West Bay is the postcard beach — a kilometre of white sand at the island's southwest tip, with shallow turquoise water and a fringing reef twenty metres offshore that you can snorkel straight from the shore. It is the busiest beach on Roatán: a clutch of resorts at the south end (Henry Morgan, Grand Roatán, Mayan Princess), beach bars and loungers spread along the sand, vendors selling fresh coconuts and ceviche.
A water taxi from West End runs every ten minutes through the day (around $4 each way); walking on the sand from West End takes about 45 minutes at low tide. Come early or late to dodge the cruise crowds. Snorkel along the rocky point at the north end for the best fish life.