Communities in Roatan

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The administrative center for the island is Coxen Hole, which is also the capital of the Department of the Bay Islands. Government offices are located on the main road in Coxen Hole and include Immigration, Customs, the Courthouse, and the Roatan Municipal offices. The Port of Roatan cruise ship dock is in Coxen Hole as well, and the airport is located just outside of town along the southern coastline. While most expats choose not to live in Coxen Hole, for those who live on the west side of the island, this is where you go to run errands. In the town’s business district you’ll find customs brokers, souvenir shops, law offices, banks, and postal services. Several of the island’s popular grocery stores are located in Coxen Hole, as well as school supply stores, phone companies, and hardware stores. Coxen Hole has several one-way streets, but road signs are not very common so be aware as you drive around downtown. Additionally, as this is the main city it can get very crowded with pedestrians, vehicles, and bicycles. There are several sets of speed bumps in front of schools around the island, including on the road into Coxen Hole. Drive carefully as you go through this sometimes-congested area. Several government offices are located in Coxen Hole. The Police Station is located just outside of downtown, approximately half a mile west of the split in the road. It is the yellow building on the hill on the left side of the road as you are driving west. It is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. In case of emergency, dial *199. The main telephone number is 2445-3438. The Municipal Police Office and the office of the Chief Justice are located upstairs in the yellow building in the park area on the main road in downtown Coxen Hole. You can contact them at this telephone number: 2445-0416. The Roatan Municipality office is an orange building located on the main road in Coxen Hole. They are open Monday to Friday, 8:00am-5:00pm, and can be reached at 2445-1299. The main immigration office is located across from the Judicial Building in the park in Coxen Hole. The office can be reached at 2445-1326. The customs office is located off the park area before the immigration office, but generally people deal with custom agents. The office phone number is 2445-1315. Eldon’s Supermarket, Plaza Mar, and Super Isleno grocery stores are all located behind the PetroSun gas station on the left-hand side of the main road outside of downtown Coxen Hole, heading toward the airport and all points east. 

 The second largest town on Roatan is French Harbour, an industrial harbor town where the shipping, fishing, and shrimp boats dock. Heading east from Coxen Hole, you will pass Dixon Cove and Brick Bay en route to French Harbour. The ferry from the mainland arrives at the terminal in Dixon Cove, which is just before Mahogany Bay Cruise Center where cruise ships owned by Carnival Cruise Corporation dock year-round. Brick Bay is the oldest development on the island and throughout these areas you will notice a variety of commercial and residential developments. Past Mahogany Bay you come upon Los Fuertes and Mount Pleasant, which are both residential as well as major commercial areas with a focus on the fishing, shrimping, and shipbuilding industries. The Roatan Electric Company (RECO) is based here, along with a multitude of banks and shopping centers. Plazas are small shopping centers filled with stores and services from furniture to clothing, cable companies to hardware stores. All of these can be found through Los Fuertes and Mount Pleasant as you head into French Harbour. French Harbour’s business district offers a variety of goods and services including construction companies, design firms, and building supply as well as marine and boating supply stores. Another Eldon’s grocery store is located in French Harbour, as well as several gasoline stations, which should be noted as the next available stations are in Coxen Hole and Oak Ridge, depending upon which direction you are driving. There is a Police Department located in French Harbour, off the main road heading toward the south shore waterfront. It is the yellow building on the right side of the road about 600 feet past Eldon’s Supermarket. The police station is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week and can be reached by telephone at 2455-5199. Along the north shore of Roatan there are multiple residential developments, most of which have access roads from the main road between Brick Bay and French Harbour. Neighborhoods like Hottest Sparrow, Turtling Bay, and Palmetto Bay can all be accessed from a road just before Los Fuertes. Another access road for Palmetto Bay as well as Crawfish Rock intersects the main road in Mount Pleasant. In French Harbour you will find the road into Pristine Bay, where the island’s only golf course is located. Designed by Pete Dye, the Black Pearl Golf Course is 18-holes of stunning scenery and beautiful breezes overlooking the north shore of Roatan. East End The area from French Harbour to the east of the island is less inhabited and consequently has fewer bars, restaurants, hotels, and resorts. There are stunning views of beautiful aquamarine waters and from the mountaintops along the main road you can enjoy simultaneous views of both the north and the south sides of the island. The East End of Roatan is more “country” island living, appealing to those who are comfortable living outside of a town or city. There are no large commercial areas east of French Harbour, leaving this part of the island as a tranquil escape for those looking for a more rural, peaceful lifestyle. 

 The area from French Harbour to the east of the island is less inhabited and consequently has fewer bars, restaurants, hotels, and resorts. There are stunning views of beautiful aquamarine waters and from the mountaintops along the main road you can enjoy simultaneous views of both the north and the south sides of the island. The East End of Roatan is more “country” island living, appealing to those who are comfortable living outside of a town or city. There are no large commercial areas east of French Harbour, leaving this part of the island as a tranquil escape for those looking for a more rural, peaceful lifestyle. As you head east from French Harbour you come upon First Bight and Second Bight, with the beautiful gated community of Parrot Tree Plantation located on the south shore. This is the division for the municipalities of Roatan and Santos Guardiola. Along the north shore are Milton Bight and Politilly Bight. Politilly Bight is a small local fishing community, but both areas also have expat communities. Jonesville is a quiet and quaint fishing community just before Oak Ridge, the largest town on the southeast side of the island. Oak Ridge is a charming community where many homes are built on stilts along the water‘s edge, and shrimp and lobster boats are often moored to the front porch. People use small boats to run errands and connect with Jonesville, as well as points farther east like Calabash Bight, Port Royal, and other homes further east on the Roatan Life Real Estate 29 south shores. You can take a boat ride through the mangrove tunnels along this area. Punta Gorda is across from Oak Ridge on the north shore. Punta Gorda is actually known as two towns by the local community, with Punta Gorda being the western and English Town the eastern town. Punta Gorda property is strictly owned by the Garifuna community and cannot be sold. The paved roadway ends at the “Y” split past Oak Ridge. The concrete roadway to the left goes into English Town and will continue westward through Punta Gorda, looping back to the main road. Taking the gravel road to the right continues to the easternmost area of Roatan. A community of expats live in Punta Blanca on the north shore, located one half mile after Oak Ridge. Continuing east along the north shore dirt and gravel road are two more of Roatan‘s stunning beaches, Paya Bay Resort and Camp Bay. Paya Bay Resort is a boutique resort that offers two long white sand beaches, hiking trails, private coves, snorkeling, and an upscale restaurant. Many expats who live on the western side of Roatan take advantage of Paya Bay Resort’s tranquility and privacy for a weekend away. Camp Bay Beach and La Sirena restaurant are located farther down the gravel road and offer a completely secluded and pristine environment for a relaxing escape and incredible snorkeling and SCUBA diving. Port Royal is the last town on the east end of Roatan and although the area is isolated, there are many expats living there. Many of the homes here are only accessible by boat, as the road does not extend throughout the community. A large portion of the central and eastern end of the island forms the Port Royal Park and Wildlife Refuge, including areas rich in wildlife, such as the endangered Yellow-Naped Parrot and the White Crested Pigeon. The remains of the famed pirate fortress can also be viewed in Old Port Royal. Helene is a sparsely populated small island separated by a canal from the east end of Roatan Life Real Estate 30 Roatan; farther east are Morat, the Pigeon Cays, and the island of Barbareta, which is privately owned. These islands are all accessible by private boat charter, which is easily accessible from tour operators based in West End or West Bay. Boats can also be chartered from Oak Ridge and surrounding areas. There are several government offices located in Oak Ridge, which serve the Santos Guardiola Municipality. The Municipality of Santos Guardiola Office is located within Oak Ridge and can be reached by telephone at 2408-3790. There is also a Police Department in Oak Ridge, which can be reached by telephone at 2408-3792.  

 Sandy Bay, one of the oldest towns on Roatan, stretches two miles along the beaches of the northwest shore heading west from Coxen Hole toward West End. Several resorts, vacation rentals, and small hotels are located here. Heading west from Coxen Hole you will pass the other access road for the Palmetto Bay neighborhood and its surrounding areas along the north shore. That road leads through Mud Hole, which is also where the Blue Harbor Tropical Arboretum is located. Continuing west you will come upon Lawson Rock, a popular community along the north shore on the main road with condos and homes built up into the hillside. Throughout the Sandy Bay neighborhood you will notice small developments and communities just off the main road hugging the north shore of the island. The Colonia (also known as Belfate) is a community that continues to build up along the hillside facing the north shore in central Sandy Bay. It is primarily a residential area where many Hondurans move to from the mainland. There is very little oversight on housing and land rights in this community, making it difficult to control sprawl as well as infrastructure. After the Colonia there are several long stretches of beachfront where many expats own homes used as rental properties. Several small hotels and restaurants are also along this stretch. Just before reaching West End you come upon Gibson Bight and Mangrove Bight, both along the north shore. Gibson Bight hosts a large marina and both neighborhoods are popular locations away from the main strip of West End. In Sandy Bay, you can also visit the Institute for Marine Sciences, which is located in Anthony’s Key Resort (commonly referred to as simply AKR) and swim with the dolphins or catch a dolphin show. Next door to the Institute is the Roatan Museum, which contains a fine selection of artifacts and other information pertaining to Roatan’s culture and history. If you’re in the mood for a walk, the Carambola Botanical Garden is located right across the street from AKR. The garden has several well-maintained paths along which orchids are blooming most of the year and offering great views from the top of the hill. There are a few medical clinics in Sandy Bay, namely Clinica Esperanza (or Nurse Peggy’s Clinic) and the Anthony’s Key Clinic. Their entrances are located about 200 yards apart along the main road in central Sandy Bay. Sandy Bay also has several small restaurants, gift shops, and car repair centers throughout its long stretch of main road. Be sure to take advantage of these offerings in lieu of driving all the way through to Coxen Hole or West End.  

  West End Village is a fun little beach town with its one main road extending about a mile from the point at Lands End to the beach that leads to West Bay. Here’s where you’ll find a concentration of hotels, restaurants, and dive shops, along with scooter and car rentals, kayak rentals, a submarine ride, and paddleboard rentals. Activity abounds in West End, as there is always live music, special events, and a high concentration of tourists in the area. There are several parking areas available off the main road, offering you the chance to leave the car and take in the activities on foot. Gift shops selling everything from hammocks to wooden crafts to t-shirts can be found every few buildings. Dive shops abound offering affordable experiences for the completely inexperienced diver to the very advanced diver. Picturesque Half Moon Bay is the central attraction, with a nice sandy beach, good snorkeling, calm waters for paddleboarding, and a sailboat permanently anchored offshore offering a rope swing and a hangout spot. Housing in the West End area is as eclectic as the businesses along the street. Luxury condos can be found on both ends of the main road, on the beach at the far end headed toward West Bay and along the iron shore at Lands End. Apartment rentals can be found throughout the entire stretch of West End as well. Land is at a premium here as the town is small and the tourism industry continues to grow. An eclectic mix of expats and locals work and reside in West End. Many of the expats work in the diving industry after completing their professional certifications at one of the many dive shops offering Divemaster courses, or one of the few offering the Instructor Development Course. There is a high turnover rate of young expats in this area, with a core group of regular expats who own or manage businesses in West End living there long-term.   

West Bay Beach is renowned as one of the best beaches in the Caribbean and even the world. Warm, turquoise waters lap gently on the powdery white sand beach that is protected by the palm fringed bay and a spectacular coral reef. The shallow and warm waters, which are perfect for swimming and snorkeling, make it a great place to spend the day. Other activities include SCUBA diving, glass bottom boat tours, paddleboarding, kayaking, and even a zip-line canopy tour that ends right at the beach. To get to West Bay from West End you could walk, but it is a long beach walk that traverses rocky areas instead of sand at times and it rather isolated in certain spots. More advisable is to take a water taxi from the West End Water Taxi Association’s dock in West End, or you can drive on the paved road south that turns off about a block before the traffic circle at Half Moon Bay. By land en route to West Bay, you will notice several small roads and driveways heading off in either direction leading downhill to the coastline. Small neighborhoods and developments have been built throughout this area, offering plenty of hillside lots with stunning views off of both sides of the island. In West Bay, there are many hotels and resorts, several dive shops, and a multitude of bars and eateries. The West Bay Mall is home to multiple businesses, and commercial options in this area continue to increase. Past the commercial area of West Bay Beach, the road continues (though it appears to end at the Infinity Bay parking lot, you can indeed drive through it) toward the popular expat neighborhoods of Turtle Crossing and Lighthouse Estates. These homes enjoy gorgeous sea breezes and endless sunset views as they sit along the western point of the island. As the main road terminates here, it is not a cut-through so the area sees minimal traffic other than its residents. Convenience to the amenities of West Bay while enjoying simultaneous privacy and quiet offers residents of these neighborhoods a perfect blend. 

 One of the oldest settled areas of Roatan, Flowers Bay follows the southwestern coastline of Roatan between West Bay and Coxen Hole. This neighborhood is primarily populated by islanders with a smattering of expats as well. Flowers Bay enjoys an incredibly convenient location directly between the stunning West Bay area and commercial Coxen Hole; since the main road extending the length of Roatan diverges at Coxen Hole and again at West End, Flowers Bay can be reached by either end of this loop. Many of the underwater activity operators from West End, West Bay, and Sandy Bay take advantage of the multitude of docks along this southern coast in the Flowers Bay area for an alternative location in the case of bad weather on the northwestern side. Flowers Bay is also a thruway for the many busloads of cruise ship guests docking at the Port of Roatan in Coxen Hole and heading toward the tour operators of West End and West Bay. This stretch of road passes through the neighborhoods of Gravel Bay and Pensacola, with another Mangrove Bight located at the end of the Flowers Bay stretch – so it’s important to differentiate between the Mangrove Bight of Sandy Bay and that of Flowers Bay if you’re taking a taxi. The road through Flowers Bay follows along the coastline, so keep in mind that it can be quite windy, and in the case of very bad rain or stormy weather, the road can flood in some parts. Although rare, it is something to consider when choosing which way to drive between Coxen Hole and West End or West Bay.