Chapters:
Need help with your trip?
Our support team is available 24/7. Request a callback or call us directly at (833) 619-0908
Roatán is the largest of Honduras’s Bay Islands, about 30 miles (50 km) off the country’s north coast, and its history is very different from the mainland’s. The island was a hideout for pirates in the 1600s and stayed under British control until 1861. In 1797, the Garifuna, a people of West African and Indigenous Caribbean descent, settled at Punta Gorda on the north shore, and their village is still there today. Because of that history, many islanders grew up speaking English rather than Spanish, and the island feels more Caribbean than Central American.
Because Roatán is so different from mainland Honduras, it helps to know a little about the island before you arrive, from the dishes worth ordering to why so many islanders speak English. This guide covers where to stay, what to eat, how to get around, when to go, and how to spend five days on the island.
Useful things to know
Main language(s): Spanish and English. English is widely spoken on Roatán.
Currency: Honduran lempira (HNL, L). US dollars are accepted across the island.
Cash and cards: Hotels and most restaurants take cards. Carry HNL 1,000 to HNL 2,000 ($40 to $75) in cash for taxis, water taxis, and small shops.
Tipping: Leave 10% at restaurants if service is not already included, and round up taxi fares.
Traditional food: Conch ceviche, coconut rice and beans, grilled whole fish, and baleadas
Water and coffee costs: A bottle of water costs about HNL 30 ($1.10), and an espresso about HNL 60 ($2.25).
Taxis and ride apps: Uber and other ride apps do not operate on Roatán. Taxis do not use meters, so agree on the fare before you get in.
Plug and voltage: Type A and B sockets, 110V
Dining and shop opening hours: Breakfast is from 7:00 am to 9:00 am, lunch from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm, and dinner from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm. Many restaurants close by 10:00 pm.
Emergency number: Dial 911 for police, fire, and medical emergencies.
Where to stay in Roatán
West End is a small beach village on the island’s western tip, with dive shops, restaurants, and bars along a main road that follows the water, and dive boats leave from its docks every morning. At its northern end, Half Moon Bay has a reef close enough to the beach that you can snorkel straight from the sand.
Best for: Beach access, dive trips, and travelers who want the most walkable base on the island
What to expect: A busy daytime strip with boats, beach bars, and steady foot traffic, then a smaller but still active evening scene.
Hotel prices: Usually about $120 to $280 per night for well-rated stays
Distance to major sights: About 15 to 20 minutes by taxi to West Bay Beach, roughly 25 minutes to the Roatan Museum in Coxen Hole
Quietness: Daytime is lively and often crowded; evenings are active but can be noisy near the main strip.
Main trade-off: You trade beach-town energy for higher prices and less privacy near the waterfront.
Good to know: Minibuses to Sandy Bay and Coxen Hole leave from the main road every 10 to 20 minutes during the day.
West Bay Beach is Roatán’s best-known beach, a long stretch of white sand at the island’s western tip with calm, clear water and a reef just offshore. Large resorts and beach clubs line the sand, and cruise passengers arrive by the busload on days when ships are in port.
Best for: Beach vacations, snorkeling, and travelers who want resort-style access to the sand
What to expect: Heavy beach traffic in the day, with sun loungers, tour boats, and a constant flow of visitors from cruise days and day trips.
Hotel prices: Usually about $160 to $400 per night for well-rated stays
Distance to major sights: On foot to West Bay Beach, about 20 to 30 minutes by taxi to West End
Quietness: The beach is busy from morning through late afternoon; nights are calmer once day visitors leave, except near larger hotels.
Main trade-off: You pay a premium for the island’s most famous beach, and the area can feel crowded in peak season.
Good to know: Check the cruise schedule before you plan a beach day, since West Bay fills up when several ships are in port.
Sandy Bay lies along the north coast between West End and Coxen Hole, with small resorts and residential streets on either side of the island’s main road. Anthony’s Key, the Roatán Museum, and Carambola Botanical Gardens are all here, a few minutes apart, and several dive shops operate from the small resorts along the shore.
Best for: Quieter beach stays, dive travelers, and visitors who want a middle ground between West End and West Bay
What to expect: Low-key street life, scattered hotels, and a local feel rather than a concentrated tourist center.
Hotel prices: Usually about $90 to $220 per night for well-rated stays
Distance to major sights: About 10 minutes by taxi to West End, roughly 15 minutes by taxi to West Bay Beach
Quietness: Days are calm with light activity; evenings are quiet aside from hotel guests and the occasional restaurant.
Main trade-off: You will likely need a taxi more often for meals, nightlife, and beach-hopping.
Good to know: Minibuses on the main road connect Sandy Bay with West End and Coxen Hole until early evening.
French Harbour is Roatán’s second-largest town, on the south shore in the middle of the island, about 6 miles (10 km) east of the airport. It is the best place on the island to buy fresh fish and shrimp, and at The Point, colorful wooden houses on stilts line the water next to the docks.
Best for: Longer stays, car travelers, and visitors who want shops and road access over beach frontage
What to expect: Busy roads, local traffic, and a working-town feel rather than a resort setting.
Hotel prices: Usually about $80 to $180 per night for well-rated stays
Distance to major sights: About 20 to 25 minutes by taxi to West Bay Beach, roughly 15 minutes to Roatan International Airport (RTB)
Quietness: Daytime is active because of traffic and errands; evenings are noticeably quieter outside the main road.
Main trade-off: You save money compared with the beach districts, but you give up easy walk-to-swim access.
Good to know: The Black Pearl, Roatán’s only full-length golf course, is in the Pristine Bay development, a short drive from town.
Travelers usually avoid staying in Coxen Hole, the island’s port town, which is busy with cruise traffic and far from the best beaches.
Hotel deals
How to get around Roatán efficiently
Roatán has one main road along its length, so visitors get around by taxi, minibus, or rental car, with water taxis between West End and West Bay also available.
Minibus
for daytime trips along the main road
Minibuses travel the main road between Coxen Hole, Sandy Bay, and West End every 10 to 20 minutes during the day. A ride costs HNL 20 to HNL 40 ($0.75 to $1.50) in cash, and service stops in the early evening.
Rental car
for Pristine Bay and the east of the island
Alamo, Avis, Enterprise, and National have car rental desks at the airport. Economy cars cost HNL 1,200 to HNL 1,800 ($45 to $67) a day; SUVs cost about HNL 3,100 ($117) per day. A car is useful for reaching Pristine Bay and the east of the island, but expect potholes and few road signs.
Taxi
for convenience or late hours
From the airport, a taxi to West End, West Bay, Sandy Bay, or Pristine Bay costs about HNL 670 ($25) for one person and HNL 800 ($30) for two. Taxis do not use meters, so agree on the fare first, and expect higher prices after dark.
*Prices are based on rates updated as of October 2026 and may change at the time of travel.
Taxis are the easiest way to get around Roatán. A rental car is worth it if you stay in Pristine Bay.
Iconic landmarks
West Bay Beach
West Bay Beach is a long stretch of white sand at the island’s western tip, with calm, shallow water and a reef a short swim from shore. It is the most famous beach on the island and the busiest, especially when cruise ships are in port.
Time needed: About 2 to 4 hours
Entry: Free to access; beach clubs, chairs, and water activities cost extra, with day-use fees often starting at about $10 ($10)
Tip: Go on a day with no cruise ships in port, when the beach is much less crowded.
Half Moon Bay
This small, curved bay at the northern end of West End has calm water and a reef close to the beach. It is part of the Roatán Marine Park and the easiest place on the island to snorkel without a boat.
Time needed: About 1 to 2 hours
Entry: Admission typically costs about $10 to $15 ($10 to $15) per adult, with lower rates for children and some package options Visit the official site for details.
Tip: Use reef-safe sunscreen, since regular sunscreen damages the coral.
Bailey's Key
Bailey’s Key is a small island just off Sandy Bay, home to a group of bottlenose dolphins that live in natural seawater. It is best known for the Dolphin Encounter, in which visitors wade into waist-deep water with a trainer and the dolphins swim right up to them.
Time needed: About 1 to 2 hours
Entry: Program prices vary, but dolphin encounter tickets usually start at about $65 ($65), with photo packages and upgrades extra Visit the official site for details.
Tip: Do not wear sunscreen or jewelry in the water, since both can harm the dolphins’ skin.
Overlooked sites worth visiting
Carambola Botanical Gardens
Carambola Botanical Gardens covers 30 acres across the road from Anthony’s Key and has one of the largest orchid collections in Honduras. A trail goes to the top of Carambola Mountain, which overlooks the reef.
Time needed: About 1 to 2 hours
Entry: Admission is typically about $10 to $15 ($10 to 370 HNL) for adults, with lower rates for children and occasional program-based pricing. Prices can change by activity, so confirm at the gate before you visit. Visit the official site for details.
Tip: Wear sturdy shoes for the trail to the top of Carambola Mountain.
Roatán Museum
This small museum at Anthony’s Key tells the history of Roatán and the other Bay Islands, with archaeological finds from the islands’ earliest inhabitants.
Time needed: About 30 to 60 minutes
Entry: Free to enter, with food, drinks, and small purchases paid directly to vendors in lempira or U.S. dollars. No ticket is needed, and the best visit is a short self-guided stop during market hours.
Tip: The museum and the Dolphin Encounter are both at Anthony’s Key, so visit them together.
Traditional food
Roatán’s food is a mix of Caribbean and Honduran cooking. Expect plenty of fresh seafood, coconut, and fried plantains, with rice and beans served alongside most meals.
Conch ceviche
Conch ceviche is raw conch cut into small pieces and cured in lime juice with onion, peppers, and cilantro, and it is on most seafood menus on the island. Try it at Beacher’s West End, a dockside restaurant where local fishermen bring in the day’s catch.
Coconut rice and beans
Rice and red beans cooked in coconut milk come with almost every meal on the island, usually next to chicken or fish. Try them at Creole’s Rotisserie Chicken in West End.
Fried fish
A whole snapper or grouper grilled with garlic and lime is a staple of island cooking, usually served with rice and beans and fried plantains. You can try it at Argentinian Grill West End.
Baleadas
A baleada is a thick flour tortilla folded over refried red beans, cream, and crumbled cheese, often with eggs or avocado added. Try it at Calelu’s in West End, where a baleada costs roughly HNL 55 ($2).
Best time to visit Roatán
Roatán is warm all year, so the seasons differ mostly in how much it rains, with the wettest months from October to January.
Best for: Escaping the US winter, with warm water for snorkeling and diving
What you get: Highs of about 80°F (27°C), with frequent rain in December and January and drier, sunnier days by February as the dry season begins
Trade-offs: Rain can cancel boat trips in December and January, and holiday weeks are the busiest of the year.
Best for: Beach days, snorkeling, and diving in the driest, sunniest months of the year
What you get: Highs of about 82°F to 86°F (28°C to 30°C), with March, April, and May the driest months and the calmest weather for boats
Trade-offs: Easter week brings crowds from mainland Honduras, and hotels fill up early.
Best for: Lower hotel rates, warm water, and fewer crowds outside US school holidays
What you get: Highs of about 86°F (30°C), with more humidity, frequent afternoon rains, and the start of hurricane season in June
Trade-offs: Heat and humidity make midday walks tiring, and heavy rain can cut beach time short.
Best for: Quiet beaches and the lowest hotel rates of the year, for flexible travelers
What you get: Highs of about 82°F (28°C), with October the wettest month and hurricane season at its peak in September and October
Trade-offs: Storms can delay flights and boat trips, sometimes for several days.
A realistic 5-day plan in Roatán
Most of this plan stays on the western tip, where the reef and the best beaches are, so you can spend most mornings snorkeling or diving.
After you land and check in, spend the evening getting to know West End. Walk the main road past the dive shops and open-air restaurants, and if you plan to dive, stop at one of the shops to book a boat trip for later in the week. Watch the sun set over the sea from one of the bars on the water, have dinner nearby, and keep the first night easy and rest after your flight.
Start the day snorkeling at Half Moon Bay, where the reef is a short swim from the beach, and you can see coral and tropical fish without taking a boat. After a lunch of baleadas at Calelu’s, take the water taxi to West Bay and spend the afternoon on its white sand, swimming, snorkeling the reef off the beach, or relaxing at one of the beach clubs. Stay for the sunset before heading back to West End.
Spend the morning at Anthony’s Key in Sandy Bay. Take the short boat ride to Bailey’s Key for the Dolphin Encounter, then come back and visit the Roatán Museum to see archaeological finds from the Bay Islands. In the afternoon, cross the road to Carambola Botanical Gardens to walk among the orchids and climb Carambola Mountain for a view over the reef. Finish the day with rotisserie chicken at Creole’s in West End.
Head east to French Harbour, the island’s main fishing town. Walk out to The Point to see the wooden houses built on stilts over the water. The town is also the best place on the island to buy fresh fish and shrimp. If you play golf, spend the afternoon on the Black Pearl course in nearby Pristine Bay. Otherwise, have a seafood lunch at one of the restaurants by the harbor. End the day with conch ceviche at Beacher’s West End.
On your last morning, go for one more swim at Half Moon Bay, then have an early lunch of grilled whole fish at Argentinian Grill West End before heading to the airport. If you went diving, schedule your last dive at least 18 to 24 hours before your flight.
Business-class flights from the US to Roatán
Roatan usually requires a connection from major U.S. gateways, and the business-class options differ most by whether you fly from the East Coast or the West Coast. The route choice affects not only fare levels but also the length of the layover you need to accept.
From New York, American Airlines, Avianca, Copa Airlines, and United Airlines all appear on common itineraries to Roatan. The shortest schedules from New York usually run about 4 to 4.5 hours in the air, and one-stop trips via MIA, IAH, or PTY often land in the 6 to 10 hour total range. Business-class round-trips from New York usually start at $900 and can reach $1,800; if you do not mind a layover, common routings via MIA, IAH, or PTY can bring fares down to about $650.
From Los Angeles, American Airlines, Avianca, Copa Airlines, and United Airlines also serve the market, but the trip usually depends on a connection. Expect layovers of about 7 to 13 hours on common one-stop options through MIA, IAH, PTY, SAL, or BOG, with round-trip fares generally running $1,100 to $2,300 in business class, and the widest swings on the longer one-stop combinations.
Roatán at island pace
Roatán is best enjoyed at an easy pace. Start your days early in the water, spend the afternoons on the beach, and finish with a slow dinner by the sea. When you are ready to plan your trip, the AranGrant team can help you find a business-class flight and a hotel that fit your dates.
