There’s no doubt that Canadians love to escape the winter. And how can they be blamed when many provinces receive several feet of snow and sub -30C weather during the colder months? While there are the familiar hot spots in the southern US, Mexico and Cuba, a small Caribbean island off the north coast of Honduras has been gaining much more attention. So much so that there are now options for Roatan vacations from Toronto with direct flights. Find out how some airlines are making this tropical destination more accessible.
How To Get To Roatan
Both WestJet and Sunwing run direct flights from Toronto’s Pearson (YYZ) to Roatan’s Juan Manuel Galvez (RTB) from December to April. Both carriers offer vacation packages or you can choose flight-only options through WestJet. The trips take just under 5 hours. During the off-season, there are several connecting flight options from Toronto with stops in either Miami or Houston via United Air. These trips usually take about 9 hours in total.
Where To Stay In Roatan
Roatan offers all sorts of accommodations to suit every type of traveler: All-inclusive resorts, self-catering hotels, vacation guest house rentals and hostels. West End and West Bay are the most popular tourist locations featuring all the amenities, but if you’re looking for something a little more rustic and off the beaten path you might want to check out the island’s East End.
What To Do In Roatan
Roatan is a world-renowned destination for scuba divers. Its location on the edge of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, the second-largest barrier reef system in the world, makes it incredibly easy to immerse yourself in a rich, highly biodiverse marine world. At some locations, the reef is within swimming distance of the shore, making it easily accessible to snorkelers.
Roatan also has more than its fair share of white sand beaches. And with the beaches come all the associated watersports such as paddleboarding, sea kayaking, jet skiing, fishing and more. Certain areas on the island’s north shore have ideal conditions for kitesurfing.
For the more adventurous, there are several zipline parks, hiking adventures and off-road tours spread across the island. If flora and fauna are more your speed, check out Gumbalimba Park for animals and other adventures, Carambola Botanical Gardens or Arch’s Iguana and Marine Park. For some local culture, head to the Garifuna Cultural Center in Punta Gorda.
Why Choose Roatan?
If you’re booking a Roatan vacation from Toronto, you have the advantage of being in the same time zone which means there’s no pesky jet lag that can steal valuable vacation days from you. And while Honduras is officially a Spanish-speaking country, most Roatan islanders speak English which means you’ll have no problems communicating. Also, the fact that the island has very consistent, warm, tropical weather means that you won’t be disappointed that you left the snowstorms and sub-zero temperatures behind in Canada. As an added bonus, upon your return home, you’re no longer required to provide a negative Covid test result. Traveling, it appears, is returning to normal!