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.
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 ON THE TOUR.
I have seen a couple of Spanish schools on the island. Any recommendations?The only one I can recommend is the excellent one in West End run by Kary Braga. She is great and affordable. HIGHLY recommend Spanish lessons if you have the time/money...I ran out of both so couldn't continue, but it's SO helpful here. Here's a link to the school.
Any suggestions for not fancy but decent places to eat in West End?The Blue Marlin, run by Ed and his dad Robert from Amsterdam. Beside it is a Thai restaurant that is good. The Buena Vida, across the street from Blue Marlin, run by my friends Joe and Wendy from D.C. Cafe Escondido above West End Divers is good for breakfast and lunch but closed for dinner. The Coconut Tree restaurant at the entrance to West End is okay if everything else is closed (they have a generator). I'm a huge fan of Roatan Oasis which is just down the road to West Bay from West End and has a billards table and a swimming pool with fantastic food that changes daily at a good price. There's really nowhere fancy to eat on Roatan besides the Vintage Pearl at Bananarama in West Bay. Check out my Roatan Reviews for more info on restaurants.
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!
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, 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. 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.
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 :)
Not really. Most people recommend not bringing them. 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. So if you can avoid it I would.
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 some tour to the east end (the east end can be dangerous for foreigners alone). 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.
