Things to do in Roatan: the island from West End to the East End

Last checked 21 October 2026.

What is there to do in Roatan?

Get in the water first. Roatan's reef is close to shore, so snorkeling and diving off West End and West Bay are the reasons most people come, with boat trips, fishing and a submarine that takes passengers 2,000 feet down for those who want more. On land, there is the walkable village of West End, ziplines and gardens around West Bay and Sandy Bay, the Garifuna community of Punta Gorda, boat rides through the mangroves at Oak Ridge, and quiet beaches and cays out on the East End.

This guide works its way along the island from west to east, so you can plan a day by area rather than zigzagging across Roatan's one main road. Each stop says where it is, who it suits and roughly how long to give it. At the end there are ideas for rainy days, cruise days, wildlife and trips off the island.

What is there to do in West End?

West End is the island's village by the sea: a sand road lined with dive shops, cafés, bars and restaurants, with the reef just off the beach. It is the easiest place on Roatan to spend a day without a car, and the starting point for most boat trips on the west side.

Snorkeling trips

For the best snorkeling, go out by boat. Dive shops along the West End road run snorkel trips to reef sites a short ride offshore, where the coral is healthier and the fish life richer than anything you can reach from the sand, and turtles and rays are regular sights. If you would rather swim out, Half Moon Bay at the north end of the village is a sheltered spot to start, with some reef close in; stay close to shore and watch for boats coming in and out of Half Moon Bay. The whole stretch sits inside the Sandy Bay to West End marine reserve, looked after by the Roatan Marine Park.

Best for: beginners and families. Time: two to three hours.

Scuba diving and learning to dive

Roatan is one of the best-value places in the Caribbean to learn to dive, and West End has the biggest concentration of dive shops on the island. Long-running names along the road include Roatan Divers, Native Sons, West End Divers, Reef Gliders, Coconut Tree Divers and Sun Divers, most of them PADI five-star centers, and in 2025 Sun Divers became Roatan's first PADI Eco Center. If you are not certified, a Discover Scuba Diving session lets you try it with an instructor in a single morning. Experienced divers come for the walls off the north side, which drop into deep water, for signature sites such as Mary's Place, and for wrecks such as El Aguila. The Roatan Marine Park also runs workshops that license certified divers to hunt lionfish, an invasive fish, with partner dive shops. Our guide to Roatan's reef and wildlife covers what you are likely to see.

Best for: first-time divers and experienced divers alike. Time: a half-day fun dive to a few days for a course.

Stanley Submarines

From West End, Stanley Submarines takes a few passengers at a time down the wall in a small private submersible, as deep as 2,000 feet. Passengers report six-gill sharks, deep-sea corals, sea lilies and animals glowing in the dark, a side of the reef almost nobody sees. Trips are not daily and can be seasonal, so contact them well ahead.

Best for: anyone who wants a once-in-a-lifetime story. Time: a few hours.

Boat trips and private charters

West End is where many of the island's boats pick up, for snorkel trips, sunset sails and island-hopping. Mono Loco Tours runs a tiki-style catamaran for snorkeling and lunch or a sunset dinner, with pickups in West End and West Bay. For your own group, operators such as West Bay Tours and Roatan Reef Tours run private charters on catamarans and motor yachts, with pickup arranged when you book.

Best for: groups, couples and celebrations. Time: two hours to a full day.

Paddleboarding and kayaking

The calm water of Half Moon Bay and along the West End shore is good for paddling, especially in the morning before the wind picks up. Rentals are available in the village and along West Bay Beach.

Best for: active mornings. Time: an hour or two.

Sunset on the West End waterfront

West End faces west, so the evening ritual is a drink on the water as the sun goes down, then dinner a few steps away. Our guide to the best places to eat in West End picks up from there.

Best for: everyone. Time: an evening.

What is there to do in West Bay?

West Bay is the island's best-known beach, just south of West End. The wider West Bay area is larger, but the main beach and resort stretch runs from the Kimpton Grand Roatan at one end to Las Rocas at the other, and that is where most of the action is. A water taxi from West End takes about ten minutes, which is the nicest way to arrive.

West Bay Beach

Calm, clear water and soft sand, with the reef close enough to snorkel from the beach, especially at the southern end. A day on West Bay can be as lazy or as busy as you like:

• snorkeling from the beach, or on a guided snorkel boat
• parasailing over West Bay
• jet skis
• glass-bottom boats, for a look at the reef without getting wet
• kayaks and paddleboards
• horseback rides along the sand
• a resort day pass or a spa treatment for a quieter afternoon

One of the nicest things to do is simply walk it. A stroll along the sand from the Kimpton Grand Roatan to Las Rocas takes in the whole beach, and Las Rocas, at the far end, is a good place to finish, with a solid happy hour and great food.

Best for: families and beach days. Time: half a day to a full day.

Eating and nights out on West Bay

The resorts along the sand double as the beach's restaurants and bars, so dinner is rarely more than a short walk away. A few hot spots: pizza at Bananarama, fine dining at the Kimpton Grand Roatan and happy hour at Las Rocas. West Bay also has weekly fixtures, including San Simon's Sunday sunset session with DJs at Mayan Princess, one of the liveliest evenings on the island, and Bananarama's Sunday charity crab races, followed by a fire show. Schedules shift with the seasons, so check with the venue before you go.

Best for: evenings without a taxi. Time: an evening.

Diving from West Bay

West Bay has its own dive shops, most on the beach or inside the resorts, and the reef is a short boat ride away. The easiest for day visitors to walk into are:

• West Bay Divers, a PADI five-star shop with a beachfront base and a second shop at the Kimpton Grand Roatan. Reviewers single out its small groups, its patience with beginners and its focus on safety.
• Bananarama Dive Center, on the beach at the Bananarama resort, a PADI five-star dive resort and Instructor Development Center. Divers staying elsewhere use it too, and reviewers love the short ride to the reef and having their gear set up for them.
• Paradise Beach Divers, a block back from the sand at the Paradise Beach Hotel, a boutique shop listed by PADI as five-star, and good with nervous first-timers.

Infinity Divers, an independent dive shop at Infinity Bay, is known for diving straight from the shore. Several resorts also run their own dive centers, including Mayan Divers at Mayan Princess, which has an adaptive program for divers with disabilities, and the dive center at Las Rocas. If you are not staying at the resort, ask whether they take outside divers.

Best for: divers staying on West Bay. Time: a morning two-tank dive, or a few days for a course.

Gumbalimba Park

Just inland from West Bay, Gumbalimba Park packs a lot into one stop: ziplines through the trees, a hanging bridge, a pirate-themed cave, gardens and a beach. It is one of the most popular stops for cruise visitors, so it is liveliest on ship days.

Best for: families and first-time zipliners. Time: three to four hours.

Ziplines on the south shore

Beyond Gumbalimba, several zipline parks run tours along the south side of the island, including King Kong, South Shore Adventures and Mayan Jungle Canopy. Most string together a series of lines through the forest with views down to the water.

Best for: teens and adventure seekers. Time: two to three hours.

What is there to do in the middle of the island?

Between West End and French Harbour sit Sandy Bay, a quieter stretch of north shore with a few of the island's longest-running attractions, and Coxen Hole and French Harbour on the south side, home to the airport, both cruise ports and a couple of easy half-day escapes just offshore.

Dolphin encounters at Anthony's Key

In Sandy Bay, at Anthony's Key Resort, the Roatan Institute for Marine Sciences has run education and research programs since 1989 and keeps a resident group of bottlenose dolphins in sea pens at Bailey's Key. Visitors can book a dolphin encounter, a swim or snorkel, or a longer trainer program. The small Roatan Museum on site, founded in 1992, tells the history and culture of the Bay Islands through artifacts, maps and murals. The dolphin program dates back to 1989, and our wildlife guide sets out that history so you can decide for yourself.

Best for: families and anyone curious about marine science. Time: one to three hours.

Carambola Botanical Gardens

In Sandy Bay, across the road from Anthony's Key, Carambola is a hillside garden of orchids, fruit trees and tropical plants, with a trail that climbs to a viewpoint over the reef. It is a peaceful, shady contrast to a beach day.

Best for: walkers and garden lovers. Time: about two hours.

Horseback riding

Trail rides through the hills and along the beach run from ranches between Sandy Bay and West End, such as El Rancho Barrio Dorcas, and from Anthony's Key Resort. Call ahead to book a ride.

Best for: families and riders of all levels. Time: one to two hours.

Maya Key

A small private island a short boat ride off the south coast, Maya Key combines a beach and snorkeling with a Mayan interpretation center of reproduction artifacts. Cruise excursions include the transfer from the port. It is built for an easy, all-in-one half day.

Best for: families and cruise visitors. Time: half a day.

Big French Key

Across the water from Little French Key, near French Harbour, Big French Key is a private beach club with kayaking and snorkeling. It is sold mainly as a cruise-day excursion, with transport from the port included.

Best for: cruise visitors and easy beach days. Time: half a day.

Is the East End worth a day trip?

Yes. Most visitors stay on the west side, so the East End is usually a full day out, by car or with a driver, and well worth it. East of French Harbour, Roatan becomes greener, hillier and far quieter.

Punta Gorda and Garifuna culture

Punta Gorda, on the north shore, is one of the oldest communities on Roatan, founded by the Garifuna people after they were landed on the island on 12 April 1797. That date is still celebrated every year. Visitors come for the food, the punta music and dance, and a side of the island most tours skip.

Best for: culture and food. Time: one to three hours.

Mangrove tours at Oak Ridge

From Oak Ridge, a fishing town of houses on stilts, local boatmen run trips through the narrow channels of the mangroves, and some operators also offer saltwater tubing through mangrove canals. It is shady, calm and unlike anything on the west side.

Best for: all ages. Time: about an hour on the water, or half a day with the drive.

Camp Bay Beach

Out on the East End, Camp Bay is one of the quietest beaches on Roatan, with a beach restaurant nearby and a kitesurf school at Camp Bay Lodge for those who want to learn. Bring what you need for the day and enjoy having most of it to yourself.

Best for: getting away from the crowds, and kitesurfing. Time: a full day.

Paya Bay

On the north side of the East End, Paya Bay is a small resort on a quiet cove with reef just off the beach. Paya Bay is partly clothing optional, so ask the resort if you have questions about this when booking your stay.

Best for: a peaceful stay on the quiet side of the island. Time: a stay of a few nights.

Port Royal and Pigeon Cay

Beyond Camp Bay, the far East End is mostly reached by boat. Port Royal, a protected area of reef and channels, was a harbor for English privateers in the 1600s; our piece on Port Royal, when Roatan was a pirate harbor tells that story. Further out, day trips to the sandbars of Pigeon Cay combine snorkeling with lunch on the beach.

Best for: snorkelers and history lovers. Time: a full day.

What is there to do on a rainy day?

Showers in Roatan rarely last all day, and a gray afternoon is a good excuse to slow down. A few ideas:

• A long lunch. Rainy days are made for trying the restaurants you have not got to yet; our guides to West End and fine dining in Roatan are a good place to start.
• A spa afternoon. Our guide to spas and massage in Roatan covers where to book.
• The Roatan Museum at Anthony's Key, paired with a dolphin visit.
• Roatan Island Brewing, for a local craft beer.
• Diving or snorkeling anyway. Light rain barely matters underwater, since you are wet already.

Which day trips leave from Roatan?

Fishing charters

Charter boats head offshore for wahoo, mahi-mahi and tuna, or fish the reef closer in. Most will pick you up in West End or from the dock at Infinity Bay in West Bay.

Best for: anglers of all levels. Time: half a day to a full day.

Cayos Cochinos

Between Roatan and the mainland, the Cayos Cochinos are a group of small cays protected as a biological reserve since 1993 and managed by the Honduras Coral Reef Fund, also known as the Fundación Cayos Cochinos. Day trips by charter boat combine snorkeling with a stop at Chachahuate, a Garifuna fishing village.

Best for: snorkelers and anyone after something different. Time: a full day.

Utila

Utila, the next island west, is famous for its dive scene and for whale sharks, which are seen in every month, most often around March to April and again in August and September. The Utila Dream ferry runs from Dixon Cove on Roatan. A day trip is possible, but most visitors stay at least a night, so check the schedule before you plan.

Best for: divers and whale shark hopefuls. Time: a day, or better, an overnight.

What can you do in Roatan on a cruise day?

Ships dock at two places: the Port of Roatan at Coxen Hole, and Isla Tropicale, formerly Mahogany Bay, a little further east at Dixon Cove. West Bay is roughly 20 to 30 minutes by road from Coxen Hole and 30 to 40 minutes from Isla Tropicale, traffic permitting. With six or seven hours ashore, a beach and snorkel at West Bay, a visit to Gumbalimba, a zipline, or a half day at Maya Key or Big French Key all fit comfortably, and beach clubs such as Tabyana and Turquoise Bay sell day passes too, often through cruise excursions. The busiest sites are at their liveliest when several ships are in, so check the port schedule and aim for quieter stops on big days. Taxis are usually priced per person, so agree the fare before you set off.

How do you see Roatan's wildlife the right way?

The rule to know is about sloths. In January 2025, Honduras's forestry and wildlife authority, the ICF, prohibited holding or carrying protected wildlife for photos in the Bay Islands, and by April sloth photo encounters had stopped across Roatan. The sloth selfie was the main target. Sloths are slow, tree-dwelling animals that stay frightened and on edge when they are handled and passed from person to person, they lose the sleep they need, and their face makes them look as if they are smiling even when they are stressed, according to World Animal Protection. Many of the sloths used as photo props are taken from the wild, and they often live far shorter lives than wild ones. Looking at and photographing them without holding them is fine.

Monkeys are a different story. At Gumbalimba Park, white-faced capuchins live on the grounds and visits to them are guided. They are usually friendly and happy to climb around on visitors, so you are free to take pictures when they come to you. Sloths and monkeys are not native to Roatan, so the best wildlife here is in the sea. On the reef, look but do not touch, wear a mineral sunscreen or a rash vest, and order lionfish when you see it on a menu. Our guides to Roatan's reef and wildlife and how healthy Roatan's reef is go deeper.

Common questions about things to do in Roatan

What is Roatan best known for?

Its reef. Roatan sits at the southern end of the Mesoamerican Reef, and the coral is close to shore, which makes it one of the easiest places in the Caribbean to snorkel and one of the best-value places to learn to dive. West Bay Beach, the village of West End and the quieter, greener East End are the other big draws.

What can you do in Roatan for a day?

Pick one area. A classic day is a morning snorkel or dive trip from West End or West Bay, lunch close to wherever the boat drops you, then an afternoon on West Bay Beach that runs into sunset. Families might swap the snorkel for Gumbalimba Park or a pool day pass at Infinity Bay. For a more immersive nature day, head east instead for a mangrove tour at Oak Ridge and Garifuna food in Punta Gorda.

Is Roatan good for families?

Yes. West Bay's calm water suits young swimmers, and Gumbalimba Park, Maya Key, the glass-bottom boats and the dolphins at Anthony's Key are all built with families in mind. Older kids can learn to dive, since many dive shops run junior programs, or try a zipline or a trail ride. Our guide to whether Roatan is safe covers the practical side.

Can you hold a sloth in Roatan?

No. In January 2025, Honduras's forestry and wildlife authority, the ICF, prohibited holding or carrying protected wildlife for photos in the Bay Islands, and sloth photo encounters stopped across Roatan by April 2025, because being handled and passed around leaves sloths frightened and short of sleep. You can still look and take pictures without holding them. Monkeys are more relaxed: at Gumbalimba Park, the resident capuchins often climb on visitors during the guided visit, and photos then are fine. Some older tour listings still advertise holding sloths, so ask before you book.

Can you visit Utila from Roatan?

Yes. The Utila Dream ferry runs between Dixon Cove on Roatan and Utila, and the crossing takes about an hour. A day trip is possible, but most visitors stay at least a night, so check the timetable before you plan. Utila is best known for diving and for whale sharks, seen in every month, most often in March and April and again in August and September.

What is there to do in Roatan when it rains?

Rain showers rarely last all day, so a wet morning often clears by lunch. In the meantime, book a long lunch at a restaurant you have been meaning to try, treat yourself to a spa afternoon, visit the Roatan Museum at Anthony's Key or stop at Roatan Island Brewing. Diving and snorkeling usually carry on in light rain, since you are wet anyway.

Checked 21 October 2026. Written by Roatan Lifestyle, an independent guide to Roatan, written by people who live here. If something here has changed, tell us.

Sources

• Roatan Marine Park
• West Bay Tours
• West Bay Divers
• Paradise Beach Divers
• Las Rocas Resort and Dive Center
• PADI dive center listings
• Gumbalimba Park
• Royal Caribbean: Roatan shore excursions (2026)
• Roatan Institute for Marine Sciences at Anthony's Key Resort
• Anthony's Key Resort: Roatan Museum
• Paya magazine: the dolphins of AKR (2023)
• Maya Key
• Utila Dream ferry
• Marine Megafauna Foundation: Utila whale sharks
• World Animal Protection: be sloth selfie aware
• Shore Excursions Group: Gumbalimba Park (2025 holding rule note)
• ICF wildlife notice, as transcribed by Discover Roatan