Roatan On Your Own

The 10 Top Things to do in Roatan

Roatan has become one of the more popular destinations in the Western Caribbean. There's lots to do on this small island, so get out there and explore!

1. See the undersea world of the Roatan reef. Some of the best scuba diving in the world can be found in Roatan.


2. Discover the magic beauty of Roatan on a Sail and Snorkel trip. A trip to paradise should be so nice.


3. Buy a Day Pass at a local resort. Avoid the crowds and get more for your buck at Fosters.


4. Enjoy a great seafood meal in Roatan. The lobsters are not only delicious, but pretty cheap too.


5. Hire a driver for a private tour of the island. See what you want when you want as you explore the island.


6. Try your hand at Sportsfishing in Roatan. Whether you plan to do some deep sea fishing or fly fishing, Roatan's a great place to do some angling.


7. Discover the magic of swimming with a dolphin. Anthony's Key Resort has been pleasing dolphin lovers for years.


8. Take to the trails on a horseback ride. It's a great way to get away from the crowds.


9. Visit one of Roatan's Nature Parks. Encounter some of the beautiful flora and fauna that can be found in Roatan.


10. Take the water taxi between West End and West Bay. It's an inexpensive trip, but the view is worth ever lempira.

Getting Around

Orientation

Royal Caribbean, Celebrity and NCL ships dock at the Coxen Hole cruise ship dock and mall complex, opened in late 2008. Here you'll find a bank with an ATM, a large Diamonds International shop, a couple of restaurants and a smattering of other shops, including a pharmacy and a liquor store. (With the success of the initial development, the local authorities are now building a Phase II recreational complex adjacent to the current mall shops.)

Carnival, Princess, Costa, Holland America and Regent ships dock at the new Mahogany Bay Cruise Center, which is located in Dixon Cove east of Coxen Hole. This complex, which officially opened in February 2010, includes a Duty Free store, several jewelers (including a Diamonds International shop and a Tanzanite International shop), several restaurants and bars, snack bars, a pharmacy, and a number of souvenir and other tourist-related shops. Adjacent to the Cruise Center is the white sand 10-acre Mahogany Beach, which can be reached on foot or via the "Magic Flying Beach Chair" (unlimited rides for $5/ day).

A paved road connects Roatan's communities and provides access to many of Roatan's beaches and parks.

The principal towns of Roatan are:

West Bay and West End have some of the best beaches on the island, great restaurants, varied activities and many other amenities. On the other hand, it's pretty touristy. There are three ATMs located in the resorts (for locations, see our Currency section in Roatan Basics).

Sandy Bay, just north of West End, is home to the Roatan Institute of Marine Sciences with its dolphin encounter shows, the Roatan Museum, and Carambola Gardens. The area is known for world-class Roatan scuba diving.

Coxen Hole is the largest town and capital of the Bay Islands. The better souvenir shops and several banks are located here.

French Harbour is home to one of the largest fishing fleets in the western Caribbean. French Harbour also has several banks and a nearby Iguana Farm.

Oakridge is a small picturesque town connected to the villages of Jonesville and Calabash Cay by a series of canals through mangroves.

Punta Gorda is the only Garifuna community on Roatan and the first Garifuna settlement in Central America. YUBU offers a cultural Garifuna experience Tuesdays, Wednesday and Fridays from 9 am to 3 pm.

Getting Around

Public minibuses run regularly between towns Monday through Saturday, with limited service on Sundays. The minibuses stop running at 5:00 pm. The minibuses are either dark blue, red or white.

To get them to stop, you have to wave at them. You can catch the bus in the center of Coxen Hole at a staging area next to the post office, just past the Eldon's grocery store.

To get to the West End, it costs 20 Lempiras. When returning from the West End, the Ruta 2 bus uses Thickett Road; ask the driver to stop at the Coxen Hole intersecting road, and the walk back to the Cruise Ship dock is a short one.

Taxis There are hundreds of taxis in Roatan and they expect you to bargain for the rate. They don't expect tips either.

A little bit of negotiation is involved when using a taxi. You need to confirm the rate, and whether the quote is in US dollars or Lempira, before entering a taxi. (Both US dollars and Lempiras are accepted.) You also need to determine if the fare is per passenger or for the taxi. Lastly, you need to determine if the price is for a one way ride or round-trip, as the taxi will wait for you even though you are going to the beach!

Expect to pay around $7.50 per person for a one way trip to West End from the Cruise Ship dock, and West Bay is $10 per person. You may be able to negotiate a better rate with multiple people in the taxi.

If you want to hire a taxi for the day for an island tour, expect to pay around $80--which is for the taxi, not per person.

If you have a dispute with your taxi driver, seek out the assistance of the Tourist Police; they wear green uniforms.

Water Taxi

If you're going between West End and West Bay, you can use the water taxi service. The fare is 50 Lempiras, but confirm the fare before you board. Look for the dock at Foster's Bar and Restaurant or Crystal Beach Cabins in West End. The return trip from West Bay has two pickup spots, including the Bite On The Beach Bar & Restaurant.

Mountain Bike, Scooter & Motorcycle Rentals

Captain Van's rents Mountain Bikes, Scooters and Motorcycles from their shops in West Bay and West End. Prices include helmets. Make a reservation online. Minimum age is 18.
Tel: 011 (504) 403-8751.

Brown Rental rents Yamaha scooters. They're located in Coxen Hole near the Coxen Hole Cruise Ship dock.
Tel: 011 (504) 445-1109

Shopping

What's Special in Roatan

Local handicrafts abound and can be had for very little money. Look for brightly-painted pottery, wood carvings (notably wooden instruments), embroidery, textile arts and leather crafts. If the wood carvings are highly polished, they're not from Roatan.

Remember that the asking price should only be considered a jumping-off point for some haggling. It's expected, and if you are good at it, you'll likely end up with a final price somewhere around 40-50% lower.

To see the locations of the recommended malls and shops listed below, see our Map of Roatan Malls and Shops.

Recommended shops in Roatan:

Dufry Shop
At the Mahogany Bay Cruise Center in Dixon Cove, just a short walk from the Cruise Ship dock in Mahogany Bay.
Here you'll find an assortment of great gifts, liquors and high-end products from the world's best duty free stores.
Major Credit Cards accepted
Open daily from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm daily

Yaba Ding Ding
Bonilla Building, Coxen Hole, adjacent to Eldon's grocery, Just a short walk from the Cruise Ship dock
Roatan's Oldest and largest selection of Central American arts and crafts. Major Credit Cards accepted.
Open 9:00 am to 5:00 pm daily.
Tel: +504 445-1717

Waves of Art Gallery & Gifts
Located in West End Village, across from the Baptist church
Unique and affordable gifts including a variety of folk art and hand made items that support fair trade organizations and local artisan co-ops.
Tel: +504 445-4303

Penelope's Island Emporium
West Bay Mall
Offers fine, tropical, one-of-a-kind jewelry, specializing in gold, sterling silver and unique gemstones, home decor, personal accessories and "that perfect gift."
Tel: +504 445-5039

Roatan Cuisine

Traditional Roatan cooking includes pan-fried fish, rice, fried or boiled plantains, tortillas and black beans. When the locals refer to something as "fried," they mean sauteed, not deep fried. The locals use mutton peppers in their cooking, giving the rice and chicken a distinctive flavor.

Regional Specialties of Roatan Expect to find the following dishes in traditional Bay Islands cuisine:

• Shellfish: In Roatan you'll find some of the freshest shrimp, sea crabs and lobster you've ever eaten.


• Conch: The conch soup here is delicious.


• Iguana: Served in a stew. Tastes like chicken!


• Blue Crabs: These are land crabs that burrow in the ground during the day and climb the fruit trees to dine at night. The locals swear by them.


• Fresh tropical fruit: bananas, oranges, limes, mangos, pineapples and coconuts. The oranges are delicious in season. Bananas and oranges are very inexpensive. Coconuts and cashews both grow on the island. The fresh pineapples are much sweeter than those found in North American markets. You can buy the fruit from one of the many open air stands.

Cuisine in Roatan

Roatan's restaurants run the gamut from sandwich shops to "Resort food" to steak and seafood places. Most of the restaurants in town are pretty casual, with a laid-back atmosphere.

Restaurants

Recommended Restaurants on Roatan

To see the approximate location of the recommended restaurants listed below, see our Recommended Roatan Restaurants Map.

West Bay

Bite on the Beach
Seafood
Great Wahoo fish sandwiches, Thai lobster, sates. A good place to relax and down a cold one. Full bar. The water taxi to West End docks at the restaurant.
Open noon to 8:00 pm, closed Sunday, Monday and the month of September. Tel: +504 403-8064

Il Pomodoro
Italian
Offers a wide range of very good real Italian pizzas and pasta, salads and desserts. The atmosphere is relaxed and the staff is friendly. Open both for lunch and dinner.
Tel: +504 403-8066

West End

Pura Vida
International
Italian, international cuisine, gourmet pizza, seafood of all types including lobster, shrimp, conch, mahi mahi, grouper and snapper. Good atmosphere and music. The best Italian restaurant in Roatan.
Open daily 7:00 am to 9:30 pm for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Tel: +504 445-4141

Lobster Pot Restaurant
Seafood
Look for the anchored sailboats and you will have their approximate location on the beach. A good place for lobster omelets and fresh baked breads. This is also the hangout for breakfast with the yachting set.  The lobster omelet is big and delicious.  Service can be slow, however.
Tel: +504 403-8828

Coxen Hole

Que Tal Cafe
Sandwiches
Located in Lawson's Rock off the main road to West End. Deli sandwiches, fresh fruit frescos and home-baked cookies. Breakfast & Lunch only.
Open weekdays from 7:00 am to 4:00 pm.
Tel: +504 445-3295

French Harbour

Gio's
Seafood
While best known for it's King Crab platter drenched in garlic and butter, it also has a "Charlie's Big Fish" platter, containing king crab, shrimp, lobster, calamari and lots of vegetables grilled to perfection. Gio's platters will easily feed two big appetites. Accepts Visa & MasterCard.
Open for lunch from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm
Tel: +504 455-5214

Romeo's
Italian & Seafood
Located at Casa Romeo's hotel, with an air-conditioned room as well as an open air deck over the water. One of the flagship restaurants in Roatan. Full bar. Accepts Visa & MasterCard.
Open daily for breakfast, lunch & dinner
Tel: +504 455-5518

Activities

Tour Providers

Bodden Tours is highly recommended, and offers a variety of tours of Roatan at reasonable prices. They offer five basic private "tours" that can be customized to your individual requirements. These tours include The "Best of Roatan" Tour, an Offshore Reef Snorkeling Tour, a Roatan Fishing Experience tour, a Tropical Spa Treatment at Spa Baan Suerte, and a "Zip-N-Dip" Excursion combining a zipline experience and the beach. You'll need to book in advance through their website, and pay in cash at the conclusion of your Bodden Tours trip.

Roatan Island Tours offers several tours of Roatan, as well as transportation from the Cruise Ship dock to West End, West Bay and other locations throughout Roatan. Their rates are pretty reasonable. Inquire through their website or contact them at +504 455-5907

Captain Van's offers a couple of tours of the island. You can also create your own tour. Make a reservation online. Tel: +504 403-8751.

Roatan Shore Excursions offers quite a few tours of the island. Make a reservation online. Tel: +504 403-8751.

Tropical Rez offers quite a few tours of the island. Make a reservation online. Tel: (877) 540-9692, from the U.S. and Canada.

Beach Resort Day Passes

Foster's West Bay Resort offers day passes to their resort, located in the West Bay. The resort's idyllic beachfront setting provides you with a relaxing environment perfect for swimming, snorkeling or just lazing in the sun. The reef in front of the resort is perfect for guests who like to snorkel. The resort's restaurant sells snacks and cold beverages. There are also bathrooms and outside showers for resort guests as well as hammocks and palapas for those who want to just hang out in the shade. If you want to see the beautiful reef without getting wet, you can take a ride on the Coral Reef Explorer right off their dock. Snorkel gear rental is available. They also offer horseback riding trips, and can arrange fishing, diving and other tours.

The Foster's West Bay Resort day passes come in three flavors:

• A Day Use Only Pass includes a complimentary drink and full access to Foster's West Bay Resort including palapas and guest bathrooms/showers. Beach chair rental is available at an additional $7.00 each. The cost is $5.00 per adult or child, with kids under 5 are free. No reservations are necessary.


• A Day Use Pass with Roundtrip Transportation from the Cruise Ship dock includes transportation, a complimentary drink, and full access to Foster's West Bay resort including beach chairs, palapas and guest bathrooms and showers. There's a minimum of 8 persons to qualify for this pass, and reservations are necessary. The cost for adults is either $25 (from the Coxen Hole Cruise Ship Dock) or $35 (from the Mahogany Bay Cruise Ship Dock); kids 12 and under are $5 less, while kids under 5 are free. Reservations are required.


• A Day Use Pass with Special Lobster Lunch includes roundtrip transfer to/from the Cruise Ship dock, a lobster (or other choice) lunch and full access to Foster's West Bay resort including beach chairs, palapas and guest bathrooms and showers. There's a minimum of 8 persons to qualify for this pass, and reservations are necessary. The cost for adults is either $40 (from the Coxen Hole Cruise Ship Dock) or $50 (from the Mahogany Bay Cruise Ship Dock); kids 12 and under are $5 less, while kids under 5 are free. Reservations are required.

A 50% deposit is required to confirm all reservations. Balance is not due until you arrive in Roatan. A full refund of your deposit is made if your cruise ship does not dock as scheduled.

Contact Foster's through their website, or call them at: (541) 344-6072.

Mahogany Beach is located adjacent to the Mahogany Bay Cruise Center in Dixon's Cove, and is a short walk or ride on the Magical Flying Beach Chair (cost is $5/day for unlimited rides) from the Cruise Center. The beach offers complimentary beach loungers or mats for guests. Other amenities include a large Food and Beverage center, massage facilities and a bevy of retail outlets.

Butterfly Garden

Roatan Tropical Butterfly Garden: Just a short 5 minute walk from the main entrance to West End Village stands the Roatan Tropical Butterfly Garden. Here you'll see and learn about some of Honduras' most colorful butterflies. You can join their hour-long guided tour or explore the park on your own.

Canopy Tours

South Shore Canopy Tours: Located only 5 minutes from West End or West Bay, South Shore Canopy offers a canopy tour consisting of 16 platforms and 13 suspension cables. The zipline tour is situated on 25 acres of lush vegetation filled with tropical wildlife and gracious island trees.

Pirates of the Caribbean Canopy Tour: Pirates of the Caribbean Canopy Tour offers Zip Line Adventure Tours for island and cruise ship visitors.

Diving

Scuba diving is one of the main attractions of Roatan. To participate, you must bring your certification card. There are dozens of independent dive operators offering trips on Roatan; here is a partial list:

Bananarama: is a dive and beach resort located on West Bay Beach. Catering to small groups, beginners and experienced divers, they offer a number of dive packages.

Coconut Tree Divers: Based in Half Moon Bay, right in the heart of West End, Coconut Tree Divers is Roatan's #1 PADI training center. They offer something for every diver, whether a beginner, certified or an experienced diver eager to take on the challenge of Tec Diving.

Native Son Divers: With custom made boats and first rate gear, Native Son Divers are serious about diving. They offer a number of dive packages. Located in the West End.

Ocean Connections is a PADI 5 Star Dive Center and Divers Alert Network Center located right on the water in the heart of West End. With a 15 year history of providing quality diving adventures, the dive center is owned and run by young, experienced diving professionals who value quality instruction and are very knowledgeable about Roatan's reef system.

Tyll's Dive Shop: Located in the heart of West End, Tyll's Dive Shop offers three dives a day starting at 9:00 am, 11:00 am and 2:00 pm six days a week. Their highly trained PADI Pro Staff are ready to provide you with the very best Scuba experience available.

Waihuka Diving Adventures: Waihuka Diving Adventures offers daily encounters with Caribbean Reef Sharks, scheduled at 9:00 am, 11:30 am and 2:00 pm at the Waihuka dive center, located in the Las Palmas Resort on the southern side of Roatan.

Dolphin Swim

Anthony's Key Resort: At Anthony's Key Resort, you can snorkel with dolphins or dive with them in the open sea, accompanied by a dolphin behaviorist and videographer. The dolphin programs offer the unusual opportunity for divers and snorkelers to interact with dolphins on the mammal's own initiative. They offer a dolphin encounter, a dolphin encounter plus snorkel, and a dolphin dive.

Sportsfishing

Fishing in Roatan is a great adventure. This is a partial list of the fishing operators on Roatan:

Early Bird Fishing Charters: Early Bird offers a variety of tours, including deep sea sports fishing, flats fishing, mangrove sightseeing and an island tour of Roatan.

Caribbean Rent A Car: Don't be deceived; Caribbean Rent A Car not only rents cars, but also offers a variety of charters with a selection of boats. Select from deep sea sports fishing, live bait fishing, water skiing, family oriented charters, mangrove channel tours and more!

Mad Max Fishing Charters and Island Tours: Roatan's only state-of-the-art cigarette-style charter fishing boat. A day with Mad Max Charter Fishing and Island tours is a great way to see Roatan. Located in the West End across from the Twisted Tucan bar.

One Fish Two Fish Charters: One Fish Two Fish will take you on a fishing charter or sightseeing tour that you'll never forget! They also do combination fishing charters and sightseeing/snorkeling tours. You design the fishing charter you want. Located on the East End of the Island in Punta Blanca.

Anthony's Blue Lagoon: Anthony's offers full or half-day fishing charters aboard their fully-equipped 31-foot Sportcraft Sportfish. Anthony's provides customized trips for cruise ship passengers. Located in Dixon Cove, approximately 10 minutes from the Cruise Ship dock.

Pescado Roatan: Pescado Roatan will custom-design a guided fishing trip to fit your dream fishing vacation, with experienced fishing guides for flats, deep sea, wreck, light tackle or fly fishing.

Glass Bottom Boat

The Coral Reef Explorer: The Coral Reef Explorer is a semi-submersible boat that was custom built to show off Roatan's incredible underwater eco-system without ever having to get wet. Located at West Bay Beach on the dock in front of Foster's Resort.

Horseback Riding

Anthony's Key Resort: Fully-guided horseback riding is offered daily (except Thursday) at Anthony's Key Resort. The rides take place in the morning or in the afternoon.

El Rancho Barrio Dorcas: Senor Shirkie Bodden offers three riding options for cruise ship passengers. They'll pick you up at the Cruise Ship dock and return you to the dock after your ride. Located on the highway to West End opposite The Tropico Italiano.

Keifito's Plantation Retreat: While primarily a resort, Keifito's also offers 1½ hour horseback rides on the beach and in the hills for very reasonable prices.

Roatan Horse Riding & Eco-Tours: Enjoy a horseback ride along the beach, through the jungle, across the flat lands and on the iron shore of Roatan. Roatan Horse Riding offers 1½ to 2 hour riding trips, as well as a selection of additional tours; they'll also pick you up and return you to your ship at either of Roatan's two cruise terminals.

Marine & Nature Parks

Coral Cay: With 700 feet of beachfront on an isolated 10 acre Cay adjacent to 60+ acres of mainland park with surrounding mangroves, Coral Cay enables visitors to interact with marine species such as eagle rays, turtles, nurse sharks and other sea creatures. It also offers snorkeling and kayaking programs, has a volleyball court and you can even get a massage. An on-site restaurant provides sustenance for your visit.

Carambola Botanical Gardens: Located in Sandy Bay, the gardens and jungle trails of Carambola Botanical Gardens offer a perfect place for hiking, wildlife and scenic photography, eco tours, bird watching, nature studies and of course, relaxation.

Sailing & Snorkel Trips

There are a number of operators who offer sailing adventures in Roatan. Here is a partial list:

Roatan Sailing & Catamaran Charters: Captain Mario & Lori welcome you to have a beautiful day aboard the Calypso Lady is a 44-foot Beneteau sloop or the Stray Cat, a 51-foot Catamaran. They offer a variety of tours.

Salty Dog Charters: Captain Dusty offers sailing and snorkeling tours aboard the First Light, a modern 37-foot Sloop rigged, all fiberglass sailboat. Each tour is limited to 8 persons. Their dock is located in the West End.