Things to Do in Roatan

With a coconut palm-lined stretch of white sand and a colorful coral reef just offshore, West Bay is one of the most popular beaches on Roatan and among the prettiest in all of Honduras. The area around the beach offers a wide range of accommodations as well as restaurants, cocktail bars, and shops.

Cross the rope bridges to Gumbalimba Park on the jungle island of Roatan, Honduras, and step into a botanical garden and animal preserve, home to more than 200 rare species of plants and orchids. Cool off in the freshwater swimming pool, wading pool, cave, and sandy beach where you can rent kayaks and snorkeling gear, among other attractions.

The Roatan Butterfly Garden provides a tropical oasis for boa constrictors, parrots, lush tropical plants and, of course, many beautiful butterflies. The 2,992-square-foot (278-square-meter walkthrough enclosure features some 30 types of rare butterflies, as well as colorful birds and plants native to Honduras.

One of the cleanest and best-maintained beaches on the island of Roatan, Sandy Bay Beach is quieter than the West End, with enough restaurants, shops, and resorts for a comfortable stay. A reef just offshore offers excellent snorkeling right from the beach.

Carambola Botanical Gardens and Trails comprises more than 40 acres (16 hectares of floral gardens and lush jungle trails along the hillside of Carambola Mountain. Parrots and iguanas roam the gardens, where rare orchids, medicinal plants, spice plants, and fruit trees flourish.

Roatan’s Cruise Ports are located off the Caribbean coast of Honduras and offer access to the Bay Islands’ fabulous beaches, beautiful coral reefs, and upland forest. There are two cruise ports in Roatan—Mahogany Bay and Coxen Hole—and each serves different cruise lines.

This beautiful little neighborhood of boat houses on stilts lies on the southern end of the island, just east of French Harbour. A small restaurant, beautiful bay, and a lot of peace and quiet mark the area, where the main pastime is sit back, relax, and enjoy the leisurely pace of island life.