Unexpected Paradise

by Charmaine Masson (South Africa)

I didn't expect to find Honduras

This was the first island I absolutely and completely fell head over heels in love with. Roatan, the largest of The Bay of Islands of Honduras is home to some of the most spectacular views and tropical, green forest vegetation I have ever seen. And the beaches are of top notch quality. It was a great pleasure and even more so if you knew where to go. The local people are very friendly, they take pride in their businesses and depend heavily on tourists for their income, so the chances of you getting stranded on some beach far away from civilization are just about zero to none. Being the biggest island of a cluster of islands does not necessarily mean it is a big island. It is only 59km in length, it will take you less than an hour from one side of the island to the other. But what it lacks in size it definitely makes up for in excursions and beautiful tropical flora and vibrant coral reefs. The beaches are vast and wide and you don’t need to go very far for some local food and great water activities. West Bay is the place to be. Banana Beach boosts with the best views and ample space and water activities for everyone. Me and a friend decided that we wanted to get a better view of the beach, so we opted for paragliding. We were not disappointed. The color of the water from the top was a spectacular sea blue and it seemed like you could almost see as far as the edge of the world, if one ever existed. Another little gem at West Bay is the Infinity Bay Spa and Beach Resort. Open for day visitors, you can enjoy some cocktails while lazing about pool side or you can make use of the spa there as well. Or better yet, you could book yourself in and stay the night, or a few. On the other side of the island, you will find another beach. It is located in the 'Parrot Tree Plantation and Beach Resort'. A little bit more quiet, away from the buzz that is holiday makers and a little bit more exclusive. We made friends and our taxi driver organized with the manager there and before we knew it, we were escorted on a guided tour of the grounds. It was breathtaking. But alrighty then, enough of the beaches. There are plenty of other things to do here. Furry and feathered creatures you will find at the “Daniel Johnson’s Monkey and Sloth Hang Out”. It is a sanctuary that started out as a hobby and has since grown into a family business where animals are protected and taken care of. It is also a great place where local schools come to educate children about wild life. I love what they do there and I highly recommend you visit them. Another great sanctuary to visit is the “Arch’s Iguana and Marine Park”. A little bit more creeping and crawling going on here, so just be aware of that. It’s a great initiative from Ecotourism and you can actually walk among and feed these robust but gentle creatures. There are so much more to do on the island though. There are zip-lining, snorkeling, glass bottom boat excursions and more. I would recommend you use a reputed travel guide or agency to help you sort out all the finer travel details. Or you could always just hop on one of the cruiseships which passes by Roatan. It is one of the more convenient ways of getting to the island. And what's more, you will have dedicated shore excursion staff who will be happy to assist you in planning your day out on this wonderful island. It is a breath of fresh air, this island called Roatan. It is an awesome little island with a big personality and even bigger love for everyone who docks at her shores. If this wasn’t on your bucket list, I suggest you add it, there's so much to see and you will not be disappointed. I will definitely be returning one day, for a place like this is very hard to come by.