When the days slowly begin to lengthen and the appearance of sun and blue sky become more and more frequent, it is impossible not to daydream of being suddenly catapulted onto a tropical island, lulled by the sound of the waves and without worries of any kind. Roatan, not far from the coasts of Honduras, is exactly one of those tropical paradises on which you can fantasize for hours and hours : the sea with almost surreal colors and shades, the soft sand under your feet, the fabulous sunsets and that feeling of frivolity and freedom that only the islands overlooking the Caribbean Sea can offer.
If you feel like abandoning everything and setting out to discover your little island of dreams,that’s where it is, when to go and what to see in Roatan .
Travel informed: useful information
- Inhabitants : 44.660
- Capital : Tegucigalpa and the capital of Honduras, of which the Bahia Islands (including Roatan) constitute a secondary district.
- Languages : Spanish
- Local currency : Lempira (€ 1.00 = 27.94 HNL)
- Climate : basically tropical and experiences the alternation of two seasons, the dry one from November to May and the wet one (or rainy ones) for the remainder of the year. Temperatures hover between 27 ° C on an annual average.
- Vaccinations : no vaccinations required
- Entry requirements : Passport
- Distance from Italy : 9,600 km (12-13 hours of flight, more by counting the possible stopovers)
- Travel / health insurance : recommended. With us you get a 10% discount and you have full coverage, 24h medical insurance and unlimited telephone advice. Get
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Where it is
The island of Roatan is washed by the Caribbean Sea and is part of the Islas de la Bahia department , of which it is the largest island. The other two major islands of the Islas de la Bahia proper are Guanaja and Utila. In addition to these, however, the department of northern Honduras also consists of the Cayos Cochinos islands (two islands and fourteen coral islets to the southwest of the nearby Honduran coast) and the Swan islands located to the north-east. The entire department includes 4 municipalities: Guanaja, Roatan, Utila and Jose Santos Guardiola.
How to get
- From Milan or Rome : from Italy, and in particular from the main airports of Milan or Rome, there are several direct connections to the American continent where you can make a short / long-term stopover and then leave for the islet of Roatan . A very popular solution, for example, is that which involves taking a direct flight from Italy to Miami (which takes about 11 hours of flight), and then a second flight from Miami to Roatan (lasting less than two hours). Among the companies that offer this solution, American Airlines is always a favorite with tourists. Flights from Rome to Roatan from € 615.00 – Flights from Milan to Roatan from € 600.00
- From the main European capitals : the same goes for the departure from some of the main European cities. In some cases, to save money, there are those who prefer to make an additional intermediate stopover in New York, then make another one in Miami and finally leave from here for Roatan. In this case, however, the duration of the flight can be enormously extended due to the length of the scheduled stopovers.
When to go
Info on climate and best period
Month Average temperatures (min / max) Precipitation (days / mm) January 21/28 ° 16 days / 275 mm
February 21/28 ° 11 days / 180 mm
March 23/30 ° 8 days / 115 mm
April 23/30 ° 6 days / 75 mm
May 24/31 ° 9 days / 80 mm
June 25/31 ° 16 days / 140 mm
July 24/31 ° 19 days / 200 mm
August 25/32 ° 20 days / 170 mm
September 25/32 ° 18 days / 190 mm
October 24/30 ° 20 days / 445 mm
November 22/29 ° 19 days / 450 mm
December 22/28 ° 17 days / 400 mm
- Climate : tropical, hot and humid practically all year round, with the alternation of two main seasons, the cooler one between November and February and the warmer and humid one between May and October. In the hottest season, rainfall can occur with high frequency in the form of a tropical storm (in the worst cases, we are talking about real hurricanes that strongly hit the Caribbean islands, but also the coastal areas of Honduras and neighboring states). Temperatures, however, are fairly constant throughout the year, ranging from an average of 25 ° C in the winter months to an average of 28 ° C in the summer months. Even the sea temperature is always very pleasant, the water temperature in the coldest months never drops below 27 ° C
- Best period : from March to May, when temperatures are pleasant and rainfall is very low.
- Period to avoid : August to October, when the much feared tropical hurricanes can occur. One of the last very destructive was the one that occurred in 2005.
- Advice : bring with you both light clothing for the days at the beach and / or those of good weather (swimsuit, flip-flops, shorts, T-shirts, light clothes, etc.), but also some heavier items for the evening or windy days (denim shirt, scarf, sweater, sweatshirt, long pants, etc.). Don’t forget a windbreaker, sunscreen, comfortable boots for hiking in nature, insect repellent and everything you need for the beach. The rubber shoes will be very useful given the presence of the coral reef near the shore.
10 things to see: beaches and places of interest
- Little French Key : is a small island just a few minutes by boat from Roatan, highly sought after for its crystal clear sea and the perfect isolation that can be enjoyed on the beach. The cost to get there is about $ 10.00 per person (about € 0.40)
- West Bay Beach : perhaps the most beautiful beach on the island. The transparent water is populated by tropical fish (which makes it a perfect destination for some snorkeling), more than a kilometer long beach and surrounded by lush vegetation.
- Maya Key : Another popular beach on Roatan. In addition to the natural beauty of the place, this beach is highly recommended because you can have close encounters with sea lions.
- Sandy Bay : If one of your dreams since you were a child has always been to swim with dolphins, you must head to this bay without hesitation.
- Half Moon Bay : less famous and popular than West Bay Beach, this beach is actually very similar to the color of the sea, the presence of palm trees and coral reefs of incredible beauty.
- Gumbalimba Park : to take a break from days on the beach, a valid alternative could be to spend a few hours inside this park inspired by life in the jungle. In fact, you have the opportunity to admire parrots, monkeys and other species of local flora and fauna up close.
- Tabyana Beach : this beach has everything you could wish for, a dream sea, fine white sand, coconut trees to shelter from the sun, restaurants with a view, … We have convinced you
- Blue Harbor Tropical Arboretum : it is a beautiful garden of tropical plants and flowers, where you can take refuge in the cool. Do not forget your camera in the hotel because some specimens really deserve to be immortalized.
- Carambola Botanical Garden : another very beautiful garden to visit, whose path leads to the top of a hill from which you can admire a spectacular view of the landscape below.
- Arch’s Iguana & Marine Park : if you love natural parks and animals in general, you cannot miss this park where you will find iguanas free to move in total freedom. If you are afraid of reptiles, however, think carefully before you find an iguana two inches from your feet.
What to do in Roatan: excursions and tours
How much does a holiday in Roatan cost
Prices, offers and advice
Let’s face it, a holiday in Roatan is not exactly a holiday that can be defined as low budget . However, compared to other islands located in the Caribbean Sea, in Roatan there are also solutions that can allow you to save considerably: for example, as regards accommodation, one could opt to stay in a guest house or apartment rather than in a village / resort with a basically medium-high price (although here it would be necessary to evaluate in the case of an all-inclusive formula, a lot also popular with occasional travelers). As for the cost of living on the island, it is possible to spend very little by opting for dinners in local restaurants or for quick meals near street food stalls (very popular). The main cost of the holiday will therefore be represented by plane tickets : for this reason, we advise you to look for them well in advance, not waiting for last-minute offers that are usually very cheap.
- Where to sleep: Hotels and b & b from € 25.00 per room – see the offers
- Low cost flights: starting from € 700.00 – look at the offers
- Flight + hotel: 10 days / 9 nights from € 1,650.00 per person – see the offers
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