Traveling to Roatán

Beech and Mountain people. I've heard humans pigeonholed as either beech or mountain vacationers. The beech goer loves the warmth, the sun, the water and tolerates humidity, sand on everything, the bugs. The mountain goer loves the cool, the trees, the fires, the hikes and tolerates the freeze, the extra clothing, the bugs. Of course most people are something between extremes.

Capitalizing on our kids' spring break weekend in March 2019 we spent the week in Roatán, Bay Islands, Honduras. My concern about visiting only the island and not mainland Honduras was that we'd miss out on a true Mesoamerican experience. I was also concerned that the heat and humidity would tax my wife's mountain-vacactioner-preference (notably a distain for heat with humidity).

Tavel to me is like an incomplete puzzle. Visiting in person completes and corrects the pieces of the puzzle. In spite of Roatán being a popular destination for American tourists and a frequent cruise ship stop it retains a Central American character. Nervously close-call taxis are readily available, smoke from burning trash or leaves occasionally billows, and open air tire shops and fruit stands dot the highway.

And the weather was perfect! The report before we left showed 82° F (28° C) highs and 76° F (24° C) lows. Plus it showed humidity, wind, and occasional rain. When we visited Costa Rica a few years ago it was stifling hot. But Roatán during our stay was not too humid and the breeze was cool. “Big Daddy”, one of our cabbies, said that it gets very hot and humid starting in April: “we have two seasons here in Roatán, summer and more summer.” But I think we caught the island during spring.

The diving and snorkling is splindid and the people are hospitable. But now I also know that the island offers some great weather and Central American culture. My bucket list of desitinations is long but Roatán is certainly worth a revisit.

First photo gear: iPhone 7

Other photos gear: GoPro Hero 7 Black