The sweet island of Roatan is long and narrow, so, more than almost any other place, it has a well defined east end and west end. Please don’t ask us which one is more beautiful, because we could not answer… both have their own beauty and attractions. Since it is easier to reach, more developed and known for many years, we will start with West End, an old fishing village that has become the tourist heart of Roatan.
A village along the sea
West End stretches along the sea on one main road (Calle Principal) that separates the shore from houses and buildings. Walking through the village is very pleasant: bars, restaurants, souvenir shops and pulperías (small local grocery stores) follow one another, and the sea is always at your side.
For a long time the road was made of dirt, which gave West End its slightly hippie, easy-going look: walking barefoot was normal and cars did not always get through easily (especially after a heavy rain). In 2014 the road was paved, giving the village a cleaner and more orderly appearance, but also more traffic, which sometimes makes getting around a little slower.
Half Moon Bay, the beach in the center of everything
West End has a beach at each end of the village. On the north side, as soon as you enter the village, you are captured by the view of Half Moon Bay Beach, loved by locals (especially on weekends) and by visitors, who can rent a sunbed or simply lay a towel on the fine sand. The water is calm, crystal clear and shallow for many meters, perfect for everyone, especially children.
The coral reef is only a few strokes from the shore, and the two points of the “half moon” protect the bay, so the water stays calm and snorkelers can start exploring right from the beach.
From the small pier, water taxis leave all day long to West Bay, together with fishing boats and the glass bottom boat, made for those who want to discover the underwater world without getting wet, comfortably seated 6 feet below the surface.
Half Moon Bay is the core of the west side, close to hotels, cafes, restaurants, bars and activities for the whole day. And the best moment here is definitely the sunset, which never fails to amaze: with friends or family, and a cold local beer or a fresh cocktail in your hand.
The quiet beach at the south end
The other beach, less busy but not less beautiful, is at the south end of West End, where the asphalt ends and the dirt road starts again. The quiet atmosphere is perfect for a game of beach volleyball or just to relax with friends. From here, walking along the shore, you can reach West Bay in about 40 minutes (wear shoes or comfortable sandals for a few rocky points along the way).
A day in West End
During the day life goes on without rush, at the typical Caribbean rhythm. It starts early: shops open between 7:00 and 9:00 am, and it is easy to be tempted by a hot cup of coffee with a typical breakfast, a sweet or a baleada before work.
Soon visitors head to the beach, tours and excursions begin and everyone is busy. It is nice to watch it all: a dive instructor walking with the gear on his shoulder to take students to shallow water, divemasters and captains carrying tanks between the boats and the compressor.
Taxis and private drivers drop visitors at the entrance of the village, local minibuses take children to school and adults to work. At lunchtime the restaurants fill up before everyone goes back to their activities.
Happy hour and the night
And then comes everyone’s favorite moment: happy hour, a ritual few people give up. After 5:00 pm locals and visitors mix in the bars with tables facing the sea or right on the sand, chatting and listening to live music while the sun goes down, the dive, fishing and tour boats come back, children play on the beach after school and dogs chase each other on the shore.
At night West End changes again. With so many restaurants, bars and clubs there is something for everyone, for every budget and with good food: local, Mexican, Thai, Italian, grill, vegetarian.
After dinner there are bars with live music and theme nights (trivia, movies on the beach, karaoke, to name a few). And for those who love to dance, the open-air clubs along the waterfront are a must. In the evening there are very few cars, and on weekends the road is practically closed, so walking around feels like strolling on a boulevard. Of course, your night cannot end without a barefoot stop on the beach to look at the stars before going back to your hotel.
Make the most of West End
West End is the perfect base to discover the west side of the island: from here you can fly over the reef with parasailing, explore the coast with our 4 Stops Boat Tour or simply take a water taxi to West Bay. Write to us and we will help you plan your days.
