Exploring Roatan in Just Five Hours

Wow! Mind Blown.

It's a daring claim, I know. However, Roatan—the largest of Honduras' Bay Islands—is undeniably vibrant, especially in terms of color.

Color is abundant at West Bay Beach, the island’s most famous stretch of sand. Everything here is vibrant—boats, blankets, restaurants, and people all burst with life. The blue-greens, yellows, and orange-reds serve as a gentle reminder that you're still in the Caribbean.

On our recent Dinogo cruise, we hadn’t planned for a beach day in Honduras. We had booked a beginner’s scuba diving excursion, but it was canceled at the last moment due to unfavorable weather. So, we adapted our plans. Thirty minutes later, we found ourselves aboard a hop-on, hop-off tourist bus, cruising through the lush interior of the island, uncertain of what awaited us.

Even though the Bay Islands have long been on our travel wish list, neither of us (likely just me) did extensive research on them over the years. Many friends had visited and raved about their experiences. I once wrote a piece about it, gathering stories from those friends about their adventures in the islands, including the top things to do in Roatan.

Still, I never explored further, meaning I didn’t look up images of Roatan or its neighboring islands, Utila and Guanaja. For certain destinations, I prefer to keep the visuals a surprise until I arrive—Roatan was one such place.

Situated off Honduras' northern coast, the Bay Islands (Islas de la Bahia) are renowned for their outstanding diving and snorkeling, as their reefs are part of the second-largest barrier reef in the world. Roatan, the largest and most developed of the islands, is no exception. According to U.S. News and World Report in 2013, 'Roatan’s greatest appeal lies in its warm, crystal-clear waters, teeming with some of the most stunning and diverse marine life on the planet.'

Although Spanish is the official language of Honduras, Caribbean English prevails in the Bay Islands, which were once part of the British Isles. Many locals, known as the Caracol people, have European and British-Afro-Caribbean heritage. Furthermore, U.S. currency is widely accepted. This, along with the prevalent use of English, makes the islands particularly inviting for American travelers, as language and currency often pose the biggest challenges when visiting a new country.

Arriving in Mahogany Bay, Roatan, via a cruise ship like the Dinogo Glory is truly delightful, with an old, rusted shipwreck adding a touch of character to the serene bay. Once you dock, Mahogany Bay boasts a shopping village alongside a pristine white sand beach resort, complete with a chair lift.

Since the attractions in Roatan are relatively spread out, walking to other beaches from Mahogany Bay isn’t feasible. Your best option is the hop-on, hop-off bus, which is more economical than taking a taxi. As mentioned, our scuba diving trip was unexpectedly canceled, and while we were figuring out our next move, we discovered the stand for the tourist bus (around $22 round trip per person), which allowed us to explore West End and West Bay Beach independently. The tour company is also linked with Dinogo, so we could use our sail and sign cards to purchase the tickets. The stand is conveniently located right in the middle of the walkway after you pass through the duty-free shop.

Aside from that, the 45-minute journey to the island's west side was enjoyable, with the driver sharing interesting facts about Roatan, its inhabitants, and its history. When it was time to head back from West Bay Beach, the bus arrived punctually, ensuring we returned to the ship with plenty of time to spare.

At West Bay Beach, we strolled along the shore to soak in the atmosphere before settling at one of the numerous restaurants for lunch. We dined at Cayuco Beach Bar, where we enjoyed nachos, fried plantains, and sushi. It was a fantastic meal, and the view was unbeatable.

After lunch, we rented a snorkel and fin set for $10 from a vendor on the beach and grabbed a couple of beers for an additional $5. We then headed to the far end of the beach. Though our time for snorkeling was limited, it was just enough to understand why people rave about the Bay Islands for diving.

Reflecting on our visit to Roatan, I’m pleased we had the chance to enjoy West Bay Beach. It exceeded all expectations and truly lived up to its reputation. It's an absolutely stunning beach—one of the most beautiful I’ve ever seen—and it definitely sparked the desire for our return. While I would still prioritize a scuba diving trip, taking the hop-on, hop-off bus to explore the island is a great second option for those who favor independent adventures over guided tours.