Roatan, emerging as the Caribbean's newest vacation hotspot, is now home to its largest and most bio-sensitive and upscale resort. Infinity Bay Spa & Beach Resort began welcoming visitors this spring, with 55 of its planned 145 luxury villas now complete.

Infinity Bay is an eco-friendly resort

Located in the heart of West Bay Beach, Infinity Bay, the island's greenest resort has been designed to protect the coral reef system that curls around Roatan's shores. The barrier reef, second in size only to Australia's, is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Infinity Bay's state-of-the-art septic facilities put no pollutants into the ocean and emit no odors. For guests' comfort, the resort has also installed a reverse osmosis water purification system making all the tap water throughout the resort and in all its rooms 100 percent potable. Future plans call for the resort's water to be heated by solar panels.

Roatan's coral reef system is one of the region's most biologically diverse marine habitats. The area is considered by many to be the best spot for scuba diving, snorkeling and fishing in the world, and has been a diver's paradise for years.

Construction is still underway

Phase I of Infinity Bay includes 55 studio, one, two and three bedroom extravagant suites, a beachfront restaurant, a fresh water pool complete with 3 waterfalls, a bridge and an infinity edge, and a private dock with water taxi, which ferries guests to West End Village.

Phase II, scheduled for completion in April 2009, will have 90 units, a full service restaurant, a spa and health club complex, and conference facilities.

While construction is indeed going on while the resort is open to guests, according to the FAQs on the resort website, "The owners have taken every practical measure to reduce the noise and disruption to resort guests, such as leasing a remote site for much of the louder assembly work, erecting barriers and limiting the work hours. The construction is on the opposite side of the resort from the beach (in the back)."

Resort amenities, such as the pool, swim-up and beach bars, internet services, concierge desk, car/scooter/bike rentals and wedding-planning services are up and running. However, the spa and health club, plus the air-conditioned restaurant, are expected to be completed in February 2009.

Honeymoon packages at Infinity Bay

A seven-night vacation package for honeymooners includes the following:
- Deluxe resort hotel accommodations
- Airport transportation
- Welcome cocktails
- Breakfast daily
- Guided island tour
- Two boat taxi passes to West End Village
- Unlimited snorkeling
- "Infinity Beach Party" night
- One dolphin encounter w/ DVD
- Flowers and champagne in room on arrival

Rates are per person: $999 in low season (May 1 to Jun 10; Aug 16 to Dec 14), $1,999 in high season (Dec 15 to Apr 30; Jun 11 to Aug 15). Rates are based on double occupancy for a seven-night stay. Other lengths of stay packages are available. Sixteen percent hotel tax not included. Air transportation not included. (If you schedule your honeymoon before construction is complete in 2009, be sure to ask about discounts for the "minor inconvenience" you may encounter, due to noise.)

About Roatan

Roatan is the largest of the Bay Islands off the coast of Honduras, just a 2.5-hour direct flight from Houston, Texas. The island is 35 miles (58 km) long and 1 to 3 miles (2-4 km) across. Its topography ranges from sandy beach and iron shoreline to mangroves, lush valleys and tropical hilltops.