10 days alone on Roatan - what would you do?

[Sloeber]

I'd take a quick trip down to West End and look around. Lots of dive shops, t-shirts everywhere, bars everywhere, and several good places to eat. Several places to stay though most if not all of the $5 variety are in the woods. Then take a ferry over the Utila and look around. I'd be shocked if you decided to return to West End. Lots of dives shops, a few interesting bars (don't miss treetanic - no place in this world like it), several good places to eat. There are plenty of $5 to $30 places to stay. Utila just has a much more authentic Honduran village atmosphere than the tourist traps on west end. You'll have a blast. If your friend comes to visit, let her talk to a few of the dive shops and for $250 or so, she can get certified too.
If you don't plan on diving at all during your extended stay, I think you'll get bored on either island but Roatan may be a better choice in that case.

As noted above I plan to dive my entire stay (or at least the majority of it) and I've already been to Roatan as well as Utila. So for me its more than a "go see it" type thinking because, well, I already have. I'm looking for ideas that'll make my 10 days seem too short.

 

[Sloeber]

Totally alone with no chance of meeting anyone?

For 10 days?

Spoiler

I'd bring one of my favorite DVDs and a bottle of astroglide.

Thankfully I shouldn't have any trouble locating, uhm... "options" should that need arise. I do appreciate the concern, however. But as long s you brought it up Steve, how do you manage to get all your required Astroglide past the TSA allowable limits on liquids?

 

[Sloeber]

I highly recommend going to Omega Jungle lodge in La Ceiba for some white water rafting, hiking and horse back riding. Great owners and very friendly guides who are also the bartenders at night. You get free accommodation when you book a tour or you can splurge in stay in one of their nicer rooms.

The ferry costs approximately $25 each way and you can get picked up by the lodge at the ferry or be a little more adventurous and take the local bus.

I have not been there myself but my friends have suggested diving off Cayos Cochinos. You can dive with and stay on one of the islands with either Pirate Island Divers or with Plantation Beach Resort. Very laid back atmosphere and the locals make a great fish lunch or dinner.

If you go to Utila make sure you stop by the Jade Seahorse...coolest thing I have ever seen..the owner has made tunnels and walkways and art pieces out of glass and tile mosaic..hard to describe but something you'll never forget...see it in the day and at night. There is a catamaran that goes from Roatan to Utila or you can take the ferry from Roatan - La Ceiba - Utila.

Hope you have a great trip!

The Omega Tours looks amazing! I've already sent them an email for more information on booking. That looks like the exact sort of thing I'm up for. I have always wanted to do whitewater rafting/kayaking but living in Illinois hasn't given me the chance. Never would have dreamed of doing it in Honduras as my first time. Thanks so much for mentioning this.

I'll have to look into the diving you mention. Not familiar with it.

 

[Sloeber]

10 Days in the West End you'd likely be bored.

What I'd do is go to Utila then come back to Roatan for your flight out. Take the ferry over, it's out of Dixon Cove so near FIBR. You're on Utila within about 3 hrs. If your friend can get there by about 1PM, the Galaxy ferry leaves at 2PM. They match schedules so in La Ceiba you just walk across the parking lot to the Princess ferry to Utila.

Whaleshark season runs February - May. Optimal season is March-April. We snorkeled with six in two days the end of March. It's a snorkel only so your non-diver friend can do it also. It's also a backpacker haven so there's some inexpensive accommodations in town.

Then come back on Capt. Vern's Catamaran and spend a day or two in the West End. Do the zipline and maybe the AKR Dolphin encounter (not the dive) with your friend.

Coconut Tree cabins seemed safe and under $50 - my friends stayed there. Or Chillies if you dive with Native Sons - it's a shared bath sort of place. If it works into your schedule - Friday night is best night for West End festivities. Sundowners is a good place to start - then work your way east.

I think you just nailed my trip down pretty good with a few changes. scratch a day in Utila and Roatan nd add them to a Omega June tour. But it still keeps me moving and a nice loop thru the area. Have you done the dolphins at AKR? I'm tempted to pass on them (been there, done that elsewhere) and do a morning shark dive them the East End tour.

 

[idocsteve]

Thankfully I shouldn't have any trouble locating, uhm... "options" should that need arise. I do appreciate the concern, however. But as long s you brought it up Steve, how do you manage to get all your required Astroglide past the TSA allowable limits on liquids?

Put it in the checked baggage along with the rest of your toys.

 

[diversteve]

I think you just nailed my trip down pretty good with a few changes. scratch a day in Utila and Roatan nd add them to a Omega June tour. But it still keeps me moving and a nice loop thru the area. Have you done the dolphins at AKR? I'm tempted to pass on them (been there, done that elsewhere) and do a morning shark dive them the East End tour.

I only did the dolphins but most of my friends did both. Everyone said the shark dive was better. They had a really good, low-current day and were able to spend most of the the dive off the bottom in among the sharks until the feed at the end. I've heard sometimes that's not the case though.

Our dolphin dive was kind of so-so. Jusr our group of 5 one morning. We met the dolphins in their pen and then went out to the divesite. It's a barren flat sandy plain at 60'. The idea was the dolphins would swim by, go explore for a few minutes and then interact with us. Unfortunately - no one knew this at the time - the lead mature dolphin decided to stay in the pen. Since he would've been keeping the others in line, they were now free to roam. So for 30mins. our only glimpse of them was playing with some weed nearby. Eventually the other two dolphins showed up but it's a 45min. dive.

I did have one good encounter, while floating on the surface, I noticed the two dolphins about 100 yds. away but swimming away from the group - when I tried to signal them, one of the dolphins saw me and came up - stopped within about 2' and just hovered there for at least 10 seconds. When I petted him under the chin and he came closer and "kissed" me on the chin before taking off to join his friend. So they're more conditioned than RIMS would like you to believe.

If you've done the dolphin encounter on Curacao, that was better. AKR was about $80 cheaper though.

 

[idocsteve]

I did have one good encounter, while floating on the surface, I noticed the two dolphins about 100 yds. away from my friends - who were swimming the wrong way - when I tried to signal them, one of the dolphins saw me and came up

How did you know the dolphins were swimming the wrong way?

Why is one way right, and the other wrong?

To a dolphin, any way is the right way...assuming of course they aren't swimming into a fishing net.

 

[dmoore19]

I haven't done the Dolphin Dive, I have done the dolphin experience and snorkel at AKR. I would say if you are looking for interaction with the dolphins the snorkel is way cool. They are in the pen but the pen is large and a lot of interaction is usually the case. Just a thought.

 

[diversteve]

How did you know the dolphins were swimming the wrong way?

Why is one way right, and the other wrong?

To a dolphin, any way is the right way...assuming of course they aren't swimming into a fishing net.

Ok...fixed that. Although you have a point - if I saw my group underwater I'd probably swim the other way too...

 

[sdiver68]

I'm a devout Notre Dame fan and if you mention the Illini while at FIBR I'll be sure to mock you

I guess that's fair since I'm sure you get enough of the other way around in Chambana....