The Bay Islands of Honduras offer a very different world from that of mainland Honduras. The Island’s history, which includes many disputes between the Spaniards and the British during colonial times, with the British actually controlling the islands most of the time, have given the islands a unique heritage.

There are several islands within the department, with the larger ones being the most popular with tourists: Utila, Guanaja and Roatan. English is so widely spoken that some people don’t even speak Spanish even though it is the official language of Honduras.

Roatan is the largest of the Bay Islands and is 39 miles long and 2 miles wide with numerous, close-in fringing reefs and 23 associated keys. The barrier reef of the Bay Island’s is the second largest in the world next to the great barrier reef of Australia. Roatan’s heavily vegetated ribbed slopes rise and fall sharply from summits of nearly 800 feet to white sandy beaches, mangrove stands, rocky shores, sandy grass beds and other habitats – all teeming with life and untrammeled by development that has overtaken much of the Caribbean.

Mean air temperatures range from 77 to 88 F with trade winds keeping the humidity low. Rainfall averages about 80 inches per year, with much of it coming in the late fall. The island is out of the main hurricane belt.


The cultural heritage of Roatan is as rich and varied as it’s natural attractions. The friendly population of some 30,000 is bi-lingual (English and Spanish) and descended from English colonists, privateers of many nations, Spanish explorers, Indians, and Central Americans. Also the population of “ex-patriots” from North America is growing rapidly. Many have made Roatan their permanent home while some are part-time residents.