All About Roatan
Roatan is the largest of the Bay Islands, a series of islands between 5-40 miles of the northern coast of Honduras. Here are some quick Roatan details that may be of interest to you:
Roatan Information for Tourists
Size: ~35 miles long x 5 miles at its widest
Population: ~100,000 (estimated)
Language: officially Spanish, though English is spoken by most island families – learning some very basic Spanish is helpful but not mandatory
Money on Roatan
Lempira, named for a Lenca warrior (on Roatan, USD are accepted everywhere but they must be in good condition – no rips or writing!)
Transportation to Roatan
Juan Manuel Galvez International Airport (code RTB) can be reached directly via the following:
- Houston (United Airlines)
- Atlanta (Delta Airlines)
- Dallas or Miami (American Airlines)
- Montreal and Toronto (SunWing and Transat Airlines)
- Belize City (Tropic Air)
- San Salvador (Avianca Airlines)
- Carl O. McNab Sr. Maritime Terminal can be reached by the Galaxy Wave ferry from La Ceiba, approximately a 75-minute trip running twice per day.
Taxis and public buses all run along the main roads on the island.
There are also rental car companies available at the airport and beyond. More information on all things transport can be found here.
Roatan Climate and Weather
Roatan is a tropical island, so there are dry and wet seasons.
The primary rainy season is October-March, with December and January being the worst months.
The second rainy season is June-July, with more typical tropical rainclouds or brief storms coming through.
Roatan is not typically hit directly by hurricanes – statistically once every 26 years a direct hit occurs.
