Category: News

Welcome to 2024! We are thrilled to share our latest venture with you. Introducing our very first specialty coffee blend, carefully crafted in partnership with Arturo from Hacienda Rosario. This double fermented, washed Arabica Catuaí medium roast offers a delightful taste profile of sweet caramel and rich chocolate, a result of the region’s impressive altitude of 4500 feet. While Honduras is renowned worldwide for its coffee exports, it’s worth mentioning that the Marcala region is considered the crème de la crème of Central American coffee regions.

During our memorable family road trip last June, friends urged us to visit Hotel Montecillo in the captivating La Paz department. The journey into Lenca territory, as we ascended the mountains, was nothing short of spectacular. Arturo’s reputation preceded him, but it was his exceptional craftsmanship and talent that truly left us in awe. Alongside his outstanding coffee production, his flourishing goat farm and artisanal cheese production added an extra layer of joy to our experience. And if that wasn’t enough, we had the pleasure of sampling his homemade craft beer, particularly the IPA, which was absolutely excellent.

At Hacienda Rosario, we were not only captivated by the superior quality of the coffee, but also deeply impressed by their unwavering commitment to ecological practices and sustainability. Arturo, a genuine master of his trade, ensures that every product he offers exudes an unparalleled level of excellence.

We cannot contain our excitement for you to savor the exceptional quality and delve into the rich heritage that this coffee blend brings to your cup. Whether you enjoy it during your visit or treasure it at home, we eagerly await your thoughts and feedback.

To place your order directly with Arturo, visit the official Buxo website, or kindly contact him at customerservice@buxoexports.com or call +504-99823917.

He can also drop ship to your US home address!

We know how important it is to minimise our impact on the environment so we can enjoy the beauty and serenity of nature. There’s a lot that can be done and there’s a lot that’s out of our control, but we want to share with you how we’re doing our best to put the planet first by reducing waste and protecting resources. Read on to discover Camp Bay Lodge’s sustainable secrets!

Why is Sustainability Important?

As natural disasters cause massive damage all over the world, it has become increasingly obvious that we have to take responsibility for the environmental damage that humans have caused and change our ways to more eco-friendly practices. Water is an incredibly precious resource, with freshwater making up only 3% of the water on Earth, and the process of making saltwater drinkable being very costly. That’s why it’s crucial we reduce water waste and implement greywater systems in our gardens. 

Likewise, plastic waste is making some coastlines around the world unsuitable for human or animal life, as 32% of the world’s plastic packaging ends up in the sea, and 73% of all rubbish found on beaches is plastic. Since 79% of all plastic becomes landfill or pollutes the environment, if we’re going to look after our environment, including our precious waters and marine life, we have to reduce our plastic use, and recycle and reuse as much as we can. 

Book Your Camp Bay Stay!

At Camp Bay Lodge, we pride ourselves on our eco-friendly practices while ensuring the comfort and enjoyment of our guests. Book your stay now, or contact us for more information.

How is Camp Bay Lodge Helping?

Roatan is an incredibly beautiful island, and we want to keep it that way! That’s why we’ve taken measures to reduce our waste, energy-consumption and recycle as much as possible. 

Kitchen

There’s more to a sustainable hotel than the rooms, and our kitchen is the heart of ours, serving fresh food from 7.30 am to 19.30 pm to guests and visitors alike. We buy our fruit, vegetables and fish from local markets to reduce the carbon emissions caused by transportation as well as support our local farmers and fishermen.

Rachel, our head chef, makes all of our bread and cakes herself, from largely locally-sourced ingredients, which further reduces transportation and plastic use while supplying our guests with delicious produce.

Kitchens can produce a lot of waste, from leftover food to the packaging of ingredients. All of our food waste is fed to pigs, just a few kilometres down the road from the hotel, as an eco-friendly disposal method. What’s more, we don’t have much packaging since the majority of our ingredients are locally sourced, and we’re working on ways of recycling the little rubbish that we do produce.

Hotel

All of our boutique hotel rooms are unique with their own character. However, every room is fitted with flexible wooden louvred shutters, so that the air current may easily pass through, cooling the rooms and reducing the need for air conditioning – although we do have air conditioning for the very hot days. Of course, each room also has mosquito nets fitted to the windows for the comfort of our guests. 

We have also fitted LED lights and modern appliances in our rooms and restaurant, as they are more energy-efficient and reduce electricity usage. Our housekeepers also follow sustainable practices, cleaning rooms with non-toxic chemicals, which are known to be safer for our waters and environment in general.  

Garden

One of the main factors that makes a garden unsustainable, is the sheer quantity of water used to maintain the plant life. That’s why xeriscaping is the future of manmade gardens. 

Xeriscaping involves using drought-resistant native plant species in a garden and greatly benefits the environment. Native plants are accustomed to their habitat and so require less water, no changes to the soil consistency or pH levels, and they have a natural resistance to pests. This means, less water is used, no CO2 is released into the atmosphere due to soil tilling, and no fertilisers are needed to keep the plants healthy. 

When a diverse range of native plants is chosen, they become a welcoming habitat for local wildlife, and further reduce maintenance as weeds have no room or resources to grow. 

The water that we do use to maintain our gardens comes from our greywater system. That means, the water used in showers, sinks and washing machines, gets stored for later use and reused for irrigating the trees and shrubs surrounding us.

Beach

The strong winds and waves can sometimes wash up a lot of waste onto the beach. While most of it is natural, algae and seaweeds, intertwined with the leaves, you can often find plastic bags and bottles. Our maintenance staff help us clean the beaches of this waste each morning and we encourage our guests to help keep our natural environment clean by putting their rubbish in bins located on either side of our restaurant.

If you want to help further, our kitchen staff are happy to give out bin bags to anyone who wants to help by collecting rubbish as they take a stroll along the beach.

We know that big corporations and manufacturers are causing the greatest amount of pollution and damage to our environment, but together, we can make a positive difference. 

A Caribbean island north of Honduras’ north shore, Roatan is an ideal holiday destination. From long sandy beaches and tropical forests to vast marine life, it has a lot to offer for any kind of holiday, but choosing the best time to visit Roatan can be tricky.

Since the annual temperature only differs by 8°C, day and night, with lows at a very mild 25°C, the climate can be welcoming all year, especially to divers who can enjoy the warm waters and aquatic life. However, the rainy season may be off-putting to some, so it’s important to time your stay well. 

We’ve put together the best parts of each season, to help you decide when to visit Roatan.

Summer:

Jun-Jul-Aug

At the beginning of summer in Roatan, the weather starts to heat up, reaching around 32°C daily. This humid, tropical heat can be very enticing to some people, so if you visit the island in the summer months, make sure you bring a good sunscreen. July is considered the hottest month, and the heat makes the sea all the more inviting, so pack your swimming costume and snorkel if you have one – if not, there are plenty of places to rent gear all along the coastline. 

A common question when talking of the Roatan climate is: “are there mosquitoes in Roatan?” And yes, there are. Since the island has a regular eastern wind, however, the mosquitoes don’t pose much of a problem, and cases of malaria and dengue fever on the island are incredibly rare.

You can witness more turtle nesting in summer with Camp Bay welcoming more of these cute sea creatures in June. 

Winter:

Dec-Jan-Feb

Rain continues into December, however January sees the peak of the rainfall. Unlike other tropical countries, rainy season largely means heavy showers rather than continual rain, and most of it occurs in the early mornings, so you can still enjoy a pleasant day out. Thanks to this, the island is still a popular destination for the Christmas holidays and New Year celebrations. 

The brilliant greenery in the island’s forests remains luscious through to spring as the rains end, so to get the most out of it while still staying dry, February is a great month to stay in Roatan. February is also the month of love, with Valentine’s Day in the middle, and at Camp Bay Lodge, we can make your romantic getaway extra special, find out more here. 

Spring:

Mar-Apr-May

Spring is possibly the best time to visit Roatan as the combination of great weather, animal life, and holidays and events means there is plenty of time to sunbathe and unwind, or, if you prefer, get active. March marks the beginning of the dry season in Roatan so you won’t be bothered by any showers, and the temperature is starting to warm up again towards 30°C so you can really make the most of the pristine beaches and crystal clear waters. 

March also sees the beginning of turtle nesting season on the island. There are many different nesting sites across the island, but in March, they can be seen nesting on the Camp Bay beaches on Roatan’s East End.

Also sometimes in March, but more often in April, we have the Easter holidays. This is a popular time for tourists to visit the island due to school holidays, however it’s also a great time to see how the locals celebrate. Roatan has a large cultural mix, so you can see different celebrations across the communities on the island. 

April is also the month of the annual Garifuna festival in Punta Gorda. With singing, dancing, eating and drinking, this is a fun event to get involved with.

For fans of apnoea diving, despite being able to enjoy the island all year round, you can also visit in May to witness the island’s annual freediving competition. Also, while kitesurfing season may already be well under way, by spring, there are fewer showers than in January and February, so more time to get out on the water.

Autumn:

Sep-Oct-Nov

The end of summer also sees the tourist season wind down as the temperature begins to drop and the rainy season begins. September is usually very pleasant, as in spring, however the rains in October through to December mean the end of the kitesurfing season and less pleasant beach walks and swimming. However, the rainy season in Roatan can be incredibly scenic, so if you prefer to get out of the crowds and enjoy a quiet break on the island, complete with incredible thunderstorms and hikes through strikingly lush greenery, then autumn is the best time for you to visit Roatan. 

In Autumn we also have a few Honduran national holidays on the island. Come join in the celebrations on 15 September for Independence Day, 3 October for Soldier’s Day or 21 October for Army Day celebrating the overthrow of dictator Julio Lozano Díaz in 1956. 

What’s more, since the temperatures are falling and schools are restarting, the off-peak season in Roatan can often make everything from flights and car rental to accommodation much cheaper. 

Finally

There is no definitive ‘best time to visit Roatan’ as each season has great positives for every interest. Camp Bay Lodge has something for everyone, whether you’re looking to get away from the city and unwind surrounded by nature, or get active out at sea. 

Book your stay or take a look at our other blogs. 

Roatan might be a small island, at just 77 km across and 8 km from North to South, but it can still be difficult to navigate due to the still-growing infrastructure. Boats are one of the most common and easy ways to get around the island for the locals, but with the roads being built further East, it’s becoming just as easy to take a form of taxi or bus. Keep reading to learn how to get around Roatan.

Travelling to Roatan

Arriving on the island is very simple as there are only two options: by air, and by sea. You can fly to Roatan from Toncontín Airport in Tegucigalpa or Ramón Villeda Morales Airport in San Pedro Sula directly with CM Airlines, arriving at Juan Manuel Gálvez Airport in Coxen Hole, in the West of the island. A very small airport, it was updated in 2013 to include some cafes, restaurants, a pharmacy and a small duty free section. 

Or, if you’re travelling from further afield, you can fly directly from Miami Airport with American Airlines, or George Bush Airport in Houston, Texas with United Airlines. 

If you want a more eco-friendly means of transport, you can also take the ferry from La Ceiba, in mainland Honduras, and arrive in Coxen Hole port. Galaxy Wave Ferries have two journeys per day, you can see their schedules here, as do Utila Dream Ferries, whose schedules and prices you can find here. 

For more useful information on what to bring with you and what currency to use on the island, see our blog on Travelling to Roatan. 

Should I Rent a Car in Roatan?

It can be beneficial to rent a car while you’re in Roatan, so you can have the freedom to move around the island as you please, however, it’s not necessary in order to get around. 

You can rent cars at Juan Manuel Gálvez Airport, or if you decide when you’re already here, then your hotel can help you arrange a car rental. Dilbert car rental is available in Politilly Bight in the East, where there are also ATVs available to rent, for a different view of the island.

You can rent scooters while in Roatan as well, but make sure the rental company gives you a good quality helmet. The police can be very strict on road safety, and it’s important to prioritise your own safety regardless. Your hotel can also help you arrange this. 

Finally

There are plenty of ways of getting around Roatan, whether you drive along the coastal roads to take in the sea view, or take a boat trip to get an outside view of the island. At Camp Bay Lodge, we pride ourselves on ensuring our guests have the best possible island experience. Discover our hotel, or find out everything you need to know about Roatan here.

Getting Around the Island

Most Roatan blogs will tell you that the East of the island is virtually unreachable, but not anymore. As more and more people search for a peaceful break surrounded by nature, the East end is growing in popularity and is becoming more easily accessible. How do you get from the West End to the East End and back? You’re about to find out!

How Do I Get to the West End?

The West End is actually not the most western point of Roatan, but rather, a popular area for tourists on the north shore in the west side of the island. Just 10 km from Roatan airport, you can take a taxi or drive to West End in 25 – 30 minutes, either taking the northern coastal road through Sandy Bay or the southern coastal road through Gravel Bay. From here you can continue for another 10 minutes down West Bay Road to arrive in West Bay, the furthest point West in Roatan. There is also a public bus to the West End from Coxen Hole, although there are no official stops, so you have to wave down the bus and tell the driver when you need to get off.

You can also take boat trips from many points along the West coast all around the island, just head to the beach and ask!

It’s a popular area for diving, watching sunsets and visiting the famous Gumbalimba Park, so a trip out West should not be missed while you’re in Roatan.

How Do I Get to the East End?

To reach the East end of Roatan, you can take the Carretera Principal eastwards, through French Harbour, to arrive in Politilly Bight, Punta Gorda, Oakridge or Camp Bay. To reach the easternmost point of Roatan, Santa Elena, or St Helene, you’ll have to take a boat as there is a large mangrove forest separating the island. You can do this via water taxi from Oakridge, where you can also take a mangrove tour or snorkelling tour around the many shipwrecks, islands and the barrier reef. 

If you don’t want to rent a car or take a taxi, there is also public transport on the island. A bus runs from Coxen Hole to Oakridge approximately every 20 minutes, and costs less than 2$. From here you can take a mototaxi (like a tuk tuk), a water taxi, or a normal taxi, to complete your journey. Bear in mind, however, that there are no public transport services on Sundays!

Low Stress Roatan Family Vacations

Going on vacation with the whole family can be incredibly stressful.  Trying to keep track of everyone and their belongings is only the beginning.  Then you have to navigate your way around strange environments and sleep in unfamiliar beds while ensuring everyone is getting what they want out of the holiday.  That said, when visiting a warm tropical environment such as Roatan, it seems easier to slow down and enjoy the trip.  Why is that?  In this post, we’ll show why low stress Roatan family vacations are easy to pull off.

A Slower Pace Of Life

If you haven’t heard of “island time,” you should understand that the pace of life on many tropical islands is often much slower than what you’re used to back home.  Some of it has to do with the heat, some of it is just a more laid back attitude.  What’s for certain is that very seldom will you find people in a rush or acting upset if you’re late.  This may sound unfamiliar and possibly inconvenient, but if you can embrace it, you’ll certainly enjoy a low stress Roatan family vacation.  Take advantage of it.  After all, you’re on holiday!

The Beaches Are Beautiful

Roatan has long stretches of powdery white sand beaches with clear blue turquoise waters.  There’s no better way to relax with the family than lounging on the beach.  The kids will love the warm water and clean sand, while mom and dad can kick back on a sun lounger and enjoy a tropical beverage.  Let the Roatan sun, sand and sound of the waves create a relaxing backdrop for a low stress family vacation.

Plenty Of Activities for All Ages

If you don’t want to spend your entire vacation relaxing on the beach, Roatan provides plenty of activities for all ages and dispositions.  If your children are older, this can allow for some valuable solo time.  Work on your mindfulness with a yoga class while the more adventurous go kitesurfing.  Spend some time snorkelling or scuba diving while the animal lovers check out the monkeys, sloths and iguanas.  Roatan offers enough unique adventures to ensure your family doesn’t get bored or tired of each other’s company.

Easy Access

As opposed to many other Caribbean islands, Roatan is easily accessible with direct flights from the US and Canada.  You won’t have to worry about making connections if you’re flying out of Miami, Atlanta, Houston or Toronto.  Direct flights make traveling easier, especially if there are young children or senior citizens in your group.  

Roatan Is Exotic, But Not Completely Unfamiliar

Roatan is different enough that you’ll feel like you’re on a foreign vacation, but not so different that you’ll be paralysed with culture shock.  Although the official language of Honduras (the country that the island of Roatan belongs to) is Spanish, you won’t have any problem getting around and doing what you want to do in Roatan if you only speak English.  Virtually all the Islanders speak English, and if they don’t, someone nearby will.  

Roatan Activities: Learn to Kitesurf

As the travel world opens up after a couple of years of Covid-related restrictions, people are eager to make up for lost time.  The Honduran island of Roatan, like most tourist-oriented locales, has been gladly welcoming back visitors.  While Roatan is well known around the world for its spectacular and affordable scuba diving, if you’re looking for more unique Roatan activities:  learn to kitesurf at Camp Bay Lodge.

Why The North Shore Of Roatan Is Suited To Kitesurfing

The two natural ingredients necessary for kitesurfing are water and wind.  While the entire island of Roatan is surrounded by water, some of the best wind conditions occur on the northeast shore.  Easterly trade winds coming across the Atlantic from Africa, known as L’Alize, buffet the island’s north coast and create reliable near year-round conditions for kitesurfing.  

The Perfect Elements For A Kitesurfing School

Add the turquoise blue waters and the mile-long stretch of white sand beach at Camp Bay to the L’Alize and you have the perfect spot in Roatan to learn to kitesurf.  Camp Bay Lodge is run by long-time kitesurfers who are dedicated to growing the sport among the local population by teaching them to teach visitors the nuances of the sport.

Need To Know For Kitesurfing Beginners

One aspect of kitesurfing that makes it so attractive to all sexes is that it doesn’t require exceptional upper body strength.  Choosing the right kite while employing feeling, finesse and form is much more important since the wind does all the heavy lifting.  You’ll find your body’s core gets a good workout, but that doesn’t sway the sport exclusively male.

Previous Sporting Experience

Of course, as with any skill, previous experience with similar skills can help a beginner learn to kitesurf more quickly.  If you’ve done any sort of boardsport, such as surfing, wakeboarding, snowboarding or skateboarding, you’ll already have an understanding of the feeling required to remain balanced on the water.  However, because you’ll more than likely take some tumbles, being able to swim is a prerequisite.

How Long Will It Take To Be Able To Kitesurf?

Although it’ll be different for everybody, if you dedicate yourself to three days of four hour lessons you should be able to ride alone with confidence.  From there you can learn some of the more advanced skills.

What Can You Do To Learn To Kitesurf Faster?

If you want to give yourself a head start before you even hit the water, check to see if there are any power kiting or traction kiting enthusiasts in your area.  This entails flying a kite on dryland and learning how to steer it.  It will also give you insight into the various sections of the wind window which is an important skill in kitesurfing.  If you can’t find an actual power or traction kite to fly, simply watching some videos online will give you an understanding of the basics of kite control.

Taking Kitesurfing Lessons In Roatan

If you want to try some new Roatan activities and learn to kitesurf, head to Camp Bay Lodge for some lessons with a qualified instructor.  They’ll be able to kit you out with gear suited to your size, abilities and the current weather conditions while providing you with all the information you need to know to get yourself speeding across the water.

Virtually every avid traveler has a mental list of places they want to visit and adventures they want to experience.  Preparing an inventory of meaningful accomplishments and checking them off the list one-by-one is a satisfying way to know that you’re at least attempting to make the most of your life.  Well, we’ve come up with something else to add to your bucket list:  Discovering a Roatan boutique hotel.  Why?  Read on to find out.

What Is A Boutique Hotel?

Boutique hotels blend the best aspects of top-rated, brand name hotels and uniquely curated, independent bed and breakfasts.   They provide a homey, comfortable stay with luxurious amenities and top notch service.  Boutique hotels have a limited number of guests which allows for more attentive service in a unique setting that you’d struggle to find elsewhere.  Boutique hotels customarily have a true affinity with the local culture – something that is often lost in the brand name hotel experience.  

Where Is Roatan?

If you haven’t heard of Roatan before, you wouldn’t be alone!  Roatan is a small island (just 5 x 35 miles) in the Caribbean Sea about 40 miles off the north coast of the Central American country of Honduras.  Roatan is still a well-kept secret from most of the traveling masses, although that is surely changing since the arrival of cruise ship daytrippers.  But for the adventurers who want to explore some of the more secluded areas of the island, they’ll be rewarded with miles of deserted, white sand beaches, fresh local produce, friendly locals and access to some of the clearest, reef-filled waters in the world.

Discovering A Roatan Boutique Hotel On The North Coast

Most visitors to Roatan, whether arriving by cruise ship or plane, tend to gravitate towards the island’s western tip.  This is the most developed part of Roatan featuring the popular tourist destinations of West End and West Bay.  However, if you’re looking to get away from it all while still having access to luxurious amenities, a trip to Camp Bay Lodge on the northeastern side of the island will give you the respite you’re looking for.  Camp Bay Lodge is the quintessential Roatan boutique hotel sitting on the island’s longest stretch of natural white sand beach lapped by clear turquoise waters.

What Makes Camp Bay Lodge Unique Among Roatan Boutique Hotels?

Camp Bay Lodge features all the things you’d expect from a boutique hotel: attentive, personalized service, an inviting restaurant and bar that focuses on fresh, local organic ingredients, a judicious number of locally-crafted guest rooms and a direct connection to the local community.  What makes Camp Bay Lodge unique is its proximity to the beach (literally steps outside your door) and its focus on the curiously contrasting activities of kite surfing and yoga.  If you’re looking for a place to both pamper and challenge yourself, Camp Bay Lodge provides the perfect setting.