworldly experience.

The island is also known for its designer golf course, the Black Pearl, which is a par 72, 7,200-yard world-class course with 14 holes that have a beautiful direct view of the water.

Where to Eat

Like many of the islands located in the Caribbean, Roatan cuisine is made up of a fusion of different cultures, ranging from Argentinean grills to Indian food. Typically, the cuisine is influenced largely by what’s available on the islands, such as fresh seafood, land crabs, iguana and coconut. The majority of restaurants are located in more populated areas, such as the West End, with a mixture of dining establishments in hotels as well as local neighborhoods.

Roatan provides that small island paradise feel while still offering the amenities and attractions of a thriving travel destination.

Whether you’re just finding your niche in travel planning or an experienced travel professional, don’t forget Roatan when looking at Caribbean island vacations.

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