Roatan: 28 Feb 2009 to 1 Mar 2009

Roatán and her sister islands of Utila and Guanaja are the largest of the Bay Islands, off the coast of mainland Honduras. Control of the islands went back and forth between England and Spain for centuries, with England occupying the islands most of the time from 1550 until 1700. As a result, English is widely spoken throughout the islands, while many natives don’t speak Spanish, the nation’s official language. As with much of the Caribbean, the sparsely populated islands served as a haven for English, French and Dutch buccaneers.

Roatán, situated near the world’s second-largest barrier reef, is rapidly earning acclaim as a diver’s paradise. Calm, clear waters gently lap miles of white sand beaches, perfect for gathering seashells or just gathering your thoughts.