Carribean Honduras Travel Guide

One of the best dive spots in the Caribbean, and cheap (10 dives US$20 a dive typically). Catch the ferry from La Cieba, get a taxi to West End. There are tons of funky little bars and restaurants, and a lot of dive schools, which encourages competition. I used Coconut Tree Divers, and I can't recommend them highly enough. Oh, and because Roatan was settled by slaves dumped by the British, everyone speaks English not Spanish. Only downside I could find was that the beach has a lot of sandflies.

Welcome to the diving capital of the world.  If you're going to Utila, chances are you're looking to dive.  Just about everyone on the island is either on a diving vacation or just learning, as I was.  If that's the case, I would highly recommend the Utila Dive Center.  I got my certification there in the summer of 2006.  It's a party atmosphere, but not at the expense of safety.  Everybody there knows that diving is serious fun.  The instructors go out of their way to ensure the safety of their divers, and will not hesitate to tell you if they seriously think you are not ready for diving.  (That doesn't mean they're rude; it means they're concerned for your safety.)  With that, though, everyone there is out for a good time and there is music playing constantly out on the pier. If you dive with them, you'll probably want to stay at the Mango Inn, which is included with their certification courses.  I was backpacking when I visited and Mango was a rare bit of luxury after spending months in dingy hostels.  There's an outdoor pool on the grounds and it's open all night.  There's also a bar and restaurant.  It's not a five star resort, but unless you're looking for decoration, tv, and carpeted hallways, it might as well be.

Roatan, Hondura is an interesting little island caught between the third world and the modern world. One small part of the island caters to the vacationing scuba diver and the rest of the island lives in the reality that is Honduran.  You can experience some amazing scuba diving at a great price and then take a boat taxi to the other side of the island, walk dirt roads through the small town, drink with the locals and eat from the old ladies selling fish from grills on the side of the road. Watch out for the any local trouble as the police are less than honest and will take your money or put you in jail for some small, and often imaginary, infraction against local law.

I didn't see a money exchange, though the scuba resorts take credit cards. There were few restaurants, but the local fish vender is 'good food'. The hotels that catered to the diver were clean, but not fancy. There was little night life on Roatan so bring your books. After you take the boat taxi to the main part of town you can rent a moped to explore the rest of the island. Wear a helmet and watch the traffic, they are fast and care little about the vacationer.