Hostels in ROATAN, HONDURAS

Roatan – Enjoy the Beaches of Honduras

Roatan, located in the Honduran Bay Islands is full of exotic white beaches. Its location near the world’s second largest barrier reef and facilities for water sports makes it popular amongst tourists.

History
Roatan was inhabited by the Mayas during the pre-Columbian era. Soon after the Bay Islands were discovered by Columbus, Roatan was conquered by the Spanish for slave raiding purposes and most of the Native American groups had to face extinction. Between 1550 and 1700, the islands were on and off ruled by the Spanish and British. English, Dutch and French pirates used the largely uninhabited Roatan for raiding Spanish treasures. After the abolition of slavery in 1830s, settlement started to grow in Roatan. The British occupied the Bay Islands for a short period in the 1850s but it was soon restored with Honduras.

Popular Places and Attractions
Roatan is all about exotic beaches and thrilling water sports. The Palmetto Bay, Half Moon Bay and Paya Bays have beaches that offer facilities for activities ranging from snorkelling to strolling. The Parrot Tree lagoon is popular for its sunbathing and swimming facilities. Snorkelling to the reef and open sea is slightly difficult here because of its choppy waters. There are many other resort beaches and uninhabited islands waiting to be explored.

Anthony’s Key Resort and the areas surrounding it are full of interesting attractions such as the hiking, bird-watching and wildlife of Carambola Botanical Garden, Dolphin Shows at the Institute of Marine Science and marine artefacts at the Marine Science Museum.

Some other popular attractions in Roatan are the Zipline canopy tours, the Butterfly Garden, spa and massage facilities at Sante Wellness Centre, Oak Ridge’s Mangrove Tours and the visit to the Hole in the Wall bar located on the way.

Getting Around
Buses, taxis, water taxis and rented scooters are the available modes of transport for getting around Roatan, a guide to smooth travel is to have some small notes handy to pay for your travel.

Places for Entertainment
Bars, casinos, theatres, cinemas, concerts, shows and nightclubs are the usual places for entertainment in Roatan. Snorkelling, swimming and diving lovers can visit the West End for experiencing these facilities. Roatan’s Anthony’s Key Resort is a nice little village offering rented huts for activities ranging from swimming alongside dolphins to getting married. A ride along the Oak ridge is full of bumpy roads, cafes, bars and camps. One can sit in Idabel, the deepest passenger submarine in the world, for exploring sea depths up to 2000 feet.

Accommodation
Resorts, budget hotels, bed & breakfast, guesthouse, motels, youth hostels, vacations villas, rented bungalows and huts, and dorms are the various options available for tourist accommodation in Roatan.

Currency
The Lempira (HNL) is the official Honduran currency, for the latest exchange rates check the internet and news. The U.S Dollar is also widely accepted all across Roatan, however, change is provided in Lempiras. Credit cards, International ATM cards and traveller’s cheques in U.S Dollars are also generally accepted. 

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