Best things to do in Roatan

A unique restaurant only accessible by water. They hold scheduled BBQ's on Fridays and Sundays, but if you have a group you can e-mail and they'll do one any day. A collection of T-Shirts decorates the roof, you can do a mangrove tour from one of the guys that comes by with his boat, or just chill out on the deck with a drink until lunch is served at 3pm!

A great resort in the ideal location between the nightlife of West End and the white sands of West Bay beach. It is a short walk along the beach to reach West End with all its shops, restaurants and bars... but far enough away to have quiet and privacy. The luxorious Premium Houses are tucked up on the hillside so you feel like you are away from everything. If you want beachfront, then the cabanas with their porches and hammocks are the way to go. A restaurant, bar, gift shop and Dive shop are on site. There is a nice pool to cool off in or take a float with you and just float in the ocean off the dock, or snorkel the rocks right from the beach.

Snorkel right off the beach to the Reef in West Bay, or off the beach of your resort. Scuba with one of the many dive outfits on the island. The water is crystal clear and the fish and sealife are plentiful.

If it is a full moon, you can do a moonlight horseback ride along the beach and up to the top of the hill where you can see the moonlight spilling on the water. It's a fantasic experience with all the night sounds and gorgeous scenery. Or take a daytime ride along the beach and through the hills.

There are three different Zip Line tours on the island, two in the West Bay area and one in Palmetto Bay. The Palmetto Bay tour is the more challenging of the three since it also includes rope bridges and a rock wall. Avoid them on cruise ship day though!

Diane and Cinthia with Roatan Cab Tours give a great island tour. They are Roatan natives and take you to the out of the way places that you didn't know you wanted to visit. They are also handy for the cheapest prices on goods and souvenirs. It's a great way to get out and see the island, the off the beaten track places as well as the well known spots.

Located near French Harbor is Sherman's Iguana farm. It is a sanctuary to protect the Iguanas from those who would kill them for food. There are over 2,000 iguanas, plus a few monkeys and an ocean enclosure with large Tarpon, Turtles and Lobsters. It's a $5 donation which goes towards the animal's care. They will give you big leaves so you can experience feeding the Iguanas. It's definitely a must-see stop!

There are a surprising variety of cuisines represented in Roatan's restaurants. See also my posting in the West End section of this TripAdvisor site for restaurant recommendations. Oolonthoo is fantastic Indian, Dians Garden of Eatin for Thai Influenced food, Pinnochios, Gio's or Romeos for Italian, Lighthouse for Seafood, Cannibal's for Mexican, there is an Argentinian Grill and many more options besides. It's a culinary gem off the coast of Honduras!

There are various places to get a massage on the island. The prices are a lot better than stateside in many instances. There are also some higher end actual Spas to cater to your relaxation needs!

Sundowners is the quintisential beach bar. They have a daily happy hour right around the time of sunset. Be sure to sample the Roatan drink called a Monkey La La. It is a delicous frozen concoction similar to a Mudslide. Kick back and enjoy a better sunset than I've ever seen on my many trips to Key West!