Coxen Hole Airport is no bigger than a moderate sized municipal airport. However, it’s longer runway can easily handle commercial jets. The island of Roatan is 40 miles north from Mainland Honduras. It sits between two sister islands {Utila and Guanaja}. The city of Coxen Hole is not only home to the island’s commercial airport, but is a major port-of-call for several cruise lines.
The Roatan, Honduras trip has been in the planning stage for quite some time. We are super excited to finally experience this little piece of paradise. A big thank you to Phil Swan and Villas de Cisnes for providing us an awesome condo just above the Orchard Beach area.
My name is Anthony. I will be your personal guide for this exceptional adventure. This exclusive assignment will include a series of articles that highlight several of Roatan’s points of interest. With the help of our fabulous host Phil Swan, we explored many of the island’s local attractions. So, sit back and enjoy the tour.
Roatan Honduras’s West End Village is a community that lies along Half Moon Bay. It’s home to a variety of local shops, art galleries, bar & grills and unique eateries. One of those restaurants is The Sandy Buns Bakery & Café. It was our favorite place to have breakfast.
The Café serves freshly prepared breakfast and lunch options that are absolutely delicious. But that’s not their only claim to fame. Their fresh baked cinnamon glazed buns are to die for. Trust me when I say, “It taste as good as it looks!”
Just about every establishment in Roatan that offers food and beverages has an open air atmosphere. And why wouldn’t they? The year-round tropical climate, lush landscape, and Caribbean Sea breeze makes for a perfect setting. There’s nothing better than enjoying a fresh air ambiance while dining with family and friends!
Being the social butterfly she is, Maureen met George and Darian who own and operate Beacher’s West End. They greet all their guest with a ‘smile and good ole island hospitality.’ When visiting Beacher’s, you have to try their lobster special.
Roatan is known worldwide as a diving and snorkeling mecca. You can choose from a variety of tours that offer dives along the Mesoamerica reef. This aquatic paradise is the second largest reef in the world, just behind Australia’s Barrier Reef. These same captains offer sunset cruises and fishing excursions as well. When going from one beachside community or establishment to another, using a water taxi is a great way to get around.
The Orchard Beach area is just a brief walk from Villa de Cisnes. This quiet and tranquil beach has a few dive shops to choose from. Even though I am not a diver, the convenience is there for those who do dive and are staying in the area.
The boat docks are right on the beach. All you have to do is grab your personal gear, walk to the dive boat, and be ready for your day to begin! Its that easy!
The Beach itself is a great place to work on your island tan and at the same time, enjoy countless dips in the Caribbean Sea’s tempered water.
The lush tropical foliage that inhabits the island of Roatan sets a perfect scenario. Just imagine the sea breeze brushing against your face, sand between your toes, and whispering palms swaying overhead. Life is grand!
When you think you have island life in the palm of your hand, wait until the urge for eats and a refreshing beverage hits! Just steps away and directly on the water is The Boat Bar. This open air bar & grill with a boat named Athena as it’s bar, offers a low-key island vibe atmosphere. If you want a fine dine experience, just a little further down is Ibagari.
Did you know that The Orchard Beach area has a mystic visitor that frequents the area? I wouldn’t have believed it myself if I didn’t see it with my own two eyes. I tried to do some research on the mermaid who is perched on her pedestal, but it seems she is a bit of a mystery to most.
However, I did find out that she was carved out of wood and belongs to the dive resort just across from the dock. No matter how she got there, it makes for a great conversation piece. It also makes for a unique photo op while watching the beautiful sunsets. With that said, The Orchard Beach area is an awesome place to watch the end of a fabulous day sink below the beautiful blue horizon. It also marks the beginning of a great evening!
We hope you enjoyed this first part of our journey to Roatan, Honduras’s West End Village. There is so much more to see but like always, there’s never enough time to post everything we saw and experienced on this particular part of the island. Our upcoming articles will include West Bay and a personal tour of the island hosted by Phil Swan. The brief video below will provide a closer look at the The Orchard Beach area and parts of West End Village. Stay tuned!
Photography: Anthony & Maureen Scopel & Phil Swan
Video: Anthony & Maureen Scopel
Article Creator & Formatting: Anthony Scopel
Video Production: Anthony Scopel & Matt Kemper
Associate Editor: Maureen Scopel
Technical Mastering & Web Support: Matt Kemper
Publishing Provide By: You, Me and The Dock
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