Cruises to Roatan (Honduras)

Roatán, located between the islands of Útila and Guanaja, is the largest of Honduras' Bay Islands.The island was formerly known as Ruatan and Rattan. It is approximately 37 mi long, and less than 5.0 mi across at its widest point. The island consists of two municipalities (out of a total of four in the department). José Santos Guardiola in the east (named for the former president of Honduras) and Roatán (also including the Cayos Cochinos) further south in the west.The most populous town of the island is Coxen Hole, capital of Roatán municipality, located in the southwest. Other important towns include French Harbour, West End, and Oak Ridge (the capital of José Santos Guardiola municipality).The easternmost quarter of the island is separated by a channel through the mangroves that is 15 meters wide on average. This section is called Helene, or Santa Elena in Spanish. Satellite islands at the eastern end are Morat, Barbareta, and Pigeon Cay. Further west between French Harbour and Coxen Hole is Stamp Cay and Barefoot Cay.The main strip of the island is the coastal beach town of West End which also doubles as the island's main tourism hub and its center for diving. West End features a wide variety of bars and restaurants. Evenings in West End tend to move from North to South along the West End road with sunset drinks starting at Sundowners and The Landing, and late night drinks at The Blue Marlin and Nova Bar.West Bay Community is a short drive away from West End either by car or water taxi and although it is known for the world famous West Bay Beach; it also features some of the larger and more well known resorts on Roatán as well as their own restaurants and bars open to the public.