Roatan Guide
Roatan Island.
Roatan is part of a cluster of island archipelagos situated ten to forty miles off the northern coast of Honduras. Roatan is located in between Utila and Guanaja Islands. These islands are a gem in the western Caribbean, and they are surrounded by the largest barrier reef system in the northern hemisphere. The Mesoamerican Barrier Reef is only second in size to Australia's Great Barrier Reef…
Honduras.
The Republic of Honduras sits on a land area of 43,278 square miles, and it is located in Central America. Honduras has a long coastline along the Caribbean Sea. This geographical region is known as the Gulf of Honduras while the body of water on the Pacific coast is known as the Gulf of Fonseca. Nicaragua borders Honduras on its southeast border and Honduras borders El Salvador on its southwest. The Western border is shared with Guatemala…
Fauna and Flora
Whale shark (Rhincodon typus) sightings and aggregations occur year after year in the waters surrounding the Island of Utila. These whale sightings have come to form the basis of an entire eco-tourism industry around the worlds biggest fish. The Whale Shark is the largest fish in the sea, reaching lengths of approximately 18 m - 20 m. It is thought that this species is circumglobal in tropical waters. Being of pelágicos habits, the fish is sighted near the surface…
Residency and Visas
Obtaining Honduran residency is a relatively simple process. That said, individuals cannot represent themselves during the residency proceedings. All applicants must be represented by an attorney registered with the national bar association. The attorney you retain will see to it that all paperwork is submitted to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
There are two residency options to consider. Neither option requires that American citizens denounce their citizenship to the US (or any other country), yet both alternatives allow for a path towards becoming a permanent resident of Honduras…
Roatan Communities
There are two municipalities on Roatan Island. The Roatan Municipality is the most populated. It is home to Coxen Hole, and it extends from First Bight to West Bay. The Santos Guardiola Municipality is home to Oak Ridge, and it stretches from First Bight to the East End of Roatan Island. The Santos Guardiola Municipality includes the islands of Helene and Barbareta…
Raising Children
A common concern for potential expats pertains to raising children in Roatan. Your options are plentiful in Roatan whether you already have children or are considering starting a family in Roatan. Expats who live in Roatan have children of all ages and school grades. No need to worry, you will not be the only family on the island…
Moving to Roatan
Moving to a new place can be scary, especially if that new place is to a new country. There are a few groups for Roatan on Facebook and there is also an online forum to help you meet new people as you transition to your life in Roatan. You can visit Roatan.Online to get more info on the island and a better sense for the community. The Online Community Forum can answer many of the questions you might have ahead of your move. There are also Facebook groups, Expats Living in Roatan, Roatan Garage Sale, Roatan Schedule and Roatan Community…
Culture Shock
Culture Shock is experienced by virtually every expat. But how it manifests itself is different from one individual to another. This is particularly useful, because sooner or later, the decision to relocate to a new country may be undermined by doubt. So know this, questioning your decision to relocate is perfectly normal.
It is very different to live on an island than it is to visit an island. During the discovery phase, new residents are entertained by the new places they see, the new people they meet, and the new norms which slowly reveal themselves over time…
Doing Business on Roatan
Foreigners can incorporate in Honduras. Forming a legal corporation is a fairly straightforward process in Roatan. We advise you work with a local attorney so that the formation and registration of your corporation are properly recorded. Your attorney will ensure that your new corporation is registered and on record with the Chamber of Commerce. Your tax identifier is called an RTN which is the acronym for "Registro Tributario National."
Building on Roatan
Working with a local architect can prove to be a good move for many homeowners we are new to Roatan. Local Architects are familiar with local regulations, materials, vendors, and the topography around Roatan. Homeowners who decide to use a foreign architect go above and beyond normal standards to gather and provide information about the property to their architect…
Roatan’s Climate
The climate in Roatan is strongly influenced by trade winds coming from the east and by cold fronts during the winter months in the northern hemisphere. Also, tropical weather waves cross directly over the island of Roatan, mainly between May and October. In recent years, the average annual precipitation has been 1343.68 mm (min: 396.40 mm, max: 2117.80 mm), with an average temperature of 28.14 ° C (min: 20.86 ° C, max: 32.70 ° C)…
Ecosystems
The area around Roatan and the Bay Islands is considered to be a Tropical Humid Forest. This area of life is restricted to narrow lowlands and covers coastal plains. The flora that integrates the vegetation of the area has characteristics and morphological features which include trees, shrubs, and grasses; as well as an evergreen, deciduous phenology…
Roatan Marine Park
The Marine Park works as a Non-Government Organization (NGO). It operates primarily out of the fees it collects from its membership base. That money goes directly into Marine Park programs. Visitors to Roatan can help financially by becoming members of the Marine Park. Visitors can also help by not touching the reef when they go out on a dive, and by not standing on the reef when out snorkeling…
Geomorphology
The Island of Roatán has a length of more than 45 km and 3.5 km of average width. Roatan extends east to the Island of Santa Elena through a mangrove forest. East of Santa Elena is the Islands of Morat and Barbareta. These series of small islands are surrounded by Roatan's barrier reefs. Coral reefs exist along the northern coast which can measure 1.0 km to 1.5 km in width, while coral reefs on the south side of Roatan Island are much narrower, 500 m on average…
Artisanal Fishing
In Roatan, artisanal (non-mechanized) fishing is practiced and provides for local consumption on a daily basis. Industrial fishing also occurs, which serves the need for larger scale demand for fish. According to recent polling, 82% of fishermen prefer working individually, at a family level and do not participate in any community style fishing activities. The remaining 18% participate in community styles of fishing such as NGOs, Church Groups, and sports teams…
Public Services
There are Health Centers and private clinics in all three of the Bay Islands. Roatán has several medical centers. There is one near each Municipality, and there is the Coxen Hole Hospital. Cemesa Hospital also recently opened and is not the main provider of health services in the Bay Islands. Guanaja has two main clinics, one in Bonacca Key and another on Savannah Bight. Utila has a center in Utila Town, and there are three private clinics, also in Los Cayitos.
Lionfish Invasion
The Lionfish is a venomous marine fish. It is native to the Indo-Pacific. The Lionfish is an invasive species to the western Atlantic, the Mediterranean Sea, and to the Caribbean Sea.
The Lionfish is also called firefish, zebrafish, tastyfish, turkeyfish, or butterfly-cod. The fish is categorized by striking coloration with white, red, creamy, back bands, and its showy pectoral fins. The lionfish is also known for its venomous spiky fin rays…
Is Roatan Safe?
Is Roatan Safe? Yes. That said, Honduras is a third-world country which is still a developing country. Many of the comforts and securities which many enjoy elsewhere are simply not available in Honduras. There are cultural differences which will enrich your overall experience but can also lead to frustrations and misunderstandings…