If there is one picture that everybody brings home from Roatan, it is this one: a long line of white sand, palm trees leaning over the water and a sea that goes from crystal clear to every shade of turquoise. Welcome to West Bay Beach, at the far west end of the island, the beach that has become the postcard of Roatan.
A beach with the reef at its feet
What makes West Bay special is not only its sand. Roatan lies on the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, the second largest barrier reef in the world, and here the reef comes so close to the shore that you can reach it swimming from the beach, without taking a boat. The best spot to start is the south end of the beach, where the coral begins just a few strokes away and the water stays shallow and calm on most days.
With a mask and a snorkel you can meet parrot fish, angel fish, blue tangs, rays and, with some luck, a sea turtle. The area is part of the marine reserve protected by the Roatan Marine Park since 2005, so please remember the golden rules: do not touch or step on the coral, do not feed the fish and use a reef-safe sunscreen.
How to get there
From West End the most fun way is the water taxi: the boats leave all day from the pier in the center of the village and in a few minutes, along the coast, they drop you directly on the sand. You can also arrive by road (taxi or car) or, if you like walking, follow the shore from the south end of West End: it takes about 40 minutes with a few rocky points along the way.
If you arrive on a cruise ship, West Bay is one of the favorite destinations for a beach day: count the travel time from the port and always leave a good margin to be back on board on time.
A day in West Bay
Mornings are the magic time: the sea is usually flat, the light is soft and the beach is still quiet. It is the best moment for snorkeling and for photos. Towards midday, especially on days with several cruise ships in port, the beach becomes livelier, with music, beach bars and vendors.
Along the beach you will find resorts, restaurants and bars with sunbeds and umbrellas (usually free if you order food or drinks, or for a small fee), dive shops, kayak and paddle board rentals and boats offering trips along the coast. There are options for every budget, from a quick lunch with your feet in the sand to a long dinner in front of the sea.
And then the sunset. West Bay faces west, so the sun goes down right in front of you, coloring the sky and the water: one of those moments that you will remember for a long time.
Our tips
- Go early in the morning for snorkeling, calm water and fewer people.
- Bring water, a hat and reef-safe sunscreen: the Caribbean sun is strong, even when it is cloudy.
- Water shoes help at the south end, where there are rocks and coral near the shore.
- Respect the swimming areas marked with buoys: boats and water taxis pass close to the beach.
- Carry some cash in small bills (US dollars or lempiras) for the water taxi and small purchases.
See West Bay from another point of view
West Bay is also the starting point of some of our favorite activities: fly 800 feet over the bay with parasailing, discover the reef without getting wet on the glass bottom boat or combine snorkeling, starfish, dolphins and mangroves on our 4 Stops Boat Tour. Write to us and we will help you organize your day.
