Short answer: Roatán and the Bay Islands sit on the same Mesoamerican reef as Belize, which makes them some of the cheapest world-class diving anywhere. Roatán is the developed one, with West Bay’s beach and resorts; Utila is the budget, backpacker dive island; Guanaja is the quiet one. The islands are an English-and-Garifuna Caribbean world a little apart from the mainland, and they are Honduras’s safe, easy-going coast. Fly into Roatán (RTB) or take the ferry from La Ceiba.
For a Belizean this coast feels like home, because it is the same reef, the same Garifuna, the same Caribbean. The reef that runs past our cayes keeps going down to the Bay Islands, and the diving there is famous for being both excellent and affordable.
Which island?
| Island | Best for | The feel |
|---|---|---|
| Roatán | First-timers, families, comfort | The developed island: West Bay beach, resorts, dive shops, an airport |
| Utila | Budget divers, backpackers | Cheaper dive certification, laid-back, whale sharks in season |
| Guanaja | Quiet, off-grid | Least developed, few roads, real seclusion |
Getting there
Roatán has its own international airport (RTB) with direct flights from the US and connections through San Pedro Sula. If you are coming overland or from the mainland, the ferry from La Ceiba reaches Roatán and Utila in a little over an hour. Between islands, you fly or take a local boat.
What to do
- Dive and snorkel the reef. This is the reason to come; the wall diving off Roatán and the cheap certifications on Utila are the draw, and the reef is the same one that runs along Belize.
- West Bay and West End on Roatán for the beach, the bars, and the dive shops.
- Punta Gorda, the oldest Garifuna settlement in Honduras, where you can eat the coastal food, machuca and sopa de caracol, at its source.
- Cayos Cochinos, a protected marine reserve with Garifuna island communities, as a day trip from the mainland coast.
Eat your way along the coast with the Honduran food guide, and see the wider region in the Maya World guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Roatán part of the same reef as Belize?
Yes. The Bay Islands lie on the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, the same system that runs along Belize, which is why the diving is world class.
Roatán or Utila, which is better?
Roatán for comfort, beaches, and families; Utila for cheap dive courses and a backpacker scene. Both have superb diving; pick by budget and pace.
How do you get to Roatán?
Fly into Roatán’s airport (RTB) directly or via San Pedro Sula, or take the ferry from La Ceiba on the mainland, about an hour and a quarter.
Are the Bay Islands safe?
The Bay Islands are among the safest, most tourist-oriented parts of Honduras, well apart from the mainland cities. Use normal travel care and check the current advisory.
Can you visit Garifuna villages in the Bay Islands?
Yes. Punta Gorda on Roatán is the oldest Garifuna community in Honduras, and the Cayos Cochinos reserve has Garifuna island settlements you can visit from the coast.
About Isela Post
Isela is a Belizean mother who has been cooking from memory and from markets her whole life. Her recipes carry the food of the Yucatec Maya tradition, the corner store ingredients of daily Belizean life, and the party table of every celebration she has ever fed people at. She writes for the Belize News Post.
