The first Roatan residents were Paya Indians, who left behind evidence of their simple existence, including an abundance of pottery shards, also known as yaba ding dings. They also left behind other archaeological evidence of their culture, with much of it left untouched in the less developed East End of the island. East End residents continue to find yaba ding dings and other bits of Paya history on hillsides and along deserted stretches of beach.
During the 17th century, thousands of pirates, including the infamous Henry Morgan, found Roatan a pleasant place to be. Port Royal Harbour on the South Shore provided a safe shelter for their ships, and a convenient place to lure unsuspecting larger vessels which became easy prey for the shallow reefs, rocky shoreline and, of course, looting pirates. The geography of the harbour gave the pirates great tactical advantage, and they remained in Roatan from Port Royal west to Coxen Hole and beyond successfully for years, going after ships and the gold that was being mined in the interior of the Honduran mainland. This Spanish gold was minted into coins in many denominations, including the the 8-escudo coin, also known in pirate lore as the 'gold doubloon'.
To this day, stories continue to circulate about buried treasure located in and around the East End of Roatan. You may find history in the form of gold doubloons, cannons from sunken galleons, yaba ding dings from the Payan residents, or 400 year old rum bottles left behind by Morgan and his cohorts. Or you may find history in your imagination as you envision those who walked these lands hundreds of years ago.
The past of Roatan may have been exciting, but the future of Roatan could be an even greater adventure. After centuries of changing cultures and industry - from subsistence fishing and piracy to commercial fishing and tourism - Roatan seems to have found it's place, both within the borders of Honduras and in the world as a Caribbean tourism destination. Roatan has the world's second largest barrier reef, making our scuba diving some of the best in the Caribbean. New tourist attractions, like canopy tours, cultural attractions and catamaran sailing cruises, are coming aboard all the time. The views are stunning. The beaches are brilliant. The culture is laid back. The real estate market is booming.
Now is the time to invest in Roatan. Now is the time to make Lizard's Thicket your new home in paradise.
The first Roatan residents were Paya Indians, who left behind evidence of their simple existence, including an abundance of pottery shards, also known as yaba ding dings. They also left behind other archaeological evidence of their culture, with much of it left untouched in the less developed East End of the island. East End residents continue to find yaba ding dings and other bits of Paya history on hillsides and along deserted stretches of beach.
During the 17th century, thousands of pirates, including the infamous Henry Morgan, found Roatan a pleasant place to be. Port Royal Harbour on the South Shore provided a safe shelter for their ships, and a convenient place to lure unsuspecting larger vessels which became easy prey for the shallow reefs, rocky shoreline and, of course, looting pirates. The geography of the harbour gave the pirates great tactical advantage, and they remained in Roatan from Port Royal west to Coxen Hole and beyond successfully for years, going after ships and the gold that was being mined in the interior of the Honduran mainland. This Spanish gold was minted into coins in many denominations, including the the 8-escudo coin, also known in pirate lore as the 'gold doubloon'. 
To this day, stories continue to circulate about buried treasure located in and around the East End of Roatan. You may find history in the form of gold doubloons, cannons from sunken galleons, yaba ding dings from the Payan residents, or 400 year old rum bottles left behind by Morgan and his cohorts. Or you may find history in your imagination as you envision those who walked these lands hundreds of years ago.
The past of Roatan may have been exciting, but the future of Roatan could be an even greater adventure. After centuries of changing cultures and industry - from subsistence fishing and piracy to commercial fishing and tourism - Roatan seems to have found it's place, both within the borders of Honduras and in the world as a Caribbean tourism destination. Roatan has the world's second largest barrier reef, making our scuba diving some of the best in the Caribbean. New tourist attractions, like canopy tours, cultural attractions and catamaran sailing cruises, are coming aboard all the time. The views are stunning. The beaches are brilliant. The culture is laid back. The real estate market is booming.
Now is the time to invest in Roatan. Now is the time to make Lizard's Thicket your new home in paradise.