Island Communities Come Together for Fun and Fundraising
One of the most beautiful aspects of life on Roatan is the community support you witness on a daily basis. Whether it’s to gather for a celebration or to rally around a neighbor in need, the intimate island community comes together frequently. For a geographically small area, Roatan’s residents have a rather large variety of organizations and regular meet-ups. If you’re looking for a group to join for golfing, fishing, or playing music – your options are plentiful. Ladies luncheons happen every month; weekly gatherings at various bars and restaurants offer a chance for regular social gatherings; and frequent celebrations occur for the multitude of international holidays celebrated by representatives from countries all over the world. The fun truly never stops!
If community involvement is something you seek, Roatan also offers an incredible array of organizations with which you can volunteer your time and efforts. From animal rescue groups to school funding to extracurricular activities for the island’s children, there are plenty of groups supporting the various elements of society in need.
This month we are introducing a new column in the newsletter: Roatan United. We have several nonprofit organizations that we support as a company, and we encourage our guests to support these groups as well. Each month we will highlight one of them with information on the work that they do and how you can help. The solidarity of this island community is one of its most endearing aspects, so we hope you join in on the fun – as well as the fundraising – as we all support each other.
Rental Property Highlights
Roatan Life Vacation Rentals has the most extensive inventory available for you whether you’ve never been to Roatan or you’re a seasoned vacation veteran. We offer short- and long-term rentals, just in case you decide one week isn’t enough! You wouldn’t be alone either; we frequently have guests vacation here and book a second trip before even leaving the island.
We have a few discounts available for the upcoming summer months – be sure to take a look!
10% discount for summer stays at Casa De Rexana (both upper and lower units)
Located in tranquil Mangrove Bight, Casa de Rexana is a private home offering two units with all the amenities you need for an enjoyable stay. The upper unit boasts a beautiful ocean view, with a perfect sunset location during the summer months. This unit offers two bedrooms with double beds, plus a loft with another full bed.
The lower unit also has two bedrooms with double beds, and opens onto the lush tropical garden and the shared palapa. Enjoy an essentially private beach location with quick access to West End’s many restaurants and activities. A private dock offers a perfect location for water taxi drop-off or pick-up by one of the many valet dive shops in the area.
15% off for summer stays at Sunset Villas 11C (Villa Isla Bonita)
Villa Isla Bonita is a spectacular option for your next vacation home. The unit is a 2-bedroom, 2-bath villa, complete with ocean views within the guarded community of Sunset Villas in West End. The villa is equipped with everything you could want during your vacation: ample space for you and your guests, fully equipped kitchen for evening dinners, a grill on the patio so you can cook and watch the sunset, and a community pool located just steps from your front door.
We have a new house to feature this month!
Located on the shore in the desirable Lighthouse Estates neighbourhood, check out the beautiful Coral View Home. This 3-bedroom, 3-bathroom home is located on the south end of West Bay, sitting right on the Iron Shore, and has views of the mountains of the mainland on clear days. There is a pool and deck in the back area so you can enjoy the ocean views while swimming or lying out in the sun.
The master bedroom is on the main floor with access to the pool deck. The 2 guest bedrooms are on the second floor with access to the walkway that surrounds the 2nd floor of this house. When you follow the walkway, you reach the 2nd floor patio with outdoor seating and incredible views. All bedrooms have a bathroom, so everyone in your group can enjoy their privacy.
Concierge Corner
When you visit Roatan, there are so many water adventures to choose from: SCUBA diving, swimming, sailing, fishing, paddleboarding, and of course, snorkeling! Roatan is said to be one of the best snorkeling locations in the whole world. Don’t miss out on all the beauty there is to be seen!
One of the most popular snorkeling activities in our concierge corner is the Upachaya Kayak and Snorkel Tour. This half-day excursion allows you to enjoy the vibrant Mesoamerican Barrier Reef with the guidance of a professional. This is the perfect day trip to explore the beautiful underwater terrain and to witness spectacular marine life first-hand.
Your excursion begins with complimentary transport from your vacation rental to the beautiful Upachaya Resort, located on Roatan’s northern shore. From the Upachaya dock in Man O’War Harbor you will be surrounded by a peaceful jungle landscape as your guide prepares your kayak and snorkel gear. In the water your tour captain will guide you as you comfortably paddle out into the bay in your kayak. Your guide will point out various marine life, possibly including stingrays, lionfish, giant starfish, conch, parrotfish, octopus, and hopefully a turtle!
Included with the Kayak and Snorkel Tour:
• Transportation to and from your vacation rental
• Snorkel equipment: mask, snorkel, fins, and snorkel vest
• Kayak with backrest
• A meal with beverages
• Day pass for the Roatan Marine Park
Let us know when would you like to enjoy this unique water adventure and we will gladly book it for you. Remember, any activities that you book through Roatan Life Concierge can be charged directly to your rental unit. You will receive a voucher for your excursion and you pay later! This is especially convenient so that you do not have to carry around large amounts of cash or use your credit card at multiple locations.
It is our policy to never mark-up the excursion cost; you will always pay the same price as if you walked up and booked on your own. At the end of your stay, you just let us know how you would like to settle up: cash, credit card, or a mixture of both.
Welcome to Roatan! We hope you enjoy your stay!
Roatan United
This month in Roatan United, we are featuring CATTLEYA, the Association of Parents of Children with Disabilities. CATTLEYA means “Con Amor, Trabajo, y Terapia, Logramos Educar y Avanzar” (With Love, Work, and Therapy, We can Educate and Advocate).
Founded officially in 2011, CATTLEYA is a private, non-profit organization promoting the inclusion of people with disabilities into our society through rehabilitation programs and by reinforcing unique abilities. Children supported by CATTLEYA may attend the CATTLEYA Learning Center, which opened last year. The center seeks to provide fun, stimulating educational activities to advance the intellectual, social, and physical needs of the children. It also provides resources and training to guide primary caregivers, parents, and siblings in their daily interaction with their special needs child. There is no other center in the Bay Islands that provides this support free of cost.
But the Learning Center is sorely in need of full-time staff to support the 20+ students wanting to attend. Volunteers and a part-time teacher have tried to sustain the program thus far, but in order to achieve their goal of providing proper attention and education for the children of Roatan, CATTLEYA needs additional funding to hire qualified special education teachers.
Help a local child discover his or her abilities by contributing to CATTLEYA today. Contact us to find out the best way you can help.
Real Estate Highlights
Once you’ve experienced the magic of Roatan, you may find yourself hooked. We frequently have our rental guests contact us again – this time to tour properties. If you’re thinking about a vacation home in paradise, or even a permanent move away from the hustle and bustle back home, we are happy to help. Many of us at Roatan Life have made the decision to move our lives and our families here because we know this is paradise. We know exactly how you feel: Roatan just makes you feel like you’re home.
Luckily, Roatan’s real estate market enjoys incredible variety in style, location, and price. To give you a small taste of what’s available, here are two property options currently on the market:
Pristine Bay
Ready for paradise today? Do not wait to build, take advantage of this completed and furnished 3-bedroom home available for resale at Pristine Bay. Completed and available to move-in inventory at Pristine Bay is very rare and this is the only option in the single-family home lot area. Amazing ocean and golf course views with all the high-end finishes you expect to find, plus this home has a great rental history.
http://www.roatanlife.com/Pristine-Bay-3-Bedroom-Golf-Course-and-Ocean-View-711
Turtle Crossing, West Bay
Ocean views amaze from this 2-bedroom/2-bath in the desireable established community of Turtle Crossing, just minutes from West Bay Beach. The two large decks give optimal views of the south shore, as well as wonderful ocean breezes. The interior layout is an open-kitchen/living area with ocean views. The bedrooms and bathrooms are one-up, one-down to give some space and privacy.
http://www.roatanlife.com/Turtle-Crossing-9-West-Bay-665
What’s Happening in Roatan This Month?
Each month we share upcoming events and celebrations so you know what to expect during your stay. This is what’s coming up for events in May:
May 1st
May 1st is Labor Day in Honduras, a national holiday offering all workers a long weekend to relax and enjoy themselves. Keep that in mind if you’re visiting the first weekend in May, as many offices will be closed.
May 24th-31st
The Third Annual Caribbean Cup Freediving Competition will be held in West Bay this week at the end of May. Competitors from all around the world will converge on West Bay Beach to challenge human limitations and exceed world record depths – all on one single breath of air! These athletes come to Roatan to astound and inspire. While this may not be a major spectator event, it is a vibrant atmosphere in West Bay as these world-class athletes compete day after day. Be sure to head that way to see what records are being broken hundreds of feet under the surface!
Expats in Paradise
Each month we highlight an expat or expat couple who made the move to paradise. Some live here part-time, some full-time; some bought a home, others have built one. The options are infinite but the people are real!
This month, we’re checking in with Dennis Clements and Martha Ann Keels from Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Here’s what Dennis has to say about their Roatan experience…
“We first came to Roatan in 2006. We love to dive – we usually spend a couple of hours a day underwater. We bought a home because we wanted to have a place to come to every year, so we now spend every New Year celebrating in Roatan, as well as trips in April and September each year. But we would only do it if the management of the home could be assured while we were not there. Mike Carter has family connections to North Carolina, so that was good enough for us; we have not been disappointed. We also admire the management of the Roatan Marine Park and have so far named 3 dive sites.
“Reef Gliders dive shop has been a superb group to dive with. In addition, the food in West End is fantastic and of almost any variety you can imagine; and most of it is within walking distance from our home. The pace of life and the view of the ocean are both reinvigorating for us.
“Roatan is an idyllic location. The view of the ocean, the scuba diving, and the people make for a wonderful place to relax while also having fun. I sleep better and I feel better when I am on the island. My wife and I often read on the porch and watch the boats and people in Half Moon Bay. Sometimes friends join us who don’t dive and they all tell me their blood pressure goes back to normal.
“If I didn’t have to work I would just stay in Roatan.”
If you would like to sleep better and feel better by renting Dennis and Martha’s home in the stunning Coral Vista community of West End, contact us today. Hopefully your blood pressure will go back to normal, too, just like Dennis’ friends!
