Of course you’re excited about your upcoming trip to Roatan!  Our small Caribbean island off the north coast of Honduras is famed for low cost scuba diving, a warm climate and cooling African trade winds.  And although Roatan is considered a safe vacation spot, some common sense when it comes to health and safety will ensure you return home with only good memories of your trip.  In this article we’ll go over some safety tips to consider while enjoying West Bay vacation rentals.

The Sun

Just to confirm how safe the island actually is, it’s very likely that overexposure to the sun is the most dangerous aspect of a Roatan vacation.  Although the sun and warm weather is one of Roatan’s greatest draws, it’s very easy to overdo it, especially when you first arrive.  Rather than ruining your entire vacation by starting out with a scorching sunburn, force yourself to minimize sun exposure upon arrival.  Wear a wide brimmed hat, apply a sunscreen with an SPF factor of 30 or more and reapply every two hours.  Also try to avoid direct exposure to the midday sun.  If you plan on doing a lot of swimming or snorkeling, consider wearing a rash guard or long sleeve shirt to protect your back and arms from reflected sun rays.

Mosquitos

An unfortunate reality for most of the Caribbean is mosquitos.  Although Roatan sprays for mosquitos and the African trade winds are helpful at keeping the critters at bay, if you head into the jungle surrounding some of the West Bay vacation rentals there’s a good possibility that you’ll encounter some insects.  Make liberal use of bug spray containing DEET and consider a permethrin spray for your clothing.  Cases of malaria and dengue fever are very rare, so anti-malarial medication isn’t necessary. For those who prefer using a natural repellent product, many people find that coconut oil mixed with some lime juice works very well.  The sand flies can be a nuisance because you may not notice their bite until you have many. Most people mount a significant allergic response to these critters which can be miserable.   If you think you may be one of these people, bring along an anti-allergy med like Claritin.  If you notice you were dinner for a swarm of unseen sand flies, take a Claritin.   It will reduce the reaction and the itching.

Water Safety

With affordable scuba diving and so many pristine beaches, you’ll likely end up in the water at some point.  Of course, basic safety precautions should be taken as you would anywhere you encounter the water.  More specific to Roatan, you should be cautious when swimming around coral reefs as they can be very sharp and it’s easy to be swept into them by the waves.  There are no predatory sharks around Roatan, although, if you’re lucky, you may spot some of the safer species such as nurse sharks, hammerheads or reef sharks.  Jellyfish do make an occasional appearance, so keep an eye out and avoid them if possible.  Stingrays also exist so make sure to shuffle your feet when walking in shallow water. Sea Urchins can be found in coral and rocky areas in shallow water.   Bring water shoes if you want to wander on a variety of beaches without fearing  these prickly critters.  If you do happen to get too close to one of these guys and end up with a spine in your foot or hand,  soak the affected part  in mixture of vinegar and warm water.  The warm water will soften the skin, the vinegar will  dissolve the spine which is made largely of calcium.

Driving

You may want to contact potential West Bay vacation rentals you are considering beforehand to find out if they can provide shuttle service to and from the airport or whether you’ll need to rent a vehicle or take a taxi.  Here, at L’Alize we will pick up and drop off our guests at the airport free of charge, but don’t assume that all Roatan accommodations will.

Renting a car and driving in a foreign country can seem daunting to some, however, the good news is that since Roatan is a very small island, it might be actually more efficient to depend on taxis, shuttles and hired drivers.  People drive on the right hand side of the road here and although that may be familiar for North Americans, the road and traffic conditions may take some getting used to.  So if you are driving, remain aware and safe – especially of potholes!

Any other questions you have regarding your upcoming Roatan vacation? Connect with us and we will be happy to help!