Things to Do While VISITING Roatán
AQUA TOURS
Aqua Tours, one of the 2 glass-bottom boat companies on the island, departs West End and seats up to 30 people below the water in air-conditioned comfort. View the beautiful reef, turtles, eagle rays and more, without getting wet.
BLUE HARBOUR
Hydroponic farming can be viewed at Blue Harbour, which produces the hydroponic lettuce used at the resort, as well as herbs and spices. The property also includes an extensive garden and orchard area, and tours are available.
BOTANICAL GARDENS AT CARAMBOLA GARDENS
Botanical gardens at Carambola Gardens, with a diverse array of tropical plants, are the perfect spot for a stroll. The trails wind path the iguana wall, where iguanas and parrots breed, and up to Carambola Mountain, with a spectacular view of the Caribbean. Beaches are scattered along the coastlines of the island, including our private beach area at Barefoot Cay, and the stunning white sand beach of West Bay, along with the clothing optional beach at Paya Bay and deserted Camp Bay beach. Stop by the guest service office and let our staff mark some favourite beach stops on a map for you.
CANOPY TOURS
Canopy tours are one of the most popular activities to choose from. Our favourites are Gumbalimba Park (see ‘G’ for more details), Pirates of the Caribbean (see ‘Z’ for zipline), and Caribe Sky. Caribe Sky is just a few minutes from Barefoot Cay, and offers 12 lines, including one of almost 2,000 feet in length.
CAYOS COCHINOS ISLANDS
Cayos Cochinos are a beautiful group of small islands located between Roatan and the mainland. Day trips are offered through X-treme Charters (see ‘X’ for more details).
DEEP SEA FISHING
Deep sea fishing charters are available half day and full day. Bait, tackle, and rods provided. Fish for wahoo, tuna, mahi mahi, barricuda and more.
DOLPHIN EXPERIENCES
Dolphin experiences are an incredible way to learn more about these amazing creatures. Several options are available, including a dolphin encounter, snorkel, dive, action swim, and trainer for the day.
DIVING
Diving and the treasures to be found below the surface of the clear blue Caribbean Sea have been Roatan’s main attraction for a long time. Caves and crevices, thousand-foot walls, wrecks, an airplane, abundant sea life, dolphins, sharks, whale sharks and the largest number of sponges in the Caribbean, make Roatan and the Bay Islands one of the most desirable diving destinations in the world.
Barefoot Divers™ is a PADI Certified 5-Star Dive Resort located at Barefoot Cay Resort and offers guests good accessibility to Roatan’s premiere dive and snorkel sites. Barefoot Divers™ offers a full range of diving and training experiences and will take guests for dive trips to any of the superb dive sites surrounding Roatan or those bordering the other Bay Islands. Dive gear can be rented and all levels of instruction are available from Discover Scuba to Dive Master. Open Water Diver Certification can be completed in less than a week and all advanced PADI courses and dives are available. For information about dive sites, classes, and other underwater experiences, visit our “designed for divers” website at www.BarefootDiversRoatan.com.
Roatan’s most famous dive site, Mary’s Place, is just outside the reef at Barefoot Cay. Mary’s Place encompasses a vast crevice in the reef wall and has breathtaking caverns to explore. John’s Spot, another of Roatan’s most popular dive sites, is also right at the reef at Barefoot Cay.
FLATS FISHING
Flats fishing enthusiasts can bring their rod and try their luck right in front of Barefoot Cay and just to the east of the cay. If you’d like a day of flats fishing with a guide, this can be arranged with a company on the east end of the island.
GUMBALIMBA PARK – MONKEYS, PARROTS, ZIP-LINES & HISTORY
Gumbalimba Park, located between West End and West Bay, is a nature’s wonderland. Play with monkeys and parrots, tour the history of the island, or ride a zip-line through the jungle canopy.
GLASS BOTTOM BOAT TOURS
Glass bottom boat tours are offered departing West End (see ‘A’ Aqua Tours) as well as West Bay, on the Coral Reef Explorer. Check out the beautiful reef and its inhabitants without getting wet.
GOLFING
Golfers can head east to check out the Pete Dye course, Black Pearl. Special rates available when booking your tee time through Barefoot Cay Resort.
HORSEBACK RIDING – BEACH & JUNGLE RIDES
Horseback riding is offered at Barrio Dorcas, just outside of West End, with beach and jungle rides available, depending on guest preference and experience.
KAYAKING
Kayaking is a great way to explore the waterways inside the reef. Complimentary kayak usage is available for Barefoot Cay guests.
MARBLE HILL FARM
Jams and jellies of unique tropical flavours such as hibiscus flower and guava are produced at Marble Hill farm. The farm is a great stop along an island tour.
MANGROVE TOURS
Mangrove tours are offered from Oak Ridge. The mangroves provide refuge for a variety of marine life, and protect the surrounding reef from sediment due to runoff. Tours are offered by boat, through the canals that run amidst the mangroves.
MAYA KEY
Maya Key, a small cay located just off of Coxen Hole, features a scaled-down replica of the Mayan ruins of Copan, as well as a pool, restaurant, beach and wildlife rehabilitation area.
NIGHT DIVES
Night dives are offered any night of the week, weather permitting, with a minimum of 2 interested divers. See lobsters, crabs, octopi and other nocturnal sealife.
OAK RIDGE
Oak Ridge is a picturesque town on the east end of the island, with all the houses set over the water on stilts. and is a good inclusion for an island tour.
SPA SERVICES
Spa services are available right at the resort, including a romantic couples massage at the palapa. For more information and pricing on spa services, see the spa page.
SAILING
Sailing trips on board the gorgeous catamaran, Raya Aguila, can be arranged, with options of 1/2 day or full day sail and snorkel trips, or a sunset sail. All options have attentive, friendly staff and excellent food.
SHARK DIVES
Shark dives can be booked through Barefoot Divers. From 8-20 sharks circle the bait bucket, attacking the chum in an explosive tangle of fins and tails.
SUBMARINE TRIPS
Submarine trips can be arranged on the deepest recreational sub in the world, with several options offered, including a trip down to 2,000 ft.
SNORKELING
Snorkel the house reef, just off of Barefoot Cay™ Resort’s palapa, which includes a small sunken boat as well as a big resident puffer fish, schools of squid and more, or head out on one of the Barefoot Divers boats to as a snorkeler.
UNDERWATER MUSEUM
Underwater museum offers a different snorkel experience, including a sunken Spanish galleon and Mayan artifacts to view.
VALET DIVING
Valet diving is offered through our on-site dive center, ‘we do the work, you have the fun’. Our staff will take care of setting up your gear, disassembling and rinsing it after the dive, so you can relax and enjoy the diving!
X-TREME BOAT TOURS
X-treme Charter’s fast boats can whisk you away to explore some of the beautiful areas close to Roatan that many people never get a chance to visit. Check out Cayos Cochinos, do a circumference of the island, or visit the neighboring island of Utila.
YOGA
Yoga can be arranged through the guest service office, if you’d like a private class, or visit Upachaya or Earth Mamas for one of their regularly scheduled group classes. Yoga retreats can also be arranged through the resort.
ZIPLINING
Ziplining is available several spots around the island, including Pirates of the Caribbean, which offers both a standard zipline and an extreme zipline for thrill seekers.
Reef and Ruins
If you have a few extra days that you can add to your trip, check out the incredible ruins of Copan before or after coming to visit the beautiful reef of Roatan. A stay at the lovely Hacienda San Lucas, conveniently located near the Mayan archaeological site of Copan on the mainland of Honduras, can be added to any Barefoot Cay package. The 2 night Reef and Ruins add-on package is $1,280 per person including taxes, but not gratuities, and includes:
Reef and Rainforest
Plan for a few days at the stunning Pico Bonito national park just outside of La Ceiba on the mainland before or after your stay in Roatan. Pico Bonito Lodge is nestled in the midst of the rain forest, with great bird-watching and nature trails to explore. A 3 or 4 night stay can be added to any Barefoot Cay package, and includes:
Two Week, Two Island Luxury Dive Vacation
Two weeks of pampering is better than one! Add a week at beautiful Utopia Village in Utila before or after your week’s stay at Barefoot Cay, and enjoy the unique charms of two of the Bay Islands – Utila and Roatan – for two weeks of amazing diving, great food, and luxury lodging. The 1 week add-on package includes:
For assistance planning activities on the island, please contact us and we will be happy to coordinate your experiences!