Live Roatán

Do not book a tour that offers holding a sloth, monkey, or other wild animal. Members in December 2025 and September 2026 reported a no-touch, no-hold visit, and island reports describe a Honduran wildlife rule against carrying or holding animals for exhibition and photographs. Treat older holding photos as outdated.

Only one park met the zero-red-flag referral bar: Daniel Johnson's Monkey & Sloth Hangout in French Cay (central). Independent Referral Count 10, strong evidence. Official self-drive entrance is $12 per person; pickup is not included. The old danieljohnsonshangout.com site does not resolve — use the official website or Facebook Page listed on the card.

SeaHorses at Luna Beach in West End is the clear leader (Independent Referral Count 3, strong), including comments on horse condition. Big Rock Horseback Riding, near Coxen Hole, and Anthony's Key Resort in Sandy Bay each have one brief independent referral (early evidence).

Standalone ride prices were not consistently published in the research. Confirm current rates, duration, and horse-care practices with the operator.

Only West Bay Divers (Marcos & Wayne) in West Bay had itemized independent Facebook referrals in the scanned research (Independent Referral Count 3, strong). The public list is not padded with unverified shops.

Request a live quote. Budget separately for Roatán Marine Park fees, commonly cited as $10 per year or $3 per day — confirm the current fee.

Still gathering referrals. There is no zero-red-flag Top 3 yet, and we will not invent one. Confirm boat condition, inclusions, and a written price before you pay.

Still gathering referrals. No zipline operator yet has a counted, zero-red-flag referral base for a public Top 3. Confirm the operator, age and weight limits, and the current price directly.

Still gathering referrals. No fishing charter yet has a counted, zero-red-flag Top 3. Confirm what is included, any license requirements, and a written price.

Sightings are seasonal, typically spring into early summer, and never guaranteed. Utila is a separate island — a boat or a short flight from Roatán, not a quick taxi ride. We do not yet have a referred operator Top 3.

We do not currently publish a driver Top 3. Names that appeared in only a single group post, with no verified phone or WhatsApp, were not listed. A name-only listing requires cross-validation across multiple independent posts. Ask in our Facebook group for a current, bookable contact.

Agree a full-party (vehicle) day rate up front. In a 12 November 2026 Roatan Travel Group thread, members flagged $150 per person per day as excessive; the norm discussed there was closer to about $150 per party per day.

Community fare notes — confirm at the curb; these are not official rates: collectivos are commonly cited at about L.50–80 / US$2–3; Coxen Hole to West End taxi around L.500 / US$20; West End to West Bay around US$5–8.

Agree a total vehicle price in writing before you get in, not a per-person figure. We do not yet have a separate transfer-company Top 3 with a verified phone. Official airport taxi rates can change — confirm at the desk. Ask in our Facebook group for a current contact.

Still gathering referrals. Names come up in conversation, but we do not have a counted, zero-red-flag Top 3. You will need a valid license; many agencies also want a passport and a deposit. Confirm insurance and whether dirt roads are allowed.

The ranked public list is dental-only so far. No general-physician Top 3 was verified. Dr. Carlos M. at Dental Care Center in French Harbour and Dr. Alexandra C. at Dental Clinic Roatan in Brick Bay each have Independent Referral Count 3 (strong). Dr. Hayman G. at Roatan Dental Center in Coxen Hole has Independent Referral Count 1 (early). Where two numbers are in circulation, confirm which is current.

Hospitals commonly mentioned in community notes — not a ranked Top 3 — include Woods Hospitals in French Harbour and CEMESA Hospital on the island. Confirm hours, specialties, and insurance acceptance directly. This is compiled community information, not medical advice. Credentials were not independently verified.

Still gathering a ranked list. Pharmacies are common in Coxen Hole, French Harbour, West End, and West Bay. Many everyday medicines are sold over the counter here that would be prescription in the U.S. or Canada, but names and strengths differ. Bring a copy of your prescription and confirm with the pharmacist.

Still gathering referrals. No mechanic yet has a counted, zero-red-flag Top 3. Ask in our Facebook group with the make, model, and the area you can reach.

Still gathering referrals. No handyman or contractor yet has a counted, zero-red-flag Top 3. Get a written scope and price, and be cautious with large deposits.

Still gathering referred installers. Claro and Tigo are the two mobile networks people commonly use. Home internet quality varies by neighborhood. Confirm a current plan and install wait in our Facebook group.

Still gathering a ranked list. Eldon's is the commonly cited full supermarket (Coxen Hole and the French Harbour area — confirm locations and hours). That is frequent mention, not a counted Top 3, so it is not ranked in the directory. Smaller markets and produce stands fill in around West End and West Bay.

Still gathering a ranked list. ATMs are concentrated in Coxen Hole, French Harbour, and West End. Many shops are cash-first. Machines can run out, especially on weekends and cruise days — have a backup card and some cash. Bank hours and foreign-card fees vary; confirm directly.

The authority is Honduras's Instituto Nacional de Migración (INM). A tourist stay is commonly cited as up to 90 days; overstays can be fined. Residency is a formal filing, not a Facebook form or a verbal promise. Requirements change — confirm on the official site or with a qualified attorney. This is not legal advice.

Use normal street smarts: do not leave valuables on the beach, agree taxi and tour prices before you go, and be extra careful late at night and on isolated roads. Confirm local emergency and clinic contacts when you arrive; we do not publish unofficial numbers as if they were official.

U.S. citizens typically do not need a visa for tourism stays of up to 90 days. A passport valid at least six months beyond arrival, a blank page, and an onward or return ticket are the usual entry requirements (U.S. State Department). Under the CA-4 agreement, that stay is shared across Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Nicaragua, and crossing between them does not reset the clock — check your entry stamp for the actual number of days granted. Honduras’s Instituto Nacional de Migración (INM) allows a prórroga (extension) up to a total of 120 days in the CA-4 region, at the lempira equivalent of US$20 per extra month, filed at an INM office before the current stay runs out. After 120 days the official options are to leave the CA-4 region, file for residency, or file for a Permiso Especial de Permanencia. Residency applications must be filed through a licensed Honduran attorney (apoderado legal). Common categories described on official pages include Rentista (a stable lawful income of at least US$2,500 a month received through a Honduran bank), Pensionado (a foreign pension of at least US$1,500 a month received through a Honduran bank), and Inversionista. A government fee of US$300 per application was listed for those residency categories in official requirement sheets reviewed in 2025–2026; attorney fees, translations, and later ID (carné) costs are extra. Confirm current rules, fees, and work restrictions with a licensed attorney and the official Instituto Nacional de Migración (INM) portal at inm.gob.hn — including the Extranjería page for residencies, permits, and extensions — before you rely on them. Older INM deep links for residencias and prórrogas de estadía are no longer live. This is compiled information, not legal advice.

Community referrals consistently say both U.S. dollars and Honduran lempiras are widely accepted on Roatán. ATMs are commonly reported at Eldon’s Supermarket (Coxen Hole and French Harbour), West Bay Mall, and West End. Bring crisp, undamaged USD bills — torn or heavily worn notes are often rejected. Carry cash for taxis, water taxis, and smaller bars. Members also warn that resort and restaurant bills may include a 15% ISV (sales tax) plus a tourism tax often cited around 4%; ask whether a quote already includes tax and service before you book. This is compiled community information and can change — confirm fees at the register or with your bank.

No general-physician contact was independently verified in the 13 November 2026 Top-3 research pass, so this site does not invent a doctor list. For dental care, the zero-red-flag Top 3 by independent Facebook referral count are Dr. Carlos M. (Dental Care Center, French Harbour), Dr. Alexandra C. (Dental Clinic Roatan, Brick Bay), and Dr. Hayman G. (Roatan Dental Center, Coxen Hole). Credentials were not independently verified, and some offices have two phone numbers in circulation — confirm the current number and request a written treatment plan and quote. Use reef-safe sunscreen in the Roatán Marine Park, and budget for the Marine Park wristband when diving (commonly cited as $10/year or $3/day — confirm current fees). This is compiled community information, not medical advice; verify consequential care with a qualified professional.

Between West End and West Bay, community notes commonly cite a daytime water taxi at about $5 per person and $10 per person after 8:00 PM; many members prefer a land taxi over the mountain road after dark. West Bay is often packed on multi-ship cruise days (members frequently flag Wednesdays, Thursdays, and mega-ship days), and people head to East End, Camp Bay, or Sandy Bay instead. For a private driver, agree a full-vehicle (party) rate before you get in. In a 12 November 2026 Roatan Travel Group thread, members flagged $150 per person per day as excessive; the norm discussed there was closer to about $150 per party per day. Airport-to-West-End transfers are often discussed around a flat rate for a small group — quote the trip directly rather than assuming a number. The public Top-3 driver names on this site do not currently have verified public phone numbers; ask in the Roatán Retired Facebook group to confirm a current contact.

No — sloth holding and touching for tourist photos is out, according to member reports from December 2025 and September 2026. Ignore outdated homepage photos that still show holding. Daniel Johnson’s Monkey & Sloth Hangout (French Cay, official self-drive entrance $12 per person, Monday–Saturday 9:00 AM–3:00 PM) is the only sloth park on the public Top-3 list after red-flag exclusion (10 independent referrals). Do not pay a steep wildlife-park combo markup when you can book a sanctuary or beach day directly. For horseback riding, SeaHorses at Luna Beach leads the clean referrals, with recent first-hand praise for horse condition; still confirm current care practices and a standalone ride rate. For diving, West Bay Divers is the only shop with itemized independent Facebook referrals in the scanned research. Anyone advertising sloth holding, or quoting $150 per person for a private day driver, is out of step with current community guidance.