Half Moon Resort (tel. 504/445-4242, www.roatanhalfmoonresort.com, US$67 s/d), on the quiet northern point of Half Moon Bay, offers somewhat spartan wooden waterfront cabins with air-conditioning and hot water. The cabins closest to the water are the best—enjoy views of Half Moon Bay from your porch hammock. Guests can use free kayaks and snorkel gear in the small bay and reef right out front, the seafood at the porch restaurant is reliable, and the staff is an amiable bunch. The hotel’s access to the beach is via iron shore (calcified coral reef).

On the same land outcropping as Half Moon Resort, but facing Mangrove Bight rather than Half Moon Bay, is the surprisingly woodsy Hotel Casa Calico (tel. 504/445-4231, US$70–90 for rooms that sleep up to five). The spacious rooms have kitchenettes, tables, and TVs, while smaller rooms that start at US$50 still boast balconies and deck chairs. Two-bedroom condos with full kitchens are also available for US$125–150. The lack of beach at this waterfront property may be a disappointment for some, but kayaks are available for getting into the water right at the shoreline, among the mangroves. Pleasant and roomy one-bedroom apartments with daily and monthly rates are available, especially convenient for those taking Spanish classes through the hotel’s Roatan Language School (US$9/hour). It’s a 10-minute walk to the restaurants in the heart of town.

Right in the center of town is Pura Vida (tel. 504/445-4110, U.S. tel. 786/319-4571, www.puravidaresort.com, US$74 s, US$90 d), with clean, airy, tile-floored rooms with hot water, air-conditioning, and TV. The hotel has 26 rooms and a rather ordinary restaurant. Three-day and seven-day packages, including diving and breakfast, are also available.

A long-time resident of West End, Lost Paradise Inn (tel. 504/445-4210 or 504/445-4306, www.lost-paradise.com, US$79 s/d) rents rooms in well-made wooden cabins on stilts in a nice layout right on the beach in the south end of town. Rooms are equipped with air-conditioning, small refrigerators, and hot water, and some have small porches. Many have two double beds and can sleep up to four. A restaurant operates in the high season only.