My friend and travelling companion, Miriam, was keen on an eco escape: not hard-core, but simply a place where people aren't checking their PDAs mid-conversation and where you can drink your morning coffee while dunking your feet in saltwater. That's how we ended up in Roatán, an island off the coast of Honduras in Central America.
Thirty-five miles long and about two three miles wide, the island has only one main road and no street lights. We hired Freddie, a local cab driver, to take us all over the island, where we were awed by sandy beaches, clear water, lush jungle and a coral reef (designated a UNESCO World Heritage site), second largest only to one in Australia. Because Roatán is a small island, you can't hide much, so we saw the other side of life here, too, including some of the small shacks that people call home.
We stayed at two places, both environmentally friendly, but with different approaches. Located on West Bay beach, Infinity Bay is Roatán's newest development. (It was still under construction when we were there.) The resort helps protect the coral reef just offshore by treating sewage before it goes in the water, and, in the future, water will be heated by solar panels. Midweek, we headed to Anthony's Key Resort to a cabin on the water's edge with no TV, phone, Internet or air conditioning - just fans and floor-to-ceiling louvered screens that take advantage of ocean breezes. Family owned, the resort caters to divers, but the snorkelling is out of this world, and the employees are some of the friendliest people I've ever met. Bonus: Kids can enjoy island field trips, a dolphin camp, and earn their junior scuba diver certification.
In all, Roatán is a beautiful place in the sun. And even now, when I buy my morning coffee, I'm tempted to order it to go – with an ocean view.
Check out these websites if you visit Roatán:
• Infinity Bay Resort
• Anthony's Key Resort
• Honduras
Read more:
• Vacation deprivation
• 5 family-friendly vacation spots
• How to make sure the water you're swimming in is safe
