Travel Diaries: Roatán (Honduras)
Whether it’s for the history, food, music or scenery, travelling opens your mind to a plethora of new experiences and cultures. It’s a constant learning process - we encourage you to (eventually) go out there to explore. It doesn’t have to be the other side of the world, there are tonnes of hidden gems on everyone’s doorsteps.
With travel unlikely for the foreseeable, we want to bring the world to you, sharing some of our favourite experiences from across the globe. Join us for the Travel Diaries as we bring you amusing anecdotes, culture and the best experiences to be had when we can all go and discover again.
So settle down with a cuppa and prepare for a trip to Roatán!
Photographer: Charlotte Bird
Roatán is a Caribbean island located off the northern coast of Honduras. Famed for its coral reef, fishing and eco-tourism industries, the island is particularly popular with cruise ships (which is how I came to venture to this little slice of paradise).
Boarding a charming bus to zip along the earthen roads, local children waved excitedly as we passed by small villages bursting with character. As the roads narrowed, we squeezed through tight turns, the lush vegetation attempting to sneak in through the open windows doing little to combat the intense heat of summer, as uplifting local music drifted through intermittently on the radio.
The destination? Mayan Eden Conservation Centre to admire the work of locals supporting Roatán’s biodiversity. What a wonderfully unique experience to walk into an enormous netted tent, butterflies gracefully dancing from leaf to leaf. The bright Monarch and quirky Owl butterflies were especially beautiful, enhancing populations threatened globally by deforestation and urbanisation.
Photographer: Hannah Bird
As a nature enthusiast and scientist, I love to see biology at work, from caterpillars lounging on leaves to the silky cocoons and chrysalises hanging from branches, showcasing the next stage of the life cycle. Inside of these cocoons, the caterpillars were releasing enzymes to dissolve their tissues and, by the power of cell division, metamorphosing into their winged counterparts over the course of 1 to 3 weeks.
Then came an awesome surprise – hummingbirds! My all time favourite bird, for their beautiful colours, elegance in flight and the sheer wonder of nature to succeed. Many species can flap their wings up to 80 times a second (yes, you read that correctly) as they hunt for nectar from tropical flowers. Top tips for capturing these stunning birds on camera can be found here.
Photographer: Charlotte Bird
Yet there were more encounters to be had with Capuchin monkeys, kinkajous, toucans and macaws. Roatán certainly is the place to go for native Central American wildlife. Be sure to hire a guide and venture out into the rainforests to see them in their natural habitats too.
On to the next adventure – a semi-submarine dive at West End. I adore snorkelling, but this was a unique experience, diving beneath the waves to see the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef. However, never one to miss an opportunity for a paddle, the half an hour delay before boarding gave ample opportunity to dig my toes into the postcard-worthy white sand and feel the warm Caribbean Sea.
What an experience the semi-sub was! The sun disappeared in an explosion of bubbles as I dropped below the waves. The clear waters quickly revealed an amazing sight, a coral reef teaming with marine life. Shoal upon shoal of fish enveloped the little vessel – I particularly loved the Sergeant Majors (pictured below), with an enormous grouper passing by.
Photographer: Hannah Bird
Though I must admit, seeing a turtle drifting across the sea bed was one of the most exciting moments of all. So my top tip for appreciating this wonderful experience – put your camera to the glass, hit record and then look away from the screen. Let your phone do its thing and soak it all in with your eyes through the sub’s windows, after all, you might never come back!
Back on dry land it was time to explore the wonderful town of West End. They have a sense of humour here (take a look at the diving sign below) and a love of all things colourful. The Rusty Fish Recycled Art shop was a particular highlight – from its cheery exterior to cleverly designed crafts, it was a true gem. Armchair made from old tyres, anyone?
Photographer: Charlotte Bird
West End is also home to the Roatán Chocolate Factory, a business that boasts the best chocolate in Central America, aiming to protect indigenous communities and the natural environment. The cacao used in their products originates from the Rio Platano Biosphere Reserve, La Mosquitia. A dedicated chocolate line donates a proportion of the proceeds towards conserving this reserve and, importantly, the jaguars and Harpy eagles that call it home.
Then there’s also the Roatán Rum Factory to check out ... what’s not to love?!
Photographer: Charlotte Bird
We hope you’ve enjoyed this whistle-stop tour of Roatán and that you feel suitably inspired to have an adventure yourself in the future.
Bon voyage!
Written by Charlotte Bird
