Roatan is a safe island. Crime can be easily avoided by taking basic safety precautions. What follows is a list of safety tips which you can adhere to when visiting our island. Stay safe and enjoy.
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Most areas around Roatan are safe. Roatan offers several residential living options as well, some safer than others.
Roatán is generally considered safe for solo female travellers. The island is known for its friendly locals and laid-back atmosphere, and the crime rate is low. However, as with any destination, it is important to take precautions and be aware of your surroundings.
Avoid displays of money and valuables such as expensive jewelry, watches, cell phones, iPods, cameras, etc. Roatan is very casual, and by dressing casually, you will not draw attention to yourself.
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.
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.
Language in RoatanWhile Spanish is the official language, English is spoken universally. Roatan Islanders speak a Creole English. This broken English gets its roots in French, english, and Spanish as well as a few words unique to the Garifuna culture.
Many friends or tourists who want to visit and know Roatan, Honduras ask us if it is safe to travel? Our answer is YES. In general, Roatan is a safe island, however, theft can be an issue, as it is in many tourist areas.
Map of RoatanRoatan's West Bay Beach is located on the island of Roatan's western- (and southern-) most tip, and has been described as the ultimate Caribbean beach vacation destination: pristine, white sand beaches, perfectly clean, clear, and warm tropical waters.
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.
Visitors can enjoy swimming, snorkeling, kayaking, paddle boarding or simply lounging on the beach chairs or cabanas. Mahogany Bay Beach is a perfect place to experience the tropical charm and natural beauty of Roatan.
Like with most places around the world, there is some risk. Nobody can tell you with 100% certainty that you will be safe in Honduras. Anyone who tells you there is no crime in Roatan is lying. But there are absolutely places in Honduras you can and should visit, Roatan and the Bay Islands being some of them.
The Bay Islands and Roatan are popular destinations today for many vacationers, including some rather famous people. The islands in the area are popular for celebs such as Christopher Lambert, Richard Gere, Michael Douglas, and Cameron Diaz.
There are two cell services on Roatan, TIGO and CLARO. Which one you buy depends completely on a few factors. I have always had TIGO and don't plan to change but there are places where TIGO does not work on the island so let me lay out the differences and you can choose for yourself.
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.
You might initially be thinking of drinks such as margaritas, pina coladas or daiquiris. But when you're on the island of Roatan, a small island off the north coast of the Central American country, Honduras, that fruity tropical drink is known by locals and tourists as the Monkey Lala.