After watching Caribbean Life, I became curious as to why so many people were moving to Roatan. After my first visit, I quickly understood the allure. This island, located about 35 miles from the mainland of Honduras, offers a unique blend of natural beauty and a thriving community. My first visit was during the COVID pandemic, which meant the crowds were virtually nonexistent, allowing for a peaceful and immersive experience.

Since then, I’ve chosen to stay in West End for all my visits. West End stands out with its variety of restaurants, shops, and accommodations, offering a more vibrant atmosphere. While West Bay isn’t a bad choice—it boasts the best beach on the island and houses most of the larger hotels—it tends to quiet down in the evenings with limited activities beyond the beach. West End, on the other hand, offers a smaller but charming beach and remains lively well into the night, providing a dynamic and enjoyable experience after sunset. There are plenty of Airbnb’s as well as boutique accommodations that offer a intimate feel. 

During my first I did a tour of Oak Ridge, which is the capital of the East End. This part of the island is full of lush greenery and seems to be worlds away from the west. Punta Gorda is full of culture and due to being the oldest settlement on the island with afro Garifuna descendents still there. It was buzzing with locals and fishermen just going about life as usual. Riding through the mangroves was so serene and tranquil. Every so often, the mangroves would take a backseat to the jaw dropping views that Punta Gorda offers. The colorful village and crystal waters to accompany made for a great introduction to the island. 

The beaches are a must and there’s no shortage of them. Whether you’re a diver, snorkeler, or just enjoy the ambiance, there’s something for everyone. One could spend days exploring a different beach daily, but West Bay remains at the top of the list. There are several water taxis that go back and forth West End from sun up to sun down for roughly $3 each way, so accessibility isn’t an issue. The beaches are lined with bars and restaurants and each has a plethora of beach chairs for a small fee. It was easy to spend a day with the routine of swimming, reading, napping and repeating. The buoyancy of the water made floating effortless. No matter where. Roatan is also part of the second largest Mesoamerican Barrier Reef. There was a huge difference in visiting West Bay during and post Covid, which was the cruise ships. During Covid, no ships were allowed so the only noise heard was music, conversations, and the crashing of waves. After visiting post Covid, the beach was overrun with cruise goers. There’s nothing wrong with this, but it was definitely an adjustment from my previous visit. After 2pm the majority of the crowd disperses, so I was fine going later in the day. Nonetheless, the water and sea life always make for a great experience. 

Little French Key is its own little oasis. It’s about a minute drive from West End, but requires a short boat ride upon arrival. There are several packages offered and I opted for the VIP package which included a little bit of everything. This package would require at least a 4-5 hour stay to do all of the activities without feeling rushed. This includes a special seating area, 6 drinks and lunch, 30 minute massage, 30 minute snorkeling outing, horseback riding sessions, and swimming with pigs. The service was great throughout the time there was great. I enjoyed all of the activities except snorkeling. Our guide was a young man who pretty much just drove us out to snorkel and swam in front of us the entire time. He never gave any real instructions, so that part was lacking. 

I can’t leave out all of the great meals that were had. The cuisine throughout the island has a diverse mix of African, Caribbean and Spanish dishes due to its cultural makeup. Ceviche is one of my favorite dishes and plentiful on the island. I tried a baleada here, which is a local dish mainly for breakfast that’s made with tortillas, beans, and cheese. I never spent more than $3 on one at any of the restaurants I patronized. Everywhere I went, the service was always great and since most of the restaurants weren’t far from the water, views were always a bonus. A few places I recommend are Raul’s tacos. It’s not a restaurant but it’s a taco stand that opens after 5pm. Trust me when I say you’ll know who they are and have some of the best tacos in town. I enjoy the happy hour at Sundowner’s because locals, expats, and tourists blend so well together here. I love conversing with the expats about island life and how it differs from the states. For something on the fancier side, checkout