Orientation

Royal Caribbean, Celebrity and NCL ships dock at the Coxen Hole cruise ship dock and mall complex, opened in late 2008. Here you'll find a bank with an ATM, a large Diamonds International shop, a couple of restaurants and a smattering of other shops, including a pharmacy and a liquor store. (With the success of the initial development, the local authorities are now building a Phase II recreational complex adjacent to the current mall shops.)

Carnival, Princess, Costa, Holland America and Regent ships dock at the new Mahogany Bay Cruise Center, which is located in Dixon Cove east of Coxen Hole. This complex, which offcially opened in February 2010, includes a Duty Free store, several jewelers (including a Diamonds International shop and a Tanzanite International shop), several restaurants and bars, snack bars, a pharmacy, and a number of souvenir and other tourist-related shops. Adjacent to the Cruise Center is the white sand 10-acre Mahogany Beach, which can be reached on foot or via the "Magic Flying Beach Chair" (unlimited rides for $5/ day).

A paved road connects Roatan's communities and provides access to many of Roatan's beaches and parks.

The principal towns of Roatan are:

West Bay and West End is said to have the best beaches, great restaurants, varied activities and many other amenities. On the other hand, it's pretty touristy. There are three ATMs located in the resorts (for locations, see our Currency section in Roatan Basics).

Sandy Bay, just north of West End, is home to the Roatan Institute of Marine Sciences with its dolphin encounter shows, the Roatan Museum, and Carambola Gardens. The area is known for world-class Roatan scuba diving.

Coxen Hole is the largest town and capital of the Bay Islands. The better souvenir shops and several banks are located here.

French Harbour is home to one of the largest fishing fleets in the western Caribbean. French Harbour also has several banks and a nearby Iguana Farm.

Oakridge is a small picturesque town connected to the villages of Jonesville and Calabash Cay by a series of canals through mangroves.

Punta Gorda is the only Garifuna community on Roatan and the first Garifuna settlement in Central America. YUBU offers a cultural Garifuna experience Tuesdays, Wednesday and Fridays from 9 am to 3 pm.

Getting Around

Public minibuses run regularly between towns Monday through Saturday, with limited service on Sundays. The minibuses stop running at 5:00 pm. The minibuses are either dark blue, red or white.

To get them to stop, you have to wave at them. You can catch the bus in the center of Coxen Hole at a staging area next to the post office, just past the Eldon's grocery store.

To get to the West End, it costs 20 Lempiras. When returning from the West End, the Ruta 2 bus uses Thickett Road; ask the driver to stop at the Coxen Hole intersecting road, and the walk back to the Cruise Ship dock is a short one.

Taxis There are hundreds of taxis in Roatan and they expect you to bargain for the rate. They don't expect tips either.

A little bit of negotiation is involved when using a taxi. You need to confirm the rate, and whether the quote is in US dollars or Lempira, before entering a taxi. (Both US dollars and Lempiras are accepted.) You also need to determine if the fare is per passenger or for the taxi. Lastly, you need to determine if the price is for a one way ride or round-trip, as the taxi will wait for you even though you are going to the beach!

Expect to pay around $7.50 per person for a one way trip to West End from the Cruise Ship dock, and West Bay is $10 per person. You may be able to negotiate a better rate with multiple people in the taxi.

If you want to hire a taxi for the day for an island tour, expect to pay around $80--which is for the taxi, not per person.

If you have a dispute with your taxi driver, seek out the assistance of the Tourist Police; they wear green uniforms.

Water Taxi

If you're going between West End and West Bay, you can use the water taxi service. The fare is 50 Lempiras, but confirm the fare before you board. Look for the dock at Foster's Bar and Restaurant or Crystal Beach Cabins in West End. The return trip from West Bay has two pickup spots, including the Bite On The Beach Bar & Restaurant.

Mountain Bike, Scooter & Motorcycle Rentals

Captain Van's rents Mountain Bikes, Scooters and Motorcycles from their shops in West Bay and West End. Prices include helmets. Make a reservation online. Minimum age is 18.
Tel: 011 (504) 403-8751.

Brown Rental rents Yamaha scooters. They're located in Coxen Hole near the Coxen Hole Cruise Ship dock.
Tel: 011 (504) 2445-1109