Investment Outlook.
Many people still ask, "Where is Roatan?" - That alone may be a good excuse to call Roatan Home. There are other rational reasons too. Roatan's real estate market, while mature, still has much more to offer. We believe that emerging technologies, changes in business design, and a robust online strategy will positively impact the real estate sectors on Roatan. Let’s explore these in turn.
Invest in Roatan.
Economic Outlook.
ROATAN is an island off the northern coast of Honduras which was formed by the Bonacca Ridge, which is an underwater mountain range. Located in the western Caribbean, Roatan is approximately 40 miles long, 3 miles wide and has annual temperatures with highs of 89.6°F (32°C) and lows of 77°F (25°C). Roatán (pronounced: [ro.a.ˈtan]) is the most popular and largest of the Bay Islands and it is the gateway to the Bay Islands with an international airport (RTB) and two international cruise ports. Roatan has two municipalities: The east end of the island is the Jose Santos Guardiola municipality. Roatan's west end is the municipality of Roatan.
Why Roatan?
New Infrastructure
New Airlines
New Port Expansion
Improved Infrastructure.
New government initiatives and investments have given way to a newly paved main road, a newly announced Port expansion, and an increase in affordable travel. The new influx into Roatan is sure to create more demand for real estate products on Roatan.
Historic Barriers.
Historically, Roatan has lacked the basic infrastructure to appeal to high-end clientele. Roatan annual visitors were not enough to support a more robust tourism industry, and finally, there were few direct flights into Roatan. These are no longer barriers to entry.
Economy & Political Landscape.
The Honduran economy favors strong capitalistic policies which protect private property and personal liberties. The gross domestic product (GDP) in Honduras as of 2016 was 22.68 Billion. 14% of GDP is agriculture with the leading export being Coffee, Bananas, and cultivated shrimp.
Newly Built & Improved Roads.
Roatan has one main road running through it with outlets to the various villages and community developments. For years, the main road has been riddled with potholes. The main road has received a long needed overhaul and the road work continues.
Roatan Port Expansion
There are two ports on Roatan, Port of Roatan and Mahogany Bay. Port of Roatan has received approval for a substantial expansion. It is estimated that the port expansion will increase the incoming visitor count for this port alone to 800,000 visitors per year.
About Roatan
POPULATION: 113,000
HIGHEST ELEVATION: 1,011 ft
AVG. TEMPERATURES: 81° F
LENGTH: 49 Miles
WIDEST POINT: 5 Miles
Key Attractions.
Located near the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, the largest barrier reef in the Caribbean Sea (second largest worldwide after Australia's Great Barrier Reef), Roatán has become an important cruise ship, scuba diving and eco-tourism destination in Honduras
Economic Sector.
Tourism is Roatan’s most important economic sector, though fishing is also an important source of income for islanders. Roatan is an important hub for shrimping as well. Roatan is accessible via direct flights from the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, South America, and Europe. Roatan is also accessible via domestic flights from three airports on the mainland of Honduras. There are two daily ferry shuttles from La Ceiba to Roatan each day.
FACTOID: The Honduran Maquiladoras (textile factories) Sector is the 3rd largest in the world.
West End.
Developed
Infrastructure
Utilities
Developed.
Roatan’s West End is densely populated and bay far the most visited part of Roatan. All major points of entry are located on Roatan’s Western side, including the cruise ship terminals, the ferry terminal, and the island's airport. The western side of the island is home to two of its most popular geographic destinations, namely West End and West Bay.
The town of West End is a mile-long strip along the northwestern coast of Roatan, offering a line-up of dive shops, gift shops, small hotels, mini-marts, restaurants, and bars. Half Moon Bay is the largest stretch of beach, with a few commercial properties sitting right on the sand and offering beautiful sunset views.
Roatan East End
Opportunity
Uninhabited
Undeveloped
East End Opportunities.
By contrast, Roatan’s East End is largely undeveloped. The paved Rd. will take you as far as Punta Gorda where a poorly maintained dirt takes you further west into Port Royal, Roatan’s easternmost village.
Much of what is written about Roatan covers the western half of the island, where tourism is focused and the cruise ship tourists flood the beaches when ships come into port. But Roatan’s East End offers an entirely different experience than that tourist-filled area. Here is a quick overview of all the things we at Mariposa Lagoon love about Roatan East End. Relaxing on the beach on the East End means truly relaxing, while the more touristy areas host countless vendors hawking everything from illegally caught conch to cheaply imported souvenirs. Because of this, more and more families and couples seek holidays away from the crowds to really enjoy an island escape. Vacationers coming from North America and Europe want to de-stress and find tranquility – that’s what they find in the East End of Roatan.
Port of Call.
Cruise Ships.
With the recent addition of these three lines, 18 different cruise ship companies now stop in Roatan port, including: Carnival Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean International, Princess Cruises, Costa Cruises, Holland American Line, Thomson Cruises, Oceania Cruises, Tui Cruises, MSC Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, P&O Cruises, Silver Sea, Noble Caledonia, Swan Hellenic Cruises, Azamara Cruises, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises and Sea Cloud Cruises.
