We're blushing!

A recent guest gave us this glowing review on TripAdvisor! Thanks for sharing BlackForest01!

Paya Bay Truly is Paradise!

So much has already been written about this magical place, but it is absolutely a most wonderful and romantic place to visit. I am trying to cover a lot of questions we had. We enjoyed 6 full days at the resort and wished we could stay for more. We will definitely do our best to be back!! The resort itself is absolutely gorgeous with three beaches (one public), every one nicer than the other; it has many walking trails around the property with numerous hidden hideaway spots, cleverly designed lounging areas, and spots to just contemplate life and the power and beauty that totally surrounds you. We even experienced a 5.1 earthquake at no extra charge! If you’re a naturist (and this very much is a naturist-friendly place), you need only pack for the arrival and departure trip and have a simple wrap / coverup for the restaurant. Bring a pair of sandals for the trails – that is all you will need. We never left the resort during our stay; just enjoyed the relaxation and great service. The beaches are cleaned daily and truly are pristine. Bugs were rarely a problem for us during our stay (AVON Oh So Soft Bug Spray is great for the “no-see-ums”!!!) and the tropical breezes kept the mosquitoes away. With a limited number of rooms and the remote location, finding places to lounge was never an issue. There are lounge chairs and sun shades (many hand-made from palms) galore here. No worries about finding a great spot on any day. We went the last week of April / first week of May and the weather was fantastic. As it was after the high season (January – March), there were only 3 couples who stayed during the week plus some daytime Cruise Ship visitors – never crowded. This is a great time of the year to visit Paya Bay for the warm, sunny, and breezy days! Yes, we enjoy naturism – but if you are not a naturist don’t let that stop you from visiting this wonderful resort. Either stay during a non-naturist week, or if you can tolerate social nudity, then visit almost any time of the year when the weather is good. You may even leave the resort a new and dedicated naturist! Once you’ve indulged, you never want to be in a wet bathing suit again. This is a family friendly resort – this is a place where couples, singles, and families can go to safely enjoy a quiet, safe, and relaxed atmosphere soaking up the sun together, clothed or not, with no fear of being hit upon or judged -- it is not a swinging party-time resort. Be prepared to meet interesting people - we enjoyed chatting with a couple who were on their 9th visit to Paya Bay – and we see why. We saw some Cruise Ship families with kids who were just having a good time; again, some clothed and some perfectly comfortable not. We are so grateful to have discovered this unique gem! [More below]



The staff is wonderful; everyone really tries hard to make your experience incredible and to help you truly "feel good" and to “feel the energy” of this magical place. As beautiful as Paya Bay is, it is the staff that makes it. I hesitate to name names as I would end up forgetting some of the wonderful folks who diligently try to please you every day. From Davinci McNab (the owners son and the General Manager), to the reception staff, to the folks who care for you in the restaurant, to the Black Iguana bartender (loved those Pina Coladas!!), to the Housekeeping and maintenance folks, to Capt Tom who is willing to take you places by boat (snorkeling / diving) – they can’t do enough for you. Thank you to everyone involved! In fact, we were included in on a staff Labor Day (May 1st in Honduras) party that we truly enjoyed and there had the pleasure of meeting the family Matriarch and owner of Paya Bay, Lurline; a truly charming lady who warmly welcomes you and is wonderful to visit with!

The food is excellent; it is amazing what comes out of the small kitchen -- each meal is individually prepared just for you. Don't be in a rush -- but why would you want to spoil a meal prepared from scratch just for you in a most lovely setting? There are plenty of options on the menu for all three meals and the wait staff is outstanding. And yes, you can (and should) enjoy ordering lunch from the Black Iguana Bar delivered to you there, on the beach, or in the plunge pool.

As other reviewers already say, the rooms are charming and clean -- a bit rustic, but so quiet, and peaceful. And did I already say charming? Absolutely. We had room 8A – very quiet with a great little private patio where we could sit and watch the sunrise over the bay. Ever sit together naked on a patio with your love by your side and let the morning sun and warm sea breeze roll over you? There are 4 rooms that hang over the cliff and approximately six more that are bigger but have a nice view of Paya Bay. All rooms have Air Conditioning, ceiling fans, a shower bath room combination, large bed, adequate closet and drawer space, a TV CD/DVD player (we never used it), mini-fridge, coffee maker, and good internet access. Yes, the water pressure could be better but there is adequately warm “hot” water to shower with. The resort is pleasantly energy and eco-conscious; in fact, I wish we had brought along our own water bottles to minimize the use of plastic. They give you bottled water to drink in the rooms and the Black Iguana bar, and the restaurant had a nice refill station.

We had the Yoga package -- the Yoga “Diva” / “Goddess”, Tatiana is wonderful. I grudgingly did Yoga (naked Yoga is really wonderful) with my wife and I must admit I enjoyed it; Tatiana did not hurt me! She can tailor the session to multi ability levels in the same group. Be sure to try the sunset Yoga at the Ananda Yoga Pavilion – the view is worth every effort. Tatiana also does massages (not included in the Paya Bay packages) and she is fabulous! Bring cash for that, but she also accepts PayPal. It is well worth your time to meet with Tatiana – she will tailor the massage to any ailments / conditions / hurts you have.

We used American Airlines from Dallas to get to Roatan – a great 3-hour flight that only goes once-per week on Saturdays during this time of year (could be an issue if the flight gets cancelled), as does Delta from Atlanta. United flies there pretty much every day from Houston. The arrivals process takes a while (and hour or more especially on Saturday when all three airlines arrive almost at once) but at the end of the process you are cheerfully greeted by Arnel from Paya Bay waiting to pick you up (this is included in most Paya Bay packages)! The road to Paya Bay is most interesting (narrow, crowded, and busy) and as you get closer to the resort it gets somewhat serpentine and yes, the last 6 KM are a bit bumpy on the dirt / gravel road (recently graded!) – but ask Arnel and he will take it easy. At the end of your stay, Arnel gets you back to the airport in plenty of time and the process there is again a bit cumbersome – be sure to arrive at least 2 hours early. Don’t expect to be boarded by groups either – it’s more like just get on when they open the door. There is a $40 per person Honduran departure tax required when you leave Roatan, but it was included in the airfare with American (and I understand Delta; not sure about United).

Paya Bay is worth every penny and the effort to get there. Yes, you’ll need to get the necessary immunizations for that region; and there really is nothing to taking the anti-malaria medication (we used Malarone which is inexpensive and had no side effects). Roatan is a beautiful unspoiled island that mostly caters to divers and folks staying at glitzy 5-star resorts. As tourism is the heart of the economy, personal safety at the resort was not an issue. Paya Bay is remote, peaceful and beats the 5-star resorts hands down with its beauty and the personalized attention you get. If you’re looking for fast-paced nightlife, go elsewhere. For some things you just have to go along with the flow and the laid-back island life style; rather chill and enjoy the peace and calm; let them spoil you and feel as close to nirvana as you will find anywhere.