Roatán Island, which is located off the coast of Honduras in the Caribbean, is warm year-round with average highs in the mid-80s°F (29°C). The main things to consider when picking travel dates are rainfall, crowds, and prices. We’ve visited in all seasons and definitely have our favorite. Here’s what you can expect in each season.
High Season: December to April
You should expect more people on popular beaches like West Bay and accommodation prices to be at their highest during this time. So, you’ll want to book well in advance. You’ll see more holiday vacationers and cruise ships and lots of folks escaping the Northern winter. You’ll want to check the cruise schedule and maybe explore a quieter part of the island on busy days. Even just going to West End, you’ll find slightly lower crowds and less vendors than West Bay.
Note that high season on Roatán includes some potentially rainy months (December – February) and some with the best weather (March and April). Rainy season generally runs from October to the end of February, so you may want to plan accordingly.
We’ve made the trip in December and January when it was warm enough for snorkeling, but not as hot as we might like. We had daily rain showers on our December trip. While some only lasted about 30 minutes, others kept us indoors for days – but we still got out to do some great snorkeling a few times. To be safe, head to Roatan after the rainy season.
April is usually perfect for beach lounging, diving, and snorkeling. But showers can happen any time of the year – and can actually be really beautiful.
Shoulder Season: May to June and October to November
These months can be a sweet spot with fewer tourists and lower prices. Expect a mix of sunny days and occasional rain showers in May and June. October and November see more rain, but it’s comforting to know that Roatan is not in the hurricane belt, so it generally doesn’t get hit as hard as other Caribbean islands.
Low Season: July to September
This is the hottest and most humid time of year, and generally comes with some rain showers, but prices and crowds are low. We’ve actually enjoyed a few July trips to the island over US Independence Day. Expect it to be very hot and humid but also lots of fun (with July 4th fireworks). We did some diving at this time of year and had a fantastic time.
Our Favorite Time to Visit
As mentioned, March and April are the best times, but we often find ourselves on the island in May. Our favorite and most frequent choice for visits is actually Memorial Day week. We get hot enough weather for beach days, not too much rain, and Memorial Day off to save on PTO.
The weather is still great, the high-season crowds have thinned, and prices start to drop. We love Roatan any time of year, but rain and (slightly) cooler weather in the winter months could potentially disrupt your vacation. In the end, it’s up to you to decide if you want high crowds and high energy, low crowds and low prices, or a perfect balance in the shoulder season.
Have you been to Roatan? When is your favorite time to visit?
Up Next: Tune in Wednesday for our post on best places to eat and drink in West End.
Explore More of Roatan
- Roatán Travel Guide: Everything You Need to Plan Your Vacation
- Is Roatán Island Safe? What to Know Before You Go
- Practical Tips for First-Time Visitors
- One Week in Roatán: The Perfect 7-Day Itinerary
- Roatán: West Bay or West End? Here’s Everything You Need to Know
- Is Sandy Bay Worth a Visit?
Discover more from LiAnn and Theo Travel
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
