The Bay Islands
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Thirty miles off the northern coast of Honduras, the Bay Islands group is an oval chain of eight islands and 65 small cayes forming the largest and most southerly chain of Caribbean islands at the end of the barrier reef.
They have been inhabited for more than 1,000 years during which time they have undergone more cultural changes than any other region in Central America. Today, the culture is very different from the Latin American mainland. There are some blacks and black Caribs but most Bay Islanders are fair-skinned, speak English and are descended from British stock.

Columbus stopped here during his fourth voyage to the Americas in 1502 and the islands were used by British, Dutch and French pirates as a base for raids on Spanish treasure ships during the 18th century.

Today, a different kind of adventurer journeys to these beautiful islands in search of a different kind of treasure. The islands themselves are extraordinarily beautiful, but it is the rich and extensive underwater environment surrounding them that is turning the Bay Islands chain into one of the world's up-and-coming diving destinations. There are great reefs throughout the region, caves and towering walls of coral are common and there are many great diving and snorkeling spots within swimming distance of the shore.

The three main islands in the Bay Islands chain are Utila, Roatan and Guanaja.

Utila is a low sandy piece of land and the cheapest of the Bay Islands to visit and basic budget accommodation and facilities predominate.
It has caves you can walk to, one of them reputed to have been the hideout of the notorious pirate Henry Morgan. But the only real reason to visit Utila, unless you happen to like being bitten by sand fleas, is to go diving. It's a half-hour boat ride from the town of East Harbor to a chain of small islands called the Cays and a bit further to Water Cay which is surrounded by some of the best coral reefs in the Caribbean.

Roatan is the largest and most popular of the Bay Islands, also the most expensive. It has some interesting places to visit, including Oak Ridge, built on a caye around a deep inlet, Port Royal and French Harbor. Some of the resorts here rank among the best sun and sea destinations in the world - perfect for honeymooners or anyone who likes to be totally pampered while doing not much of anything.

But again, the main reason people come to Roatan is to dive and all parts of the island feature hotels large and small with excellent facilities for exploring the region's marine wonderland.

Guanaja, the easternmost of the group, was declared a forest reserve in 1961 and is now also a marine national park. Diving and other aquatic activities again are the main attractions.

Getting there You can fly direct to Roatan from Miami, Houston and New Orleans or take connecting flights from Tegucigalpa or San Pedro Sula.
All three islands are serviced by regular flights from the mainland port of La Ceiba, with connections from Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula.

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