Roatán is an island in the Caribbean, about 65 kilometres (40 mi) off the northern coast of Honduras. The largest of the Bay Islands of Honduras, it is located between the islands of Utila and Guanaja. The island was formerly known in English as Ruatan and Rattan.

Honduras is administratively divided into 18 departments, which are subdivided into 298 municipalities. Municipalities are the only administrative division in Honduras that possess local government. Each municipality has its own elected mayor as opposed to the appointed governors of departments. For statistical purposes, the municipalities are further subdivided into 3731 aldeas, and those into 27969 caserios. At the lowest level, some caserios are subdivided into 3336 barrios or colonias.