The #1 thing I receive emails about is questions from people who are visiting or thinking about moving to Roatan. And they all ask me the exact same questions!! I thought I better start putting together from FAQs so that people can read through these first before emailing me since I just don’t have the time to give full, detailed answers over and over. I hope people find this helpful!
If you have other questions you would like answered in Part 2, please leave them in the comments below.
The main thing I would like people to understand about Roatan is that restaurants come and go, management and staff change all the time at dive shops and hotels, etc. etc. so it’s really difficult for me to post recommendations because things change here all the time and it might not be the same as when I gave my original recommendation. You really just have to get on the ground and ask around when you are here!
I am visiting Roatan. I’m staying ______________. Is this a relatively safe area?
Almost anywhere on Roatan except maybe the colonias or Los Fuertes could be considered a ‘relatively’ safe area. I use quotes as I don’t consider anywhere on the island particularly safe. There is a lot of poverty and drug problems here, and life is not valued the same way it is in North America or Europe (ie. you can be killed for not giving up cash/iPhones/etc. when being robbed). Roatan is a third world country with a lot of desperate people and police that are not well equipped or paid fairly (about $300 US a month, for working 24 hour shifts and having to buy their own gas for patrol cars, ammunition, etc.) and that is just a fact that people living and visiting here have to accept. If you take normal precautions (don’t walk around with jewelry or expensive watch on, don’t flash cameras, iPhones and laptops, etc.) most people are fine. There is a high rate of break and enters on Roatan – when looking for accommodation, safety (ie. bars on windows, doors that can’t be kicked in, lighted areas, security) should be the #1 priority over price. I’ve had my home broken into and robbed a few times in West End so far… but I had my apartment in Vancouver Canada broken into too. Crime happens everywhere, even small islands! All of West Bay is safe but that’s because it’s pretty much 100% gringos and huge resorts with massive private security teams. Most of West End is safe, you can walk around in the day no problem at all. I don’t recommend wandering around alone and/or drunk at night anywhere especially with an iPhone in your pocket. At night, any towns outside of West End, Sandy Bay or West Bay should be avoided by tourists – especially the colonias, Coxen Hole and Los Fuertes. To locals, the gringos = $$$. I still have people trying to rob me and they know damn well I make local wages and have no money!
I understand the water taxis are good sources for transportation. Can you provide an idea of a fair price for a water taxi (or regular taxi) from West End, to say, one of the grocery stores in Coxen Hole?
The water taxis are a set price of 60lps each way, and they only run between West End and West Bay (several drop off points on the docks there). They don’t go to Coxen Hole. You would need to take a regular taxi to Coxen Hole. From West End it should be no more than 35lps in the day or 70lps after dark (one way, and the taxi fares double after dark). Note the taxi number before getting in. You will need basic Spanish as nearly all of the taxi drivers are mainlanders who can’t speak English. Agree on the price before getting in and have several small bills out in your hand before flagging a taxi – you should never open your wallet in a taxi. ‘Colectivo’ means they will stop and pick up other people. If you want safety assured, you can ask for ‘expresso’ where they won’t stop…but expect the price to triple.
I have seen some description of van services for a few dollars for local
transport. Is this accurate and are they safe?
The local get around in these (sometimes rather rickety) ‘colectivo vans’. They have set routes but you can ask to jump out anywhere along the route. West End to Coxen Hole is 25 lps, it stops in the Sandy Bay colonia (colonias are ramshackle neighborhoods of low-income mainly Spanish-speaking residents living on top of each other) but just stay in the van and you’ll be fine. Pay only the driver, on your way out. Take note of the route (‘ruta’) printed on the hood of the van – that’s the circle of towns they’re doing. They take wayyyyyyyyyyyy longer than taxis as they’re constantly stopping or getting flagged down by people or waiting until enough people get in the van to make the gas cost worthwhile. Good and safe, again Spanish is super helpful but there will usually be islanders in the van who can help you translate (they’re bilingual, mainlanders usually aren’t).
Any recommendations on someone to hire to really see the island other than a cruise ship type excursion tour?
There are plenty, but you should really be on the ground here and meet the drivers/boat captains and discuss what you are looking for and agree on a price for it first before arranging anything. Everyone knows someone who does tours, just ask anyone who lives on the island for a hookup. Ask to see the vehicle or boat and get a guarantee that they won’t switch it out the day of your tour. DO NOT PAY ANY MONEY UNTIL YOU ARE BACK AT THE END OF THE TOUR.
I have seen a couple of Spanish schools on the island. Any recommendations?
These come and go as teachers come and go. Have to ask once you’re here and see which ones are open.
Any suggestions for not fancy but decent places to eat in West End?
Yep, lots. But they change with the season and whoever is working there at the time, so you’re gonna need to ask about it once you get here.
Do you buy seafood and fruit/vegetables from the street vendors?
Vegetables, yes I get them from veggie trucks if I’m between Eldons trips (Eldons is the big American-style-American-brand-stocked main grocery store in Coxen Hole). I don’t eat fruit but I guess you could get it from a truck if they have it. Seafood…depends on what it is (if it’s legal for them to catch – working in the dive industry I support the Roatan Marine Park. Please don’t buy conch, it’s 100% illegal to catch it anywhere here, also lobsters under 5.5 inch tails are not allowed to be caught and there is an open and closed season for both lobster and shrimp). Also depends on how long the guy has been in the street
with it in his cooler! Go in the morning!
with it in his cooler! Go in the morning!
Can I bring any packaged food stuff in my carry-on luggage like whey, protein bars, etc.?
Yes, I brought about a million Larabars in. Getting stuff in is less of a problem than getting stuff out.
What is easy to find there, and what should I make sure to bring from home?
Easy: sunscreen, bug spray, shampoo/conditioner/body wash (all the same brands from America!), condiments, first aid items (NOT pepto-bismol caplets though or Gravol/Dramamine), hair dye, ripped DVDs, SIM cards. Bring from home: deodorant if you prefer a particular kind, anything from Whole Foods, quality or name-brand makeup, rubber boots, magazines, face wash/moisturizer, women’s
underwear.The CDC recommends malaria medicine and vaccinations for Typhoid,
underwear.
The CDC recommends malaria medicine and vaccinations for Typhoid,
Hepatitis, etc. Did you take these kinds of precautions or do you think this is overkill?
Hmmmm…malaria is not common. For a short trip, I wouldn’t bother. The preventative medicine is just a lower dose of the ‘fixing it’ medicine and it’s very taxing on your liver and has lots of unpleasant side effects. I never took anything for it here and I only know one person who caught it (and he lived here for 5 years before he caught it). Bugs ARE BAD though, all the time, doesn’t matter what time of day. And there is dengue and chikungunya here (I caught dengue once, as have lots of people I know). You need to wear repellent. I recommend something oily to combat the sandflies, like Avon Skin So Soft or something similar, and then layering OFF or other DEET based products on top so that it keeps the
mosquitoes away but also doesn’t put DEET directly on your skin. As for typhoid and hepatitis… Hepatitis is a good one to get, not sure about typhoid. I traveled through South America in 2011 and got seventy billion vaccinations so I didn’t think about it much when I moved here because I already had most of them. I haven’t heard of any of them being prevalent though. The big one is dengue, and there’s not much you can do about that except avoid getting bit in the first place.
mosquitoes away but also doesn’t put DEET directly on your skin. As for typhoid and hepatitis… Hepatitis is a good one to get, not sure about typhoid. I traveled through South America in 2011 and got seventy billion vaccinations so I didn’t think about it much when I moved here because I already had most of them. I haven’t heard of any of them being prevalent though. The big one is dengue, and there’s not much you can do about that except avoid getting bit in the first place.
I’m _________ years old and out of shape, can I learn to dive?
One of the first students I certified was a 70 year old woman, so I’d say nope, not too old! Age is not a concern in scuba diving, but overall health is. Our main concerns with overweight divers have to do with heart problems and blood pressure. Getting in and out of boats with 40lbs of gear on can be a big stress on your heart, especially if it is already working extra hard with extra weight. If you don’t get winded walking up a flight of stairs and you’re comfortable in the water, without any heart or blood pressure problems then you are probably good to go! Go to the shop you are interested in doing your course at, and ask for the PADI medical questionnaire – you will have to complete this and get a physician’s clearance if necessary before starting your diving course. Don’t forget to have fun and tip your instructor 🙂
Can I use travelers checks on Roatan? Can I use USD on Roatan?
No to travelers checks. The banks are already a huge waste of time and headache here, so I wouldn’t mess around in them if I didn’t have to. Businesses absolutely do NOT accept them though. If you can’t get lempiras before you come, get USD in small bills that are in great condition – bills that are ripped, torn or worn won’t be accepted and no one here ever wants to give out change. Trying to pay for your $18 lunch with a $100 bill is probably not going to work anywhere. I have a whole huge post about using US dollars on Roatan, check it out!
Any other information, tips, suggestions you can offer would be appreciated.
Sure! It’s a good idea to do some research on the island and its history first. The islanders are very different from mainlanders and a lot of them don’t like the mainlanders coming over here (they appear to commit a lot of the crimes here, and have different customs and social norms from the islanders).
Almost all islanders speak Island English (Bay Island Creole) as a first language and Spanish second so they prefer to be addressed in English. Be smart and savvy – be aware when using ATMs, don’t walk around all day with huge wads of cash, don’t let people swindle you into buying crap or going on scooters to the east end (some parts of the east end can be dangerous for tourists who are alone, don’t know their way around and clearly don’t live here). Get to know the expat community, they are a great resource, but don’t forget you’re on the islanders home turf and they want the foreigners to respect them and their island. Don’t bring large (over $20) or worn/torn US bills, they won’t be accepted and small change is hard to come by so you will find taxi drivers and restaurants unwilling to break large bills. Go to the bank and have them break it. Learn the currency so no one gives you incorrect change (always pay in lempira when possible!) Above all, relax, things happen here. The internet is slow, things will get fixed ‘tomorrow’, the power goes out, the water goes out… it’s all part of life on a Caribbean island.
Almost all islanders speak Island English (Bay Island Creole) as a first language and Spanish second so they prefer to be addressed in English. Be smart and savvy – be aware when using ATMs, don’t walk around all day with huge wads of cash, don’t let people swindle you into buying crap or going on scooters to the east end (some parts of the east end can be dangerous for tourists who are alone, don’t know their way around and clearly don’t live here). Get to know the expat community, they are a great resource, but don’t forget you’re on the islanders home turf and they want the foreigners to respect them and their island. Don’t bring large (over $20) or worn/torn US bills, they won’t be accepted and small change is hard to come by so you will find taxi drivers and restaurants unwilling to break large bills. Go to the bank and have them break it. Learn the currency so no one gives you incorrect change (always pay in lempira when possible!) Above all, relax, things happen here. The internet is slow, things will get fixed ‘tomorrow’, the power goes out, the water goes out… it’s all part of life on a Caribbean island.
What else would you like to know about Roatan?
Guys, make sure to follow me on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter … there’s lots of extras posted there that don’t make it onto the blog. (I also have Google+ if anyone even uses that? And I’m on Bloglovin’!) Plus it makes me get organized with these FAQs after 2 years. So there’s that.
I have visited Roatan four times for 10 days each time. This only issue we had with cash was your bills must be in perfect, no tears, missing tip of bill. No one will accept the bills we get crisp bills to take for spending money. I seemed to have more issues with noseeums and sand fleas when staying in a Sandy Bay.
I stayed in Westbay on our last trip and had no problems.
Hi Karen, you’re absolutely right on the USD needing to be in perfect condition. I have a whole post in my Roatan archives dedicated on how to use USD there!
West Bay resorts pay staff to rake the beach every morning which ruins the sandfly eggs. In Sandy Bay and West End the beach is almost never raked, and that’s why there’s more sandflies there.
Glad you enjoyed your trips there!
My wife & I had a 10 day vacation in Roatan this past June 2014 so I can comment a little bit with respect to West End Roatan. We stayed at the Splash Inn Dive Resort. Most all of the people that I encountered were bilingual speaking Spanish & English. I speak a little Spanish & practiced/conversed with anyone who could fog a mirror. I found the vast majority of people warm and friendly. Most of the islanders were "shocked" that I could speak Spanish but when I did I was greeted with a great big smile.
Because of the two great discover dives that I had at the onset of my vacation, I decided to signup & did successfully complete the PADI Advanced Open Water Course w/ West End Divers … they were excellent & very patient with me. Since I am 62, I thought "what-the-heck", go for it, Jim.
Rika, you are 100% correct with using Limperas in small denominations but when I went to an ATM, I was dispersed Limperas in 500 L (e.g. ~ $25 USD) denominations. Before I left the states I got $1000 in denominations of $1, $5, $10, & $20 and that worked well for tips & purchases. Yes, a water taxi did cost 60 L each way (~ $3 USD).
We also got anti-malaria pills and Hepatitis B & C shots and a couple others. We didn't have any problems with getting bitten by any bugs, but we were prepared. We also purchased bottled water 'cause the hotel people informed us not to drink the tap water. Although I am embarrassed to say but both my wife & I got a cases of Diarrhea that lasted for about a month after we returned to the US.
Since I primarily went there to dive, I didn't roam around the island very much. I did do a jungle cable ZIP experience … that was nice … Also, I went to a Butterfly place & two "kind-of" jungle zoos … those were also interesting 🙂 … just thought you would like to know.
Hi Angie! Thanks for reading my FAQ 🙂 I hope you found it helpful for your trip!
Yeah, the sandflies are awful. Glad to hear you are coming prepared!
I definitely recommend using cash over credit cards when possible for two reasons: one, many of the POS systems and ATMs have been subject to fraud, and two, many businesses will add on 12%-19% transaction fees for paying by credit card (MAKE SURE TO ASK FIRST).
Really awesome tips! The only thing I am dreading when vacationing there are the no seeums and sand fleas. I have bad reactions to them when we are in Jamaica but I am coming armed with everything I might need.
Thankfully we'll have family from the mainland who can help us with the lempira issue. And thanks for the tips on the bill denominations. So you would recommend money over using credit cards? Most places we called already will accept the credit card in lempira and US. so that is good to know. And the international fees aren't bad at all.
We'll have 7 in our party so I prefer to pay with credit card for the touristy things.
Sooooo many things I would have done differently if I knew then what I know now 🙂 Can't wait to read your post on it!!
Awesome! Yeah, I was hoping this would help give people some answers, but honestly I've gotten MORE emails in the last two days asking questions that I answered in this post, than I used to before I wrote this haha!
Yeah!! Avon Skin-So-Soft is a good one for that too…super oily. I'm glad I don't have to worry about the bugs so much anymore!
Always while out, although once it was while my roommate was in the shower with the front door unlocked. There are some seriously brazen thieves here. It sucks, but that's what happens in a place with such a big divide between the 'haves' and 'have-nots'. I've become really good at hiding my expensive stuff when I leave the house 🙂
Wow, the part about your house being broken into multiple times is really unsettling! Have they done it while you've been home or always while you've been out? How do you keep your valuables safe (such as your computer and phone)?
Baby oil = best no-see-um protection EVER! Tiger balm as well. Also works as a good seat claimer because no one wants to sit in the oiled down seat at the dive shop…except you of courese. Winner winner chicken dinner!
Good idea I'm not planning a trip to Roatan but would love to at some point, so I'll bookmark this for later! I wrote a post about moving to Beijing recently because I had so many questions before I moved here and from others afterwards.
good to know! I've been working on something similar so I can answer my e-mails quicker each day 🙂 Now I can say.. "well, read this first…" I think it's good you're telling what to bring that you can't get! I think all expats should write a post about that. I wish I'd known before moving to GOa.
For questions regarding legal services you can contact CESAR GONZALEZ ROATANLAWYERS. ROATANLAWYERS@GMAIL.COM