Brief Visit to Roatán

When booking a Western Caribbean cruise, chances are the island of Roatán might be on the itinerary. A popular tourist destination, Roatán offers clear waters, pristine beaches, and a rich coral environment suitable for diving. As the island is a part of Honduras, one of the world’s poorest countries and the second poorest country in the Americas, visitors might question whether it is safe to visit. However, although part of Honduras, Roatán is distinctively different from mainland Honduras because of its unique history.

While legally part of Honduras, visitors might be surprised that Roatán’s residents primarily speak Caribbean English. This is because Roatán used to be occupied by Britain. The Bay Islands, which Roatán is part of, became a British colony. Throughout its colonial history, there was rivalry between Roatán and Spanish Honduras. Honduras gained independence in 1821 and was later united with Roatán. Nevertheless, to this day, people born in Honduras who are of British colonial heritage consider themselves Islanders rather than Hondurans. In fact, immigrants from mainland Honduras are not particularly welcomed by the Islanders.

Perhaps because of the relative isolation from the mainland, Roatán has not seen the kind of conditions that are driving Hondurans to flee to other countries. Still, compared to other Caribbean islands, Roatán is one of the least developed.