Roatan is the world’s third most beautiful island, according to travellers on TripAdvisor. It is the largest of the Bay Islands, just 56 kms off the northern coast of Honduras in the warm waters of the Caribbean. Whilst Roatan has long been known to divers as one of the top dive destinations in the Caribbean, it is now being discovered by vacationers looking for somewhere a little different, a little off the beaten track, yet with all the convenience of direct flights and all-inclusive resorts.
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At nearly 50 km long, less than 8 km wide at its widest point - and reaching elevations of 244 m (800 ft) - visitors to Roatan will experience everything from flat sandy beaches, rocky, volcanic rock shores, mangrove forests, lush valleys and steep rainforest-covered hilltops.
The beaches on Roatan are classic curves of white sand adjacent to turquoise warm waters, with the second largest barrier reef in the world just offshore. West Bay Beach is perhaps the most famous strip on the island and Lonely Planet describes its white sands as “pitch perfect”. It offers a variety of amenities including restaurants and pubs, water sports equipment, souvenir shops and even a strolling ice cream vendor delivering cool treats right to your lounge chair!
Roatan's barrier reef, sea grass beds and mangroves make up the island’s complex marine ecosystem. The Sandy Bay - West End Marine Reserve is a protected area where you will find many of Roatan’s exceptional dive sites. As a result, Roatan is a mecca for divers and snorkelers and it caters to all levels of ability. The diving infrastructure is excellent, and this is a good value destination to take your PADI diving certification. Divers may see dolphins and sharks, sea turtles and moray eels, and these waters are one of the best places in the world to see whale sharks especially between May and September. Caves, 1000-foot coral walls and spectacular sea sponges await those who venture under water.
The island has one main winding road, the Carretera Principal. It’s a lovely drive stretching 60-kilometers past seashore and villages from the West End to the East End.
West End Village has local restaurants and small boutiques on one side, and numerous piers with fishing and diving boats on the other. It features a wide variety of bars and restaurants - and it’s virtually mandatory to start at Sundowners and enjoy drinks whilst watching the sun go down over the beautiful bay in front. When Sundowners shuts at 10pm the whole bar shifts about 50m down the street to carry on at the Purple Turtle where you can enjoy live music out back. The Purple Turtle closes at midnight and from here most people continue on to the Nova Bar or head to the Twisted Toucan, which is the locals’ favourite haunt to party.
In the course of an evening In West End you are likely to encounter a “Monkey Lala”. The name comes from little local lizards that walk on water and dramatically scurry to and fro with their heads held high. And the Monkey Lala drink makes you feel the same way! Each bartender has their own version of the drink but typically a Monkey Lala contains vodka, rum, Bailey’s, Kahlua, and coconut cream blended together with ice. Most bartenders will swirl in some chocolate sauce to add an extra zing, offering you a sugar rush in a cold glass as you enjoy another beautiful sunset….
Roatan is known as one of the most beautiful diving destinations of the Caribbean. There are an estimated 176 dive sites around the island with a dive site for every ability. There are roughly 82 easy sites to 'get your feet wet' and 72 advanced sites for a little more excitement. There are also 12 expert and 10 technical sites. With all this choice you can take a Roatan dive vacation and check out a different site every day of your stay.
Here is a selection of dive sites to illustrate the variety and beauty that Roatan has to offer the scuba enthusiast:
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Mandy's Eel Garden
Mandy's Eel Garden is a great choice for beginners. Magical formations of corals and sponges and sloping white sand give this place a dream-like quality like no other site on Roatan. As the name implies there is a Garden of Eels down at about 65ft. Huge white shallow sand patches make it ideal for students on their first dive, and it's perfect for snorkeling as the top of the wall is only 20ft.
Spooky Channel
Spooky Channel is a very different dive. You dive through a deep channel that links the lagoon with the outer reef. The channel is shallow to begin with but reaches a maximum depth of 90 feet and about 50 feet across at the widest point. If you look up then you will discover what makes this dive so famous. The walls of the channel slowly close in above you - and when they are only a few feet from the surface, the walls are only six feet apart. You can make out a beautiful ribbon of light 80 feet above you!
It’s called "Spooky" because of the low level of light. This is also why you find a large number of low light corals, which are normally only found in very deep water. Fascinating rock structures, swim-throughs, lobster and starfish make this a truly unforgettable dive.
Hole in the Wall
Hole in the Wall has something for everyone. You begin in 40ft. of water on a sand chute, home to the shy Yellowhead Jawfish. This takes you down through the "hole in the wall" opening out at 100ft. Novices can ascend a little and enjoy the spectacular wall on the right while the more advanced divers can descend down the sand slope, leveling out above "the abyss" that drops down 1000's of feet. Then you can slowly make your ascent up and along the wall where shoals of Creole Wrasse and Blue Tang thrive, and you could also hope to see eagle rays and turtles.
El Aguila Wreck
Divers love to explore old wrecks and El Aguila (Eagle) Wreck is another Roatan classic dive! This ship was an old beached cargo vessel, 287ft long, bought by Anthony's Key Resort to create an artificial reef.
The El Aguila wreck was originally sunk in 1993 only to be smashed into 3 pieces by mighty Hurricane Mitch in 1998. The wreck was thoroughly cleaned before it was sunk, so there was no environmental impact on the reef, and it is perfect for diving in and around, as there are no obstacles to worry about.
Peter’s Place
If you want to see tropical fish - try the dive known as Peter’s Place. It is the place in Roatan for big Groupers. It has a beautiful wall, teeming with Creole Wrasse, groupers and sometimes even bigger Dog Snapper. This dive is perfect for close-up photography of these gentle giants. The reef offers interesting formations and sandy patches around about 45ft, and on the wall there are canyons and over hangs.
This site also offers a unique feature, an ancient waterfall, giving a glimpse of what the island would have been like during the last ice age when the sea level was much lower than it is today. Free swimming Moray Eel are also found here.
Texas
Texas – so called just because everything is so huge - is unspoiled beauty at its best. Huge Barrel Sponges, some big enough to hide inside, are scattered everywhere across the plains of Texas. Glorious corals house every type of Caribbean reef fish like the Queen Triggerfish and Black Durgon. Rare fish like the Atlantic Spade Fish and the Sargassum Triggerfish can also be found amongst these coral patches. Usually there is a wonderful current that runs east to west making it easy to glide across the plains at 50 ft. Anyone can enjoy the plains of Texas but right out on the wall calls for a little more experience. The actual wall top at Texas is quite deep at 100ft and beyond.
Roatan has its own international airport. The flight time from Canada is about 6 hours and Air Transat has weekly direct flights from both Toronto and Montreal during the summer. Air Transat offer a choice of three resorts, two of which are all inclusive. As well as professional dive facilities you will also find a variety of included features such as a kids’ clubs, beach and water sports, and restaurant choices.
One resort is a quiet, typically Caribbean resort within the Marine Park. One is a family friendly resort with great facilities. And one is a more luxurious property with a spa that is more adults oriented.
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The Henry Morgan Hotel & Beach Resort
The Henry Morgan Hotel & Beach Resort is a lively 3½ star resort located beachfront on West Bay Beach and approximately 15 km from Roatan airport. It offers 140 rooms and villas with a balcony or terrace with hammock.
This hotel is a Solo Collection property, which means no single supplement (restrictions may apply) and a communal table for sharing meals.
Your Air Transat all-inclusive package includes daily buffet breakfast, lunch and dinner including 1 à la carte dinner per week. It also includes unlimited domestic drinks, a daily activities program and nightly entertainment. The hotel offers 3 restaurants, a bar and a disco. The hotel provides babysitting at an additional cost and younger travellers can enjoy the kid’s mini disco.
There is a PADI dive centre on site offering diving courses for all levels from beginners to PADI Advanced divers and Air Transat guests can opt for a great value dive package with 2 dives and 2 tanks per day over 5 days.
For more information click here.
The Media Luna Resort & Spa
The Media Luna Resort & Spa in Roatan is a luxurious resort located beachfront, on the eastern part of the island and approximately 15 km from Roatan airport. This 4-star property features 126 comfortable rooms with full bathrooms and a balcony or terrace. The hotel also has a spa offering massage treatments.
Your Air Transat all-inclusive package includes daily buffet breakfast, lunch and dinner including 1 à la carte dinner per week - and what could be more romantic than to pay a little extra for a lobster dinner on the beach? It also includes unlimited domestic drinks, a daily activities program and nightly entertainment. The hotel offers 2 restaurants, two bars and a disco.
The hotel also features a PADI dive centre. Air Transat guests can opt for a great value dive package with 2 dives and 2 tanks per day over 5 days, including 1 night dive, plus unlimited shore dives.
For more information click here.
Anthony’s Key Resort
This 3 ½ star resort is a unique property located on Sandy Bay, in the Marine Park and approximately 12 km from the Roatan airport. There are 56 bungalows with a restaurant and two bars.
Your Air Transat package includes a la carte breakfast, lunch and dinner. Drinks and gratuities are extra with this plan. Your package also includes a daily activities program, nightly entertainment, live music and a weekly Island Fiesta night on the Key. Wifi is available throughout the resort, which has a spa and there is also a golf course nearby.
The hotel features a PADI dive centre. Air Transat guests can opt for a great value dive package with 3 single tank boat dives per day and 2 single tank boat night dives per week.
Air Transat also offers a twin centre vacation option called a DUO. This allows you to get the best of both worlds on Roatan by spending a week on the East Coast beaches staying at the Media Luna Resort & Spa, followed by a week on lively West Bay Beach staying at the Henry Morgan Hotel & Beach Resort.
For more information click here.
Excursions
Roatan was a big pirates base in the 17th century - Henry Morgan and Blackbeard, amongst others, hung out here after plundering on the high seas. Coxens Cave is reputed to be a real pirates cave, complete with hidden buried treasure and you can visit in on one of the excursions available from Air Transat.
In fact, there is a full range of excursions to help you explore this unspoiled destination offering water based fun, cultural experiences, nightlife and adventure. For example, you can zip line through the canopy of the tropical forest, take a catamaran trip and snorkel with the incomparable marine life, go swimming with Dolphins or enjoy a sunset cruise! Perhaps the best way to see as much of Roatan is possible is on the full day Island Tour. You will be able to discover Roatan’s culture and customs and it includes visits to Maya Eden eco park, an iguana farm, the Rum Company and a chocolate factory. A typical local lunch is also part of the tour.
For more information click here.
Want to know more about the destination? Check out Chris' Travel Notes!
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