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Voykit pocket guide · Honduras
Roatán
Roatán is a base-on-the-west-end island: sleep in West End or West Bay, dive or snorkel in the morning, keep the middle of the day for shade, and take a taxi you booked for everything after dark — there is one main road and it is not lit.
Roatán is a long, narrow island with one main road, a small airport near Coxen Hole and two beach villages at the western end. Most trips break on transport: taxis are priced by zone and hard to find late, the road is unlit, and cruise-ship days crowd the beaches. Four small clusters cover a first visit; a hired taxi or a scooter joins them, and hurricane season decides whether the ferries and flights run.
- Country
- Honduras
- Best months
- Feb · Mar · Apr · May
- Time zone
- America/Tegucigalpa
- Stay
- 2 days: West End reef morning, West Bay beach
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- HNL
- Money
- US dollars are accepted almost everywhere on the tourist side of the island; change usually comes in lempira. Cards work at larger hotels, dive shops and restaurants, but small counters, taxis and colectivos are cash only. Carry small notes.
- Daily spend
- Budget L700–1,200 excl. bed · Mid L1,200–3,000 excl. bed · High L3,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Tigo and Claro sell prepaid SIMs at the airport and in Coxen Hole (bring your passport). Check that your US phone is unlocked, or buy an eSIM before you fly; US carriers' roaming plans vary (check).
- Emergency
- Police / fire / ambulance 911 (response can be slow; also ask your hotel for local numbers) · Dive emergency Ask your dive shop for the boat radio, oxygen and chamber contacts before your first dive
- Plugs
- 120 V, 60 Hz with US-style flat-pin sockets (types A and B): a US plug works without an adapter. Power cuts happen in storms; keep a power bank.
- Tipping
- About 10% in sit-down restaurants if service is not already on the bill (check). Dive crews: about US$5–10 per diver per boat day. Taxis: not expected; round up.
- Water
- Do not drink tap water. Use sealed or filtered water. Ice in tourist restaurants is usually from purified supplies (ask), and cooked food is lower risk than raw salads.
- Toilets
- Hotels, restaurants, dive shops and larger stores. Carry tissues and hand sanitiser; public toilets are rare.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Baleada at a counter | US$1.50–4 |
| Lunch at a comedor | US$3–8 |
| Beach-bar lunch | US$12–25 |
| Seafood dinner, mid-range | US$20–45 |
| Beer | US$2–5 |
| Airport taxi to West End | US$25–35 |
| West End to West Bay by taxi | US$8–15 |
| Boat dive (single) | US$45–60 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- Juan Manuel Gálvez International Airport (RTB), Roatán
- RTB to West End: one pre-booked taxi, 25–40 minutes for about 15 km (9.3 mi) — the risk is a late landing with no ride arranged and an unlit road.RTB to West End: one pre-booked taxi, 25–40 minutes for about 9.3 mi (15 km) — the risk is a late landing with no ride arranged and an unlit road.
By rail and road
| Station | Serves | To the centre |
|---|---|---|
| Juan Manuel Gálvez International Airport (RTB) (Aeropuerto Internacional Juan Manuel Gálvez) | Nonstop flights from several US hubs (commonly Houston, Atlanta, Miami and Dallas; seasonal, check), plus flights from Honduran cities and Central America | Taxi 25–40 min to West End |
| La Ceiba ferry (Dixon Cove and other landings) (Ferry desde La Ceiba) | The mainland port of La Ceiba (check operators, times and fares) | Taxi 30–45 min to West End |
| Cruise ports (Coxen Hole and Mahogany Bay) | Cruise passengers on port days | Taxi 20–40 min to West End or West Bay |
Typical fares
- Airport to West End
- US$25–35 by taxi
- West End to West Bay
- US$8–15 by taxi; water taxi about US$5–10 in good weather (check)
- Colectivo on the main road
- About US$1–3 (check); cash only
Show 8 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Eat, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Walk inside West End or West Bay by day; take a booked taxi between villages and after dark. There are no ride-hailing apps and no meters: agree the price and currency before you get in.
| How | Fare | Use for |
|---|---|---|
| Walking | Free | Inside West End by day |
| Taxi (booked or from a rank) | US$8–15 West End to West Bay; US$25–35 airport to West End | Between villages, bags and night |
| Water taxi (West End to West Bay) | About US$5–10 one way (check) | A short scenic hop in good weather |
| Colectivo (shared van) on the main road | About US$1–3 (check) | Daytime hops if you know the route |
| Scooter or ATV hire | About US$30–60 a day (check) | Confident riders in daylight |
| Rental car | About US$45–80 a day (check) | Exploring the north shore and east end |
Fares are estimates; check before you ride.
- Passes
- No pass. Taxis have zone prices: agree the price before you get in. Shared minibuses run on the main road by day.
- Late at night
- No rail. Taxis get scarce late: ask your hotel or dive shop to book the ride back before you go out.
See and do
01A boat dive or guided snorkelArrecife de West End
The reason to come: the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef a short boat ride from West End.
Hours: best Morning boat · Price: US$40–120 · Time: 3–4 h · 16.3035, -86.5950
02Half Moon Bay shore snorkelHalf Moon Bay
A free reef swim from the sand before the boats start.
Hours: best Before 09:30 · Price: Free (gear extra) · Time: 1–2 hHours: best Before 9:30 AM · Price: Free (gear extra) · Time: 1–2 h · 16.3040, -86.5935
03West Bay BeachWest Bay
The long white beach with calm water; quieter at the ends.
Hours: best Before 10:00 or after 15:30 · Price: Free · Time: 2–3 hHours: best Before 10:00 AM or after 3:30 PM · Price: Free · Time: 2–3 h · 16.3125, -86.6035
04Sunset seafood dinner in West EndRestaurantes de mariscos
Grilled fish and lobster in season by the water.
Hours: best 17:00–18:30 · Price: US$20–45 · Time: 1.5 hHours: best 5:00 PM–6:30 PM · Price: US$20–45 · Time: 1.5 h · 16.3045, -86.5930
05Carambola Botanical Gardens
A shaded hillside walk and coastal lookout.
Hours: best Morning · Price: About US$10 · Time: 1–1.5 h · 16.3235, -86.5695
06Baleadas on the main streetBaleadas y mariscos
The cheapest and most Honduran meal on the island.
Hours: best 11:30–14:00 · Price: US$1.50–4 · Time: 30 minHours: best 11:30 AM–2:00 PM · Price: US$1.50–4 · Time: 30 min · 16.3052, -86.5922
07Gumbalimba Park zip line
A change of pace with zip lines and animals.
Hours: best Opening · Price: US$50–75 · Time: 2–3 h · 16.3112, -86.6005
08Coconut bread and coffeePanaderías y cafés
A local start to a boat day.
Hours: best 06:30–08:30 · Price: US$4–12 · Time: 30 minHours: best 6:30 AM–8:30 AM · Price: US$4–12 · Time: 30 min · 16.3058, -86.5928
09Marine science visit (optional)
A research-centre visit; ask about welfare and choose it only if it suits you.
Hours: best Booked slot · Price: US$100–200+ · Time: 1.5–2 h · 16.3225, -86.5685
10Coxen Hole errand runCoxen Hole
Cash, pharmacy and supplies in one weekday morning.
Hours: best Weekday morning · Price: Free (transport) · Time: 1 h · 16.3195, -86.5385
Hours and prices are desk estimates (checked 2026-09); anything marked (check) is not confirmed. Coordinates open in any map app.
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| West Bay Beach | Taxi 10–15 min or water taxi from West End | Half day |
| Sandy Bay and Carambola Gardens | Taxi 15 min | Half day |
| Coxen Hole (errands) | Taxi 25 min or colectivo | 2 hours |
| Punta Gorda (Garifuna village) | Taxi or tour, 1–1.5 h each way (check) | Half day |
| Utila (dive-course island) | Ferry via La Ceiba, or small plane (check) | Overnight |
Eat
| Where | What · area | Price | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| West End baleada and seafood counters | Baleada or fish plate · West End | US$1.50–14 | Budget |
| Coxen Hole comedores (local lunch counters) | Plato del día · Coxen Hole | US$3–8 | Budget |
| West End bakery and coffee shops | Breakfast plate and coffee · West End | US$4–12 | Mid-range |
| West Bay beach bars and kiosks | Fish tacos or garlic shrimp · West Bay | US$12–25 | Mid-range |
| West End waterfront seafood restaurants | Lobster or grilled fish at sunset · West End | US$20–45 | Splurge |
Per person, one dish or one meal, 2026 estimate in US dollars. Menus change: check the day before.
Sleep
| Band | Price a night | Where | What |
|---|---|---|---|
| budget | US$40–80 | West End guesthouses and small hotels | Guesthouses, small hotels and dorms |
| mid | US$100–200 | West End and West Bay hotels | Boutique hotels and beachfront rooms |
| splurge | US$250–500+ | West Bay resorts and villas | Resorts, villas and dive resorts |
Per room per night in US dollars, 2026 estimate; taxes of about 19% may be extra (check).
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Good morning | Buenos díasBWEH-nohs DEE-ahs |
| Thank you | GraciasGRAH-see-ahs |
| How much is it? | ¿Cuánto cuesta?KWAHN-toh KWEHS-tah |
| The bill, please | La cuenta, por favorlah KWEN-tah por fah-VOR |
| Please take me to | Por favor, lléveme apor fah-VOR YEH-veh-meh ah |
| Bottled water, please | Agua embotellada, por favorAH-gwah em-boh-teh-YAH-dah |
| I need help | Necesito ayudaneh-seh-SEE-toh ah-YOO-dah |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greetings: Say buenos días or good morning when you enter a shop or a taxi. It is polite and it changes the tone of a haggle.
- Beachwear: Keep swimwear for the beach and dive shop. Cover up in Coxen Hole, restaurants away from the sand and churches.
- Coral and wildlife: Do not touch, stand on or take coral, shells or marine life. Do not feed fish or chase turtles.
- Photos: Ask before photographing people, especially at Garifuna villages, churches and markets.
- Tipping: Restaurants: about 10% if service is not on the bill (check). Dive crews: US$5–10 per diver per boat day. Taxi drivers: round up.
- Bargaining: Fixed prices in shops and restaurants. Haggle politely with beach vendors and for multi-day rentals; agree taxi prices first.
- Language: English is widely spoken in tourist areas, but a few Spanish phrases go a long way, especially in Coxen Hole and on colectivos.
Red lines
- Do not touch coral, feed fish or take shells.
- Ask before photographing people.
- Cover up away from the beach: beachwear is for the beach.
Scams and watch-outs
- Taxis have no meter: agree the price and the currency (US dollars or lempira) before you get in, and ask your hotel what the fair zone price is.
- Some vendors and boat touts quote cruise-passenger prices: ask the price for the same thing at a dive shop or your hotel first.
- 'Free' beach-side offers (braids, tours, a snorkel 'guide') come with a price later: agree the price before you accept.
- Unofficial 'marine park' fee collectors on beaches: the fee is collected by dive shops and operators; ask for a receipt (check).
- Timeshare and property presentations offered with a free meal or tour: decline politely if you do not want a sales pitch.
- ATMs: use machines inside banks or the supermarket in daylight; cover the keypad and check for skimmers.
One and two days
2 days
A short break based in West End. Skip: Sandy Bay and the gardens: they need a taxi and a half-day.
Day 1 — West End
- 07:007:00 AMBreakfast at a bakery-café
- 08:008:00 AMHalf Moon Bay snorkel
- 12:3012:30 PMBaleadas or fish at a counter
- 17:305:30 PMSunset dinner by the water
Day 2 — West Bay
- 08:308:30 AMTaxi to West Bay Beach
- 12:0012:00 PMBeach-bar lunch
- 15:303:30 PMBack to West End by taxi before dark
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Roatán Marine Park: www.roatanmarinepark.org/
- US State Department — Honduras travel advisory: travel.state.gov/
- CDC Travelers' Health — Honduras: wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/honduras
- Wikivoyage — Roatán: en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Roat%C3%A1n
- Wikivoyage — Honduras: en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Honduras
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Roatán
Por favor, lléveme a
Please take me to
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
Take me to
- Arrecife de West EndWest End reef and dive boats
- Half Moon BayHalf Moon Bay (West End)
- West BayWest Bay Beach
- Restaurantes de mariscosWest End waterfront seafood restaurants
- Baleadas y mariscosWest End baleada and seafood counters
- Panaderías y cafésWest End bakery and coffee shops
- Police / fire / ambulance911 (response can be slow; also ask your hotel for local numbers)
- Dive emergencyAsk your dive shop for the boat radio, oxygen and chamber contacts before your first dive
Contact your embassy in Tegucigalpa; write the number here before you fly.
Carry small US dollar notes for taxis, tips and counters: change is often in lempira.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/roatan). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.