If you’re dreaming of a tropical escape, Roatan should be on the top of your list. While it’s still relatively unknown, an increasing number of people are discovering its pristine beaches, warm turquoise waters and authentic Caribbean charms. Surrounded by the second largest coral reef in the world, the island is one of the best places on earth for divers and snorkelers who can see thousands of marine creatures as well as drop-offs, canyons and the largest variety of coral and sponges in the Caribbean.
When you want to take a break from the water, you’ll find plenty of things to do on land, like close encounters with capuchin monkeys and macaws at Gumbalinda Park as well as high-adrenaline activities such as zip-lining through the jungle. You’ll have a wide array of accommodation options to choose from, too, including these top properties.
Mayan Princess Beach And Dive Resort
The Mayan Princess Beach and Dive Resort sits on a coconut palm-lined shoreline with lush tropical vegetation, soft white sands and azure waters, which all await just outside the door of your luxurious Spanish-style villa. Each villa is elegantly furnished and includes a flat-screen TV, a furnished terrace and a fully equipped kitchen. When you aren’t soaking up the sunshine on the beach or exploring the breathtaking underwater world, you can enjoy the massive lagoon pool with outdoor bars or indulge in treatments at the spa offering services like facials and massages. Pirates Kids’ Club for ages 4 to 12 offers adventures like snorkeling, kayaking, pool time, cooking classes and a recycled reef conservation competition. Multiple gourmet-style eateries and entertainment, like cultural shows and live music, are also on-site.
Key Amenities:
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Luxe Spanish-style villas
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Furnished terraces and fully equipped kitchens
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Kids’ club with snorkeling, cooking classes and more
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Cultural shows and live entertainment
Barefoot Cay Resort
One of Roatan’s top-rated resorts and the winner of numerous travel accolades, Barefoot Cay Resort is built around a privately owned four-acre cay. Located on the south shore of Roatan, it offers the chance for the ultimate escape, far away from the chaos of the modern world. Guests arrive by boat and stay in secluded one-bedroom bungalows and two-bedroom villas with spacious living areas, sophisticated furnishings, and wooded louvered doors that reveal the glistening Caribbean waters and gentle sea breeze outside. The walk-on pontoon boats cross the 75 feet between the cay and shore property at a moment’s notice, day or night, allowing visitors to get out and explore whenever it’s convenient. The resort’s Barefoot Divers is a PADI 5-star Instructor Development Center hosting a dive shop, retail center and courses for all skill levels. You can also take advantage of the spa for everything from heavenly body scrubs to massage, reflexology and facials.
Key Amenities:
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A top-rated resort in Roatan
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Situated on privately owned 4-acre cay
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Secluded bungalows and spacious villas
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On-site PADI 5-star Dive Center
8GQF+5Q8, Barefoot Cay Rd, Brick Bay, Honduras— +1 866-246-3706
Infinity Bay Spa and Beach Resort
Located on West Bay Beach, Infinity Bay Spa and Beach Resort is a gorgeous eco-friendly property with an ideal blend of upscale accommodations, fine dining and a fantastic waterfront location offering access to onsite diving just steps from your door. Three-story complexes surround a narrow lap pool and a tropical garden landscape. Choose a luxurious apartment, and you can enjoy a spacious interior that includes a kitchen as well as a balcony overlooking the sea. Enjoy lounging on a one-third-of-a-mile white sandy beach or alongside the freshwater pool with waterfalls and an infinity edge. Kayaking and canoeing equipment is complimentary, and you can also access the full-service spa and health club.
Key Amenities:
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Eco-friendly waterfront property
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Diving steps from your door and narrow lap pool
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Upscale apartments with kitchens and balconies
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Complimentary kayaking and canoeing equipment
Splash Inn Dive Resort
Splash Inn Dive Resort is an intimate boutique hotel in the heart of West End, a charming village set upon the brilliant blue waters of Half Moon Bay. Rather than high rises and endless duty-free shops, you’ll find many quaint cafes, eateries, dive shops and establishments selling locally-made art. Known as a premium scuba diving destination, Roatan is a top attraction to visit in Central America. The resort offers snorkeling boat tours, scuba diving and shark diving. Other activities like fishing, kayaking, glass bottom boat tours, paddleboarding and horseback riding can all be arranged by reception. The open-air terrace bar and grill offers a fabulous 2-for-1 happy hour where you enjoy sipping cocktails while watching a glorious sunset.
Key Amenities:
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Intimate boutique hotel in quaint village
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Snorkeling boat tours, scuba diving and shark diving offered
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Open-air terrace bar and grill for 2-for-1 happy hour
Anthony's Key Resort
Known as one of Roatan’s best dive resorts, Anthony’s Key Resort offers tropical bungalows tucked within the main island’s hills, all providing stunning views. In addition to diving, guests can enjoy snorkeling, kayaking, and the only dolphin encounter program on Roatan, which includes a variety of activities like dolphin training and feeding sessions. You can also get your diver certification, join an island field trip, watch marine life shows and enjoy beach picnics. The absence of phones and TVs here will help you disconnect from the every day, so you can spend your time being pampered at the spa or relaxing in a hammock overlooking the Caribbean.
Key Amenities:
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One of Roatan’s best dive resorts
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Tropical waterfront bungalows
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Only dolphin encounter program on Roatan
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Phone and TVs blissfully absent
Kimpton Grand Roatan Resort and Spa
One of the most luxurious resorts on the island, the Kimpton Grand Roatan, will open its doors in the summer of 2023. The resort takes things to a new level with its style and sophistication, along with a perfect spot between the dreamy Caribbean waters and a forest sanctuary. This beautiful hideaway offers spacious, modern suites with unparalleled views and wade-in access to the world’s second-largest barrier reef. You’ll enjoy a beautifully designed living space with island-inspired hues, a fully equipped kitchen, flat-screen TV and more. For a romantic escape, you can even dine by candlelight at the Iron Shore Grill and take a horseback ride along the shore. You may even want to take an all-day excursion for two to nearby Pigeon Cay. Treatments at the full-service Kao Kamasa Spa draw on ancient techniques from the island’s indigenous Pesh community. Other highlights include a grand infinity-style pool, a poolside palapa with dining and a swim-up bar, and a beach club with cocktail service.
Key Amenities:
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One of island’s most lux resorts
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Wade-in access to world’s second-largest barrier reef
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Spa treatments with indigenous-inspired techniques
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Beach club with cocktail service
Seagrape Plantation Resort
Seagrape Plantation Resort in West End is known for its spectacular ocean views and beautiful sunsets from its Caribbean bungalows. This tranquil, intimate resort offers a private, secluded experience off the beaten path while still being just a short walk away from a number of bars and restaurants. In addition to the bungalows, deluxe rooms are found at the center of the resort. All offer easy access to the beachfront freshwater swimming pool, where you can enjoy unwinding with views of the Caribbean. This inviting luxury resort also features an on-site dive shop.
Key Amenities:
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Stunning views and sunsets from Caribbean bungalows
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Off the beaten path in popular West End
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Beachfront freshwater pool and on-site dive shop
Pristine Bay Resort
Pristine Bay Resort is a sprawling waterfront resort encompassed by the only golf resort on Roatan, an 18-hole championship course known as The Black Pearl, the centerpiece of the property designed by world-renowned golfer and architect Pete Dye. It features one to four-bedroom private villas that offer a level of luxury and comfort previously not offered anywhere on the island. Each is exquisite with fine furnishings as well as full kitchens, laundry, living and dining rooms along with a private pool and patio. Choose from a golf course view, an ocean view, or both. Its dining options offer stunning views and international cuisine as well as a number of bars. Activities include swimming in the expansive, lagoon-like pools, diving, paddleboarding, tennis, and, of course, golf. Diving is available with Black Pearl Divers & Aquatic Center, located right on site.
Key Amenities:
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Pete Dye-designed championship golf course
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Casual luxury in villas with kitchens, private pools
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Dive and aquatic center on-site
Bananarama Dive & Beach Resort
Surrounded by lush gardens and winding sandy footpaths, Bananarama Dive & Beach Resort is just steps from the sparkling waters of the Caribbean. Whether you want to be active or relax, you’ll find plenty of options for filling your days, from snorkeling right off the beach to daily dives and a variety of activities like fishing charters, sunset catamaran tours, horseback riding and zip-lining as well as just lounging on the soft sands and taking in the scene. The PADI 5-Star Bananarama Dive Center is located inside the resort, offering a variety of fun adventures and unique diving experiences. If you aren’t into diving, you can also rent snorkeling equipment and kayaks. After a long day of play, enjoy dining and live entertainment at the Thirsty Turtle, the brick oven Pizzarama, or the Vintage Pearl Restaurant. Accommodation options include everything from modern condos to beachside cabanas and two-story beachfront villas.
Key Amenities:
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PADI 5-star Dive Center inside resort
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Arrange activities like fishing charters, horseback rides and zip-lining
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Live entertainment at beachfront bar
Fantasy Island Beach Resort
The Fantasy Island Beach Resort, set on a 21-acre private island off Roatan’s southern coast, offers a particularly enchanting stay. This intimate, all-inclusive resort features three magnificent, powdery white sand beaches sitting at the edge of tranquil cerulean waters and offers an array of fun activities, including diving. The Fantasy Island Dive Centre offers expert instructions so that even beginners can enjoy exploring the massive barrier reef. A number of popular excursions are offered as well, including the chance to travel via glass-bottom boat to Coxen Hole, West End and West Bay Beach. Or, you can cruise to Punta Gorda and Jonesville by powerboat. Other activity options include snorkel tours, diving with sharks, horseback riding, sunset cruises and canopy tours. Dine at one of two international buffet restaurants featuring local delicacies and enjoy refreshments at the swim-up bar. The spacious rooms are light and airy, offering jaw-dropping views from the balconies.
Key Amenities:
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All-inclusive sanctuary with three beaches
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Dive center for all skill levels
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Popular glass-bottom boat excursions
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International buffet dining features local delicacies
Blue Bahia Resort, Sandy Bay
Blue Bahia Resort is a small boutique resort located right on the beach, with a beautiful swimming pool looking out over the turquoise waters of the Caribbean. While taking a refreshing dip, you won’t be able to tell where the vanishing edge ends and the sea begins. This eco-friendly, full-service resort is renowned on the island for serving sustainable seafood as well as delectable smoked meats and other local Caribbean-style dishes. Enjoy live music every Thursday and a bonfire every night at the resort’s Beach Grill, one of Roatan’s best restaurants. You’ll also find first-class condo accommodations, all overlooking the pool and some with a full sea or partial sea view, along with a full kitchen, complete with all the necessary appliances to cook up your own meals. Have all your diving desires covered at the on-site dive shop with a 6-to-1 diver-to-instructor ratio. Other activities include snorkeling, with equipment available, kayaking and fishing, with charters arranged by the resort.
Key Amenities:
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Eco-friendly boutique beachfront resort
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One of Roatan’s best restaurants
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Renowned for sustainable seafood
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Dive shop on property
Paradise Hotels and Resorts
Paradise Hotels & Resorts offers a slice of Caribbean paradise overlooking West Bay Beach, with silky soft sands and inviting cobalt waters. The elegantly decorated rooms and suites, as well as charming bungalow-style villas by the water, all feature luxurious amenities and modern comforts. Enjoy strolls in the shade of lush, green gardens as well as glorious sunsets over the water. The Dive Shop offers expert diving instructors, while diving and snorkeling are available just steps from your door, right from the beach. Spend your leisure time sipping cocktails at the sports bar or beach bar, then enjoy fresh seafood and Italian cuisine at IL Pomodoro. Relax with live music and nightly fire and Garifuna shows during your evenings.
Key Amenities:
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Bungalow-style villas overlook beach
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Expert instruction at dive shop
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Sports bar and beach bar
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Nightly live music and shows
Turquoise Bay Dive & Beach Resort
Turquoise Bay Dive & Beach Resort is the only resort on Roatan’s northeast shore, a lush, remote area of the island that’s ideal for diving without big crowds as well as unwinding on an exclusive private beach. Set atop a hillside, guests enjoy stunning ocean views and a protected bay, ideal for swimming and kayaking with its calm waters, as well as exceptional, family-friendly service that will make you feel right at home. Accommodations include hillside bungalows set among tropical gardens and palm trees with stylish Caribbean decor and sea views from private terraces. The on-site restaurant offers indoor and outdoor seating, along with creative meals featuring local flavors. The 5-star PADI Instructor Development Dive Resort is the perfect place to try diving or snorkeling for the first time.
Key Amenities:
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Only resort on Roatan’s uncrowded northeast shore
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Over the water, hillside bungalows
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Family-friendly kids’ menus and activities
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5-star PADI Instructor Development Dive Resort
