4 Best Hotels in Guanaja, Roatan and the Bay Islands

Built across a 7-acre cay, this resort is one of the most charming places in the Bay Islands. Delightful pastel accents turn up everywhere—on tree trunks, picnic tables, spacious cottages, and even the birdcages. Coral-lined paths cut across the well-manicured campus, and a walkway ringing the cay leads out to a private lean-to with hammocks. The island's best bar and grill offers an appetizing menu of fresh seafood and fried chicken. For the ultimate in decadence, sip an afternoon cocktail from the swim-up tables facing the hazy-blue mountains on the mainland. The yacht club has a few boats for deep-sea fishing, plus kayak, dive, and snorkel equipment at the ready.

Tropical forests and mystic waterfalls envelop this dive hotel on Guanaja's solitary northern coast. Mahogany cabins with Spanish tile floors and louvered windows hug the shoreline, where boats gather around the two-storied pier. On the top level, the Green Flash Bar and Restaurant serves the catch of the day and cold beer. The chef cooks three delicious meals a day for guests, and on an island with few outside resources, there are surprisingly few repeats. The best dive sites in the Guanaja Marine Preserve are right around the corner from the resort. with intimate excursions led by the hotel's owner.

This budget hotel is a solid option for low-key travelers. The rooms are simple and clean, and some have private patios facing the sea. The hotel's restaurant and bar offers traditional seafood and Honduran dishes.