Tropical Island Resort on Private Beach

Dive masters have charted more than 100 dive sites around Roatán, the largest of the Honduras Bay Islands and home to one of the world’s largest barrier-reef systems, located just offshore. Hundreds of aquatic species inhabit the reef, ranging from small colorful fish to much larger whale sharks. Roatán’s waters also hold several sunken shipwrecks, thanks to the many pirates who once prowled the Caribbean. On the island’s East End sits Turquoise Bay Resort, which encourages further adventures in the clear, warm waters with an onsite, five-star PADI dive shop that offers snorkeling and scuba diving gear. Sport Diver magazine named Turquoise Bay Resort one of the World’s Best Diving Resorts in 2012.

The resort fronts a 500-foot private stretch of white sand beach where gentle waves provide a perfect spot for swimming and kayaking. Marine-themed, bungalow-style superior rooms are nestled amid tropical gardens and overlook the ocean. The sights and sounds of the Caribbean also surround the pool deck. Set above the beach, it has rows of lounge chairs and is serviced by waiters from the bar.

At the onsite British-Caribbean-style eatery, Udurau Restaurant, chefs prepare breakfast, lunch, and dinner buffets daily, which diners can enjoy in an air-conditioned dining room or on an outdoor patio. An à la carte menu of fresh seafood inspires the restaurant’s name (which means "fish" in the Garifuna language) and features dishes such as fried snapper drizzled with a spicy coconut sauce.

Roatán, Honduras: Diver's Paradise with Dense Jungle Interior

Though Roatán—the largest of Honduras's Bay Islands—used to be plagued by pirates looting the gold of Spanish galleons, most of the popular shipwrecks were purposefully sunk for divers. But that doesn't make the many dive sites surrounding the island any less appealing. Walls of coral and more than 800 species of fish have turned them into natural wonders. Starfish, sea turtles, and eels are common sights during scuba-diving and snorkeling trips. The crystal-clear waters contain a wealth of Mayan, Paya, and Garifuna artifacts and statues.

Farther inland, 32 miles (51 km) of dense jungles and grassy hills stretch across the surface of the island. Although Turquoise Bay Resort lies in Roatán’s East End—which has some of the most secluded bays—you can easily get a change of scenery by taking winding dirt roads to smaller villages. Towns such as Coxen Hole and French Harbour in particular provide a taste of local culture in the form of street vendors, an iguana farm, and shrimp fishermen working the docks.

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