Visiting Roatan
Roatan was voted one of Trip Advisors top destinations in the Caribbean, who wouldn’t want to come experience all the treasures it has to offer. Home of the second largest barrier reef system in the world, the Mesoamerican Reef. A diverse island full of culture and nature just waiting to be explored. Walk the white sandy beaches, lined with coconut trees to a lounge chair with a cocktail in hand. Gaze out to sea watching the sun dance on the surface like daytime stars. Luring you to enjoy the crystal clear turquoise water as you bathe in the warm sea, dive deeper and see the beautiful array of colorful marine life that live below. Returning to shore, admire the breathtaking backdrop of the luscious green jungle filled with exotic nature. Get ready to explore the island, there is so much to be discovered.
West Bay
West Bay is the most pristine white sandy beach situated on the furthest tip of the on the West side of the island with the most clear and turquoise water at one side and lined with 4 star hotels and restaurants to choose from you can find a sun lounger, a cocktail and a bite to eat under the coconut trees or float in the clear water. Treat yourself to a fresh coconut or pineapple prepared with or without rum by local islanders serving you straight from their kayaks and cayucos. For great snorkeling go straight to the end by the Iron Shore for the most colorful marine species up close and personal. Be careful not to stand or touch the coral, seagrass or marine life; this will cause damage to the marine life and to you. Afterwards take a short walk behind the hotels where you will find the small quaint West Bay Village with a few select stores and small cafes, there is also an ATM machine and pharmacy here if you may need them. Afterwards take a breathtaking short boat ride to West End.
West End
West End is very different to West Bay, it is a small town made up of small shops, cafes and restaurants a colorful and friendly area where you will find a strip of many dive shops and docks. If you would like some pool time overlooking the sea you could stop at Brisas del Mar the first stop at the beginning of West End town and stroll through town soaking up the atmosphere stopping in small boutiques, cafes, and souvenir shops when you arrive to Half Moon Bay a bay with iron shore on both sides surrounds one of the best snorkeling spots in West End, just be careful to stay out of the boat channels and out of the boats way. It is common to sit back and relax at sunset in Sundowners Beach Bar, where you will find a friendly community and probably meet the people you took the water taxi with and some new friends. Here there are various music nights of different music types.
East End
If you go to the East End of the island you will find a different set of local cuisine mostly fish, one not to be missed is a soup called machuca a bowl especially found in Punta Gorda a traditional Garifuna dish consisting of a coconut and fish broth with the days fresh seafood catch and mashed plantain dumplings. You may choose to go to Punta Gorda on a Sunday to see a live performance while you eat your soup, a lively day of Garifuna dance as they dress in their traditional colorful costumes and dance to various homemade instruments some from shells for example conch, please note it is illegal to buy conch shells and they will be confiscated at the airport. While you are here why not visit Jonesville a very different view of the rest of Roatan that you have seen, life here is over the water, houses on stilts, even the school bus is a boat. From the harbor you can take a boat tour through the mangroves and stop at small hidden restaurants to relax in the silence and peace that the East End offers. Or you may to decide to go another day on a guided tour or rent a car. As you head East you will pass through the hustle and bustle of Coxen Hole and on through French Harbour where there is a mall. Going further East you will pass over hill tops with lookout views of the ocean on both sides. Continuing East you will come to a turn off to go to Camp Bay a long pristine stretch of white sandy untouched beach with turquoise small waves lined with palm trees and small quiet boutique hotels such as Camp Bay lodge where you can do kitesurfing.
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