Travel Guide to Roatan, Honduras

Travel Roatan Honduras Caribbean Resort Island

Safety in Roatan

Two tourists from Spain were reported missing missing after encountering strong winds at sea while paddling sea kayaks. Helicopters, seaplanes, divers, and boats were used to search the sea for signs of the kayakers. The search for the couple ended with the only sign being an empty kayak some 25 miles north of Utila, a neighboring island.

The Bay Islands weather can change very quickly - from stillness to high wind, from sunshine to rain, and from calm seas to rough waves. Sea kayaks are especially vulnerable since they are so light and are blown about easily. Five people are believed to have been lost at sea while using sea kayaks in the Bay Islands since December of 2004.

Kayaks should not be taken far from shore. Consult with knowledgeable boat captains about weather conditions. Take live jackets, water, and emergency gear.

Roatan has tourist police specifically to watch for the safety of tourists. Areas with high foot traffic of tourists tend to be safe, even at after dark.

Coxen Hole is not safe for foot traffic after dark. In spite of stepped up police presence, most of the police force is on foot. Violent crime and robberies have been increasing.

Theft is common on the island, especially with the drug problems that persist.
Remote homes have been the sites of home invasions, with armed intruders tying victims and robbing the homes.
Vehicles have been stopped at night occasionally in remote areas with road blocks for robberies.
Taxi drivers have been killed occasionally.

Many tourists encounter beggars. Some are truly needy; others simply are looking for a handout. This is a poor country. Like any other country, there are people here with drug and alcohol addictions.

Steps are being taken to address crime on Roatan. Proposals include raising a private police force. The yacht now has a metal detector for passengers leaving Roatan, which should reduce the number of criminals leaving and taking their weapons with them via the yacht, but Roatan is within fairly easy reach of the mainland by small water craft.

Most owners of expensive homes that are isolated from other homes hire guards to watch the property at night while they are out of the country or have other people stay in their homes. Guards are hired for about $10 per night.

Certain sections of highway on the Honduran mainland are dangerous because of highway robbers. On Roatan, some highway robberies have taken place. They are usually in the more isolated, eastern end of the island and take place at night.

A legitimate road stop should have at least 4 uniformed police with rifles. Their uniforms are military style camoflauge. The police use orange traffic cones. They check your driver's license, vehicle registration document, and vehicle tags.

You should not fear legitimate police stops. Respond courteously and have your documents ready.

Roatan safety

Some Honduran police have beaten people. These incidents usually involve natives that argue with the police. Do not ever offer a police officer a bribe.

Highway robbers may obstruct the roadway with a vehicle or a log. If they stop you, give them your money without hesitation. They may kill you if you resist a robbery. With the large increase of traffic on Roatan, road blocks are not as common as they were when the roads were more isolated.

Disease - AIDS is a problem on Roatan. Some of the methods of transmission include sharing of hypodermic needles by drug users and unclean acts between an infected homosexual and someone else. Gays that travel to Roatan can be at risk.

Travel-Roatan.com assumes no responsibility for the accuracy of the information in this website. Honduran laws related to immigration and other matters change. For the latest information, contact the appropriate Honduran authorities.