The small Honduran island of Roatan is a mecca for diving, snorkeling, and fishing, thanks to a large living, thriving reef close to the shore. But what else is there to do on Roatan for those of us who do not dive, snorkel, or fish?
During one week in May this year, I set out to answer that question:
Beaches on Roatan
The beaches in Roatan feature golden or white sand, plentiful natural shade, clear water for swimming, and an abundance of marine life that can be seen from above. During the week I stayed in Turtle Beach, there were seahorses, an octopus, and many, many small fish visible from the surface near the dock. The water was warm, and calm – no big waves. West Bay had fine white sand, while Turtle Beach and West End had golden sand, all with many places to pull up a beach chair and get food and drink. Camp Bay Beach, on the northern coast, is a beautiful, remote, white sand beach, accessible only down a long dirt road (no facilities). You will not find high rises on Roatan – the law says you cannot build higher than the egg-cone pine trees, the national tree of Honduras.
Wildlife/Land Tours on Roatan
If you like monkeys and sloths, you are in luck! You can hold both at various parks and sanctuaries across the island, including at Gumbalimba Park and Daniel Johnson’s Monkey and Sloth Hangout. At Gumbalimba, the monkeys are free roaming and will climb all over you if you want. At Daniel Johnson’s, the sloths are free to roam but a trainer will pick them up and let you hold them. The monkeys are in cages but some are tame enough for you to enter the cage and interact with. The Scarlet Macaw is the national bird of Honduras and these gorgeous large birds are plentiful on the island. Those at Gumbalimba Park are tagged but fly free up and down the west end of the island, stopping at several hotels (including Turtle Beach Dive Resort) for feeding. You can see them circling overhead throughout the day, or you can have them perch on your shoulder or arm at the parks and sanctuaries.
And don't forget...your visit would not be complete without a land tour driving the length of the island, with a boat ride through Oak Ridge (aka Little Venice) and the mangrove tunnels – so enchanting!
Shopping on Roatan
West End is a cute, funky little town with some fun artsy gift shops. One of my favorites was a recycled art store that had a multitude of gifts made from recycled materials. The Roatan Chocolate Factory in West End offers a free demonstration of chocolate making techniques, as well as loads of free samples from their array of chocolate bars and chocolate vodka. It’s hard to leave without purchasing some goodies to take home! The Roatan Rum Company also offers a tour with free samples and a selection of island-flavored rums and rum cakes to take home.
Food/Drink on Roatan
The westernmost part of Roatan offers a wide array of restaurants with good food and drink. You can find everything from American bar food (Boat Bar) and pizza to fine dining (Luna Muna at Igabari Resort) to excellent Thai food (Thai Blue Elephant) to fresh fish (Loretta’s Island Cooking), to traditional baleadas, pastelitos, and pupusas. Baleadas consist of a flour tortilla, spread with refried beans, crema, crumbled dry cheese, and quite often, scrambled egg. Pupusas are special cornmeal patties filled with cheese, pan fried until crispy, and topped with a cabbage and tomato mixture – delicious! Some other tasty Honduran treats I sampled were pastelitos (Honduran empanadas filled with shredded, seasoned chicken) and tamarindo juice. Fresh tropical fruit is plentiful as well – you will not go hungry.
Culture on Roatan
Roatan appears to be an interesting mix of people who call themselves “Islanders.” The tour guide who took me on a day-long, island-wide trip self-identified as a "Black English Islander," descended from enslaved people brought by force directly from Africa to Roatan by the British. He described other islander groups as "Latino," living mostly in the hills inland, and "Garifuna" (or Black Carib), descendants of West Africans who escaped from two sunken slave ships. The West Africans escaped initially to Saint Vincent, where they started families, mixing with the indigenous Arawak people, and developing their own unique language and culture, now called Garifuna. After valiantly fighting off the British to maintain their freedom, and eventually losing, the Garifuna were brought to other islands in the Caribbean. On Roatan, they settled mainly in the northern town of Punta Gorda, where today they maintain their Garifuna culture and language. Each Sunday, the Garifuna community comes together in Punta Gorda for food, drink, traditional music, and dancing.
In addition to these three long-standing groups, much of the island, including the entire electrical grid and many large resorts, is owned and populated by wealthy North Americans, influencing the food, music, and infrastructure.
Live music/entertainment on Roatan
I visited at the start of the slow tourist season, but even so, there was live music and entertainment on offer. The Boat Bar had a singer/guitar player who performed an acoustic set of US popular music from the 1960s to 90s. There was also a mesmerizing fire show one evening on the beach. During the busy tourist season, the nightlife is probably more lively and varied.
A few more notes about Roatan
· The airport is just a tarmac and one large hangar – you deplane down the stairs onto the tarmac.
· English is the primary language on Roatan, but Spanish and Garifuna are also spoken.
· The official currency is the Honduran Lempira but US dollars are accepted everywhere. Credit cards are also widely accepted.
· There are no prisons on Roatan – only three police stations with jails – and there is very little crime. The number one cause of death is motorcycle accidents.
· The main roads are very good and well-maintained, although secondary roads tend to be unpaved with potholes.
· Be prepared for lots of stairs and hills! The island has a spine of high hills down the center that cascades down to the sea on either side. Some resorts in Turtle Beach are built on the hillside requiring lots of steps to get down to the beach. West Bay and West End are probably easier if you have mobility issues.
· Water taxis are a convenient, quick, and affordable ($5) transport between West End and West Bay. They are so easy to hail and quicker than taking a normal taxi on the hilly, windy roads – the hardest part is getting into and out of the boats, but lots of fun!
· Wi-Fi is readily available at most resorts and restaurants but occasionally does go out. Electricity is the same – be sure your resort has a generator!
· You cannot drink tap water but most resorts provide ample clean drinking water. Do be careful with fresh uncooked vegetables and drinks with ice. I had a few lovely mixed drinks/cocktails with ice, and had no problem, but I knew I was taking a risk.
In conclusion, as a non-water sports person, I found many interesting activities to engage me for a week on Roatan. I encourage you to check it out! Let me know if you have any questions about my experience.