Roatán travel guide

Air

The airport is 20 mins’ walk from Coxen Hole, or you can catch a taxi from outside the airport for US$1.50. There is a hotel reservation desk in the airport, T445-1930. Change in Coxen Hole for taxis to West End. US$1 per person for colectivos to West End, US$2 to Oak Ridge. If you take a taxi from the airport they charge US$10 per taxi; if you pick one up on the main road you may be able to bargain down to US$5. Isleña, Sosa and Atlantic Air fly from La Ceiba, US$20 1 way (fewer Sun); flights also to and from Tegucigalpa, US$60, via San Pedro Sula (Isleña), US$50, frequency varies according to season. No other direct flights to other islands, you have to go via La Ceiba (to Utila US$38.50, to Guanaja US$51). Always buy your ticket in advance (none on sale at airport), as reservations are not always honoured.

From the USA, Taca flies on Sat from Houston, on Sun from Miami. From Central America, daily flights from Belize City (Isleña), Sat from San Salvador (Taca).

Airlines

Taca, at airport T445-1387; Isleña, airport T445-1088; Sosa, airport T445-1154. Casi Todo, T445-1347, sells all flights within Honduras at same price as airlines.

Boat

Galaxy II sails from La Ceiba to Coxen Hole. Roatán–La Ceiba 0700, La Ceiba–Roatán 0930, T445-1795. No sailings in bad weather. At times the crossing can be rough, seasickness pills available at ticket counter. Irregular boats from Puerto Cortés and Utila. Cruise ships visit from time to time, mostly visiting Tabayana Resort on West Bay.

Bus

From Coxen Hole to Sandy Bay is a 2-hr walk, or a US$1 bus ride, hourly 0600-1700; taxi drivers will try to charge much more.

Car

Car rental

Captain Van, West End, vans, also mopeds and bicycles, good information about the islands; Roatan Rentals, West End, range of vehicles, pickups and vans for rent; Sandy Bay Rent-A-Car, US$42 per day all inclusive, jeep rental, T445-1710, agency also in West End outside Sunset Inn; Toyota, opposite airport, have pickups, US$46, 4WD, US$65, Starlets US$35 per day, also 12-seater bus, US$56 per day, T445-1166.

Cycling and mopeds

Captain Van’s Rentals, West End; also from Ole Rentavan, T445-1819.

Taxi

If you take a private taxi, privado, negotiate the price in advance. The official rate from the airport to Sandy Bay/West End is US$8 per taxi regardless of the number of passengers.

Banks

Banco Atlántida and HSBC in Coxen Hole. There is also a BAC office where you can get a cash advance on your Visa/MasterCard, upstairs, before Caye View Hotel on the main street. 5 banks in French Harbour; HSBC in Oak Ridge, T245-2210, MasterCard for cash advances. No banks in West End. No exchange facilities at the airport. Dollars and lempiras can be used interchangeably for most services.

Internet

Available at the Sunset Inn. The Lucky Lemp, opposite Qué Tal coffee shop, main street Coxen Hole, phone, fax and email services. Monoloco reported to have very cheap packages. Paradise Computer, Coxen Hole, 10 mins’ walk down road to West End.

Medical services

Dentist: upstairs in the Cooper building for emergency treatment, but better to go to La Ceiba or San Pedro Sula. Doctor: Dr Jackie Bush has a clinic in Coxen Hole, no appointment necessary, for blood or stool tests, etc. Ambulance and Hyperbaric Chamber, Anthony’s Key with full medical service. Local hospital, Ticket Mouth Rd, Coxen Hole, T445-1499.

Post office

In Coxen Hole, stamps not always available, bring them with you or try Librería Casi Todo in West End.

Telephone

Very expensive, you will be charged as soon as a call connects with the satellite, whether or not the call goes through. Hondutel in Coxen Hole, fax is often broken. Supertienda Chris, West End, T/F445-1171, 1 min to Europe US$10, USA, Canada US$5. Both Librería Casi Todo and Rudy’s Cabins in West End have a fax, US$10 per page to Europe, US$5 to USA. Rudy’s charges US$2 a min to receive phone calls.