Roatán Travel Guide: Everything You Need to Plan Your Vacation

Roatán, the largest of Honduras’ Bay Islands, is a relaxed and affordable Caribbean destination with great snorkeling, diving, and friendly local communities. We’ve stayed in different parts of the island, dined our way through the beach towns, and learned a few practical lessons along the way. This guide pulls together all of our Roatán posts so you can plan your own trip, from where to stay and what to eat to safety tips, practical planning, and a curated itinerary.

🌴 What Makes Roatán a Great Getaway

• Snorkeling and Diving: The reef is close to shore, so you can swim out from the beach or take short boat rides to dive sites.
• Different Areas, Different Vibes: West Bay has a resort feel with a sandy beach, while West End offers more restaurants, bars, and a casual, walkable village.
• Easy to Reach: Direct flights from the US make travel straightforward.
• Year-Round Warmth: There’s no bad time to visit, just different trade-offs between weather, prices, and crowds.

⚖ West Bay or West End?

You’ll find that most people choose between a stay at one of these two hotspots. If you want soft sand, calm water, and resort-style hotels, West Bay is the better choice. If you’re looking for diving, more affordable stays, and a walkable restaurant and bar scene, go with West End.

Many travelers, including us, split their time between both. You can pick one and take the water taxi for excursions to the other, or you can split your stay between the two. If you’re staying at West End, it’s very easy to set up a day pass at Infinity Bay or Bananarama in West Bay for a fee.

Click through our links below to get a feel for which one suits your style or how you might want to split up your trip.

🏖 West Bay Pointers

Where to Stay in West Bay: Options for Every Budget

Here’s a side-by-side look at West Bay hotels we’ve stayed in, from the luxury Kimpton Grand Roatán to budget-friendly West Bay Lodge. We include pros, cons, and tips.
📌 Read more: Where to Stay in West Bay

🍽️ Best Places to Eat and Drink in West Bay

From tacos by the pool at La Palapa to cocktails at Kismet and lobster at The Argentinian Grill, here are our favorite spots. We’ve also included a few places we plan to check out next time.
📌 Read more: Best Places to Eat and Drink in West Bay

🏝 West End Pointers

Where to Stay in West End: Options for Every Budget

Whether you want a boutique beachfront room at The Beach House or a quiet ocean-view suite at Cocolobo, West End has options for all budgets. Our reviews focus on location, comfort, and value.
📌 Read more: Where to Stay in West End

🥣 Best Places to Eat and Drink in West End

Our picks range from local baleadas to upscale dinners with a view. We discuss our go-to sunset bar, favorite Thai spot, and where we grab gelato before heading home.
📌 Read more: Best Places to Eat and Drink in West End

🚤 Beyond These Spots

Is Sandy Bay Worth a Visit?

We’ve only been to Sandy Bay once, but it’s quieter, more residential, and home to Anthony’s Key Resort. It could be great for divers and larger groups on a budget, but it has some serious drawbacks. We explain it all in our Sandy Bay post.  
📌 Read more: Is Sandy Bay Worth a Visit?

📅 Planning Your Trip

Best Time to Visit Roatán

Here’s a breakdown of weather, crowds, and prices by season, plus when we think it’s best to go for a balance of sun, warmth, and fewer tourists.
📌 Read more: Best Time to Visit Roatán

🛡️ Is Roatán Safe?

The short answer is yes. But you can read more here about our personal experience in West Bay and West End, plus 10 practical safety tips on the beaches, towns, and snorkeling areas.
📌 Read more: Is Roatán Safe?

🔎 Roatán Practical Tips for First-Time Visitors

Traveling to Roatan is pretty straightforward, but there are a few things we wish we knew before our first trip. Learn how to get here, money tips, transportation options, and more.
📌 Read more: Roatán Practical Tips

✅ Plan Your Week in Roatán

One Week in Roatán: The Perfect 7-Day Itinerary

Our step-by-step plan covering both West Bay and West End with luxe, mid-range, and budget hotel picks, favorite restaurants, and activities we’ve personally enjoyed.
📌 Read more: One Week in Roatán

Have you been to Roatán? What tips do you have for first-time visitors? Where are your favorite spots?