Sunset on the beach at Palmetto Bay in Roatán, Islas De La Bahia, Honduras

Our family had the privilege of visiting the beautiful island of Roatán, Islas De La Bahia, Honduras this spring. I don’t think I have ever seen such clear turquoise water in all of my life. Nor have I ever seen as much diverse marine life while snorkeling. It is truly a diver’s or snorkeler’s paradise. But, while you think you may not need much more than a swim suit and snorkel or dive gear, that’s not actually the case. There are a couple of must-bring items that make our ultimate Roatán packing list.

We planned this trip a bit last minute, after finding a decent points redemption from Denver directly to Roatán on United Airlines. This flight only runs part of the year and only on Saturdays. The island of Roatán became a tourist destination a few years ago when it was added to as a port for cruise line itineraries. The island is small, only about 5 miles wide and 40 miles tall.

The clear ocean water of West Bay in Roatán has abundant wildlife swimming through the coral reef right off of the shore.

The island is home to beaches, jungle, clear ocean water and abundant marine life. The second largest barrier reef in the world, the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, runs along the island. And in some places it is close enough to shore to easily swim out to it.

We may have booked this island vacation somewhat last minute. But I did a ton of research before our trip. Its history as a deserted island where a pirate escapee lived for a year and a half in the 1700s enthralled me. But, perhaps the most important thing that I learned prior to our trip was that the most annoying native inhabitants of the island are bugs, specifically sand flies or noseeums. Noseeums love me almost as much as mosquitos do. So prior to our departure, I stocked up on several different bottles of bug repellent. Hands down, this is the most important item on our Roatán packing list!

Unless you are visiting for a wedding, you will not need any fancy clothes. Flip flops, a swim suit, a cover up and a couple of pairs of shirt and t-shirts and you will be set with clothing.

So, you may be wondering what else you need to bring to this island paradise. Some of this may depend on where you decide to stay. A cooler may not be as useful if you are staying at a hotel with beach and pool service as it will be if you are staying at a VRBO. So, let’s start with the things anyone should be sure to bring to Roatán.

Reading on the West Bay beach in Roatán.
Relax by reading on the West Bay beach in Roatán.

Roatán Packing List: Must Have Items

Passport: Be sure that your passport is in good condition with no damage, plenty of space for your entry stamps and that it expires more than six months after your date of travel.

Cash in small increments: U.S. dollars in good condition are widely accepted and preferred over credit cards. Most hotels and restaurants will accept credit cards. But you will want to pay activity providers in cash and also tip in cash. Note: Many islanders regard the $2 bill as lucky. You can ask your bank for some of those to bring and spread the luck.

Bug Spray: As I mentioned above, there are lots of annoying sand fleas and noseeums in Roatán. If bugs like you, be sure to bring a couple of varieties of bug spray. Try Nonatz, Sawyer Procucts Insect Repellent or even buy a local product. Coconut oil came highly recommended.

Reef Safe Sunscreen: Likely you will be spending a lot of time in or near the water. So, good sunscreen that is reef safe will be important.

Itch Cream: You’ll want something to help prevent you from itching those sand flea or noseeum bites. My favorite was the Cortizone 10 with the massaging rollerball as it was easy to apply and effective.

Allergy Medication: We were happy not to have needed any allergy medication. But I always bring a couple of Benadryl tablets on my travels just in case.

Motion Sickness Medication: Again, we were lucky not to need this. But chances are that you will spend some time on a boat and the waters may or may not be calm. Again, best to be safe and not sorry.

Swim Suits: Of course you were planning on bringing a swim suit. But you might want to bring more than one. We were in and out of the water constantly.

Sun Shirt/ Rash Guard/ Cover Up: Again, you will be either by or in the water for most of your vacation. Be sure to protect your skin. And, have an easy way to move between the beach, pools and restaurants.

Flip Flops: A pair of Teva flip flops was the only shoes I wore the entire week we were there.

Shorts & T-shirts: No fancy clothes needed. When you aren’t wearing a swim suit, shorts and t-shirts work. Women may also want a comfortable sundress.

Sunglasses/ Sun Hat: It was sunny every day of our visit, so bring along eye protection and a sun hat to protect your face.

You will likely see more fish and different fish than you have before, snorkeling in Roatan.
You will likely see more fish and different fish than you have before, snorkeling the second largest barrier reef in the world, the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef.

Snorkel: At the West Bay beach you can easily swim to the coral reef. Your hotel may have loaners. But if you aren’t a diver, snorkeling is a must-do activity. It may be easier to bring your own. Though if you buy a new one, be sure to try it out first. It can be a bummer to take a boat out, decline a loaner snorkel and then find out there’s a problem with yours.

Snorkel Safety Float: You might also want to bring along a colorful buoy to help boats avoid you while snorkeling off the beach.

Floaties: You may want to bring along some type of blow up hammock or floaties. People simply hang out in the water off the beach.

GoPro Camera: Capture those amazing underwater sights with a GoPro or other underwater camera!

Flashlight/ Headlamps: From West Bay, you can easily walk to a variety of restaurants and enjoy the sunset. A flashlight or headlamp may make finding your way home a tad easier.

Water Shoes: You may want water shoes to wear on the beach though likely you’ll be removing those to get into the water to either snorkel or dive.

Books: Roatán is an amazing place to relax. Bring along a couple of books to read as you lay on the beach or by the pool. I enjoy reading books about the location that I am visiting. While not necessarily set in Roatán, Don’t Stop the Carnival by Herman Wouk gave a good likeness of what the island could have been like a handful of decades ago.

Toiletries: I always prefer my own brand of toothpaste, shampoo and skin care products. So, don’t forget to bring along your preferred brands as they likely won’t be easily found on the island.

Ready, Set, Roatán: The Ultimate Packing List for Island Fun

Liana Moore

Liana Moore is a third-culture kid with a hangover from those days that is a severe case of wanderlust. She is more comfortable driving the cliffs of Amalfi, Italy or the dirt roads of Costa Rica or attempting to decipher the street signs of Osaka, Japan than navigating the theme parks of Disney World. But she loves it all. She doesn't believe a vacation is complete without an adventure. Her husband and kids know well that "adventure" often is code for mishap or challenge and it usually results in a good story. They seek outdoor experiences whether in the mountains, on a beach or in the jungle of a tropical country. Her favorite vacation is... all the ones she hasn't yet taken, as well as those she plans on taking again. And, that list is so, so long. But she continues to extensively explore her home state of Colorado, spends lots of time wandering Texas, California, New Mexico, Costa Rica, Mexico, Norway and has even explored Kazakhstan.

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