Departure Tax: All passengers leaving Roatan from the airport must pay a departure tax, $39.12 for visitors, $36.72 for foreign residents and 45 lempiras for Hondurans.
People Also Ask
If you don't want to deal with currency exchange or taking money out of an ATM during your Roatan trip, you could theoretically bring all of your cash in USD along with you. For a 7-day trip, I would bring at least $700-1,000 USD, with the assumption that you'll have some left over.
The reality is that Roatan is an island, and almost everything consumed here is imported. Our food, products and supplies had to undergo a much longer journey to make it to our happy island, and therefore that drives up the price of just about everything.
Areas to avoid after dark.Conversely, there are areas or town around Roatan which should be avoided after dark or in which extra precaution is recommended. Coxen Hole, Los Fuertes, French Harbour, are some of the main places where tourist and residents alike should keep a watchful eye.
Tipping is expected in Roatan's restaurants. However, inspect your bill to see if you've already been charged for “Servicio.” If so, no extra tip is necessary. Although if you feel the service was excellent, then feel free to add more. If “Servicio” is not included in the bill, tip 10% or more.
Currency in RoatanThe Lempira is the official currency of Honduras but US dollars accepted throughout Roatan and can be used in most parts of the island. Credit Cards can also be used in larger stores and restaurants, but not all.
To enter Honduras, you must purchase a tourist card at the airport. This allows you to visit Honduras for up to 90 days. If you're not a tourist or you plan to stay longer, you'll need a visa.
Taxes and Banking Roatan, Honduras has a sales tax of 12% to be applied to merchandise and services. There is an alcohol beverage and cigarette tax of 15%. There is a 4% tourism tax for tour related services.
Is the drinking water safe to drink? Tap water is not recommended to drink in Honduras. All good restaurants and hotels will provide purified water or use purified water in food preparation. Purified water can be bought easily throughout the country.
It is true. At the hostel, all over Roatan, Honduras and Central America, toilet paper is normally discarded in the garbage can after you've wiped, not down the toilet. Most places are plumbed with septic systems, not advanced sewage systems, so nothing can go down them except human waste.
Roatan, Honduras is an island with over 100,000 residents and because the tap and well water systems are contaminated, their drinking water comes in plastic bottles delivered via diesel trucks.
Because of the island's hilly topography, water taxis are quicker than cars, and will cost you $3 per person each way. They normally need minimum three people to go, so if it's just two of you and you don't want to wait, it will be $5 per person, or $10 in total.
If your day in port coincides with another ship's arrival, you might be docked, or you might need to tender to shore. Usually, Royal Caribbean cruise ships dock while Norwegian cruise ships tender when they coincide at Port of Roatan.
Roatan has been home to a notorious list of major drug intermediaries who launder money by purchasing properties on the island. Members of the “Los Cachiros“ drug trafficking ring were arrested and numerous properties in Roatan were seized several years ago.
There are many communities around Roatan which are void of crime. Some of these include the areas of Palmetto Bay, Pristine Bay, Turtle Crossing, & Lawson Rock. Crime in these neighborhoods is prevented through a combination of gated layouts and security patrols.
Sand fleas are prevalent in the Bay Islands. Sometimes called no-see-ums, you probably won't even notice these guys are around until you start itching. While some people hardly react to their bites, others may find them to be incredibly annoying.