Most of the developed tourist attractions are in the West End of the island, a hot spot for diving schools, hip restaurants and discos. Often hiding from the beaten track in this area of the island, the more traditional local establishments are not to be missed. Friendly Residents offer the best of true island cuisine, great hospitality, and loads of wonderful stories and information about the islands.

Not far form the buzz of activity in the West End lays West Bay. The largest beach on the island, this expansive and idyllic tropical setting is studded with towering coconut palms, and beautiful resorts. Spectacular snorkeling is within easy swimming distance and for non-swimmers this amazing underwater world can be enjoyed on a glass bottom boat tour.

The main port of entry by air and sea is Coxen Hole, the largest town on Roatán. It is the place to go for shopping and essential phone, bank and travel services. Narrow roads cross through old island-style, clapboard buildings, and lots of industrious islanders and purposeful pedestrians rush in and out of traffic with arms full of goodies not found elsewhere on the island.

The economic hub of Roatan is French Harbor’s large bay; home to several of the largest fishing fleets in the Caribbean and quarters some of the most exclusive resorts in the area.

Just offshore, numerous gleaming white sand cays starkly contrast the backdrop of navy blue water and provide a variety of unique wreck dives. Port Royal is the place where it all happened, the firing cannons of the English, the sword-slinging black-hearted pirates, and the sweeping Spanish raids. Today, the provocative beauty of this bay appears remarkably untouched.

In 1665, Henry Morgan stopped to water his ships here and ended up staying because of its perfectly protected entrance and convenient location. Port Royal has always been an irresistible attraction for treasure hunters. In the 1970´s, a sunken Spanish Galleon dating to 1528 was detected in the middle of this bay a minesweeper, which is now seen, wrecked on the reef close by. The finder made novel use of his discovery, offering scuba instructions and treasure diving adventures.
Tourist came from around the world to dive and collect priceless treasures from the galleon for a mere $3000, leaving little more than its skeleton behind on the floor of the bay.

Cut off from the rest of the island by a natural channel. This fishing community is proud of its simple way of life and peculiar landscape, where villagers greet visitors with open arms.

Adventure-seekers will find plenty to explore on Roatan. Limestone caves and caverns are a “must”. The most unforgettable of these caves require crawling through a narrow passageway before descending 50 feet to a cathedral-like domed chamber. Massive stalactites dangle from the ceiling to a fresh water pool below. Since the narrow entrance often has a welcoming committee of flapping fruit bats and tarantulas. Spelunkers come from the far reaches of the world to experience these famous caves.

On a hill behind Santa Elena is an ancient indigenous burial ground excavated by archaeologists. Visitors will see bits of pottery and crumbling conch shells in exposed dig sites. The climb to the burial grounds is graced with magnificent views of the bay below. From the top unfolds an impressive scene of ocean on both sides and Roatan´s sprawling spine of mountains layering into the horizon.

The community of Sandy Bay on the northwest coast offers a scenic town through which to stroll and a number of places where naturalists and history buffs can learn more about the islands fauna and flora, sea life, and melodramatic past.
Another reason to stop in Sandy Bay is to walk through the lush botanical gardens and well-marked nature trails on the south side of the main road.
After all that walking, enjoy a drink or dine in any one of the ocean view restaurants overlooking the protected marine park, or experience the charm of local flavors in the rustic town bar.