Last Updated on: 7th April 2025, 10:08 am
The island of Roatán may be Honduras’ main tourism hub, but it’s also somewhat off-the-beaten-path as far as Caribbean islands go. For travelers looking for a tourist-friendly destination that’s not quite as overdeveloped as Cancún, Roatán may be for you. And in the following guide, we’ll be taking a look at the top things to do in Roatán, whether you have a few days or a full week.
Roatán may look tiny when examining a broad map of the Caribbean Sea, yet at 77 km (48 mi) long, it’s deceptively large. While most visitors stick to a few places on the island’s far west side, this guide also covers some things to do in the island’s east.
Whether it’s experiencing wildlife, going snorkeling, or kayaking through mangroves, Roatán has a bit of something for everyone.
For additional information on things like reaching the island, getting around Roatán, and experiencing Roatán on a budget, be sure to check the very end of the article.
West End
The most popular stay in Roatán would have to be West End. (Confusingly, it’s West Bay, not West End, that’s at the westernmost point of the island.)
Not only is West End home to one of the island’s most beautiful beaches, but it also contains the most tourist infrastructure. There are no shortage of hotels, shops and restaurants to choose from here.
And unlike West Bay, West End is connected to other districts of the island via local public transport (see more below).
Just be forewarned – while West End may be very accessible, the prices at many of its restaurants are even higher than what you’ll find in the US!
So those expecting everything to be cheap in Honduras might be in for a shock. With that said, further below we’ll be covering tips on experiencing Roatán on a budget.
Victor's Monkey & Sloth Sanctuary
Most travelers come to Central America with hopes of seeing wildlife. And while Roatán may lack the expansive national parks of somewhere like Costa Rica, the island does have a few different wildlife sanctuaries to choose from.
For whatever reason, the wildlife sanctuaries that come up in most searches are the Mayan Eden Monkey & Sloth Park and the Roatán Sloth Sanctuary at the far south side of the island – well outside of public transport routes.
But conveniently, there’s actually an animal sanctuary just outside of West End. Victor’s Monkey & Sloth Sanctuary (also known as Bodden Tours), is located roughly halfway between West End and Sandy Bay. It’s accessible via public transport or a cheap taxi ride.
At the time of writing, entrance costs $15 per person for the animal sanctuary alone, though you also have the option of paying more for things like ziplines. In my case, I decided to solely focus on the animals.
Before visiting, I didn’t quite know what to expect, other than that I’d get to see some sloths. But early on in the guided tour, our guide took us to see some monkeys.
While some species, such as spider monkeys, can only be viewed from outside their cages, we were able to get right up close to some White-Faced Capuchins. One of them even climbed right on my head!
Next, we were able to get inside the cage with some colorful macaws. After this experience, I didn’t feel so bad about skipping out on the Macaw Mountain Reserve in Copán.
And then it was time for the sloths. While I knew we’d be able to see some sloths from up close, immediately upon entering the area, a staff member handed a slot right to me. And the next thing I knew, we were hugging.
Despite his slow movements (for which sloths, of course, are well known), I could feel that his heart was beating at the rate of a normal mammal.
As I’d later learn upon research, the normal heart rate of a sloth is roughly similar to that of a human. Though they do possess the ability to slow it down at will.
Like dolphins, sloths appear to have permanent smiles on their faces, and it’s hard to tell whether or not they really enjoy being held by humans.
Among animal rights activists and conservationists, there appears to be a lot of strong opposition to humans holding or touching sloths.
As mentioned, it’s something that kind of suddenly happened, and I had no particular thoughts on the subject one way or the other before my visit. But the issue may be something you want to consider before going.
All in all, Victor’s Monkey & Sloth Sanctuary was one of my most memorable experiences on the island and is easily one of the top things to do in Roatán.
WILDLIFE TOURS: As mentioned, those staying in West End can simply show up at Victor’s Monkey & Sloth Sanctuary and see the animals.
But for those looking for something more organized, or for people staying in a different part of the island, most Roatán animal tours such as this one take people to the Mayan Eden Monkey & Sloth Park. And those arriving by cruise ship can also be picked up at the port.
WHERE TO STAY IN WEST END: West End is home to Roatán’s widest range of accommodation options. Highly rated mid-range hotels include Mame Trees and Seabreeze End. And if you’re looking to splurge, consider The Beach House Boutique Hotel.
Budget travelers still have some choices in West End as well. Those who don’t mind shared dorm rooms should look at the Onat Roatan Hostel.
West Bay
As mentioned above, West Bay – and not West End – is the town at the far western end of Roatán. And it too is quite a popular place to stay.
West Bay is considerably less developed than West End, and many of the hotels and restaurants are right on the beach. Somehow, West Bay feels simultaneously less developed yet fancier than West End, as many of its hotels and resorts are larger and more high-end.
If you’re not staying at West Bay, the area can be a pain to reach. Despite indeed being accessible by road, West Bay cannot be reached by the minivans or shared taxis that run across the island.
As such, the only way to reach West Bay without your own car is to hire a water taxi from West End (see map above) which costs $5 each way. But to even get that price, you’ll have to wait for at least three other people to show up which could sometimes take ages.
As beautiful as West Bay Beach is, it’s not worth paying $10 to access when you can just visit West End instead.
The Lighthouse
A few days after my initial underwhelming visit to West Bay Beach, some people from my guest house and I rented a car for a day and a half. And in addition to the east side of the island, we also drove around West Bay.
Aside from the beach, one of the major landmarks in the area is the Lighthouse. At the time of my visit, it cost a few dollars to enter and climb to the top.
Coral Reef Lounge
At the south end of West Bay (on the opposite side of the island from West Bay Beach) is a restaurant known as the Coral Reef Lounge. Even if you don’t plan on eating there, those with a car should park nearby and check out the beautiful landscape surrounding it.
Various wooden walkways allow visitors to appreciate the views of the water splashing against the rough rocks. It makes for an interesting alternative to the standard beach scenery you’ll be seeing on much of the island.
We actually did end up eating at the Coral Reef Lounge, and the food was tasty for a reasonable price. Though as with many things in touristy parts of Latin America, you’ll have to haggle a bit in Spanish to get anything close to the ‘local price.’
WEST BAY TOURS: Those with limited time on the island and who don’t want to deal with the complicated process of reaching West Bay might want to consider a tour like this one. In addition to time spent on a West Bay Beach and a guided snorkeling session, it also includes a trip to a sloth sanctuary.
WHERE TO STAY IN WEST BAY: Pretty much everything in West Bay could be considered upscale. But for those with the money to spend, some of the highest-rated options in the area include the Naboo Resort & Dive Center, Kimpton – Grand Roatan Resort and La Placita Inn.
Sandy Bay
Sandy Bay is located further east of West End and is perhaps best known for Anthony’s Key Resort. Even if you’re not staying there, there are a couple of reasons why you might want to visit.
If you’re looking for souvenirs, they have an excellent gift shop which has more items than what you’ll find in West End. Furthermore, the resort is home to what seems to be Roatán’s only museum.
The Museum
The museum is part of the Roatán Institute For Marine Sciences and costs a few dollars to enter. It largely focuses on the island’s pre-Hispanic past, with various archaeological findings on display.
The island had long been inhabited by indigenous tribes, though they were largely wiped out by smallpox and other diseases introduced by Europeans.
As most of the original settlements would’ve been built of perishable materials, almost nothing of them remains. Archaeologists have, however, discovered numerous ancient ceramics.
The museum then covers the colonial era and the Bay Islands slave trade. Another room of the museum, meanwhile, focuses on natural history, with various corals on display.
Sandy Bay Snorkeling
Diving and snorkeling are typically regarded as some of the best things to do in Roatán. While West End undoubtedly has a prettier beach than Sandy Bay, I was told by someone who tried both areas that Sandy Bay has much better coral.
And as I was based in Sandy Bay, I made sure to go out and see for myself.
The area near the beach is largely covered in seagrass. But if you go far out enough, you will eventually find some coral. Supposedly, if you go out even further to the area around a large rock, the sea grass will disappear and you should eventually encounter a pristine coral reef.
Unfortunately, the water was getting quite rough during my time out there, and an experienced diver I was with suggested we head back for safety. Ultimately, I never got the chance to make another attempt.
Also just outside of Sandy Bay are the Carambola Gardens. These botanical gardens are home to a hiking trail as well as a chocolate factory. But they currently charge $15 per person, which just doesn’t seem worth it for most visitors.
WHERE TO STAY IN SANDY BAY: Aside from Anthony’s Key Resort, Sandy Bay also happens to be home to the Roatán Backpackers’ Hostel, the island’s most popular budget accommodation. That’s where I ended up staying.
The hostel has various room types, including shared dorm rooms, private rooms with shared bathrooms, and private rooms with private bathrooms. Furthermore, you can use the shared kitchen to save money on food during your stay. For more information on experiencing Roatán on a budget, see the end of the article.
Aside from the two places mentioned above, a highly-rated mid-range option is Guava Grove Resort & Villas.
Further East
Looking at a map of Roatán, you’ll notice that the area between West Bay and Sandy Bay featured above only makes up a small fraction of the full island.
And considering how the main public transport route only goes as far as Coxen Hole, few foreign visitors ever end up seeing anything further east.
But during my stay at the Roatán Backpacker Hostel, a few of us decided to chip in to rent a car (about $45 per day) and explore as much of the island as we could.
What follows is a brief summary of some of the things you can expect to do and see in the eastern part of the island.
Kayaking at The Jones Ville Point Mangroves
Those interested in kayaking should consider visiting the Jonesville Point Mangroves (known locally as the Manglares de Jonesville). Located on the island’s south side, you can find the kayak rental spot past a place known as Czech Village.
Unfortunately, I’m not sure of the exact name of the establishment we visited, but it was located around the Jonesville Marina. And each of us paid around 200 lempira (about $8) per person to have a kayak for the day.
The prices were negotiated in Spanish, so non-Spanish speakers might not get quite the same deal.
After kayaking for several minutes down the coast, it wasn’t long before we reached the mangroves. And we headed down the narrow ‘alleyway’ in between them, though we frequently had to pull over for motorboats.
Once on the other side, the mangroves came to an end, but we encountered some of the most pristine turquoise water one could hope to find.
We then tied up the kayaks to a small wooden dock and proceeded to snorkel with the masks we rented in advance from our guest house.
Unfortunately, we barely encountered any fish here, but the scenery was so idyllic that it was hard to feel disappointed.
We ultimately headed back to the marina and unsuccessfully searched for a restaurant by the water before returning our kayaks and getting back on the road.
Punta Gorda
After a stop at a local roadside restaurant, we continued further east, making a brief stop at a town called Punta Gorda. It’s most known for being home to members of the Garifuna community, a people of mixed African and Amerindian heritage.
Every Sunday evening, in fact, visitors can witness a live traditional Garifuna drumming performance here, though our visit happened to take place on a weekday.
Other than some souvenir stands and a quick look at the beach, there didn’t seem like much else going on, so we continued further east.
Note that while one can normally transfer in Coxen Hole and take a public bus to Punta Gorda, those buses don’t run on Sundays. So if you’re interested in witnessing the live drumming, a private tour or car will be your only options.
Camp Bay
Close to the eastern end of the island is a beach known as Camp Bay. While the color of the water isn’t as pretty as at West End or West Bay, there’s a good chance you’ll have most of the beach to yourself.
Camp Bay is also known for its beautiful sunsets, which we stood and enjoyed before making the long drive back to Sandy Bay.
But before sunset, curious as to what one might find at the eastern edge of the island, we attempted to drive there, only to encounter a gate. It wasn’t locked, though.
Shortly past it was a dirt road that soon led to a steep downhill drop. We figured it was best not to attempt it, and decided to turn around. Looking back, the area past the gate is probably off-limits to the general public, as it’s part of a ‘Marine Special Protection Zone.
EAST END TOURS: If you’re not looking to rent a car, the eastern portion of the island can also be visited by organized tour. This East End Tour, for example, can take you to the mangroves and Punta Gorda, among other destinations.
Additional Info
Being an island, there are two main ways to get to Roatán: flight and ferry (not counting cruise ships, of course).
By Flight
It used to be quite common for people to fly to the mainland city of San Pedro Sula before taking a bus to La Ceiba and then a ferry from there. And to some degree, it still is. But Roatán’s airport seems to be getting more and more direct international connections, bypassing the need to visit the mainland at all.
At the time of writing, the Juan Manuel Gálvez International Airport has direct connections to Houston, Atlanta, Chicago, Toronto and a few other cities. Flights to and from Roatán only seem to be slightly higher than those to San Pedro Sula, but flying directly to the island would save you a lot of time and stress in the end.
Keep reading to learn why you might not want to come by ferry if you can fly.
By Ferry
For those coming from the Honduran mainland, ferries depart from the coastal city of La Ceiba. And there are two companies to choose from: Roatán Galaxy Wave Ferry and Dream Ferries. Both depart from the same general area.
According to their websites at the time of writing, Galaxy Wave Ferries has daily departures from La Ceiba at 9:30 AM and 16:30 PM, and Dream Ferries at 9:30 and 15:00. The one-way journey lasts about 90 minutes.
I decided to go with Galaxy Wave. While normal tickets cost $25 each way, I paid $6 extra for ‘first class,’ which lets you sit in a slightly less crowded and quieter part of the boat. This is what I’d recommend most travelers do.
While the tickets can easily be purchased online, the boarding procedure turned out to be anything but smooth. Despite getting an email clearly stating that I should arrive an hour before departure to ‘check-in,’ arriving early only caused more confusion.
I took a taxi from my hotel in La Ceiba and upon arrival at the terminal, I was surprised that there was an earlier 8:30 boat about to depart. Oddly, it wasn’t mentioned on their website.
Bags were being checked outside the ferry terminal entrance, and I asked the staff if they were collecting bags for the 9:30 boat. They told me no, they were still collecting for the 8:30 one, but I could just check them anyway. They also said that I could board the 8:30 boat if I wanted to.
I explained that I’d already arranged private transport from the island terminal with my guest house, so I didn’t want to change boats. They still told me I should just check my bags and that it would be no problem for my stuff to be left at the terminal unattended for an hour!
I insisted on waiting for the 9:30 luggage check, though the baggage check for the 8:30 boat didn’t stop until 8:45!
Finally dropping off my luggage for the correct boat, I had to go and pay a port tax which cost 35 L. All passengers have to stand in a long line situated outside the main terminal in order to pay it. One wonders why it’s not included in the original ticket price.
After paying the tax, I went back inside and began waiting in the regular line for the boarding area. I had my ticket printed out in advance as instructed. But a staff member pointed me over to the ticket booth and said I should get in that line instead.
And so I did, but the woman said since I already had my ticket, so I should be waiting in the line that I’d just come from. Nobody seemed to know what was going on, despite the staff here presumably working here every day!
Finally in the boarding area, there was more chaos. The interior was completely packed, and they eventually started announcing boarding sections through a barely audible speaker.
Fortunately, things were fine once I was finally on the boat (I luckily already had some motion sickness pills), but I’d highly recommend most people fly to the island in order to avoid the horrible boarding procedures.
Once at the airport or ferry terminal, if you don’t have transport already arranged with your hotel, consider booking a private transfer in advance.
As mentioned above, a number of Roatán’s towns can be reached via public transport in the form of shared minivans. They run along the main road in between West End and Coxen Hole.
The minivans cost 25 lempiras (about $1) regardless of distance. If you don’t have exact change, it’s common here for drivers to shortchange gringos.
Another option is taking a shared taxi. These appear as regular taxis, but they’ll honk at you as they drive by to get your attention. There doesn’t seem to be a standard fee, but expect the drivers to quote you multiple times what the minivan drivers charge – especially if you appear as a gringo.
Supposedly, to get to the eastern part of the island via public transport, you can take a taxi or minivan to Coxen Hole and then transfer there to a different bus. As I didn’t try this, I’m not sure of the specific details.
As mentioned, you may also want to rent a car at some point during your stay, either by asking around or booking online in advance.
Aside from renting a car, you can also book something like this customizable tour with a private driver. It takes you to various parts of the island, including some that aren’t mentioned in the guide above.
Roatán can be quite a pricey place by Central American standards. As mentioned above, some of the restaurants in West End, for example, charge higher than US prices!
That’s why a lot of budget travelers seem to choose Utila instead, which is much cheaper all around. But while I haven’t been there myself, there doesn’t seem to be a whole lot to do on Utila aside from diving.
The good news is that many of the top things to do in Roatán can indeed be experienced on a budget – but only if you plan things carefully.
As mentioned above, one of the only budget guest houses on the island is Roatán Backpackers’ Hostel in Sandy Bay. Prices vary depending on season and how much privacy you want, but expect to pay only slightly higher than what you would in other parts of Honduras.
Additionally, Sandy Bay is also home to a supermarket with reasonable prices. So you can shop there and then cook in the guest house kitchen. And you can even find a few affordable local restaurants by walking a bit deeper into town. This area is quite rough around the edges (though overall safe), and the more Spanish you know, the better.
Looking back, while I had a nice stay at Roatán Backpackers’ Hostel overall, I was not at all a fan of the dirty and muddy beach at Sandy Bay. And I found it annoying to have to take a shared minivan to get to West End for the beach, as I sometimes had to wait up to 15-20 minutes.
Therefore, another option for budget travelers would be to look for an affordable hotel or hostel in West End that has its own kitchen. Then just commute when necessary to Sandy Bay to pick up some groceries before heading back again.
If you’re more of an adventurous traveler, four or five days should be plenty to do and see everything in the list above.
But if you’re the type of traveler who’s fully content with lying on the beach every day, the more time you have, the the better.
As more of an adventurous traveler than a beach bum, I gave myself seven full days on the island, but would’ve been fine with four or five. In fact, I felt like I booked a few too many nights, though largely did so in case of bad weather.
Regardless of what type of traveler you are, I wouldn’t recommend someone make the journey out to Roatán if they couldn’t spend at least three full days there.