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Information
and History of Roatan
The
Bay Islands, lying just off the Caribbean coast, is
an archipelago that consists of three major islands,
Roatan, Guanaja and Utila, and numerous smaller islands.
The coral reef surrounding Roatan and Guanaja is renowned
for it's excellent scuba diving, while the many cayes
around Utila are a snorkelers paradise.
History has it that the Paya indians inhabited
the islands as far back as AD 400. Europeans first arrived
on the scene in the 1500's. In 1502, Christopher Columbus
on his fourth journey to "the New World",
landed on Guanaja.
From the 1500s into the late 1700s the
islands served as a hideout and home for pirates, Spanish
Conquistadors and English Soldiers. Many foreign settlements
were started and either destroyed or abandoned.
In
1798 the Garifuna (5,000 black Caribs being forceably
removed from St. Vincent) were marooned on Roatan. They
settled the village of Punta Gorda and even still today
many of it's inhabitants still speak an African dialect.
Immigraition still continuses today. Many
Europeans and Amerians have become residents and a large
number of Hondurans have moved to the islands in search
of better paying jobs. Fishing and shrimping, the main
industry for years, is being replaced by tourism. Resorts,
hotels, dive shops, restaurants and bars are popping
up everywhere to attract divers, snorkelers, ecotourists
and cruise ship passengers.
Roatan
is 25 miles long and 1.8 miles across at it's widest
part. The tallest peak is 771 feet. The climate varies
between seasons. Springtime temperatures are in the
80's while summertime temps are in the 90's with humidity
increasing into September. Light rain showers and occasional
evening thunderstorms keep temperatures pleasant. Water
temperatures range from 80-84 degrees Fahrenheit for
most of the year, dropping to between 74 and 76 degrees
in the winter.
Roatan's
accomodations range from large dive resorts to a hammock
on the beach. While there are a variety of restaurants
for every taste and budget. Once considered a destination
for divers, the island now offers plenty to do for the
land based tourist.
The
unique thing about Roatan is that outside the resorts
you won't find the crowds, beachside peddlers, casinos,
high-rises, or other signs of modern life now changing
many Caribbean getaways. What you will find are locals
socializing in tiny beach bars, rustic shops with handmade
crafts, and an easy going island pace.
Listed
below are some links we hope you will find helpful.
Places
to Stay:
Mayan
Princess Beach Resort
Parrot
Tree Rentals
Dive
Operations & Resorts:
CoCo
View
Bay Islands Beach Resort
Oak Bay Resort
Inn of Last
Resort
Las Rocas
Resort
Anthony's Key
Resort
Tropical
Beach Resort
Airlines:
AeroHonduras
Continetal
Airlines
American
Airlines
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