Safety in Roatan

Guards were reportedly killed at Anthoney's Key resort, April 2008. April 15, 2008: Three security personnel were reportedly killed in Coxen Hole during a bank money transport robbery.

April 2008 - An American man and a Spanish woman were reportedly killed when the scooter they were riding collided with a gravel truck in Sandy Bay.

A cruise ship passenger suffered fatal injuries after falling from a Roatan zipline ride. Ziplines have become increasingly popular on Roatan, allowing tourists to ride through the air over the tropical forest. The American tourist was transported to a clinic on Roatan, then to a hospital in San Pedro Sula on the mainland. She died at the hospital. This is the first fatal zipline accident that we know of on Roatan.

How safe are the shark dives? Sometimes the waters are "chummed" or baited to bring in sharks so divers see more action. News reports come in from different parts of the world of divers being killed by shark bites while on "shark dives". Some people are concerned that feeding sharks and diving with them will cause sharks to associate people with food, increasing the danger for other swimmers and divers. Although divers being killed by sharks during shark dives around the world is rare, Roatan has had shark attacks on people in the past.

A toddler was kidnapped on Roatan. Signs were posted at various stores with a picture of the child.

A teenager riding a rental scooter hit a patch of gravel. The scooter went down and the boy was seriously scraped. Since there was no insurance on the scooter, he was responsible for the damage to the scooter as well. Roatan's roads have pot holes, loose gravel, many hairpin curves, sudden rain showers, and drivers that pass uphill and around curves. Wear adequate protective clothing and helmets while riding scooters.

A taxi driver taking a United States visitor from the airport to Punta Gorda robbed the passenger of both US and Honduran currency. Family of the passenger from Punta Gorda called to find out which taxi had taken the passenger to Punta Gorda, and the police arrested the driver and recovered the money. The driver was reportedly released from jail since the visitor would not be returning to press charges.

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.

Police Phone - Coxen Hole, Roatan 011 504 445-3438