Author: Chris

Punta Gorda is a protected Garifuna community in the Honduran island of Roatan with a rich culture and long history. You can’t stay in Roatan without visiting Punta Gorda and experiencing the music and food at least once. But why should you visit Punta Gorda? You’re about to find out!

Who are the Garifuna People?

After many of the native islanders were wiped out by diseases brought over by the European colonists, the Garifuna people were effectively the first settlers on the island, although originally from elsewhere in the Caribbean. After the British defeated the French in St Vincent in 1797, the local Garifuna people were exiled to the British-owned island of Rattan (now known as Roatan), where some stayed to form the community of Punta Gorda, and others travelled on to Central America where they settled in Belize, Guatemala and Nicaragua. 

As they travelled, they brought with them their unique style of music and dancing as well as their traditional food and drink, so a trip down to Punta Gorda should not be missed.

Food & Drink

Eating and drinking is a great social activity and can bring you closer to friends, strangers, and a person’s culture, so whenever you make your trip to Punta Gorda, make sure you grab a bite to eat. 

The Garifuna people have a great number of traditional dishes, many of which are on display at the annual festival. Some well known ones include Casabe, a baked cassava tortilla, and Tatau, a coconut-seafood ensemble. As well as the rum concoction of Guifiti, there is also a popular drink called Hin, a beer-like drink made from Yuca, and a fermented corn and sugar cane drink called Marmara.

When Should I Visit Punta Gorda?

The best time to visit Punta Gorda is on a Sunday evening as you’ll get to witness the incredible Punta dancing and indulge in some awesome street food, however you can also visit during April to see the annual Garifuna festival. This way you can also coincide your trip with the Easter holidays and see how the locals celebrate Semana Santa.

The weather on Roatan is exceptional for nine months of the year, only marred by regular showers from October to January, so ultimately the best time to visit Roatan is dependent on whether you’re going for a family holiday, a romantic getaway, an activity-filled trip or beach break.

Where is Punta Gorda?

Punta Gorda is located on the north shore on the east end of Roatan, approximately 30 km from Coxen Hole in the west. It’s easily reachable by car and taxi, but can also be accessed via boat, as many of the communities on the island are coastal. It’s just 10 km from Camp Bay to the east and 5 km from Oakridge to the south. There are plenty of reasons to visit Roatan, but the east end of Roatan has plenty to offer adventurers and beach-goers alike.

Why Should I Visit Punta Gorda?

There are many different reasons to visit Punta Gorda while you’re in Roatan, from dancing to eating, but ultimately, you shouldn’t miss this great opportunity to dive into another culture.

Music

The Garifuna people have a great musical tradition, with various types of music including Hungu-Hungu, Wanaragua, Sambai, and of course, Punta. Punta is the most famed style of music and dancing, with a fast tempo rhythm being beaten out on drums, tambourines and maracas, while an individual takes to the floor. They dance with their upper body rigid and still, while their hips and feet move quickly, sometimes outstretching their arms and spinning as they quick-step, before stopping and letting another person take the floor. 

It’s such a high energy performance from both musicians and dancers, that it can be a great sight to behold, and, if you’re brave enough, join in with. Every Sunday from early evening onwards you can amble down the main street in Punta Gorda, parallel with the coast, and see the wonderful Punta dancing or go to a more modern nightclub in the same street.

Festival

Every year on 12 April, there is an all-day festival that celebrates the Garifuna community. They reenact their arrival on the island by marching along the streets, and sailing in boats to Punta Gorda, where a feast is laid out and the community and visitors can join in story-telling, singing, and eating and drinking the local food and drink before dancing the night away. Dressed in their native clothing, this is quite a spectacle and shouldn’t be missed. 

You’ll get the chance to try coconut bread, plantain and soup, all prepared in a traditional manner, and of course, home-brewed Guifiti. Also known as Gifiti or Guifity, this popular Garifuna alcoholic drink is made of rum, herbs and is very strong. Tourists are advised to sample the beverage, but not to overindulge, since it’s home-brewed it’s impossible to determine the strength of the drink, and is often incredibly potent. 

Book your Camp Bay Stay!

The east side of Roatan is more isolated and so the perfect place for a peaceful trip, although thanks to the Garifuna community, there’s plenty of fun to be had too. At Camp Bay Lodge we value serenity and mindfulness while celebrating the local culture that surrounds us. Book your stay now or check out our other blogs for more information.

Despite belonging to Honduras, Roatan and the other Bay islands couldn’t be more different. The history, language, weather and culture of Roatan is more closely linked with the Caribbean, with of course other worldly influences as a result of the colonial history, and influx of tourism in the last few decades. If you’re wondering why you should visit Roatan, keep reading to learn Everything You Need to Know About Our Island Paradise!

History

Roatan, like many Caribbean islands, has a long and interesting history, with many changes taking places due to the arrival of European travellers, the Atlantic Slave Trade, the abolition of slavery and the boom in the tourist industry after the Second World War.

Many of the native peoples died as a result of the European illnesses that were carried over by colonisers, and many new settlers, traders, navies and pirates frequenting the island caused a great deal of upheaval for many centuries. The Spanish colonists were ransacking the lands to bring treasures back to Royalty in Europe, however, they often encountered pirates, who, according to legend, hid a great deal of treasure that can still be found in the island’s caves today.

For the majority of the 17th century, Roatan was a British colony, although many battles with the Spanish over dominance in the Caribbean meant the island changed hands relatively regularly. However, after the British defeated the French in St Vincent in 1797 and deported the Garifuna people to Roatan, a large percentage of Garifuna people migrated to Central America, while many others formed communities on Roatan, including the town of Punta Gorda towards the East.

Just three decades later, after the abolition of slavery in British colonies, many former slaves and slave owners, travelled from the neighbouring Cayman islands to settle in Roatan, who now form the majority of the island population.

Around 1860, Roatan became a Honduran state and steadily the population of the island grew with Spanish speakers. However due to the rapid increase in tourism in more recent years, a large part of the island hails from English-speaking countries of USA, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and South Africa, in turn bringing more Hondurans to the island to work in the tourism industry.

Weather

The weather in Roatan holds more misconceptions, as it doesn’t share exactly the same seasons as Central America. Rainy season in Roatan takes place from October to December, with short periods of rain in January, but despite the name, it’s not constant rain, but rather intermittent showers.

The rest of the year sees bright sunshine, with the annual temperature on the island reaching 32°C (89.6°F) and only dropping to 25°C (77°F). There’s also usually wind coming from the East so the water on the Southside has a stronger current than the north shore; that’s why Roatan is one of the best places to dive in the Caribbean.

Activities

Originally a touristic spot for divers, there are plenty of activities on the island, both in the sea and on the land.

Aquatic activities

Scuba diving is one of the most popular activities in Roatan due to the location next to the largest barrier reef in the northern hemisphere, which provides an array of fish and coral to discover. Every May there is a freediving competition which can be viewed by spectators in West Bay Beach.

If you still want a look at the aquatic animals but aren’t into diving, there are plenty of snorkelling opportunities across the island too; when the water is calm, you can see the many fishes on all sides of Roatan’s coast. It’s also a popular spot for fly fishing due to the biodiversity in the surrounding waters.

If you want to stay above the water, Roatan’s only kitesurfing school is located in Camp Bay in the east of the island, which is the main kite location on the island but they also take visitors daily to the best kitesurfing spots in Roatan via boat.

It can be very pleasant to take in the island from a different perspective and kayaking or stand up paddleboarding are fantastic ways of doing so in a calm way. Camp Bay Lodge offers opportunities for SUP board and kayak rentals in Roatan.

Exploring the Land

Roatan also has much to offer on the land, thanks to the beautiful green ridge that runs through the island. You can easily hike through the ridge from the east side and take in the stunning views of the northern and southern coastline from the same spot. Book a guided hike here.

You can also experience an aerial view of the island with several different ziplining parks in the west end of the island.

For calmer activities while you enjoy your stay in Roatan, Camp Bay Lodge has weekly yoga sessions with a beach view as well as opportunities for different water sports. Find out more here.

Visit Roatan

Although it’s a small island, Roatan has plenty to see and do, and it may seem a little daunting to organise your stay to make the most of your days and ensure some time to unwind.

Location

Roatan is an island in the Caribbean sea between Utila and Guanaja, together making up the Honduran Bay Islands. 65 km from mainland Honduras, Roatan sits just south of the Cayman Trough, a hotspot for marine life which also venture closer to the shores of Roatan itself. It’s surrounded by the Roatan Barrier Reef, the second largest barrier reef in the world, after Australia’s, which provides a perfect natural habitat for curious aquatic creatures, making Roatan a great place for diving.

The island itself is relatively small, at around 77 km long, and 8 km wide, with a maximum altitude of 274 m (900 ft) at its highest point. Coxen Hole is the capital and the most populous town on the island, located next to Juan Manuel Galvez airport in the west. The west side of the island has numerous luxurious resorts and hotels, while the east side has much less development, with communities focused in the areas of Oakridge, Punta Gorda and Camp Bay. Beyond these villages, further east, you’ll find a large mangrove forest which separates almost a quarter of the island entirely from the rest, so is only accessible by boat. If you stay in Roatan you should definitely visit the East End of Roatan.

Roatan does not observe daylight savings time, so uses Central Standard Time (CST, or GMT-6) and all year long.

Language

Since Honduras is a Spanish-speaking country, there is a popular misconception that Roatan is also a Spanish-speaking island. However, due to the complicated history of the island, Roatan is predominantly English-speaking.

Some islanders use an English-based Creole, and some migrants from the mainland Honduras largely speak Spanish, however English is by far the most common language found on the island due to the tourism sector. Staying in Roatan you’ll be fine with English or Spanish.

Nature

Despite being a small island, Roatan’s flora and fauna are vast and varied, both on land and in the sea.

Land

From mangroves to pine trees, and of course palm trees and tropical almonds, there is a wide scope of biodiversity on Roatan, and plenty of animals to enjoy it too.

You can see Black iguanas all around Roatan, although most live in protected areas such as Gumbalimba Park, which also allows opportunities to meet the cheeky white-faced capuchin monkeys and elegant red and green macaws. More elusive are the Guatusas (agoutis), opossums and white-tailed deer, although you might be lucky to see them in the evenings or on hikes through the island if you’re quiet.

Roatan is a birdwatcher’s paradise as well, with over 40 bird species on the island permanently and another 80 migratory birds; parrots, macaws and trogons are great sights to behold at any time of the year, but make sure you arrive during spring and summer to catch a glimpse of the white ibis or brown pelican.

While there are crocodiles in Roatan, sightings are becoming increasingly rare, and are restricted to the mangroves on the far east of the island. There are, however, several lizard and frog species on the island, the latter being found in the trees of dense forest, as well as a non-venomous snake species native to the island, who also remain elusive.

Sea

The sea around Roatan has a completely different energy to that of the land, with many different fish species on show in the island’s famous barrier reef. While snorkelling you can also see rays and sea turtles, as well as nurse sharks, which pose no threat to humans. Occasionally whale sharks and hammerhead sharks can also be spotted in the waters, although these sightings are also becoming rarer.

Roatan wildlife is as varied as it is colourful.

At Camp Bay Lodge, we value mindfulness and tranquillity immersing ourselves in nature and the environment. Book your stay, or take a look at our other blogs to learn more.