19 Best Sights in Roatan and the Bay Islands, Honduras

This park is part nature reserve, part tourism fun. Macaws, parrots, and monkeys will land on your shoulders as iguanas scuttle around more than 200 tropical tree and plant species. Paved paths lined with boulders lead to a 300-foot suspension bridge that crosses a lagoon. The park's zipline tour is its main attraction, with 13 lines traversing the rain-forest canopy. There is also snorkeling, Snuba (a form of surface-supplied diving), horseback riding, kayaking, and a white, sandy beach. Coxen's Cave is reminiscent of a theme-park ride: re-created cave drawings line the walls, and dotting the interior are life-size pirate statues and replicas of maps, weapons, and treasure. Grab a bite at the poolside grill and take a refreshing shower in the outdoor stalls. Park admission includes the pirate cave, animal preserve, botanical gardens, and the pool. All other activities cost extra.

This traditional Garífuna cay has lunch, lodging, and snorkeling. Village chief Roman Norales heads the town of 44 fishing families and often oversees tourism in the tiny community, a budding industry that supplies most of the island's income. The communal restaurant prepares fried fish, shrimp, and lobsters for tourists (have your guide put in an order at least an hour in advance). A rustic motel with 16 rooms and shared latrines costs L300 a night per couple.

West of French Harbour you'll find Arch's Iguana & Marine Park, an unusual attraction that has been around for three decades. Drop in around noon to see the stern-faced lizards have lunch. An estimated 3,500 sleepy creatures roam around the reserve, which also has turtles, monkeys, and a fish hatchery.

This private beach is a 10--15 minute walk east of the municipal dock. Entrance is L60 and gets you access to lounge chairs, shade, and a more secure setting than the nearby public beach. The sand here is much softer and cleaner than at the public beach, it's (usually) quieter, and the swimming area has less turtle grass. A palapa bar serves inexpensive cold drinks. Amenities: food and drink. Best for: swimming; partiers.

This cave is the largest among the dozens of caverns that puncture the mountainside. Legend has it that pirates hid their treasure here in the 16th and 17th centuries. To get there from Utila Town, head toward the airport on the paved road and turn left at the first dirt path after the horse stables.

With one of the country's most extensive orchid collections, the Carambola Botanical Gardens are home to many different varieties of tropical plant. It is also a breeding area for iguanas. There are several trails to follow, and many of the trees and plants are identified by small signs. The longest trail leads up to the top of the hill, where you find an amazing view of the West End of the island. Guides can be hired at the visitor center.

There is great snorkeling on the western end of Cayo Mayor, the largest cay in the archipelago.

The second biggest cay, Cayo Menor, is more than just a mandatory stop. The Honduras Coral Reef Fund arranges scientific expeditions to involve visitors in data collection on endemic species, such as the hamo negro iguana and boa Rosado serpent. The fund also coordinates programs during turtle migrations to the Cayos Cochinos in July and August.

Hop on a hammock or soak in the sun at this public space, which is a five-minute walk west of the municipal dock. There's not much to be found in the way of shade or chairs, but it's a great place to tan or hang out with friends. Abundant turtle grass means swimming is only for the brave. A few small restaurants and bar shacks surround the sand, and it can get rowdy late at night. Amenities: food and drink. Best for: partiers; sunset.

On the east end of the cay (referred to, suitably, as the East End), trails leading up to the lighthouse offer stunning panoramic views of the islands. This side of the cay is home to around 50 Garífuna villagers and the only school in Cayos Cochinos. The community has constructed beachfront cabins to offer visitors a more cultural experience.

If you've come to Guanaja, you're likely planning to either dive or fish with an outfitter, or do nothing at all but unwind. When you're ready for a break, we recommend an afternoon trip to the only slightly incongruous Fruit Harbour Farm, an organic operation run by a German expat. Take a guided tour or horseback ride through the fruit tree orchard and dairy farm, and then sip slowly on the powerful wine of fermented fruits and nibble on juicy dried mangoes. If you feel like staying longer, there are overnight bungalows available.

Fishing and passenger boats pull up to the white beaches at La Ensenada bay as fins and snorkels poke out of soft blue waters. Behind the shoreline are several recreational trails that cut through the rising rainforest.

From Utila Town, a 4.8 km (3 mile) trail cuts through the muggy tropical forest up to Pumpkin Hill. Standing at 91 meters (300 feet) above sea level, the dormant volcano cone is the highest point on the island. Sweeping views of Utila and nearby Roatán can be viewed from the top.

On the paved road out of Utila Town, bear right at the airport runway and onto Pumpkin Hill Beach, a mosaic of fossilized coral and sand patches. From here you can walk about 45 minutes along the beach until connecting with the trail that leads up Pumpkin Hill.

For a pricey but one-of-a-kind experience, contact Stanley Submarines for the ultimate deep-sea wildlife-viewing excursion. The two-passenger submarine, named Idabel, is piloted by Captain Karl and expeditions take you as low as 610 meters (2,000 feet) below sea level. The journey promises the chance to spot sharks and mysterious creatures you've likely never imagined. It's reservations only so be sure to book in advance.

Often called one of the best small museums in Central America, the tiny Roatán Museum is well worth a visit. The facility, at Anthony's Key Resort, displays archaeological discoveries from Roatán and the rest of the Bay Islands and gives a detailed history of the entire island.

Glass-bottom boat and submarine tours are an excellent way to enjoy the West End's coral reefs from a nondiver perspective. Underwater Paradise drops passengers 7 feet below the water in an air-conditioned semi-submarine with a crystal-clear bottom view for 45 minutes of reef exploration.

The Utila Cays make for an interesting afternoon excursion. Jewel and Pigeon Cay (also the Upper and Lower Cay, respectively) are home to around 400 people, including local fishermen and the descendants of settlers who came from the Cayman Islands in 1836. The two cays are joined together by a short concrete bridge, and houses, churches, schools, restaurants, and docks are crammed together on these urban islands. Residents, or Cayons, learn Spanish in school but speak Caribbean English at home, and they distinguish themselves from the 2,500 people living on the main island of Utila. A few tasty seafood joints make for a relaxing escape from the Utila Town crowd.

Utila is widely known in the diving world as the Caribbean's whale shark capital. These massive creatures can measure as much as 12 meters (40 feet) long and weigh up to 20 tons, and they feast mostly on plankton, not humans. The sharks swim close to Utila's shores and can be spotted year-round, an exciting possibility that lures many divers to the reefs here. The Deep Blue Resort has an EcoOcean identification database used to track whale sharks around the globe. WSORC also has monitoring and research programs in Utila. Visitors can join a four-hour encounter trip, called the Ocean Safari, and try to get a glimpse of a whale shark.