Roatan - Rainforests to Coral Reefs

When the jet landed at Roatan, we suddenly realized we were in a world like we had never seen. There was jungle and palm trees around the runway. The very small, single story terminal building was so different than DFW which we had just passed through. Suddenly our cares were washed away by the most beautiful music. The local school children were putting on a concert with steel drums, trying to raise money for water at their school. We take so much for granted in the USA!

Roatan is a small island approximately 30 miles long. The roads in the city are ok, but traffic is extremely heavy on "ship days." When you get away from town the roads are bad with very large potholes. You have to drive very slowly to miss these.

The view is breathtaking as you travel up the winding roads through the hills. Suddenly off to your left you see the most intense colors of light green turquoise, and deep sapphire blue in the beautiful Caribbean. This is the ocean you have waited for!

Roatan offers some of the finest examples of coral I have seen. The reason for this is that it has not seen the traffic that other areas have. You will find great wall and cave diving in many locations. As we slowly descend these walls, a large parrotfish and puffer appeared to greet us. As we dove more we had close encounters with an eagle ray, sting rays, Angel fish, moray eel, grouper, barracuda, crab, lobster and thousands of brightly colored blue and green little fish. The violet colored sea fans were waving in the current... as if this were a greeting from the "undersea world."

Quick Tips:

Either scuba dive or snorkel, but you have to experience the reefs found in these clear waters.

Visit Calambaro Gardens which is located near the west end. This is a huge botanical park/rainforest jungle with enough trails to keep you busy for a couple of hours.

Take Deet insect repellent and an itch zapper for sand flies. I did not have trouble until the last day... but then they got me.

Do not touch the coral... only look and take pictures.

Wear a hat when in a boat on the open water. The intensity of the sun is much different than what we are accustomed to and you can burn quickly!

Best Way To Get Around:

Rent a truck, not a car... and drive slowly! You have to pay for any damages to rental vehicle because of the bad roads.

If you do not want to pay for a rental, you may be able to hitch a ride in the back of a pick up truck. This is a very common practice in Roatan.

If you spend a day in the West end, take the boat taxi down to South Bay (). This is a charming boat ride between these two villages.

Paya Bay is a secluded boutique resort on the North East side of Roatan. Since the resort only has 10 rooms, you are guaranteed a peaceful vacation. Paya Bay resort has 2 private beaches that you can also enjoy.

This resort is away from the crowds and the town, but if you want to get away from it all... this place is for you! You can spend your days scuba diving and enjoying the pristine coral reef. Paya Bay does not have a family of dolphins all penned up or a 48' dive boat, but they do offer personalized service! If you have never dived, Justin and his staff will gladly teach you with personal attention. We had our own boat driver and instructor all week while we were taking lessons. That is amazing for just two people! Most places have 20 people in a dive class.

In the evenings you will enjoy my friend Charlie's fine cooking, be sure to try his grouper fingers and key lime pie! You just can't get that here in Missouri! The dining area at Paya Bay is a magnificent 6 sided room with windows all around offering views of the Caribbean...only feet away! Tom will fix you a drink as you watch the sun set on the ocean from the patio.

Paya Bay is not for the people who want exciting nightlife and television in your room. However, our room was on a cliff actually hanging over the ocean. In my opinion, that view was worth much more than having a TV in the room. In some aspects Paya Bay is primitive compared to other luxury resorts, in other ways it is very luxurious... it just depends what you are seeking. But if you want to dive, fish and enjoy good food... then Paya Bay is for you. Here is a link to their website: www.payabay.com


I think that Paya Bay's "all inclusive dive special" is currently around $975 for loding, all meals and 5 days of diving. This is a fantastic deal when you break down the cost. Realize there are no other restaurants in the area...so the meal plan makes sense!

The people at Paya Bay are some of the friendliest you will ever meet. They are intent on serving you for your stay!

I wanted to bring this restaurant back home with me! Il Pomadore is a casual Italian restaurant specializing in antipasto salads, pizza, and a large selection of wines. The interior of the restaurant is filled with rich woods. All the tables have cloth tablecloths and napkins...hard to believe for a place you can eat at for less than $10! Outside the dining room is a swimming pool and courtyard where you can enjoy your lunch outside. This restaurant has the best pizza on the island, excellent service and atmosphere....all at bargain prices!