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Fantasy Island Beach Resort, Dive & Marina

Honduras, Honduras

3.8(1,723 reviews)

Family

Fantasy Island earns its name from a diving perspective. It sits on its own small island, Cayo Ezequiel, off French Harbour on Roatan's south side, with three private beaches and the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, the second-largest barrier reef on earth, right on its doorstep. The resort's 5-star PADI dive center has access to more than 50 dive sites, from coral gardens and sponge-covered walls to caves and wrecks, and some can be reached by swimming straight from shore. For divers and snorkelers, that reef access is the reason to be here.

Traveler Insights

Pros

+Set on its own small island, Cayo Ezequiel off French Harbour on Roatan's south side, with three private white-sand beaches that give a real sense of seclusion rather than a strip of shared waterfront
+A 5-star PADI dive center with access to more than 50 dive sites on the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, including coral gardens, sponges, caves and wrecks, many of them only minutes away by boat
+Some dive sites are reachable by swimming from shore, so snorkelers and shore divers can get onto live reef without waiting for a boat
+Three pools, one with a swim-up bar, plus a lobby bar, so there is always somewhere to cool off between dives
+Rooms sit about 50 feet from the shore, and the refreshed Deluxe Sea View rooms have a bright, newly updated look with two double beds and space for four
+Nightly shows include traditional Garifuna performances and fire and LED shows, with beach games and obstacle challenges during the day, which keeps families busy
+Honduras is one of the more affordable dive destinations in the region, so a dive week here usually costs noticeably less than comparable dive packages in Cozumel, Cayman or Turks and Caicos

Cons

−Room quality has been uneven over the years, with travelers reporting leaks, aging fixtures and salt-air corrosion on shower and patio doors; ask for one of the renovated Deluxe Sea View rooms when you book
−Dining is limited to two venues: the Las Palmas international buffet for all three meals and the La Palapa Beach Grill for snacks, with no a la carte restaurants
−Food at Las Palmas is described by travelers as functional rather than memorable, which is fine for a dive week but disappointing if food is a priority
−Wi-Fi is advertised as free throughout the property, but guests have long reported it is far stronger in the common areas than in the rooms
−The island location means there is nowhere to walk to off property, and anything beyond the resort needs a transfer or a tour
−Transfers and parking cost extra: the resort lists a paid airport transfer service and on-site parking at $15 a day
−Horseback riding, zip-lining and eco-tours are outside excursions booked through the on-site tour desk, not resort facilities, so they add to the bill

Away from the water, the experience is simpler than a Mexican or Dominican chain resort. There are three pools, one with a swim-up bar, a lobby bar, and just two places to eat: the Las Palmas international buffet, open for breakfast, lunch and dinner with no reservations, and the La Palapa Beach Grill for snacks by the sand. Travelers tend to call the food adequate rather than impressive. Rooms are about 50 feet from the shore, and the resort now sells renovated Deluxe Sea View rooms with a fresh, modern look alongside its standard ocean-view rooms; older stays brought complaints about leaks and salt-air corrosion, so it is worth asking for a renovated room. Evenings bring Garifuna performances and fire and LED shows, and the resort advertises free Wi-Fi throughout, though in-room signal has been a long-running complaint.

This resort is built for divers, snorkelers and families who put reef access ahead of resort polish. If your trip is organized around what is below the surface, Fantasy Island delivers at a price that is hard to beat in the Caribbean, since Honduras costs less than Cozumel or Cayman for equivalent diving. Travelers who expect a long list of restaurants or a pristine chain-resort finish will be happier elsewhere. Beyond the island, the tour desk books land and sea excursions around Roatan, such as zip-lining and horseback rides.

Common Questions

How does the diving at Fantasy Island compare to other Caribbean dive destinations?

Roatan's stretch of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef is widely considered one of the best dive areas in the Caribbean for reef health and marine life. The resort's 5-star PADI dive center reaches more than 50 sites, including walls, caves and wrecks, and some are close enough to swim to from shore. Many experienced divers say the coral and fish life here hold up well against Cozumel, Cayman and Belize, usually at a lower price.

Is there enough to do for non-divers?

Yes, within limits. Snorkeling from the beach puts you on live reef quickly, there are three pools and three private beaches, and the resort runs beach games by day and Garifuna, fire and LED shows at night. Activities like horseback riding, zip-lining and eco-tours are booked through the on-site tour desk as paid excursions. If your partner dives all day and you are not an ocean person, the quiet evenings and limited dining can feel confining after a few days.

How do I get to Fantasy Island?

Fly into Roatan's Juan Manuel Galvez International Airport, which has direct flights from several US cities. The resort is near French Harbour on Roatan's south side and offers a paid airport transfer service; confirm the price and pickup when you book. If you rent a car, on-site parking costs $15 a day.

What is included in the all-inclusive?

Meals at the Las Palmas international buffet (breakfast 7:00 to 9:30, lunch 12:30 to 2:00, dinner 6:30 to 9:00, no reservations), snacks at the La Palapa Beach Grill, drinks at the swim-up and lobby bars, Wi-Fi and the evening entertainment. There are no a la carte restaurants. Diving, excursions, transfers and parking are extra, so confirm dive package pricing before you arrive.

Are the rooms in good condition?

Better than they used to be. The resort now sells a renovated Deluxe Sea View room with a newly updated, modern interior and two double beds for up to four people, alongside its standard ocean-view rooms. Older guest reports of leaks, dated fixtures and salt-air corrosion mostly concern the unrenovated stock, so request a renovated room when booking.

How does Fantasy Island's price compare to other dive resorts?

Honduras is one of the most affordable dive destinations in the Caribbean, and Fantasy Island's pricing reflects that. A week of all-inclusive meals plus diving here usually costs noticeably less than comparable dive packages in the Cayman Islands, Cozumel or Turks and Caicos. For divers who care most about reef access rather than resort luxury, that value is one of the resort's strongest arguments.

Restaurants (1)

Type	Restaurants
Buffet	Las Palmas Restaurant

From the resort's own dining pages. Only restaurants the resort lists are shown. All are covered by the all-inclusive rate, per the resort.

What's nearby

West Bay Beach
35 min drive · 19 mi
West End
30 min drive · 15 mi
Coxen Hole
20 min drive · 9.1 mi
Half Moon Bay
30 min drive · 15 mi
Gumbalimba Park
35 min drive · 19 mi

More things to do (14)

Daniel Johnson's Monkey and Sloth Hangout · wildlife7 min drive · 1.9 mi
Arch's Iguana and Marine Park · wildlife7 min drive · 1.7 mi
Black Pearl Golf Course · golf11 min drive · 3.2 mi
Mahogany Bay cruise terminal · marina14 min drive · 6.0 mi
Mayan Eden · adventure park20 min drive · 9.6 mi
Blue Harbor Tropical Arboretum · nature20 min drive · 9.5 mi
Punta Gorda Garifuna village · town20 min drive · 8.3 mi
Sandy Bay · town25 min drive · 12 mi
Carambola Botanical Gardens · nature25 min drive · 13 mi
Oak Ridge · town25 min drive · 9.6 mi
Oak Ridge mangrove water-taxi tour · excursion25 min drive · 9.6 mi
Roatán Butterfly Garden · wildlife30 min drive · 15 mi
Glass-bottom boat and snorkel trip on the West End reef · excursion30 min drive · 15 mi
Camp Bay Beach · beach30 min drive · 14 mi

Amenities

Horseback Riding

Walk-In Dining Available

Diving

Swim-Up Bar

Snorkeling

Water Sports Rentals

Free Wi-Fi

Nightly Entertainment

Show 2 more amenities

Buffet Dining

Beach

Seaweed & sargassum

Roatán gets sargassum, typically worst Late March through June, then a second surge in August and September; 2026 broke the pattern with a major February arrival.See the month-by-month guide →

Every all-inclusive in Roatán & the Bay Islands →

Google Reviews★ 3.8 · 1,723 reviews

Kevin K.

2 months ago

“Reserved a day pass and while on a cruise stop in Roatan. The island was amazing with tranquil views and plenty to do. Service was incredible, food was very tasty. Wilson took care of the drinks for me. It’s a great place for any demographic. Simply...”