Local police and emergency services lack sufficient resources to respond effectively to serious crime. Whether its the latest news on politics, business, entertainment, sports or health, weve got you covered. Some of these include the areas of Palmetto Bay, Pristine Bay, Turtle Crossing, & Lawson Rock. The Rainy Season and the Dry Season. Offshore banking isn't just for the super rich. Thanks for any input. You can catch a water taxi from West End Village that will take you to West Bay Beach in around 10 minutes for under $3. If you must travel by bus, always travel during daylight hours and on first-class conveyances, not economy buses. The short answer is yes. No-hype updates & resource guides. Always ensure you have enough medicine to cover your travel time, and research its availability in Honduras, or whether there is a viable replacement. It has the tropical lifestyle, stunning beauty, and smokin appreciation potential. In addition to safety from crimes, there are other safety issues one may wish to consider. Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Crime Scene Cleanup? The violence is carried out by local drug trafficking groups, gangs, corrupt security forces and transnational criminal organizations mainly from Mexico and Colombia. .jason-signup { Like every other community in all other countries, there are areas that are best avoided, especially at night. Faith-Based Travelers:See our following webpages for details: LGBTI Travelers:There are no legal restrictions on same-sex sexual relations or the organization of LGBTI events in Honduras. In Honduras, the types of danger include, but are not limited to, violent gang activity, trafficking, rape, street crime and armed robbery. Who knows how many keys get 'lost'. Information may also be posted to theU.S. Coast Guard homeport website, and theNGA broadcast warnings. *We value your privacy. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in Canada. Honduras I am coming to Roatan in July for a month. Due to a lack of evidence, Lahijani was released and he traveled to Panama. There are dozens of dive sites scattered throughout Roatan, including the 2nd largest coral reef system on the planet that is located just offshore. Some areas have increased risk. Sign up with your email address to receive news and updates. Please be careful overtaking on corners and hills when passing other vehicles. by Amanda Walkins. Details please! ), travelers can provide copies of the relevant paperwork such as a court decision, birth certificate naming only one parent, death certificate, etc. width:max-content; These insects are extremely small. Do not display signs of wealth, such as wearing expensive watches or jewelry. If you are not certain of your own safety, you must be vigilant. Add data for Roatan, Consider looking into aggregate data we have for Crime in Honduras. Violence has long ruled here. The island is now being recognized as a retirement destination worth visiting, with several lists of top retirement destinations published, including International Livings Annual Global Retirement Index. The newspaper reports that the body of Philip Foster Brown was found in a ravine near a road leading from West End to West Bay in Roatan on Tuesday. Instant Download. See the State Department's travel website for the Worldwide Caution and Travel Advisories. But until you no longer look like a tourist, it is best to leave all of your electronics at home. At night, foreigners are frequently robbed in Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula. The U.S. Embassy discourages car and bus travel after dark. The local people in Roatan, Honduras, are made up of a unique blend of cultures from different ethnic backgrounds, but the largest population of locals are of Indian and Spanish decent. Where do most expats live in Honduras? assist you in reporting a crime to the police, contact relatives or friends with your written consent, explain the local criminal justice process in general terms, provide an emergency loan for repatriation to the United States and/or limited medical support in cases of destitution, help you find accommodation and arrange flights home. Tourism:The tourism industry is unevenly regulated, and safety inspections for equipment and facilities do not commonly occur. Honduras was ranked 121st out of 187 countries in the UN Development Program 2011 Human Development Index. Get Your Free Honduras Report Here: The homicide rate in Honduras was 42 per 100,000 people in 2019, making it one of the most violent countries in the world. Over 200 information packed pages with hundreds of beautiful photos. There are numerous communities within walking distance of Roatan that do not have crime. font-size: medium; Do you live in Roatan? Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Carnival Cruise Lines Blue T Shirt Mens M Crewneck Isla Roatan Retro 90s Vintage at the best online prices at eBay! There has been lots of armed robberies often with victims threatened with guns of knives to throats. The culture of the island is rich, with friendly locals and a welcoming environment. If you are a beach lover, West Bay Beach cant be beat. Both combined will qualify Me for retirement with income that is above the required $1500.00 US needed. to 3:00 p.m. U.S. Consular Agent - San Pedro Sula The more touristy parts of the island (on the west end) are the most populated and there is safety in numbers. ( Roatan or not ). width: 100%; U.S. citizens should not travel to Gracias a Dios. But drugs and prostitution are not the only way to get in trouble. When you are on the beach, rub a layer of oil over your skin to keep them at bay. The average temperature in Roatan is a perfect 28C, with the lowest temperature being around 22C and the highest, 31 C. So pack away your heavy coats, for in Roatan, you will never need more than a light jacket to be comfortable. This is good for both tourists and residents. Take the time to look around you and enjoy the scenery instead. Exercise extreme caution before investing in real estate. 11th Floor, across the street from Central Park Ted: Our number came from the 2001 Census where the island had a rough population of 28,000, most recent numbers are showing a population closer to 50,000 plus. U.S. citizens visiting or residing in Honduras should avoid large gatherings or events where crowds have congregated to demonstrate, protest, or cause damage as a byproduct of celebrating an event, such as after soccer matches. Honduras In the end, you must decide for yourself what your definition of safety is and where your personal threshold is. Thousands of divers and snorkelers descend upon this magnificent little island every week, staying for a week or two and spending a healthy chunk of change for food, lodging, beverages and of course, diving excursions. The U.S. Department of State is unaware of any HIV/AIDS entry restrictions for visitors or residents of Honduras. I would not say that cruisers should avoid the eastern part of the Island of Roatan. Roatan Honduras came onto the radar of Cruise Law News in January of this year when a U.S. family who took a Carnival cruise to the island was robbed at gun point while driving in a rental car. Quickly find out which country is right for you. Approximately 31 miles long and less than 5 miles wide at its widest point, Roatan only has a population of around 28,400 people, but this island paradise attracts thousands of tourists to its pristine shores each year. Roatan is a great experience and the offshore snorkeling is divine. Our thanks to Ken Carrothers, Dockmaster at Fantasy Island Marina, for his comments about crime and safety in Honduras in response to the recent attack on a cruising yacht in Port Royal, Eastern Roatan. The businesses and resorts that depend on the tourism take steps to try and protect their customers. And while Spanish is the national language in Honduras, many locals also speak good English and some are even predominantly English speaking, which makes communicating in Roatan easy for North American expats. Use Radio-Taxi services (companies that operate by phone) or app-based rideshare programs rather than hailing a taxi on the street and note the drivers name and license number. Great article. 1992 was the year of the Windsor Castle fire, the Maastricht Treaty, and the London bombings. 7 years ago Park & Josh closed their businesses, moved to Central America, and bought a 400 acre island in Panama. You will experience life underwater as you observe seawalls, shipwrecks, sea turtles, dolphins, and whales all in the gorgeous warm waters of the Caribbean. } The more typical crime against tourists on Roatan will be property crime - theft of money and portable goods. The most common type of crime on Roatan are burglaries. Poverty and corruption are two of the most serious challenges that people face in Roatan. Although Honduras is Spanish-speaking and it is spoken on the island, English is also widely used thanks to its historical link to England (it was once a British colony). Country Summary: Violent crime, such as homicide, armed robbery, and kidnapping, is common. There have also been cases of police harassment of patrons in LGBTI nightclubs. Is rajasthan a good place to retire? Business Hours:Monday through Thursday from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Medical Marijuana: Marijuana, even for medicinal use and with a prescription, is illegal in Honduras. However, this excitement can best be experienced at night as people come out to dance, listen to live music, and walk along half-moon bay, the crescent shaped beach that the village is built along. Honduran lempiras and US dollars can be used in Roatan. By Jim Walker on June 3, 2014. The Ace Hardware store in French Harbour has an armed guard outside and another inside. Honduran law requires all vehicles involved in an accident to remain in place until Transit Authority agents arrive. Honduras, casualmente, est en su apogeo de la estacin seca, que dura desde (BPT) - El invierno en el Hemisferio Norte le hace soar con unas vacaciones tropicales? } Effective June 2, 2021: All travelers, regardless of age, must provide either proof of full vaccination against COVID-19 or negative test results for a PCR, Antigen or ELISA COVID-19 test taken less than 72 hours before entry into Honduras. The security situation is expected to continue to deteriorate in 2020 and 2021. See our webpage for more information on insurance providers for overseas coverage. Your Name Just do a search, you'll find plenty of opinions & information. A sixty-nine year old U.S. citizen, originally from California, was identified yesterday as the victim of an abduction and murder in Roatan, Honduras, according to a Honduran newspaper El Heraldo. Re: Crime in Roatan. That said, this has not occurred recently. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Scooter accidents are among the most common transportation accidents we see on Roatan. Suggested: measles, rubella, rabies, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, typhoid. Hi: This island seems perfect, but the crime reports do concern us. Simply enter your email address below to sign up for our free daily postcards and well also send you a FREE report on The Worlds Top 10 Retirement Havens, plus access to over 10 more free reports. My question is in regards of the paperwork needed. While this data is certainly alarming, it is important to remember that Roatan is a relatively small island with a population of just over 80,000 people. Please leave one below or join the discussion on our Facebook page. Victims of Crime:If you are a victim of crime, call the national police by dialing 911. And that would be the same for me no matter which tropical locale I choose. Mr. Bown was one of three foreigners (i.e., not Honduran) in Roatan who died under mysterious circumstances according to the Honduran press. The infrastructure of the island is in need of renovation and improvement, but foreign investment is usually sufficient to make it happen. It is regarded as one of the most secure islands in the Caribbean.