Roatán

Roatán is the largest of Honduras’s Bay Islands in the Caribbean, located about 65 km off the northern coast of Honduras. It is a major tourist island notable for coral reefs and marine recreation.

Beaches, reef diving and snorkeling are the main attractions, with well-known sites such as West Bay Beach offering shallow reefs close to shore and numerous dive operators running day trips. Boat excursions, sportfishing and marine wildlife viewing are common activities; the surrounding reef systems form part of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef.

The island also has small towns, restaurants and craft markets, with Coxen Hole as the primary transport and service centre. Conservation groups and marine park initiatives operate to manage reef use and sustainable tourism.

Roatán sits on the Caribbean side of Honduras, roughly 50-70 km from the mainland port cities of La Ceiba and Puerto Cortés, with a low, hilly interior and reefs fringing much of the coast; most visitors arrive by ferry or small commercial flights.

• Diving and reefs: The island is the largest of Honduras's Bay Islands and a leading international destination for scuba diving thanks to nearby coral reefs and clear Caribbean waters.
• Access: Ferries and a small airport connect the island with the Honduran mainland (La Ceiba and Puerto Cortés) and international charters during high season.

What to See #

• West Bay Beach: West Bay Beach - a popular stretch of reef-backed white sand on the island's west coast, known for snorkeling and easy swimming access to coral.
• Coxen Hole: Coxen Hole - the island's largest town and administrative centre, where ferries and the main airport connections arrive and essential services are located.
• Roatán Marine Park: Roatán Marine Park - a local marine-protected area and volunteer-run organization that works on reef protection and sustainable diving operations around the island.