Ohhhh Roatán. Where to even begin? I’ll always have a soft spot in my heart for Honduras because not only did I fall in love with the locals, the coffee and the work of Humanity & Hope, but this was my first destination outside of the U.S. with Dean. I’m such a travel nerd, but I get this giddy, wide-eyed enthusiasm when it comes to all the fun things that go down abroad, especially in new destinations for both parties – plane rides, new cuisines, different languages, travel-related illnesses 😉 Gotta love it all.

Sleep

Not all hotels are created equal, and Ibagari does it better than most. This hotel does an incredible job of riding the line of being really chic but also extremely down-to-earth. The best way I can put it? Ibagari is basically the kind of guy/girl you want to date – adventurous, fun, the life of the party…but can also clean up well for dinner and probably be the most interesting person at that dinner party. Well-rounded. An intriguing blend of simplicity and complexity. Eye candy on the outside and honey for the heart on the inside. It’s a tough balance, but someone’s gotta do it.

The room itself was super cozy with bright white interiors, high beamed ceilings and a patio that overlooked the ocean. Swooon. It’s the age old problem of staying in and enjoying the comfortability of the bedroom or basking in Roatán’s outdoor bliss. Oh island life. Take me prisoner and never let me leave.

Eat

Mmmmm may I suggest eating and drinking the day away at the hotel? Everything is tasty from the salads to the Americanos to the cocktails. If you must get out, head to West End for Sundowners or The Beach House restaurant. West Bay has an establishment known as Paradise Beach with views and bottomless vodka drinks…but anything is considered bottomless if you drink enough of them, right?

Play

When was the last time you blobbed? Been awhile? For me, it was circa 1998 when I was going on year 7 at Kanakuk Kamps (Kiowa Princess, don’t worry about it). ANYWAY Palapa Papa (super fun to say aloud) has incorporated a blob into their two-story restaurant, and it’s pretty much the best thing ever. I can’t tell you much about the food, but Dean blobbed me about 5 stories high (probably a bit dramatic) and it was all caught on camera 🙂 Check out his fun YouTube video below.

Next up: SCUBA. We’ve done the romantic dinners and the getting down on one knee and the breakfast in bed (that last one should never go out of style), but I think what works for us is the adventure and playful attitudes we have towards one another. Like jumping out of airplanes, proposing with house keys and the like. Is there anything more affectionate than kissing under the sea?

We don’t think so either.

Roatán is known for its beaches, dive sites and marine life, including whale sharks (gasp!). I desperately wanted to venture over to the neighboring island of Utila where whale sharks are known to be spotted, but alas, timing wasn’t on our side. At least the convenience factor was there. The best thing about scuba diving in Roatán is that Ibagari has a dive center on-site. They like to make life really easy for everyone. If you’re not a certified diver, the dive masters offer a 2-3 hour course that allow for a day of scuba diving to Mandy’s Eel Garden near West Bay beach. Do it, and then use one of their on-site kayaks to make friends with people on boats for free cocktails.

If you’re still thirsty for more, try out Cayos Cochinos and Little French Key. We didn’t get to partake in the fun due to time constraints, but I’ve heard they’re worth the time and money and effort and sunburns.