When you read reviews of the Reef House Resort in Roatan, the most commonly used words are “family”, “friends”, and “home”. I showed up as a stranger and, in one hour, I was part of the family. Dave, Dilcia, Keith, and Brenetta made sure I had everything I needed from a cold drink, to transportation, to excursion recommendations.
The Reef House is a popular hang out for locals who will immediately accept you into the fold. Evenings are spent around the bar laughing and rolling dice (Farkle, anyone?). After a few nights of this, I asked if we could play something else. Davey replied, “Well, we could, but dice is the only game that any number of people can play and we don’t want to leave anyone out.”❤️ Go for the location and you will want to return for the experience. Just go!
The Location
The Reef House Resort is located on Oak Ridge Cay in the East End of Roatan. The East End is much less developed and touristy than the west side of Roatan. The village of Oak Ridge is known as the “Venice of Roatan” for the colorful buildings on stilts, many of them only accessible by boat. To get to the Reef House, you take a water taxi through a channel to reach the dock. (Pro tip: Book transportation through the Reef House. Brenetta is a local and she will provide history and recommendations along the way. She also knows how to avoid the worst potholes on the undeveloped roads!)
My list of accommodation must-haves includes small, local, great view, and water access. The Reef House is on the edge of the sea and the name is an accurate description–you can walk to the end of the pier and snorkel directly on the reef. There is no beach, but there is a natural swimming pool that is protected by rocks. The sea flows through it, so even on days that the sargassum was present, it was blown out of the pool area.
The Resort
The Reef House is an old fishing lodge and it has maintained that rustic feel. Don’t visit expecting frills or luxury, just the basics in a low-key setting. The place is tiny, only about 10 rooms in a L shaped building. There is a bar, a partially covered deck, and an indoor dining room. My room was small and had everything I needed, including plenty of hot water and good AC. (It takes awhile for the water to run hot, but when it does, be careful, because it gets hot! A pleasant surprise for a small island property.)
The rooms are built around a common area with picnic tables and cornhole games. I don’t recommend trying to nap before dinner because there are always people laughing and playing–think of a loud family gathering complete with kids and dogs! Everything wraps up fairly early in the evening though, so I wasn’t kept up at night nor woken early in the morning.
The Food
The menu at the Reef House is fairly limited, but everything I tried was delicious. Breakfasts were different each day–everything from eggs to biscuits. Juice and fresh fruit were staples. My favorite breakfast included Flitters–fried dough puffs that are known in Belize as Fry Jacks, and in New Mexico as Sopapillas!
When I arrived, they had fresh Wahoo that a neighbor had caught and it was delicious! It quickly sold out, but when the fisherman found out how much I loved it, he kept me supplied through his personal stash! I also tried the quesadillas, fries, and grilled shrimp. I didn’t try the burger, but it looked outstanding.
When you want something different, there are many other restaurants within a short boat ride. Just ask someone for a recommendation and a water taxi. The taxis are cheap and the trips through the channel and the mangroves were some of my favorite experiences. Alternately, you might find yourself swept off by your new friends on random adventures! I ended up at a Pirate Party one day and a day-long boat and island adventure another. Honestly, it doesn’t matter the destination, when someone at the Reef House says “do you want to come along?” just say YES and thank me later!
Water Adventures
The snorkeling off the pier is easy and fun as long as it isn’t super choppy. I was able to snorkel the Reef House reef on my first day, but the sea was too rough after that. Reef House is famous for dive master, Davitt, who has been there for 20+ years and finds ALL the things in the sea. Unfortunately I don’t dive any longer, but I did hop on the dive boat to snorkel on two days. If you do this, be prepared for a mixed experience. The sites are chosen for weather conditions with divers in mind. Only one location was prime snorkeling, but I’ll take a boat ride and time in the water regardless! There are lots of companies available for snorkeling adventures. I highly recommend EastRoatan Tours with Captain Tyller! We visited 5 snorkel sites including a shipwreck and a nurse shark experience at Pigeon Cay.
The Reef House truly made my first trip to Roatan unforgettable . As I’m writing this, I’m missing the sea and the gorgeous sunsets and the laughter. I can’t wait to return. “Home” ❤️”Friends” ❤️”Family”❤️ Until next time, Reef House…
Chase on,
Lynda
