Roatán News

Roatán is hosting the NORCECA Beach Volleyball Tour, bringing together delegations from more than 15 countries competing for ranking points toward international circuits, with a $7,000 prize purse and the Honduran national team participating.

The Acropora Eco Trail Run returns to Roatán on August 1 with a $40 entry fee, offering 2–20 kilometer courses along the island's north coast; organizers expect about 600 participants and aim to raise funds for marine ecosystem protection and sustainable development.

The National Police have intensified operations against public marijuana use in Roatán, arresting 38 people in 72 hours and warning that those caught consuming the drug in public spaces will be detained and investigated.

Roatán attracted 1.56 million visitors in the first six months of 2026, with cruise ships accounting for 83.2% of arrivals, cementing the island's position as a major Caribbean tourism destination.

Honduras's electricity regulator has ordered Roatán Electric Company to halt charges to 114 customers and correct June billing errors, while allowing other affected users up to five months to pay without penalties.

Funding of roughly L1.9–2 million (about $76,000–80,000) has been approved to build a second floor on the Los Fuertes neighborhood health center, community board president Marco Tulio Romero announced, saying the expansion will strengthen medical services for the growing community.

Fundación Próspera is partnering with the inaugural Espressate Roatán event on July 11 to showcase Honduran coffee to producers, entrepreneurs, and international visitors, aiming to open new markets and highlight the quality of the country's coffee industry.

EHISA has implemented the AMADEUS aviation technology platform at Roatán's Juan Manuel Gálvez International Airport to streamline check-in, boarding, and passenger experience while positioning Honduras competitively in global aviation standards.

Monitoring by the Roatan Marine Park reveals sargassum seaweed is spreading into northern and western zones of Roatán where concentrations were historically low, with climate instability making the algae's behavior harder to predict and manage.

A new potable-water well equipped with solar-powered pumping was inaugurated in Monte Fresco, Sandy Bay, on Roatán, developed jointly by the Rotary Club and local authorities to provide reliable water access and support sustainable development in the Bay Islands community.

Nearly 4.5 years after Angie Peña disappeared on January 1, 2022, her family and human-rights lawyers say the state has failed to genuinely investigate a human-trafficking network operating on the island of Roatán, with prosecutors unaware of the case's details and multiple investigation lines left uncoordinated.

A commission from Honduras's electricity regulator (CREE) arrived on Roatán to meet with the local utility and residents over recent tariff increases that have sparked complaints from families and businesses across the island.

Roatán Electric Company (RECO) is correcting electricity bills for December 2025 through May 2026 following rate adjustments ordered by the electrical regulator; some customers will receive credits or debits depending on the difference between original and corrected amounts.

Congressman Stephen García announced a L10-million (about $400,000) investment to install artificial turf, upgrade infrastructure, and evaluate expansion options at the Jerry Hynds Stadium in Roatán to meet official soccer standards.

Roatán's municipal government unveiled new traffic signs and vehicle-management measures for the congested Los Fuertes sector, creating dedicated zones for public transport and improving coordination between transit police and municipal police to reduce congestion and enhance road safety.

Two Canadian airlines will launch flights to Roatán's international airport starting November or December, Tourism Minister Andrés Ehrler said, aiming to boost visitor arrivals from Canada.

Roatán will host the Roatán Fashion Show on June 12–13, featuring emerging Honduran designers, international brands from Colombia, and cultural programming, with proceeds benefiting local charities and community organizations.

The Bay Islands hosted Ocean Fest, the third annual festival organized by the Tourism Free Zone to teach children and young people about ocean and ecosystem protection, bringing together environmental organizations, schools, and businesses to promote marine conservation.

Military leaders from Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and the Dominican Republic convene June 9–12 in Roatán to coordinate on regional security challenges, transnational threats, peacekeeping, and humanitarian operations.

Polo's Water, which serves West End on Roatán Island, is expanding wastewater treatment, micrometering, and environmental education to ensure 24/7 potable water access while reducing waste and protecting local ecosystems.

Health authorities vaccinated 85 people against measles and 69 against influenza at Roatán's international airport on June 3, after Honduras confirmed its first imported measles case — a 27-year-old Guatemalan traveler.

The CAMP, the governing body for Honduras's special economic zones, reactivated in May under Francisco René Flores Bonilla, a former JOH-era official charged by prosecutors in a corruption investigation over his management of seized-asset funds.

Honduras's Air Force airlifted a 51-year-old man with Fournier syndrome from Roatán to San Pedro Sula for specialized treatment under its "Alas para la Salud" program, which provides emergency medical transport from areas with limited road access.

Roatán's Juan Manuel Gálvez International Airport is accelerating renovation work around the clock to finish before November's high season, with the terminal manager noting temporary inconveniences as crews close areas to advance construction.

Carnival Corporation has introduced LNG refueling capability in Latin America and the Western Caribbean by refueling the Carnival Jubilee at Isla Tropicale in Roatán, supporting the company's decarbonization strategy while officials say it strengthens Honduras's role in regional maritime energy.

Health authorities are racing to locate five unidentified passengers from a May 12 Guatemala City–Roatán flight who were exposed to Honduras's second imported measles case, a 27-year-old man now in stable isolation, warning that measles can infect up to 18 people per day.

Residents of Roatán in the Bay Islands are protesting high power bills, with businesses forced to close and households resorting to candlelight or darkness to cope with costs.

A Roatán court ordered the judicial detention of Francisco Antonio Gutiérrez Bonilla on charges of attempted aggravated rape of a minor.

A Roatán court issued arrest orders against four individuals on charges including illegal firearms possession, drug trafficking, and aggravated robbery with violence.