Roatan, Honduras – a Travel Destination Guide

Situated off the coast of Honduras, Roatan is one of100 feet from the beach.
the three Bay Islands, and is the undiscovered secretOakridge/Punta Gorda
of vacationers from the colder North and SouthOakridge is located about one mile past the paved
American locations that are looking for a tropicalroad on the Eastern end of the Island. It is a small
vacation destination with a variety of water activities,picturesque community with a strong afro-Antillean
un-crowded white, soft powdered beaches, andculture. It is only in recent years that access by car
inexpensive hotels and restaurants.to this area has been opened and hasn’t
Roatan is a long narrow island of almost 40 miles inchanged much with the passing of time. Tourist
length. It is a beautiful island with mountains and lushservices here are scarce. The fishing is excellent, and
green tropical foliage.on Roatan Ranch they offer English speaking
Roatan’s weather is ideal and rarely affectshorseback riding tours of the area.
having a good time and has a mild rainy season thatNearby Punta Gorda on the opposite side of the
occurs from November to the end of January. TheIsland was the first Garifuna Settlement in Central
northwest side of the island is protected most of theAmerica. The Garifuna or Black Caribs were
year from the southeast Even then, the West Endmarooned in Roatan by the British in 1796, and every
and northern side may be calm and enjoy excellentyear on April 12th they commemorate their arrival
diving and beach activities. If wind conditions orwith a carnival. This is also the home of YUBU where
weather becomes and issue, the dive operators andyou will meet Garifuna people and see their exotic
resorts will simply move their boats to the "lee side"dances and purchase souvenirs made by them.
of the island and calmer watersSandy Bay
The popular tourist spots on Roatan are West End,Sandy Bay is considered the cultural center of Roatan
West Bay, Sandy Beach, and Oak Ridge/Puntaand is the location of the Institute of Marine
Gorda.Sciences, the Roatan Museum, the Carambola
Roatan’s two largest cities are Coxen Hole andGardens, and the Marine Reserve. It is also the
French Harbor and offer very little for the tourist,location of Anthony’s Key resort one of the first
both of which are the main concentration ofand largest dive resorts on the Island.
inhabitants living under poverty level conditions. CoxenWest End
Hole is the capital and is location of the internationalCommonly referred to as “Gringo Central”,
airport and the docking terminal for cruise ships.this little town with a “Jimmy Buffet –
Beyond that, the reason tourists come to CoxenMargarita Ville” atmosphere is located on Half
Hole is for the banks and rental cars. French Harbor isMoon Bay. Here you can access all there is with a
home to the largest fishing fleet in the Westernwalk along its un paved sandy main street that rims
Caribbean. The reason most tourists come to Frenchthe bay and is lined with palm trees and rustic,
Harbor is for their two popular waterfrontweather beaten wood restaurants, bars, hotels, and
restaurants, Gio’s and Casa Romero’st-shirt shops. The prices for food, drinks and hotels
The main attractions in Roatan are scuba diving,are extremely inexpensive. There is a very informal,
snorkeling, beautiful beaches, a laid back, relaxing wayrelaxed -- let it all hang out attitude that can be
of life. The island is on the world’s second largestenjoyed without ever getting out of your sandals,
barrier reef with a variety of world class dive sites,shorts, and t-shirts.
easily accessible by a short boat ride or as close as