Destination Overview:
The Bay Islands of Honduras offer a very different world from that of mainland Honduras. There are several islands with three larger ones being the most popular among tourists: Utila, Roatan and Guanaja. English is so widely spoken in the Islands, that some people don’t even speak Spanish, despite the fact that this is the official language of Honduras!

Diving Details:
Roatan’s underwater scenery is among the Caribbean’s most spectacular. An abundance of colorful reef tropicals, exciting pelagic encounters, and a diverse and fascinating macro world defines the magic of the Roatan coral reef. Turtles, eagle rays, and literally hundreds of tropical fish species abound. Indigenous toadfish, octopus, and huge coral crabs are visible at night. Dolphins, whale sharks, reef sharks, blacktips, and hammerheads can also be spotted.

Insider Information:
The outer islands offer the best diving and are a quick flight from the mainland. If at all possible try to add extra time to explore the ruins on the mainland. Trips including mainland tours should be longer than a week. Roatan is the busiest of the Bay Islands with Utila and Guanaja offering quiet getaways.

Dive Operators

Dive Sites

Hotels

image The Resort at Marble Hill
image Anthony's Key Resort
image Barefoot Cay Resort
image Coco View Resort
image Fantasy Island Beach Resort
image Las Sirenas by Mayan Princess
image Turquoise Bay Resort
image Laguna Beach Resort
image Utila Lodge
image Utopia Village

Restaurants

Non-Diving Activities

  • Go snorkeling…many dive sites also offer world class snorkeling opportunities!
  • Explore the ancient Mayan city of Copan, often referred to as the Paris of the Mayan world….horseback tours available
  • Tour the Flor de Copan cigar factory in Santa Rosa de Copan
  • Interact with dolphins at the Roatan Institute of Marine Sciences
  • Visit the Roatan Museum
  • Visit the Roatan Butterfly Garden & Bird Park
  • Explore the turquoise waters via sea kayak
  • Go deep-sea fishing
  • Zip line through the Roatan rainforest canopy
  • Tour the Roatan mangrove canals by boat
  • Hold white-faced capuchin monkeys at Roatan’s Gumbalimba Park
  • Go white water rafting on the Rio Cangrejal in La Ceiba. Rapids range from Class II to IV, and the river offers gorgeous views of Pico Bonito National Park.
  • Hike and bird watch in Pico Bonito National Park
  • Take a tour of the Rio Platano Biosphere, one of the largest remaining Honduran forests. See manatees, jaguars, sloths and giant anteaters
  • Soak in the Luna Jaguar hot springs in the mountain town of Agua Caliente
  • Stroll the Lenca trail through the mountainous landscape of Honduras’ central highlands
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Frequently Asked Questions

Honduras is located in Central America, bordered to the west by Guatemala, to the southwest by El Salvador, to the southeast by Nicaragua, to the south by the Pacific Ocean and to the north by the Gulf of Honduras

Tegucigalpa is the capital city. There are flights from LAX-TGU which take about 7 hours and 35 minutes with 1 layover. From New York, the JFK-TGU flights are about 5 hours and 50 minutes with 1 layover.

The diving in Honduras takes place in Roatan. The easiest way to get to Roatan is to plan your trip for Saturday or Sunday through Atlanta, Houston, Miami or Newark. By doing this you can avoid using multiple carriers and you’ll have fewer connections, which means you’ll be decreasing the chances of having your luggage lost. Flights from Houston to Roatan take about 2 hours and 35 minutes and the Newark to Roatan flights take about 8 hours with a layover in Houston.

The currency used is called the Lempira. US$1.00 = 19.40 HNL

Spanish is the official language. Amerindian dialects are also prevalent, as is English.

All U.S. citizens are required to have a passport valid for at least 3 months past the date of entry. You will also need to show a return ticket or onward ticket.

U.S. Embassy location:
Avenida La Paz in Tegucigalpa, Honduras
Internet site: http://honduras.usembassy.gov/
Telephone: 011-504-236-9320 or 011-504-238-5114
Office hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00am to 11:30am.
American Citizen Services Unit Fax: 011-504-238-4357

For legal reasons, we cannot make official recommendations regarding shots or immunizations. Please consult with your physician or visit www.cdc.gov for more information.

They use both 220 volts and 110 volts. 2 and 3 hole outlets are available. It is advised that you carry your own converter or adaptor.

Please consult with your airlines regarding luggage requirements and restrictions.

Continental, TACA, Delta and American Airlines fly to mainland Honduras; SOSA or Atlantic Airways service domestic flights from mainland Honduras to the Bay Islands.

It depends on the hotel/resort that you choose to stay at. However, when it comes to your diving, the dive centers usually provide roundtrip hotel/dive center transfers. Please check with the dive shop that will be handling your tours.

Roatan boasts the world’s 2nd largest coral reef. Enjoy wall diving, wreck diving, night diving, cave diving, great shore diving, dolphin diving, caves and crevices, whale sharks, sharks, schools of pelagics, eagle rays, creole wrasse, reef crabs, octopus, lobsters, and the largest variety of vase, barrel, tube and rope sponges in the Caribbean.

8:30am – dive boats leave for 1st single tank dive
10:30am – dive boats leave for 2nd single tank dive
2:30am – dive boats leave for 3rd single tank dive

While the water can get warm enough to go without one, we recommend divers wear a 3mm wetsuit for protection.

Dive sites are within a 15 minute boat ride.

$35.00 Roatan airport departure tax (paid only in cash), rental equipment

E-tickets and vouchers are sent approximately 3 weeks prior to your departure.