Subjects that are covered here are:
What to bring
Time Travel
Taxi's
Taxi boats
Island Tours
Internet Access
Telephone services
Fruit and Veg
Shrimp and Lobster
Groceries
Car and Bike Rental
ATM's and Money
Pharmacies/ Chemists
Sand Flies and Malaria
Doctors and Hospitals
Unless you plan to use rental gear, which in many resorts is very good, although equipment rental fees vary and should be confirmed when making the decision to save on luggage space and leave that BC at home!
-Regulator, BCD, Wetsuit 3mm/5mm full suit, Fins, Mask, Snorkel, Log book and certification card, during March April May a hood is a good idea to protect your neck from sea lice.
Honduras does not have any day lights savings adjustments. This means that during the US winter time, we are on Central Time. During the summer months we are on Mountain Time. Confused?
Official Taxis are white, with a yellow box painted on the side containing their number.
There is a dual pricing system. You can go express or collectivo. When you ask the price confirm which you want.
A Taxi from the airport to West End costs $20. This is a fixed fare so trying to negotiate is a waste of time.
The ferry is now operating out of a new terminal at Dixon Cove.
In the West End the taxis hang around outside Coconut tree divers. A few prices are as follows: lps=Lempira
West End - Coxen Hole - 35-50lps Collectivo, 60-100lps Express
West End - Anthony's Key Resort - 15lps Collectivo, 50-60 Express
West End - Airport - $20
West End - West Bay 180lps
There are also collectivo vans. These are minivans which drive between West End and Coxen Hole. The basic idea is to flag down any minivan you see, if its a collectivo it will stop, if it isn't it will ignore you! They will charge 25lps from Coxen Hole to West End or West End to Coxen Hole.
These run between West End and West Bay. The best dock to go to get a ride is the one opposite Twisted Toucan, near Sueno del Mar. These things are small skiffs with 20-50hp outboard engines.
From West Bay there are a few docks. The best thing is to wave at any passing boat, if it is a taxi it will stop!
West End to West Bay or West Bay to West End it should cost 40lps per person.
Contact Enrique - He is an excellent Bilingual taxi driver. His car seats seven (Dodge Caravan) and is properly maintained, he also drive sensibly unlike most!
Contact him on (540) 9180766, email - j8kike@yahoo or here is his website
You really can't find a better guy for the job - book him early
Internet on the island is quite fast for downloading and browsing the internet but upload speeds are painfully slow.
There are quite a few internet places in West End, prices are now getting quite a lot more sensible. The best option is to have an account if you stay for a week or longer.
The cheapest account access is Barefoot Charlie's Opposite Fosters Bar and Grill (One of the buildings out over the water). They do a connection for 3lps a minute. 2 People unlimited access for 2 weeks is $20. You only have to use the internet for 1.5 hours to make this worthwhile. An account for 1 person for 2 weeks is $15 and it is another $5/week for additional weeks.
Paradise computers have locations all over - More Expensive than barefoot Charlie's.
If you want to bring your cell phone it may or may not work down here, you need a quad band phone to work on Honduran networks. You can buy a phone and prepaid card for as little as $10, so my advice is to leave your phone at home and buy one here.
Paradise Computers has a few locations one at sundowners and one near the galley. It is usually a terrible connection and only worth while when is cannot be avoided.
The best fruit and vegetables comes from trucks. They park in various locations in West End. There is no schedule and no fixed parking places. Select each piece yourself they don't mind you doing it that way and it makes you look more local meaning you'll get a better price. They will be covered in DDT so wash them carefully.
If you can't find a veggie truck the best place is the little grocery store next to the church called Jackson's supermarket on the map it is close lighthouse restaurant.
Another place to try is Woody's.
There is a market in Coxen hole off the main strip. It is on Calle Ocho which is opposite a big shop called Carrion. This is good for all fresh produce.
There is a place near Black pearl that sells Lobster and Shrimp.
There is also a truck which drives around West End selling it. It is black and often stops near the Jackson and Twins supermarket (Captain Vans). The lobster is often under size though, so you are not being environmentally friendly if you buy lobster. Grouper is also a severely threatened species - please don't eat it.
There is a market in Coxen hole off the main strip. It is on Calle Ocho which is opposite a big shop called Carrion. This is good for all fresh produce.
For non fresh produce there are a few places in West End. Woody's (near sundowners) is the biggest.
The convenience store at coconut tree divers is very good.
The Jackson's supermarket and the Twins supermarket are small but worth a try. They are near the church and captain vans.
The best place in Coxen Hole is Plaza Mar, up on the hill above the gas station. H B Warrens it is in the centre of the main street.
The best grocery store on the island is Eldon's in French Harbour.
Captain Van's this is the best place by far for bike and scooter rental. The rent decent Yamaha scooters which are very reliable. Don't go anywhere else.
I Like Caribbean rent a car - they seem to have the best prices. There is also an Avis and a National on the island amongst many others.
If you want to rent a car, book on Travelocity of Expedia, it will be WAY cheaper than booking in person on island.
There are now a whole host of rental companies based around the airport as well.
When getting currency for your visit to Honduras - avoid notes larger than 100 Lempira as 500 Lempira notes are hard to change. Dollars are accepted everywhere at quick reasonable exchange rates, avoid bringing notes larger than $20. Change you currency in your home airport not Roatan.
There is an ATM next to Coconut Tree Divers in the little grocery store. There is also one in galateria close to Tylls dive. The most reliable one is at the as station just outside West End. In West Bay there is one at Mayan Princess, they seem to be popping up all over at the moment! However I have been hearing reports that they sometimes don 't actually give you your money so it is still best to go to Coxen Hole for money.
There are three in Coxen Hole. Two are outside banks on the main strip and hard to miss. The third which works on the Maestro network is hidden away in the corner of a tiny shopping mall near woods medical centre.
There is one outside West End the near the gas station.
There are a few in Coxen Hole. One is near Woods Medical Centre the same place as the third ATM. Another is opposite Carrion on the road in to Coxen hole.
Yes there are sand flies and they can be annoying. Personally I don't think they are as big a problem as many people make out - BUT I don't spend hours lying around on the beach! In my experience the best thing for sand flies is either an oily sun cream lotion (the flies then drown in the oil). Cactus JuiceTM Sun cream seems to work quite well also.
Bug Guard is environmentally friendly and available in the marine park office - as is reef friendly sun cream which you should use if you are going in the water.
There is Malaria on the island - I have had it! As with most of the rest on Central America Chloroquin is the required anti-malarial. Do not take Chloroquin for longer than 6 months.
The two best places are:
Anthony's Key Resort (on the road from West End to Coxen Hole)- the doctor here works during normal office hours plus Saturday and Sunday morning. This is great for anything non-emergency. Telephone 445 1049
Woods Medical Centre is good out of hours or for emergency situations. Telephone 445 1080
There is now a small doctors office outside West End by the new gas station, open 4pm to 7pm.
Ambulance 445 1500