ABOUT ROATAN
Roatan is the largest of the Bay Islands located about 30 miles off the north coast of mainland Honduras. The islands are the tips of undersea mountains that extend out from the mainland’s Omoa Ridge and form the Bonacca Ridge with steep walls they are one of the most rare and beautifully formed reefs in the world and the second largest after the Great Barrier Reef.
Honduras means “deep water” and the reefs are natural breakwaters creating ideal conditions for diving, fishing, swimming and sailing.
The Bay Islands cover about 92 sq. miles and include Utila and Gaunaja, as well as the smaller islands of Morat, Barbareta and St. Helene east of Roatan. The island is 30 miles long and approximately 4 miles wide situated in the Bay of Honduras running from the south west to northeast.
At 16 degrees north latitude the climate is Tropical Wet with an average temperature of 84 degrees F. The rainy season is October through January though the summer months of July and August can also have some intermittent rain showers.
Roatan’s population is about 75,000, the people are friendly, easy going and approachable and English is widely spoken.
Historically the main industries have been fishing and boat building though tourism has surpassed these in recent years with foreign investment mainly from North America and Europe. There is a large expat community who have come to set up various businesses as well as many retires.
ISLAND INFORMATION
Roatan is not as commercially developed as other Caribbean Islands so you may not have all of the conveniences as other islands though this is rapidly changing and part of the charm of this island paradise.
Coxen Hole where the airport is located is the capital where you will find larger grocery stores with imported foods and a number of banks. Also the town of French Harbour has large groceries and banks.
West End has smaller grocery stores as well as vegetable & fruit vendors.
Getting to Roatan
Roatan (RTB) has an international airport with direct flights via American from Miami and Dallas, United Airlines from Houston, and Delta from Atlanta There are also daily flights to San Pedro Sula (SAP) with connections to Roatan via local carriers, CM Airlines, SOSA, Lahnsa & Avianca..
Iberia flies from Madrid, from other parts of Europe Lufthansa, KLM, Air France, British Airways, Alitalia all fly to Miami and Houston where you can make connections via San Pedro Sula to Roatan. Air Europe has weekly direct flights from Milan, Italy. Air Transat and Sunwing has weekly direct flights from Toronto and Montreal during the winter months.
HONDURAS ENTRY POLICY
Visitors to Honduras must present a passport valid for at least six months beyond travel dates. No visas are required for citizens of Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States and most Western European countries for tourist visits up to 30 days. A return ticket or onward travel is required. Citizens of other countries are required to obtain a tourist card, which can be purchased from Honduran consulates.
MEDICAL FACILITIES
CEMECA ROATAN is Roatan’s newest private hospital opened in 2016 in French Harbour 9446-0097
Woods Medical Clinic also a private hospital is also located in Coxen Hole PHONE: 2445- 1080
Roatan Municipal Hospital is located in Coxen Hole PHONE: 2445-1227
Anthony’s Key Resort has a Decompression Chamber and offers an outpatient clinic. PHONE: 2445- 3003, 3008, 3009
Clinica Esperanza in Sandy Bay is run by volunteers mostly from the U.S. as well as local volunteers and doctors. PHONE: 2445-3234
THINGS TO DO:
DIVING
Scuba Diving has always been the main attraction of the island and is considered one of the best places in the world.
There are many dive operators especially in West End, West Bay & Sandy Bay offering day, night & wreck dives as well as various training & certifications programs. There is a Decompression Chamber & Medical Clinic at Anthony’s Key Resort in Sandy Bay with on call 24 hour medical service staffed with a doctor and EMTs, open for basic medical service 8 am to 5 pm. (2445-1049, 2445-1003)
GOLF
The Black Pearl, Roatan’s first and only luxury golf course…
Stunning, radiant, and serene, The Black Pearl is true golfing paradise. This 18-hole, par-72, 7200 yard championship course was created by world-famous golf course architect Pete Dye. The course starts at the ocean’s doorstep, rises into the island’s rolling foothills, and then takes golfers on a wild ride back to the seaside clubhouse.
Open to the public and host to annual tournaments, a day on The Black Pearls a challenge to golfers of all levels. The lush, tropical flora and fauna surrounding the course with views of the Caribbean Sea from almost every hole makes it no wonder that Golf Magazine has hailed Pristine Bay as one of the “Top Five Golf Resort Destinations on the Rise.”
Pristine Bay’s first class amenities span from beverage delivery on the course to PGA lessons taught by professional golfers. The Pro Shop offers the latest in golf apparel and accessories, with club rentals available.. A wide variety of membership options allow golf enthusiasts access to golf facilities and preferential reservation rights.
Unique features of the course include one of Dye’s signature island greens and views of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, the second largest in the world, just off Pristine Bay’s coast. Not just a haven for golfers, The Black Pearl is also a haven for Roatan’s wildlife. With more than 100,000 plants and trees, the course is one of the largest sanctuaries for plant and animal life on the island
AND MORE: Parasailing, windsurfing, Hiking, Fishing, Zip Lines and a full range of other activities are also available…
ROATAN UTILITIES
Roatan has the most modern state of the art electric generating facilities in the Caribbean completed in 2017 fueled by propane as well as a wind mill farm. In the past there were many power outages though with this new facillity outages are much less frequent and for much shorter periods of time.
Most communities have community and or municipal water depending on the location of your home some property owners choose to have their own well and or cisterns. If you decide to buy property and build your own home it is suggested to have a cistern to collect rain water.
TV/internet is available in most locations these days including fiber optic internet with a few different companies to choose from some offering TV/Internet packages.
LOCAL CUISINE
The majority of restaurants are in West End and West Bay where most tourist activities are located. For a small island there are a variety of ethnic foods offering seafood and imported meats including Italian, Argentine, Thai, Spanish, Mexican, Sushi as well as local cuisine. Seafood is plentiful and a good variety of fresh vegetables that come from mainland Honduras, Guatemala and the U.S. Gio’s famous for its King Crab has two locations, in French Harbour & Flowers Bay. The East end of the island has fewer restaurants though as the island develops that is changing.
GROCERIES
Roatan is lucky to have good variety of local, regional and imported foods that are available. From small fruit and vegetable stands to small and large grocery stores both local and larger US style supermarkets. There is very little that you won’t find including a variety of fresh herbs and greens grown at local hydroponic farms on Roatan and mainland Honduras to fresh seafood markets as well as small farms providing a variety of fruits and meats.
ROATAN SCHOOLS
There are multiple private schools in Roatan offering a bilingual education in Sandy Bay, Coxen Hole, and French Harbour.