Bay Islands, Bay Islands
Paya Bay Resort
Paya Bay Resort sits on a cliff at the northeast tip of Roatán, the largest of Honduras's Bay Islands.
- Caribbean
- Central America
- Diving
- Snorkeling
- Themed Weeks
- Adults Oriented
About this place
Paya Bay Resort sits on a cliff at the northeast tip of Roatán, the largest of Honduras's Bay Islands. The property is one of the most established clothing-optional destinations in the Caribbean — naturism has been part of the resort's program for over two decades, and it remains one of the few Caribbean properties with a publicly-marketed clothing-optional section. The setting is the appeal: cliff-top cabanas and rooms with full ocean views, two separate beach accesses (Paya Beach on the leeward side and the smaller Pirate's Cave Beach below the main property), and the surrounding Caribbean Sea visible from virtually every public space. The clothing-optional zones are designated and concentrated — the pool and one of the two beaches operate as naturist-friendly during designated weeks, while other sections of the property maintain textile norms. The resort runs themed naturist weeks throughout the year alongside conventional vacation programming; the adults-oriented naturist programming is typically all-inclusive (meals, drinks, activities) and runs in week-long blocks. Roatán itself is the major draw: world-class diving on the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, snorkeling directly from the beach, and a small-island pace that's distinct from mainland Honduras. Access is via flights to Roatán's Juan Manuel Gálvez International Airport (RTB) with onward transport to the northeast coast.
Visitor notes
Contributed by ClothingOptional.org Editorial Team
Who visits
Couples in their 40s through 60s dominate the naturist-week bookings, with North American and European guests in roughly equal measure. The crowd skews experienced — most naturist-week visitors are repeat customers or come from an established naturist-resort circuit. Diving-focused vacationers visit during non-naturist weeks. The remote location and naturist-week scheduling filter the visitor population significantly.
How to find it
Roatán is reached by direct flights from Houston, Atlanta, Miami, and a few other US gateways into Juan Manuel Gálvez International Airport (RTB) on the south side of the island. From the airport, the northeast coast is roughly an hour's drive on Roatán's two-lane main road; the resort provides airport transfers with advance booking. Self-drive rental cars are available but the northeast coast roads are rougher than the developed south coast. Resort signage is minimal — confirm directions before arrival.
Things to watch out for
Hurricane season in the Western Caribbean runs June through November with the most active period in September and October. Resort operations can be affected by named-storm threats; flexible booking is recommended for late-summer travel. The naturist programming is week-block specific — booking during a non-themed week means a standard textile resort experience. Mosquitoes can be aggressive in evening hours; bring repellent. Internet and cell service are reliable on the south coast of Roatán but variable on the northeast side near the resort.
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Etiquette & ground rules
Paya Bay operates clothing-optional in designated sections during designated weeks — not as a fully naturist resort. Confirm the dates before booking if naturism is part of your reason for going. Pool and beach clothing-optional zones are clearly marked; other resort areas (restaurant, bar in non-themed weeks) follow standard textile norms. Always carry a towel for shared seating. Photography is restricted in clothing-optional zones and requires explicit permission from anyone in frame. The resort's small scale and remote location mean staff and regular guests recognize newcomers quickly — first-time visitors are welcomed but expected to read the room. Diving and snorkeling are textile by default (mask defogger, fins, etc. work better with swimwear).
Where you can stay
- cabana
- hotel room
- villa
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