Relaxing in Roatan, Honduras

If you’re looking for an easy, tropical, budget friendly getaway, Roatan, Honduras is a great spot.  It’s pretty easy to get to as some of the large airlines fly there directly and it’s a breeze to get around once you’re there.  For more information on transportation options, check out Travel to Roatan.

Roatan is probably one of the most enjoyable and relaxing vacations that we have ever had.  We spent our days scuba diving the reefs and wrecks, kayaking and snorkeling in the warm waters, and napping beneath our air conditioning.  Our evenings were spent resting in the hammock on our patio, sipping cocktails during happy hour at beach bars, and exploring new open air restaurants.

There are two main areas in Roatan that most tourists end up staying in: West End and West Bay.  It’s quite easy to get from one to the other just by using the water taxis from the main docks.

West Bay beach

The beaches at West Bay beach were stunning – the powdering white sand that you dream of and warm, calm turquoise waters.

West Bay Beach, Roatan, Honduras

West Bay is a little bit more high end in terms of accommodations and dining options.  There seem to be less choices for food than in West End.  We just took a water taxi over to West Bay for the day.   Definitely try to time your excursion so that you’re not there when a cruise ship is in – it will definitely change the peaceful atmosphere.

West Bay Beach

West End

We felt that West End fit our needs better.  A cute little main street with several dive shops and a pretty good selection of restaurants to choose from.  There is a larger variety of accommodations to choose from and most were more budget friendly.

We were thrilled to find a place that met all of our needs in Posada Las Orquideas – we loved it here – our room had a nice little kitchen, patio with hammock, and a lovely view of the bay.

Posada Las Orchideas

We originally had envisioned a little bungalow on the beach, but the character and natural light of this place won us over.  The beach in West End is not nearly as nice as West Bay unfortunately, but the snorkeling is better.  We took kayaks out with our snorkel gear several times which gave us the opportunity to explore a bit further out.  We also went scuba diving with Reef Gliders nearly every day too.  We hadn’t been diving for a while and Reef Gliders took great care of us, we would highly recommend them.

West Bay, Roatan, Honduras

Overall, we had a fantastic time in Roatan.  Definitely a great spot for a quick getaway.  Remember to bring your bug spray though because the sand fleas and no see-ums can eat you alive if you’re not careful!

If you’re looking for more information on Roatan, Honduras, this website is a wealth of information: Roatanet.com

Imperial Beer, Honduras

If you’re looking to visit the “backpacker’s” island of Utila, Honduras instead, check out these great resources:

– A great post on finding places to eat in Utila by Johnny Vagabond.

– How to Choose a Dive Shop in Utila by Bacon is Magic, and

_ About Utila, which has a wealth of information on the island.

Remember to get out there and enjoy yourself!  Don’t Waste Life!

What are your favorite island getaways?  Have you been to Roatan?

I would love to hear from you, please leave a comment below!