Frequently Asked Questions
These are some of the questions people have asked about the property and the area.
Long Term Rentals:
Are long term rentals available for the house? The apartment?
Yes. Long term rentals are available for both, but since we occasionally need to use one or the other ourselves, we do not allow both to be rented for longer than a month or two at the same time.
What are the rates for long term rentals?
That depends on the length of the contract. Rates for a one year contract, for example, are very favorable.
Wild Life:
What sort of wild life can we see?
With your proximity to the Iguana Farm, you are sure to see iguanas on the property, sometimes on the ground and sometimes in the trees. Don't worry, they are vegetarians and completely harmless (unless you're a plant!)
Other animals include igutis (or watusas), called "rabbits" by the islanders. You will also see what the islanders call "monkey lala" s, or basilisk lizards, which run away from you on their hind legs!
Tropical birds (hummingbirds, frigate birds, wild parrots, white headed doves and others) abound. If you're lucky, you will see a judas bird - a small yellow bird that is said to bring good luck.
In the evenings, you might see land crabs. They can get quite large, but are not as scary as they look! I'm told it is better not to run over them, though, as they can cause a flat tire.
None of the wild life on Roatan is dangerous, except for one rarely seen small snake that resembles a coral snake.
SCUBA Diving:
How far away are the dive operations?
There are dive operations in various parts of the island. The two closest to you will be Fantasy Island and CoCo View , but many others are available. If you tell us your level of experience and scuba diving preferences we can make suggestions for you.
Your property manager can help you make arrangements when you get to the island. Some operators may pick you up and drop you off at your own dock. (We have done this in the past.)
Should I bring SCUBA diving equipment?
You'll probably be diving with an operation that can rent you the scuba diving equipment, so the choice is yours. When I travel, I take snorkeling gear and my regulator and computer, then rent the rest.
What type of diving is there on Roatan?
Wall diving, reef diving, wreck diving, shark diving, deep diving. There is little shore diving and no real drift diving. The north and south sides of the island have different topography; one benefit of a home stay as opposed to a resort is diving with different operators for more variety.
Snorkeling:
Where is there to go snorkeling?
You can actually snorkel right off the beach or the dock. Sometimes you'll find a lot of fish there, but you can also go further afield for more snorkeling variety. You can easily swim across to Fantasy Island, walk through there and snorkel the reef on the other side, where there is always plenty to see (including divers!)
Will the dive operators take snorkelers?
Since most of the diving is along or over the reefs, the dive operators are happy to take snorkelers along with the divers.
Are there sharks?
There are no dangerous sharks where you will be snorkeling. If you want to see sharks, your best bet is to go on the shark dive where you can see them under controlled conditions. To the best of my knowledge there has never been a shark attack on Roatan.
Can I swim with dolphins?
Yes, but you should make arrangements as early as possible, preferably before your trip. The dolphin encounter swims are at Anthony's Key Resort, and need to be booked well in advance. Contact the resort directly here.
Fishing:
What type of fishing is available on Roatan?
I'm not a fisherman, but I have been told there is excellent deep sea sport fishing, as well as bone fishing in the shallows.
Night Life:
What about night life on Roatan?
Most of the night life (apart from night diving!) is at West End, about 40 minutes by car or taxi from Sonrisa del Sol. There you will find restaurants, bars, music and dancing.
