When To Go · Destination Guide

Roatan

Warm walls, easy wrecks, and shallow reefs on Honduras's Bay Islands hub

Updated Nov 21, 2025 • 9 sources

When to go

Best time to visit Roatan

Roatan works year round, with air in the mid to high 20°Cs and sea temperatures around 27°C to 29°C.

Best overall window

Drier weather, strong sun with 7 to 8 hours of daily light, light to moderate trades around 15 km/h, and sea close to 28°C.

Outside that window

Wettest spell with more northers, choppier seas on the north and west, and more days better suited to land based plans.

Start with the overall answer, then switch only when scuba, freedive, snorkel, or topside timing changes the trip in a meaningful way.

The overall row stays visible so you can compare it against the currently selected scope.

BestGoodTradeoffsMore variable

Scope	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Overall	Overall - Jan: Good	Overall - Feb: Good	Overall - Mar: Best	Overall - Apr: Best	Overall - May: Best	Overall - Jun: Best	Overall - Jul: Best	Overall - Aug: Best	Overall - Sep: Good	Overall - Oct: Tradeoffs	Overall - Nov: Tradeoffs	Overall - Dec: Good

These do not replace the overall planner. Use them only if a specific animal or event is driving your trip dates.

Sea turtle nesting and hatchlings
Best for Snorkel, Scuba, Topside
May to Sep
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Green and hawksbill turtles nest on Bay Islands beaches in warmer months.
Eagle ray and big ray sightings
Best for Scuba, Snorkel, Freedive
Dec to Mar
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Spotted eagle rays and southern stingrays glide along walls and sand flats and over seagrass beds.
Whale shark chances via Utila
Best for Scuba, Freedive, Snorkel
Nov to Feb
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Roatan is not a core whale shark spot, but some operators connect trips to Utila, where seasonal aggregations happen around seamounts.
Caribbean Cup freediving competition
Best for Freedive, Scuba
May
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
In late May, the Caribbean Cup depth competition runs off West Bay.

Christmas to New Year, Semana Santa, and US spring break are peak weeks, especially in West Bay and West End.

Dec to Feb, Sep: Mix of sun and passing fronts, cooler nights around 22°C, and decent visibility between squalls.
Oct to Nov: Wettest spell with more northers, choppier seas on the north and west, and more days better suited to land based plans.

Built from climate references, access rules, and destination operators. Wildlife timing and route flexibility can shift year to year.