Roatan, an Idyllic Caribbean vacation

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Roatan was once a famous stronghold for the pirates who plied the West Indies in search of Spanish galleons laden with gold and silver. An abundant supply of food and fresh water, together with the island's numerous hidden coves and inlets, provided the buccaneers with the perfect hideout.

Today, however, when you fly into Roatan, all that awaits you are turquoise waters, white sand beaches, and a mountain backdrop. Present day islanders, who are the friendly descendants of the pirates, runaway slaves, colonists, and native Indians, speak a lilting Caribbean English. And indeed, refer to themselves as English.

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Long known as a diver's paradise, Roatan remains off the beaten track, and the laid back, tropical ambiance make for an idyllic vacation. A wide range of facilities accommodate varying budgets, and diverse attractions appeal to travelers of all ages.

Geography and Location

Roatan forms part the Bay Islands of Honduras, an archipelago of three large islands, three small islands, and over 60 cays, which are located a mere 30 miles from the mainland. It is the largest island at about 30 miles long and from one to three miles wide. A small mountain ridge runs along the spine of the island offering expansive ocean vistas.

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Main attractions

Roatan boasts the most beaches in the Bay Islands. Gentle waves lap softly on sandy shorelines where you can swim, play, or sling a hammock amongst the palm trees, and do absolutely nothing. While there are plenty of secluded beaches, West End Village and the spectacular West Bay Beach have long been favorites of both travelers and locals. Catch the water taxi from West End to West Bay for extra fun!

Scuba diving and snorkeling are, without a doubt, Roatan's prime attractions. The reef system forms part of the second largest reef in the world and is home to most of the marine life found in the Caribbean. The reef surrounding the island creates calm lagoons between the coastline and the reef crest that allow snorkeling from nearly every shore. Sharp drop-offs offer spectacular wall diving, as well as eerie tunnels and mazes. Go night diving, cave diving and wreck diving! Any level of dive certification is available from either an independent dive shop or an all inclusive diving resort.

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Unique adventures

Roatan even has its share of unique adventures. You can swim with the dolphins, dive with a whale shark, the largest fish in the sea; and explore the deep blue on the "Idabel", a deep diving submersible that will take you to depths of 2,000 feet.

Things to do

You can also go sailing, fishing, kayaking, horseback riding, or hiking. Other options include zip-line canopy tours, a mangrove boat tour, a glass bottom boat tour, and an island tour. Fun family or group activities include visiting the Iguana Farm, Botanical Gardens, Hydroponics Farm, or Garifuna (Afro-Caribbean) village at Punta Gorda.

Later you can reward yourself with a massage on the beach, followed by a nice dinner and a cool drink at one of the many beachfront restaurants and bars. A large fishing fleet provides an endless supply of delicious, fresh seafood. But there is something for everyone. Seafood, steak, chicken, hamburgers, pizza, pasta, quiche, and vegetarian prepared as Island, U.S., Italian, and even Thai cuisine can be found on menus with selections that range from quick snacks to fine dining.

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For more Roatan travel information visit http://www.roatanet.com and plan your island paradise getaway.

How to get there

Continental, Delta and Taca Airlines have direct weekend flights from and to the United States and Roatan from Houston, Miami, and Atlanta. Taca and Continental also fly daily into cities of San Pedro Sula and Tegucigalpa, with connecting flights to Roatan.

The Galaxy Ferry travels between the coastal city of La Ceiba to Dixon Cove, Roatan, twice a day.

Maria is a freelance writer living in Honduras who writes for http://www.roatanet.com which provides detailed Roatan travel information.