Areas of Roatan
West Bay
The beach people picture when they picture Roatan, with a reef you can swim to straight from the sand.
A wide arc of white sand at the western tip of the island, lined with resorts, beach bars and restaurants. The main stretch runs from the Kimpton Grand Roatan to Las Rocas, and it is every bit the postcard.
West Bay sits in the lee of the trade winds, which blow from the east-northeast most of the year. The wind crosses the island before it reaches this water, so the sea stays calm and clear, and the reef is close enough to snorkel straight from the beach.
Come here if
You want a classic beach day, resort comfort, and a world-class reef you can reach by walking into the sea from your hotel.
Read before you go
Where to stay in Roatan: the best luxury resorts and boutique hotelsMany of the island's best resorts are right on this beach.
West End vs West Bay: which side of Roatan to stay onTen minutes apart and two very different trips. The first decision of most visits.
Spas and massage in Roatan: where to go and what to bookIncluding Kao Kamasa, on Condé Nast Traveler's Readers' Choice list of destination spas, and a massage on a catamaran.
Fine dining in Roatan: the best restaurants in West End and West BayThe island's most ambitious kitchens are mostly on this side.
On the ground
- Go early
- Mornings are the calmest time on the beach, especially on cruise days, when visitors arrive from mid-morning.
- Snorkeling
- Swim out from the sand and the reef edge is right there. Wear reef-safe sunscreen and keep your feet off the coral.
- Evenings
- Dinner at the resorts along the sand, a sunset drink and a walk on the beach. For a livelier night, West End is ten minutes away by water taxi.
- Getting here
- About 25 to 30 minutes by taxi from the airport or either cruise port. Agree the fare before you set off.
- Sargassum
- Seaweed varies from year to year. A live sargassum tracker in the days before you travel will show you what to expect.
Checked October 2026. If something here has changed, tell us and we will update it.