Barefoot Cay

Barefoot Cay is a hidden gem! We chose Barefoot Cay based on a friend’s recommendation from a previous trip. This was our first visit to Roatán, my husband is an experienced diver, but I am not, so we wanted a place that would work for both of us. The resort is conveniently located just a short drive from the airport, much closer than most other resorts, on the south side of the island. While we took a trip to the West Side, we found it too crowded for our taste, despite its beautiful beach. The onsite restaurant was outstanding, we loved it so much that we ate there every day. Though the units are equipped with small kitchens, we never even considered cooking for ourselves. The staff was incredibly friendly, greeting us by name and always looking for ways to make us feel welcome. We had such a fantastic time that we’re already planning our next trip!

We just returned from our best dive experience! We chose Barefoot Cay based on its great reviews and our desire to escape the big crowds, and it delivered in every way. The resort is intimate, with no more than ten rooms on the Cay, with a peaceful and exclusive atmosphere. The staff is incredibly welcoming and goes above and beyond to make you feel at home. The dive groups are small, with a maximum of six to eight divers, delivering a more personal and enjoyable experience. I’ve never felt this level of service on a dive trip before! Some of the island’s best dive sites are just minutes away. The accommodations are fantastic, our villa was very nice and came with a private plunge pool, perfect for relaxing while enjoying the breathtaking views. If you’re looking for an unforgettable dive experience without the crowds, Barefoot Cay is the place to be. I highly recommend it!

Our stay at Barefoot Cay was overshadowed by a shocking incident that highlighted the management's lack of professionalism and integrity. An employee crashed into our parked car overnight, causing substantial damage. Shockingly, this hit-and-run was not brought to our attention until we were checking out the next afternoon. The receptionist casually mentioned it in passing, displaying a troubling lack of urgency or concern. When we requested to see the security footage—especially since a camera was pointed directly at our vehicle—we were met with indifference. After two hours of back-and-forth with the receptionist, she claimed the footage was too dark to be useful but resisted showing it to us. Only after we insisted on seeing the video ourselves did we discover the truth: a restaurant employee had crashed into our car and brazenly showed up to work the next day as if nothing had happened. Even more appalling, the manager, Melissa, had viewed the footage hours before and knew who was responsible but chose to cover for the employee. She eventually admitted this, along with the employee's culpability, and issued an apology—but only after we pressed for answers and recorded the admission. We escalated the issue to the owner, Christian, hoping for a more professional response. Unfortunately, his response was equally dismissive. He “thanked us for our valuable feedback” and said he had taken action, assuring us that “if a similar situation arises, they will resolve it promptly.” This hollow apology did nothing to remedy the situation or restore trust in the establishment. The way this incident was handled—from the receptionist’s indifference to the manager’s dishonesty and the owner’s lackadaisical attitude—speaks volumes about the character of the people running Barefoot Cay. If you value accountability, professionalism, and honesty, I strongly urge you to reconsider staying here.

We love Barefoot Cay. We stayed here for a week in June and August. This place exudes a level of kind friendliness that is extremely unique. It was our 4th visit to this quiet paradise. For diving, this place is amazing. The dive crew are phenomenal and concierge diving is super convenient. Accommodations are excellent and the Grand villa is our favorite. Unfortunately, there's only one and it isn't always available. In June, we stayed 3 nights in the GV and 3 nights in a Deluxe Beach View Villa. It has a fairly good size plunge pool and a deck. It is studio style and significantly smaller than the GV. In August we stayed 3 nights in an oceanfront 1 bedroom villa and 3 nights in the GV villa. The 1 bedroom villa is spacious with a full kitchen but also much smaller than the GV and no plunge pool. Also our kitchen sink came apart and not usable on our last night and day. No compensation offered, nor did we ask. The restaurant was the only aspect that felt different on our last 2 trips. It felt separate from the resort. I appreciate the fine dining concept but this is a dive resort with a captive audience (no other dining options nearby) and this concept makes it feel less personal and more structured. The food was exceptional and we wanted to express how much we loved the food but we never had the opportunity to meet the chef. On previous stays, we interacted with the chefs and restaurant staff like they were old friends. Both chefs/owners, Brittany and Millie, made the dining experience very personal, casual and social. The cost of food is more expensive for Roatan but not exceedingly expensive. The tipping culture is also much higher for Roatan giving you the option for 15, 20 or 25% tip. The wine list was also quite expensive with the cheapest bottle for about $50. Some villas have a full kitchen so you have the option to cook your own meals.

This is a small boutique resort with extremely friendly staff that get to know you and are happy to do anything possible to make your stay wonderful. Just as their description says they are a small boutique hotel so there are a ton of other guests there and you will likely get to know some of the others while you're there. We made some great new friends. Because it's small and because you are on your own your tiny little island, it's very quiet and peaceful, a great chance to just get away and relax. The massage service and the dive shop were both also really fantastic.