West End
Hostels, dive shopsThe traveller village.
Island guide
Things to do in Utila
The largest of the Bay Islands: coral walls and wrecks on the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, the white sand of West Bay, the traveller village of West End, Garífuna culture at Punta Gorda, and a slower, wilder east end.
4
Hostels in the city
8.5
Average, from 217 reviews
1797
Punta Gorda founded
4–5
Days
The big Bay Island
Roatán is the largest of Honduras's Bay Islands, a long, hilly island about 60 kilometres off the north coast. It sits on the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, and its walls, wrecks and coral gardens make it one of the best-value diving destinations in the Caribbean.
It is more developed than Utila, with an international airport, a cruise port and resorts, but its west end keeps a relaxed feel. West End is the traveller village, a sandy strip of dive shops, bars and restaurants on the water, and West Bay, a short water taxi away, has one of the most beautiful beaches in Central America, with snorkelling straight from the sand.
Further east, the island becomes quieter, with fishing villages and Punta Gorda, the oldest Garífuna community in Honduras, founded in 1797. Give Roatán four to five days.
Where to base yourself
West End for hostels, dive shops and bars, West Bay for the beach, or the east for quiet.
West Bay
BeachThe famous beach.
East End
QuietVillages and mangroves.
Orange labels are neighbourhoods, dots are the 4 top-rated hostels. Map data from OpenStreetMap contributors.
Things to do
Things to do in Roatán
Dive the reef walls and wrecks of the Roatán Marine Park, or take a course; prices are a little higher than on Utila. Snorkel straight from the beach at West Bay and at Half Moon Bay in West End.
Take a water taxi between West End and West Bay, and spend a day on the sand. Visit the Carambola Botanical Gardens, and see the iguanas at the reserve in French Cay.
Drive east to Punta Gorda for Garífuna drumming and food, and explore the mangrove canals of the east end by boat.
Free things
And what it costs nothing to do
Snorkelling from Half Moon Bay in West End is free, and so is walking the beach in West End.
Sunsets from the West End docks cost nothing.
West Bay is public, but some access points charge, and the Roatán Marine Park asks for a small fee for snorkellers and divers.
Food and drink
Eating and drinking
Baleadas cost about a euro from stalls, and local comedores serve fish, rice and beans for €5 to €9. Roatán has many international restaurants, at higher prices.
Try conch soup, coconut bread and fried fish at Punta Gorda.
A 10 per cent tip is customary in restaurants; check whether it has already been added.
Nightlife
Going out
West End has the island's main nightlife: bars on the water, live music and a mixed crowd of divers and travellers.
It is calmer than Utila's scene.
Beer costs €2 to €4.
Getting around
Getting around
Roatán's international airport has flights from the US, Canada and mainland Honduras. The ferry from La Ceiba takes about an hour and a quarter.
Shared taxis and minibuses run along the main road; agree fares first. Water taxis link West End and West Bay.
Renting a scooter or car helps for exploring the east.
Costs
What Roatán costs
Roatán is pricier than Utila. Dorm beds start at around €12 to €20 a night. Comedor meals cost €5 to €9.
Open Water courses cost about €300 to €400, and fun dives about €40 to €55 for two tanks.
US dollars are widely accepted, and cards work in most places.
Safety
Safety and scams
Roatán is calmer than the mainland, but petty theft and occasional robberies happen. Avoid walking on dark roads and empty beaches at night, and use known taxis.
Choose dive operators on reputation and follow marine park rules. Wear repellent against sandflies.
Do not drink the tap water; bottled and purified water is cheap everywhere. In an emergency, call 911.
Worth the trip
Reefs, cays and villages.
West Bay
Beach snorkelling.
What's on
What is on while you are there
Garífuna celebrations and holidays.
12 April
Garífuna Settlement Day
Punta Gorda
Celebrating the Garífuna arrival in 1797.
March or April
Semana Santa
Roatán
The busiest week on the beaches.
Hostels
Where to stay
The highest-rated hostels in Roatán, live from Hostelworld. Prices and availability are live on each property page.
When to go
Roatán's driest months are March to August. October to January is wetter, with wind from the north. Hurricane season runs from June to November.
Jan
Wet, northers
Feb
Drier
Mar
Dry
Apr
Dry, Semana Santa
May
Dry, hot
Jun
Calm seas
Jul
Calm seas
Aug
Calm
Sep
Rain, hurricane risk
Oct
Wettest
Nov
Wet
Dec
Wet
Bar height is temperature. Colour is how busy it gets:
quiet
busy
peak
Average highs, rounded. Warm all year.
What your trip will cost
Per night, for one person, based on Roatán prices.
Treat these as a guide. Diving costs extra.
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- Beds—
- Food and drink—
- Getting around—
- Doing things—
Roatán questions
The ones we get asked most.
Utila or Roatán?
Roatán is bigger and more developed; Utila is cheaper and backpacker-focused.
Where should I stay on Roatán?
West End for hostels and nightlife, or West Bay for the beach.
How do I get to Roatán?
By flight, or by ferry from La Ceiba in about an hour and a quarter.
Can I snorkel from the beach?
Yes, at West Bay and Half Moon Bay.
Is Roatán expensive?
More than Utila, but cheaper than most of the Caribbean.
Is Roatán safe?
It is calmer than the mainland. Avoid dark roads and empty beaches at night.
When is the best time to visit?
March to August.
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