Where to Stay in Roatán: West Bay and West End, or the Rest of the Island by Car?
I get the same question almost every week in the traveler groups: we want to stay in Roatán without renting a car, with kids, and West Bay looks good. The answer fits in two lines. West Bay and West End are the tourist hub of the island: the most visited, the busiest, the liveliest, and the only areas you can really do without a car. Everywhere else, you need a car or taxis.
Where to Stay in Roatán: The Short Answer
I have lived in Roatán since 2014, and I work on the island as a divemaster, guide and drone pilot. Here is how I would put it to a parent who is hesitating in the group: without a car, stay in West Bay or West End, everything is on foot. Anywhere else, plan on a car.
Without a car, my default is West Bay. If diving and village atmosphere matter most, West End. The rest of the island is beautiful, but you live it with a car or taxis.
West Bay and West End vs. the Rest of the Island: The Table
| Area | No car needed? | Vibe | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Bay | Yes, everything on foot | Lively and busy: the island’s main beach, the biggest resorts, the most activity | Families, couples, first visit |
| West End | Yes, everything on foot | Dive village: you walk from restaurant to restaurant at night | Divers, village lovers |
| Sandy Bay | Mostly on foot | Quieter north-west coast, a less maintained beach | Divers, families |
| East coast (Camp Bay, Paya Bay) | No: 1 h 30 from West End or West Bay | Very zen, almost no tourism | Travelers after calm, with a car |
| South shore (Media Luna, CoCo View, Fantasy Island) | No: closed resort, trips out by taxi or rental car | Quiet, reefs, shore diving | Stays built around the resort |
| Pristine Bay | No: closed resort | The golf course, on the north coast | Golfers |
West Bay: The Beach, the Hotels and Evenings Without a Car
West Bay is the island’s main beach. Everything is within walking distance, beach included.
- Eating on the beach: Argentina Grill and Beachers, right on the sand.
- Eating for less: people from the Roatán community rent restaurant kiosks at Placita Inn, with a cheaper menu. In my opinion it is the best place to eat in West Bay.
- Eating next door: it is easy to walk to the other resorts.
- Morning coffee: Café Rubio, at Bananarama Beach Resort (ask for Jérôme), and Copito Roatán.
On cruise days the beach is busier, but the resorts protect their guests. The evening stays lively until about 11 pm: most bars and restaurants close around then. On the beach, vendors wait for you and talk to you from outside the hotel grounds: they are not allowed in, and the security guards are there for that.
West Bay hotels on this site: Infinity Bay, Henry Morgan, Mayan Princess, Ibagari, Naboo and Acqua di Mare.
West End: The Dive Village You Do on Foot
West End is done on foot, period: dive shops, restaurants and beach bars are within walking distance, and evenings on foot are worry-free. The most popular and best-kept beach in West End is Half Moon Bay, right in front of the roundabout at the entrance to the village. Elsewhere in the village the beaches are less cared for than in West Bay: the businesses are smaller and have fewer means to maintain them. For a family, West Bay wins on cleanliness.
One hotel is presented here: Splash Inn, built around diving.
At Half Moon Bay, my picks:
- Gingers, a Tex-Mex with excellent food: the fries, the coconut-breaded shrimp and the burger, among others.
- An Italian gelato for a good ice cream.
- Pura Vida, Costa Rican flavors, on the water.
- Sundowner, on the beach: the most popular bar among American, Argentine and English-Canadian expats, with good avocado burgers and a festive mood from early evening.
- Crazy Bean, an air-conditioned café on the main street with a view of the beach.
From West Bay to West End Without a Car
The two villages are connected on foot. By boat, local captains offer a service from the beach called the water taxi: about US$5 per person (as of October 2026), provided a minimum number of passengers is reached. Alone, or after dark, the price goes up. The water taxi serves only West Bay and West End, and it runs until the evening.
In the evening there are very few. If you want dinner in West End, ask your captain whether he can bring you back, and book it: he will happily wait for you. Otherwise taxis are plentiful at night; alone or as a pair, expect at least US$20 (as of October 2026).
The crossing takes about 15 minutes.
The Playlist: West Bay, West End and the Rest on Video
Here is West Bay from above, then the other areas as the videos come. The player opens the full playlist.
Watch the playlist on YouTube.
Where to Stay in Roatán With Kids
West Bay is the best choice for a family. The restaurants are on the beach, everything is on foot, and the resorts keep their beach clean with their own staff. For a family I recommend the Henry Morgan.
In West End only Half Moon Bay is really well kept, which matters with young children. Sandy Bay also suits families, but its beach calls for vigilance (see below). I do not rule out any area for young kids: the difference comes down to the beach and whether you need a car.
Sandy Bay: Quieter, but Not West Bay’s Beach
Sandy Bay is the quieter north-west coast, between West End and Coxen Hole. You can still live there without a car: several restaurants and dive shops are within walking distance. I recommend Sandy Bay Diver and Anthony’s Key, which suit divers and families well.
An honest warning about the beach: it is big, but far less maintained than West Bay’s. If you are there in a week of strong wind, or it blew hard just before you arrived, you may find plastic, trash or sargassum.
The East Coast (Camp Bay, Paya Bay): Isolation
This is the most isolated area, very zen, with almost no tourism. There is no all-inclusive: it is strictly Airbnb. Camp Bay Lodge is strongly recommended for a stay, and its restaurant is excellent.
Without a car, you have at most three restaurants on foot: the one at Camp Bay Lodge, Las Sirenas (right on the beach, a restaurant on stilts that often serves lionfish speared by divers) and Chele’s, on the main road. A few families also run convenience stores and eateries along the road. Las Sirenas is one of the only restaurants in the area.
To reach West End or West Bay, count 1 h 30 by car. A rental car then costs less than a taxi.
The South Shore (French Harbour and Media Luna): Reefs and Diving
The south shore is windward: shallow reefs, a near-constant breeze, and dive resorts sitting on cays. Media Luna is in the east of the island, but on the south shore. CoCo View and Fantasy Island are on the same shore, in French Harbour.
These are places where you stay put: to leave, rent a car, or book an excursion with me: no driving stress. Driving here is not for everyone: nobody really follows the traffic rules, so forget what you have learned and just try to survive. For Media Luna, count 1 h by taxi to West End or West Bay; details in Media Luna vs Henry Morgan. For Fantasy Island, read the article on the fire first.
For diving, Media Luna lets you dive without boat traffic. West Bay usually has less swell. Both offer exceptional dives.
Pristine Bay: The Golf
Las Verandas at Pristine Bay is the golf area, on the north coast. It is a closed resort: you stay put.
Do You Need a Rental Car in Roatán?
In West Bay and West End, no. To sleep anywhere else, yes, or almost. If you stay in West Bay or West End, one or two days of rental can be enough, plus one or two excursions with me: everything is on the Roatán tours page.
For rentals, I can help: message me on Messenger and I will give you my opinion and tips on the roads. From the airport, taxi prices are posted at the exit: expect about US$25 at minimum for one person, depending on the area (as of October 2026). Driving in Roatán is not for everyone: nobody really follows the traffic rules.
Where to Stay in Roatán in December
December is busy from the 12th to the 28th; it goes very quiet for New Year’s Day. Spring break week, construction week and other school-break weeks are the other busiest times. The rest of the year, the island is generally very quiet. Only West Bay gives the feeling of more tourists; elsewhere it is empty, just for you.
Arriving on a Cruise?
A cruise passenger stays only one day, so there is no question of lodging. I recommend booking my island tour with the microbrewery.
Which Hotel to Choose for Your Trip
| Trip | My pick |
|---|---|
| Family with kids | Henry Morgan, West Bay |
| Couple without a car | Mayan Princess, or Naboo for an adults-only vibe |
| Diver without a car | Henry Morgan (West Bay, generally less swell) |
| Diving without boat traffic | Media Luna, south shore |
| Budget without a car | Henry Morgan |
The full list is on the Roatán hotels page.
How I Help You Choose
Message me on Messenger with your dates, your number of travelers and what you want to do on the island: I will tell you which area suits you, find you the best price and take care of your excursions.
Frequently asked questions
Can you stay in Roatán without renting a car?
Yes, in West Bay and West End. Both are done on foot: beach, restaurants, cafés and shops are within walking distance. Anywhere else on the island you need a car or taxis. Sandy Bay is the one notable exception: several restaurants and dive shops are reachable on foot.
Is West Bay a good choice with kids?
Yes, it is my first pick for a family. The restaurants are on the beach, everything is on foot, and the resorts have staff who keep their beach clean. Even on cruise days, hotel guests are shielded from the crowds. For a family I recommend the [Henry Morgan](/en/hotels/henry-morgan/).
West Bay or West End: which one should you choose?
Both are done on foot. West Bay has the best-kept beach and the biggest choice of resorts. West End is a more local dive village with its restaurants at night. For a family with children, West Bay; for diving and village atmosphere, West End.
Do you need a car to stay anywhere other than West Bay and West End?
Yes, almost everywhere else. Places like Pristine Bay, Fantasy Island or CoCo View are closed resorts: you stay there, and leave by taxi or rental car. On the east coast, count 1 h 30 by road to West End or West Bay, and a rental car costs less than a taxi.
Can you get from West Bay to West End without a car?
Yes, on foot, or by water taxi from the beach: local captains run a boat shuttle for about US$5 per person (as of October 2026), with a minimum number of passengers. Alone, or after dark, the price goes up, and there are very few water taxis in the evening. Arrange your return from a dinner in West End with the captain, otherwise taxis are easy to find.
Where to stay in Roatán in December with kids?
In West Bay, at the [Henry Morgan](/en/hotels/henry-morgan/). December is busy from the 12th to the 28th; it goes very quiet again for New Year's Day. West Bay is the only area where you feel more tourists; elsewhere it is often empty.