While many places on Roatan are remote and offer that conveted seclusion many are looking for, the island also has some popular tourist hotspots. Whether it's the variety of restaurants and bars you'll find in West End Village or the famous stretch of sand and the accompanying water activities of West Bay Beach, Roatan has favorite places where people congregate.
Roatan Island offers a variety of water activities. Surrounded by a barrier reef, the calm, protected shoreline is a haven for a number of water sports for people of all ages and abilities. Roatan diving is some of the finest in the world and snorkelling, SNUBA and glass bottom boat tours are other fun ways to experience coral reefs and Roatan marine life. Of course, swimming the many white and golden sand beaches and kayaking the calm, shallow waters is a must. If you like water toys, Roatan has windsurfing, jet skiing, kite boarding, wake boarding and more.
Roatan attractions will surprise and delight visitors from around the world. Whether it is strolling through botanical gardens and nature trails, visiting a bird sanctuary or holding a baby monkey, Roatan gardens and parks connect visitors with some of the most beautiful and intriguing flora and fauna. And if the arts and culture scene is of interest, Roatan’s rich history and culture lives on in Garifuna villages, museums, interpretive centres and through local artisan works and demonstrations.
Roatan dining and cuisine caters to tastes and palettes of every traveller. Whether it’s perfectly grilled seafood from today’s catch, burgers on the beach or a romantic candlelit dinner over the pier, Roatan dining options are seemingly endless.
Try banana pancakes, Honduran coffee and fresh fruit smoothies for breakfast, or traditional Baleadas and coconut prawns at lunch. How about conch chowder, lobster tails and Caribbean-style rotisserie chicken for dinner? But Roatan dining is more than local traditional fare. If you’re craving ethnic food, West End has dozens of choices including Mexican, Creole, Argentinean, Thai and Italian.
The Roatan entertainment scene comes alive as the sun sets over the island. West End offers dozens of entertainment options including lounge restaurants, pubs and nightclubs. Nightly drink specials and local concoctions like the Monkey La La always help to get the party started.
Roatan shopping offers everything from classic Caribbean souvenirs to unique one-of-a-kind items. Visit an open air market in Coxen Hole or stroll along West Bay Beach to see local wares on display.
It might surprise you to discover that for such a small island, Roatan’s biodiversity supports a tropical rainforest ecosystem that is home to a number of native birds, reptiles and mammals.
