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Voykit pocket guide · Honduras
Guanaja
Go for 3–5 days if you dive or want a quiet island with few tourists; skip if you need nightlife or easy beach access — Roatán is better for that.
Guanaja is the least developed of Honduras's Bay Islands, with a population of about 5,500 spread across a main island and a low cay (Bonacca). Most visitors come for diving on the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, hiking to a waterfall, or total quiet. English is the first language of the Caracol people. There is one short road; boats are the main transport.
- Country
- Honduras
- Best months
- Mar–Aug
- Avoid
- Oct–Nov (rainy season, rougher seas)
- Stay
- 3–5 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- HNL
- Money
- Currency is the Honduran lempira (HNL, L). US dollars are widely accepted on Roatán and in tourist businesses.
- Daily spend
- Budget L1,200–2,000 excl. bed · Mid L2,500–4,500 excl. bed · High L5,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Tigo and Claro sell SIMs at airports and shops; passport required.
- Emergency
- Police / Fire / Ambulance 911
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 120 V · 60 Hz · US plugs fit; power cuts on the mainland.
- Tipping
- Restaurants: 10%; sometimes on the bill.; Dive crews: 10% of the dive cost or US$5–10 per dive.; Guides: US$5–10 per person per day.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap; bottled and refill jugs.
- Toilets
- Paper in the bin.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Water taxi (cay to main island) | L50–100 |
| Dive: single tank with full gear | L1,500–2,000 |
| Meal at a local comedor | L150–300 |
| Beer (bottle) | L40–60 |
| Boat transfer from La Ceiba (flight) | L3,000–5,000 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- GJA · Guanaja Airport
- Small airstrip; daily flights from Roatán and La Ceiba (check schedules)
Typical fares
- Water taxi cay ↔ main island
- L50–100 per person
- Flight La Ceiba → Guanaja
- about L3,000–5,000 one way (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Water taxis between the cay and the main island (about 5 min, L50–100 per person). A single unpaved road runs from Mangrove Bight to Savannah Bight (about 3 km (1.9 mi)). Few cars or motorcycles for rent.Water taxis between the cay and the main island (about 5 min, L50–100 per person). A single unpaved road runs from Mangrove Bight to Savannah Bight (about 1.9 mi (3 km)). Few cars or motorcycles for rent.
See and do
Known for
- Mesoamerican Barrier Reef diving
- Bonacca Cay (the main settlement)
- Waterfall hike on the north side
- Junkanoo parades on holidays
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Roatán | Daily flight from Guanaja Airport, about 15 min | About 1 h (including check-in) |
| Cayos Cochinos | Private boat charter, about 1–1.5 h | About 2 h |
Sleep
- Bonacca Cay
- Most lodgings and services; walkable, but boat needed for the main island.
- Mangrove Bight / Savannah Bight
- Smaller settlements on the main island; quieter, with a few eco-lodges.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Hellohello |
| Thank you | Thank youthank you |
| How much? | How much?how much |
| Where is the boat? | Where is the boat?where is the boat |
| Help | Helphelp |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake and 'buenos días'; avoid: Skipping greetings
- Island life: Relaxed pace, greet neighbours; avoid: Loud impatience
- Conversation: Football, food, family; avoid: Gangs, politics, the 2025 election
Scams and watch-outs
- No ATM on the island: bring enough lempiras or US dollars.
- Bonacca Cay is very densely built; streets are narrow and some are canals.
- Ferry from Trujillo runs only twice a week (check current schedule).
- Medical facilities are basic; serious cases go to Roatán or La Ceiba.
Guanaja is generally safe, with low crime. Risks: boat safety (wear a life jacket), sun exposure, and limited medical care. Keep valuables in your room safe.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Guanaja yet. Suggested stay: 3–5 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Mesoamerican Barrier Reef diving
- Bonacca Cay (the main settlement)
- Waterfall hike on the north side
- Junkanoo parades on holidays
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Guanaja, revision 5274587 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5274587
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Guanaja
To this address, please
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
- Police / Fire / Ambulance911
English is the first language of most islanders; Spanish is secondary.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/guanaja). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.