Cart is empty It’s Friday again and my journey is to Honduras.
So I am heading to Roatan with absolutely no reservation. I got upgraded to First Class, ate all the free cheese and drank all the cheap wine, life is good. I was ready to Live Like Friday.
About Roatan
Roatan, the biggest of the Bay Islands in Honduras, is recognized for the pristine reef diving, and adrenaline-pumping water sports; although being in the water is just not my hobby. Roatan is an ideal playground for ocean lovers and onnoisseurs of eco-tourism. Not very densely populated, it boasts the world’s second largest coral reef, making diving the biggest attraction. The crystal clear blue waters and amazing sea creatures make water exploration a must see, and it is very affordable too. The food, the people, and the culture are what make Roatan special. Roatan has some of the warmest and friendliest people on earth.
This beautiful island is laden with white sandy beaches and innumerable island attractions to cater for everyone one. Coxen Hole is the capital of Roatan and the most populous town. The option of water taxis makes it easy for any visitor to hop from one bay to the other depending on what they want to do.
Roatan has a mild tropical climate with sea temperatures appropriate for swimming all year. Although Spanish is the spoken language, it seems as if everyone spoke English in Roatan because of the large number of tourist that visits each year. The Spanish speaking Hondurans and Garifuna community (majorly based in Punta Gorda) also live in Roatan.
I met a few American and European Expats living in Roatan, owners of bars and dive shops, opting for a simpler style of living. Roatan is the new Florida for retirees with affordable living, beautiful weather and breathtaking sunsets. I have seen some amazing sunsets in different parts of the world;however, Roatan is right at the top.
Travelling to Roatan
In 2.5 hours, I landed at the Juan Manuel Galvez Roatan International Airport. There are frequent flights to Roatan from many major centers. Taxi service and rental car options are readily available at the airport, but I opted for a $25 taxi ride from the West End. There is also a passenger ferry, mostly used by the locals, which connects Roatan to La Ceiba, mainland Honduras. I recommend that you take a taxi.\
Staying in Roatan
So, I usually do not make reservations when I travel; instead, I would show up and then find a place to stay. Easter is not the weekend you should play a superhero in Roatan and it made my girlfriend nervous. Luckily, we found a cozy and a modest guesthouse after quite some time walking around the island. Most of the hotels and guesthouses in Roatan are either on or near the beach and usually have a pool to relax. I didn’t come here to relax, I came to party and have fun.
The views from the rooms can be fantastic, but vary according to price. Some hotels and hostels in Roatan even have their own dive shops, tours, or organized activities to make it easier. You can opt for a basic to lavish stay ranging from US$4-$400 per night.
For the budgeted traveler, dorms with standard bath facility can be found for $20 but usually with shared bathroom. Service apartments, fully equipped with kitchen, AC, Wi-Fi, and terrace can be rented for $50-$100. Some hotels provide free dive and kayaking as part of the package.
The water taxi is safe with mandatory life jackets, fun, and is one of the best ways to see the beautiful beaches. I rode the water taxi to and from West Bay daily, and it only cost $3 each way.
Currency/Money: Cash is always king when you travel anywhere. You will get a better deal on everything in Roatan if you use US dollar. There is usually a 15% tax paid for everything that you buy, but can be waived by using cash. The local currency is the Lempiras (referred to as Limps), and the exchange rate is about 20L to US $1. Don’t ever settle for the first price, but negotiate the prices.
Food: Roatan is celebrated with street food costing less than $5. I ate street food everyday while I was in Roatan.
Where to Party: For the dance lovers, the weekend after dark nightclubs at West End plays some awesome music to make you dance until you drop. My old ass went bar hopping like a true college student and then there is this party boat. For about $40 you can drink all the cheap alcohol and party your ass off.
Shops
There are shops and supermarkets everywhere in Roatan to purchase essential supplies such as food items, toiletries, water, and gifts. All very reasonably priced.
Fun Things to do in Roatan
Subsea Scooter – I opted to try the Sub-sea Scooter where I was immersed about 10 feet into the water while breathing in an air pocket. What an experience! If you are not a good swimmer, or into diving, this is the perfect option for you to explore the sea.
Mast Swing – a free activity on an old yacht moored in the bay. Great fun and awesome photo opportunities. You just need to be able to swim out to the yacht or you can kayak over. It is moored about 20 meters offshore.
Diving – Roatan is flooded with dive shops making it incredibly competitive and cheaper for the tourists. You can easily get scuba certified for exploring the vibrant blue waters. West end is the place for diving if you want privacy and fun at the same time. The roads are lined with freshly caught seafood restaurants, all natural smoothie joints, hookah bars and dive shops. Bay Island is another favorite place for scuba diving.
Any underwater sea excursion will leave you spellbound as you experience the multicolored sea creatures, fish of all shapes and sizes (including sharks and sea horses if you are lucky) all surrounded bycoral reef.
Diving will cost $30 per dive including all your equipment. The Subsea Scooter was $100. Despite the vast number of dive shops there are just as many dive sites so you can explore the reef without the crowds.
Submarine Dive – The deep-sea submarines can take you to depths from 1000 – 2000 feet ranging from 1.5 to 4 hours. An inexpensive version of this activity (costing $35 per person) is the semi-submarine boat, which doesn’t submerge but give you feel of an aquarium.
Horseback Riding – Revel in the beautiful panorama of West End beach and hilltops of Flower Bay and Pensacola by riding the native horses. Cost is around $57 for 1.5 hours of riding.
Snorkeling – Blue Chanen is a famous area for snorkeling where you can click pictures with the friendly Dolphins and beautiful starfish in radiant colors. A 3-hour tour will cost you approximately $55 for adults and $35 for children.
Fly Board – Extreme adventure freaks can enjoy the Fly Board (Costing $75 per person) to elevate you up to 20ft up in the air from the water surface.
Parasailing – One of the most sought after activities on West Bay, where you get a bird’s view of the beach from about 800 feet up in the air. 10 minutes of airborne time will cost you $65 per person, but each penny spent would be worth it.
Golf, Pristine Bay – The Black Pearl at Roatan is a mecca for golfers and a heaven for wildlife lovers with more than 10,000 plants and trees, making it one of the largest animal and plant sanctuaries. The sprawling 7200-yard golf course with 18 holes is an eclectic mix of foothills, beaches, and clubhouse.
Island Tour– Covers all major attractions of Roatan, including Mayan Eden Park – a home of butterflies, Iguana Farm Park, where there are over 3000 amazing animals waiting to tak take pictures with you. A tastefully extended variety of rum at the famous Roatan Rum Company. All of this for a decent $30 per person.
Canopy Tour – If you want excitement, then paying a visit to Gumbalimba Park and the amazing canopy is a must. Insectarium is a big attraction here. Enjoy the incredible nature with park fees $30, canopy for $45 or a combo for $55.
Sunset Catamaran – Sunset on Roatan is something that you will cherish for a long time. 3 to 4 hours sailing on a catamaran, you can enjoy the beautiful sunset with landscapes of West Bay, West End, Sandy Bay and maybe even Dolphins. The package is around $70 per person and is inclusive of open bar, snacks, and music.
Cayos Cochinos and French Key – Cayos Cochinos is a literal paradise about 60 minutes from Roatan and consisting of 15 different keys allowing you to eat, relax and be merry with many fun activities for $180 per person. Garifuna community and is recognized by National Geographic as a must place to see. Alternatively, by taking a water taxi for $25, you can spend your day at French Key Island in French Harbor, where you can enjoy water activities and groovy music.