Arca, Roatan

There’s a new arrival on Roatan’s West Bay, and you’re not going to want to miss it. In December 2023, Arca opened its doors for the first time; a chic and understated locale hidden in plain sight among the bright lights and beach hawkers of West Bay.

Place a foot outside the roped entrance and you’re right in the heart of the action of West Bay. Yet when you’re sitting by the pool, shaded by a ceiling of palm trees, the sun glinting through the branches as it moves, you could easily be miles from civilisation in a distant jungle somewhere.

Arca’s bar has quickly become a popular destination in its own right on the Bay Islands, known for its excellent cocktail menu. No sooner have we arrived, we see the owner of our hotel in Útila, who has travelled from the neighbouring island specifically to visit the bar. The sun is beginning to set and West Bay is cast in the most perfect shades of gold. It’s the ideal moment to set up camp on one of the sun loungers and sample the famed cocktail menu.

As we sip on a Tribal Sour (a delicious tangy blend of Flor de Caña rum, lime, mint, homemade ginger syrup, hibiscus tea and egg white), we’re treated to the most spectacular light show at the sun dips into the sea directly in front of us and day turns to night.

There are plenty of options for different guests, from the very affordable Junior Suites to the standalone luxury Villas, which can accommodate up to 12 guests. The Luxury Suites occupy impressive square footage with value-add features such as outdoor showers.

At the entrance to each room is a basin of water to wash the sand from your feet; this is very much a place where strolling around barefoot and getting as close to nature as possible is actively encouraged.

Arca is both new in terms of time and also in concept. It’s a design-led hotel that champions stylish simplicity – quite a stark contrast from the generic mass-appeal resorts that occupy most of West Bay. Rather than one single building, the hotel is made up of cabana-style bungalows with wooden exteriors that blend seamlessly into the surrounding nature. The décor exudes a chic industrial feel in concrete and cement, offset by calming tones in pink, beige and grey.

From our veranda, glass sliding doors open to a room where the bed takes centre stage. Like the rest of Arca, the design is simple and industrial, with bed linen in shades of pale pink, tasselled cushions and frilled throws adding a bohemian softness. Furnishings in this type of room are kept deliberately simple, inviting guests to switch off from everyday noise and fully immerse in the surroundings.

A stylish wooden door on rails slides open to reveal the bathroom, sleek and functional in grey concrete with accents of matte black metal. It’s an open plan space that has the appearance of having been carved from a single piece of concrete, with spacious shower and storage. Shelves are lined with towels in bright white and Arca’s own-brand shampoo and conditioner in scents of lavender and mint.

In addition to its fast reputation as a locale for quality drinks, Arca also offers a delectable menu in casual settings at its Ahari restaurant. Ahari is open all day for lunch and gets busy in the evenings, so it’s best to reserve. When we visit on this Thursday evening, the restaurant is fully-booked and the festive atmosphere in full swing.

We opt to start with some cocktails from the bar – the spicy luna mezcalita this time – and then a selection of the house favourites: a trio of ceviches paired with different garnishes (from tropical with sweet pineapple to the classic tangy lime version), moreish quesadillas with warming cheese and homemade salsa, and the avocado and chicken sandwich, served with chimichurri, pico de gallo and house dressing. It’s Tex-Mex influenced cuisine that is designed to be shared in a relaxed setting over conversation and drinks – very much in keeping with Arca’s laid-back ethos.

After dinner, the cocktails have put us in the mood for dancing and the team at the hotel bar couldn’t be more accommodating in helping us to continue our evening. They arrange for a return water taxi to take us to West Point, where we set off in search of some reggaeton. We quickly find, however, that the atmosphere in town is at best a little tacky and at worst rough around the edges, and we head back to Arca, where the atmosphere is much better. It’s clear why visitors are coming from near and far to visit.

While it gives the impression of a remote resort in the jungle, Arca is designed to cater for high comfort. We enjoy a peaceful sleep in a comfortable bed with air conditioning, and shower the next morning with hot water, high quality products and soft towels. Arca is American-owned, set up by entrepreneur Rachael Reed in 2022 before officially opening to the public in 2023. Rachael is passionate about her adopted second home, and on booking guests are provided with a comprehensive guide detailing how to make the most of their stay, from arranging private massages with trusted suppliers to a host of personal recommendations for bars, restaurants and activities.

Environmental responsibility also plays an important role, particularly in an area of the world with such a delicate ecosystem in need of protection. The hotel does its part by encouraging guests to respect energy-saving measures and shunning single-use plastic by providing free drinking water.

In the morning, breakfast is served on the outdoor decking of the restaurant, where overhead fans keep things cool and wicker lanterns dance in the breeze. It’s included in the price of the room and comes as an à la carte offering. Alongside juices and coffee, guests can choose between American-style breakfast options (pancakes, bacon and eggs, lighter choices) or traditional Honduran fare. The traditional breakfast incorporates ingredients indigenous to the region, such as cooked plantain, refried beans and local cheese.

As our time at Arca comes to an end, we ready ourselves to leave the haven of calm. We take a deep breath and step out from under the cool jungle canopy, back to reality, where candlelit dinners on the beach and peaceful cocktails on the veranda at dusk suddenly feel a lot harder to come by.

We stayed
in a Junior Jungle Suite, priced from $260 per night, including breakfast.

We ate
at Ahari restaurant:
Chicken quesadillas – $12
Ceviche trio – $14
Avocado and chicken sandwich – $15
House cocktails – $14 each

For best rates, book directly through the hotel’s website.

This was a press stay – all opinions are our own.