Roatán
An island, yes. Isolated, no. Roatán feels a world away, yet Juan Manuel Gálvez International Airport connects the island directly with major North American gateways including Miami, Houston, Atlanta, Dallas and Toronto, with regional links to Belize, Guatemala and mainland Honduras. The scenery changes. Your connection to the world does not.
One game with the horizon.
Warm water changes the rhythm of a place. With Caribbean sea temperatures generally around 26–30°C / 78–86°F, swimming, snorkeling, diving, paddleboarding and sailing are not seasonal ambitions. They are simply choices for the day.
Golf belongs to that outdoor rhythm, too. Roatán offers an 18-hole championship course at Pristine Bay as well as the 9-hole Black Iguana course in West Bay — tropical terrain, Caribbean views and a game that can be played year-round.
One task and a whole new perspective.
A Caribbean address no longer means disconnecting from the world. Broadband and mobile connectivity are widely available across developed western Roatán, making video calls, streaming, online banking and remote work part of ordinary island life — only with a better view outside the window.
One taste of freedom.
Roatán is long, green and mountainous, with the Caribbean never far away. A ridge runs through the island’s interior, with beaches, forest, hills and sea folding into one another. The result is a rare kind of freedom: nature remains part of the day, not a destination reserved for weekends.
One beautiful detour.
Roatán rewards curiosity. Beyond West Bay and West End, the island quickly becomes greener, quieter and less expected — small coastal communities, secluded beaches, hillside roads and stretches of shoreline that still feel wonderfully unhurried. Exploring is not something you finish here.
One less thing to worry about.
Roatán’s healthcare infrastructure has expanded considerably. Hospital CEMESA Roatán provides 24/7 emergency care, operating rooms, inpatient and maternity care, laboratory services, CT imaging and outpatient specialist consultations. Private clinics and physicians add further local options. For highly specialized or complex treatment, residents may still choose mainland or international care.
Advanced medicine has found its way to Roatán, too.
The island is also home to GARM Clinic, an internationally oriented practice focused on regenerative medicine, orthobiologics, sports medicine and longevity-related therapies. Its presence adds another dimension to a healthcare landscape that is far more developed than many first-time visitors expect from a Caribbean island.
One day. A thousand reasons to stay.
Roatán lies beside the Mesoamerican Reef — the world’s largest transboundary reef system and home to the world’s second-longest barrier reef. Stretching for more than 1,000 km across four countries, it supports extraordinary marine biodiversity. For anyone who loves the sea, this is not simply something to visit. It is part of the world outside your door.
ROATÁN — ISLAND FACT SHEET
Essential facts for living in the Caribbean
Geography
- COUNTRY
- Honduras
- REGION
- Bay Islands / Islas de la Bahía
- LOCATION
- Western Caribbean, approximately 56 km / 35 miles north of mainland Honduras.
- ISLAND TYPE
- Tropical, mountainous Caribbean island surrounded by coral reef ecosystems.
- LENGTH
- Approximately 48–60 km / 30–37 miles from east to west, depending on the geographic measurement used.
- WIDTH
- Generally narrow; approximately 1.6–8 km / 1–5 miles, depending on location.
- AREA
- Approximately 125–127 km² / 48–49 sq mi.
- COASTLINE
- Approximately 154 km / 96 miles.
- HIGHEST ELEVATION
- Approximately 300 m / 1,000 ft above sea level.
- MAIN TOWN / ADMINISTRATIVE CENTER
- Coxen Hole
- POPULATION
- 60,000+ permanent residents. Published island-level estimates vary by source and year.
- TIME ZONE
- Central Standard Time — UTC−6. Honduras does not normally observe daylight saving time.
CLIMATE
- CLIMATE
- Tropical Caribbean climate.
- AVERAGE TEMPERATURE
- Approximately 27–28°C / 81–82°F annually. Recorded temperatures commonly range roughly between 25–31°C / 77–88°F.
- SEA TEMPERATURE
- Approximately 26–30°C / 78–86°F throughout the year.
- RAINY SEASON
- Primarily October through January, with October, November and December generally among the wettest months.
- DRIER PERIOD
- Generally February through June, with March–May particularly dry.
- ANNUAL RAINFALL
- More than 2,000 mm / 79 inches annually.
- TRADE WINDS
- Roatán lies within the Caribbean trade-wind belt. Predominantly east-to-southeast winds provide regular natural air movement and help moderate tropical humidity.
LANGUAGE & CULTURE
- OFFICIAL LANGUAGE
- Spanish.
- ENGLISH
- English is widely spoken on Roatán, particularly in West Bay, West End, Sandy Bay and within tourism, real estate and service businesses. Many native Bay Islanders have English or Island English as part of their linguistic heritage, and bilingual English/Spanish communication is common.
- OTHER LANGUAGES
- Garifuna and local Island English/Creole varieties are also part of the Bay Islands’ cultural heritage.
- CULTURAL CHARACTER
- Afro-Caribbean, Garifuna, mainland Honduran, European and North American influences coexist on the island.
MONEY & BANKING
- OFFICIAL CURRENCY
- Honduran Lempira — HNL / L
- US DOLLAR
- US dollars are widely accepted on Roatán, particularly in tourism-oriented businesses, restaurants, hotels, diving operations and real estate.
- BANKING
- Honduras has a regulated commercial banking system including BAC, Banco Atlántida, Ficohsa, Banpaís, Davivienda, Banco de Occidente and others.
- BANKING ON ROATÁN
- Bank branches and ATMs are available in Coxen Hole, French Harbour and other developed areas. Banco Atlántida alone operates branches in Coxen Hole, French Harbour and MegaPlaza Roatán plus numerous ATMs around the island.
- INTERNATIONAL TRANSFERS
- International banking services and SWIFT transfers are available through Honduran banks.
- CREDIT & DEBIT CARDS
- Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted by established businesses; carrying some cash remains useful for smaller businesses and local services.
COMMUNICATION & CONNECTIVITY
- COUNTRY CALLING CODE
- +504
- MOBILE NETWORKS
- The two principal national mobile networks are Tigo and Claro, with 4G service available across developed areas of Roatán. Coverage can naturally become weaker in remote eastern, mountainous and offshore locations.
- INTERNET
- Broadband and mobile internet are widely available in developed parts of the island. Fiber and high-speed fixed connections are available in a growing number of residential areas.
- DIGITAL BANKING
- Major Honduran banks offer online and mobile banking; Banco Atlántida, for example, provides worldwide 24/7 app access and international banking services.
INFRASTRUCTURE
- ELECTRICITY
- Roatán operates its own island electricity system through RECO. Residential electricity is regulated by Honduras’ electricity regulator CREE.
- ELECTRICAL STANDARD
- Approximately 110–120 V / 60 Hz, compatible with North American-style electrical systems and plugs.
- ROADS
- A main paved road connects the principal populated areas of the island. Road quality varies considerably in more remote areas.
- DRIVING
- Traffic drives on the right-hand side.
- INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
- Juan Manuel Gálvez International Airport — RTB — is located directly on Roatán.
- INTERNATIONAL ACCESS
- Direct international air services connect Roatán with major North American and regional gateways, supplemented by domestic connections through mainland Honduras.
- FERRIES
- Regular passenger ferry connections link Roatán with mainland Honduras and other Bay Islands.
HEALTHCARE
- HOSPITAL CARE
- Roatán has hospital and private medical services. Hospital CEMESA Roatán currently provides 24/7 emergency care, operating rooms, inpatient care, maternity services, laboratory diagnostics and 32-channel CT imaging, plus outpatient specialties.
- SPECIALIST MEDICINE
- Private physicians and specialist clinics operate on the island, including internationally oriented medical services. For highly complex treatment, residents may still travel to mainland Honduras or internationally.
NATURE & ENVIRONMENT
- REEF SYSTEM
- Roatán lies directly alongside the Mesoamerican Reef System, one of the world’s great coral reef ecosystems.
- MARINE PROTECTION
- Much of the surrounding marine environment forms part of the Bay Islands National Marine Park, protecting coral reefs, seagrass beds and associated marine habitats.
- BIODIVERSITY
- Tropical forest, mangroves, wetlands, coral reefs and seagrass habitats support an unusually diverse combination of terrestrial and marine wildlife.
- EVERYDAY NATURE
- Wild birds, hummingbirds, parrots, butterflies, iguanas and tropical vegetation are part of the ordinary island environment rather than experiences confined to parks or zoos.
EVERYDAY LIFE
- SHOPPING
- Modern supermarkets, local markets, pharmacies, hardware stores, specialty stores and shopping centers are available, particularly around Coxen Hole, French Harbour and the western side of the island.
- RESTAURANTS & SOCIAL LIFE
- West Bay and West End provide a particularly dense selection of restaurants, cafés, beach bars, shops, live music and social activities.
- OUTDOOR LIFE
- Diving · Snorkeling · Swimming · Sailing · Fishing · Golf · Horseback Riding · Kayaking · Paddleboarding · Hiking · Yoga · Fitness
- GOLF
- Roatán currently has two golf courses: an 18-hole championship course at Pristine Bay and a 9-hole course in the West Bay area.
- SOCIAL & CULTURAL ACTIVITIES
- Yoga · Pilates · Zumba · Art Classes · Painting · Markets · Live Music · Karaoke · Dancing · Cooking Classes · Community Events · Conservation Activities
ONE ROATÁN — Where Better Living Begins.
ONE ROATÁN brings together what is often difficult to find in one place: international access, year-round warmth, Caribbean water, modern connectivity, nature, community and residences designed for long-term living. It is not built around the idea of escaping life. It is built around the possibility of living it better.