Honduras is a stereotypical Central American country,
but its outlying Bay Islands feel like they are part of
the Caribbean Islands.
A vacationers paradise, the Bay Islands Honduras are famous
for the diving, snorkeling,
and beaches.
The history of the Bay Islands Honduras is ripe with adventure. Christopher Columbus discovered the islands on one of his voyages to the New World in 1502. Subsequent Spanish colonists decimated the indigenous population, enslaving many islanders and bringing disease that killed others. In the 18th century, the Bay Islands became a haven for British pirates who raided Spanish ships laden with gold. After Spanish troops destroyed the pirate bases and killed or enslaved Roatan pirates in 1782 the islands were largely uninhabited. In 1797 the British changed the history of Honduras, when they exiled thousands of Garifuna rebels from St. Vincent in the Caribbean on Roatan Island. The Garifuna people, a mixture of Caribbean natives and African slaves, settled the each Bay Island Honduras and parts of Honduras’ north coast. The Bay Islands were part of the British Empire until 1859.
English (spoken with a Caribbean accent) remains the
principle language, so the Bay Islands are a great introduction
to Honduras for English-speaking travelers. Three main
islands comprise the Bay Islands Honduras: Roatan, Utila,
and Guanaja. Each Bay
Island Honduras has its own unique characteristics.
Roatan
Roatan is the largest of the three islands and the most popular with tourists, with the some of the best places for diving in Honduras and the best beaches. Travelers looking for a top Bay Islands beach resort will want to consider Roatan. Independent travelers will find some affordable hotels in Roatan’s West End and on Utila Island.
Utila
Utila is generally the cheapest Bay Island Honduras, with less expensive diving rates, accommodation, and food. Nevertheless, prices here or on a Bay Island Honduras are significantly more expensive than on the mainland. The beaches on Utila not as good as on Roatan, but the laid-back youthful energy makes it a great place for backpackers.
Guanaja
Guanaja is the least developed of the three islands, but has some of the best diving and snorkeling sites (it is a marine reserve) and is a good choice if you want to stay in an up-scale Bay Islands beach resort. Most of Guanaja is undeveloped and there are few cars on the island
Closer to the mainland, the Cayos Cochinos are two small islands off the north coast of Honduras. Declared a marine reserve, the Cayos Cochinos have some great diving sites and are an easy day trip from La Ceiba on the mainland.
Continental airlines and Delta offer Honduras flights directly to Roatan Island from the United States. Most travelers will need a connecting flight from San Pedro Sula or Tegucigalpa. Travelers can also take a Bay Islands ferry from the mainland. The Bay Islands ferry to Roatan and Utila leaves from La Ceiba; the ferry to Guanaja departs from Trujillo.
Unfortunately, there is no Bay Islands ferry from island to islands, but you can take a Bay Islands water taxi. A Bay Islands water taxi is often the most convenient way to travel around the islands, especially around Roatan. A ten minute ride on a Bay Islands water taxi (from the West End to the West Bay in Roatan, for example) costs just $2. A Bay Islands water taxi can also be hired for a private tour of the islands, getting passengers to areas unreachable by car.
Whether you stay in a top Bay Islands beach resort in Roatan’s West Bay or a budget place on Utila Island, the Bay Islands Honduras are sure to delight visitors. Sun, sand, and the second-largest coral reef in the world (after the Great Barrier Reef in Australia), make the Bay Islands a great place for a relaxing and fun-filled getaway.
