Is Roatan Safe in 2025? What Travelers Need to Know

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Is Roatan safe? This is the number one question I had before arriving in Honduras, a country many perceive extremely dangerous.

As a solo female traveler visiting 60 countries worldwide, I constantly research a country’s safety, crime rates, and travel tips for staying safe.

Chances are you have some of the same worries about the safety of Honduras and the safety of Roatan.

Roatan was high on my list of places to visit in Central America – I got my scuba diving license at the beginning of my round-the-world trip and heard that diving in Roatan is incredible (it is).

The truth about Roatan: I felt completely safe in Roatan and nearby Utila. I met many Americans who have made Roatan home, and I understand why.

There are still safety concerns to be aware of. I’ll cover those further down, plus 29 tips for a safe trip to Roatan, especially if you’re a solo traveler like me.

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Is Roatan, Honduras Safe?

As I make my way around Central America, friends, family, and other travelers are quick to pass along unverified information about the dangers of Honduras.

I am not here to tell you that there’s nothing to worry about when traveling to Honduras. At the time of this article, the US lists Honduras as a Level 3 Travel Advisory, urging citizens to reconsider travel to the country due to crime and kidnapping.

Honduras has a reputation for a reason. There is a history of crime in Honduras and crime in Roatan.

In fact, Honduras has the second-highest murder rate in the world after El Salvador (another one of my favorite countries) and is often called the murder capital of the world.

And even though that sounds scary, you should absolutely still visit this beautiful country. I am so glad that I made it to Roatan! I felt safe the whole time, but I still took precautions.

Tourists are well looked after by the government in Roatan and the community because tourism is vital to the local economy. The island cannot afford bad things to happen to tourists in Roatan.

👉 As a solo female traveler, I often book tours to explore safely and connect with fellow adventurers. Some great tours in Roatan include snorkeling, horseback riding, seeing sloths, ATV riding, and rum tasting!

Overview: Crime Impacting Tourists in Honduras

Honduras Crime Statistics:

• Honduras experienced a historic reduction in the homicide rate, dropping from 85 per 100,000 in the early 2010s to 36 per 100,000 in 2022.

Roatan’s Relative Safety:

• Roatan/Bay Islands have lower crime rates than other parts of Honduras.
• Tourist destinations, including Roatan and Copan, also have comparatively lower crime rates, with most crimes occurring at night.
• A Numbeo survey ranks the safety of walking alone during daylight in Roatan as High.

Specific Incidents of Crime in Honduras:

• Since 2010, nine U.S. citizens reported as victims of rape or sexual assault.
• Several U.S. citizens have been murdered in San Pedro Sula and La Ceiba after arriving in Honduras.
• Petty theft is commonly reported in tourist areas such as Roatan.

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Why Visit Honduras? (You Really, Really should)

If you’re reading this article, chances are you already know that Honduras, the second-largest country in all of Central America, has much to offer as a tourist destination.

When I was in Honduras, I met many tourists excited to be traveling there, from broke backpackers completing their PADI certification for cheap, to high-end luxury travelers looking for paradise.

The Honduras Bay Islands (Roatan, Utila, and Guanaja) are famous for having the second biggest barrier reef (the same one found in Belize) and some of the best scuba diving in the world, which I can vouch for first-hand. 

There are postcard-perfect beaches with turquoise water, impressive Mayan Ruins that aren’t overrun with tourists (yet), and one of the largest rainforests on the American continents. 

Nobody can promise safety anywhere in the world, but there is a lot you can do to mitigate the risk of the dangers of Honduras, and that’s included in the advice below. 

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Is Honduras Safe? What The U.S. and U.K. Travel Advisory Says about Honduras Safety

The Honduras safety rating on the U.S. Department of State website is currently listed as Level 3 (out of 4), advising Americans to reconsider travel to Honduras. 

At first glance, that might seem alarming. But that’s the same rating as some other countries that you might not think of as being dangerous.

The United States commonly advises against travel to a country due to crime in specific areas. Which I think is ironic, considering how many people are shot in the United States every single day (but now is not the time to get into that). 

The United Kingdom’s government travel website says this about Honduras, “Most serious crime does not affect tourists” and “The Bay Islands are generally safer than mainland Honduras.”  They also detail some of the crimes that affect tourists, so you should be aware of it.

Important Note: Be sure to check your country’s travel advisories in case there have been any changes since the writing of this article.

Is Honduras Dangerous? Dangers of Honduras

As with many poor communities all over the world (including within my own country), there tends to be a higher crime rate, with gang violence and drugs as the main culprit. It’s usually just people trying to survive. This is part of what’s happening in Honduras and the number one factor contributing to its dangers.

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Honduras is Dangerous, Especially in Cities

According to Human Rights Watch, “Gang violence is widespread in and around urban areas [in Honduras]. Estimates of the number of active gang members range from 5,000 to 40,000. From 2015 through 2019, authorities arrested 4,196 gang members, the National Police reported.” 

There are two big gangs responsible for the majority of crime (including murders) in Honduras: the Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) and the 18th Street Gang (Barrio 18). 

In addition to having some of the world’s highest murder rates, Honduras also has the highest rate of femicide in the whole western hemisphere. 

The majority of these violent crimes occur close to cities and usually do not impact foreign tourists. 

The crimes in Honduras that are more likely to impact tourists are similar to those in many other countries, such as petty theft and robbery. 

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Is Roatan Safe? Dangers of Roatan and Roatan Crime

Roatan is considered very safe for tourists and possibly the safest place in Honduras. The Roatan crime rate is relatively low compared to the rest of the country.

I felt safer in Roatan than when I was back home in New York City.

In fact, the island of Roatan, Honduras, is a favorite among the world’s ex-pats. Many ex-pats around the world call Roatan home, especially scuba divers.

The island of Roatan welcomed 720,000 tourists in the year before the pandemic, which doesn’t even include the large number of cruise ships that make stops at the beautiful island.

As mentioned above, burglary is the most commonly occurring crime on Roatan Island, with very few reported violent crimes against tourists. Most crimes can be avoided using the safety tips in this article.

Public transportation in Roatan is safe. I took the public micro-buses around Roatan during the day, but they stopped running around 6:30 pm. Luckily, taxis are very cheap in Roatan, so that wasn’t a problem.

If you stay in the West End, you can walk to most places, including many bars, restaurants, and dive shops. I stayed in Sandy Bay, not too far from West End, about 10 minutes away by bus or taxi.

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Dangerous Places to Avoid in Honduras

If you avoid the cities of mainland Honduras, you’ll be able to avoid most of the dangers of Honduras.

You probably won’t spend too much time in Tegucigalpa, San Pedro Sula, and other main towns and cities in mainland Honduras anyway, and these cities should be avoided. These cities have high levels of gang-related crimes. If you do need to pass through, use caution. 

I took a private bus from Copan Ruinas to La Ceiba (where I caught the ferry to the Bay Islands) and had a transfer at the San Pedro Sula bus station. My hostel advised me to stay inside the bus station while I waited for my bus, so that’s what I did, and I didn’t have any issues. There is security inside the station.

My friend had to stay overnight in San Pedro Sula and was advised by his hotel not to walk around. That was great advice. He said he did not feel comfortable there.

⛑️ My number one safety tip for travelers, no matter where you’re going or how long your trip is, is to buy SafetyWing insurance to protect your trip.

29 Tips for How to Stay Safe in Honduras

The Roatan travel safety tips below should be followed no matter where you travel, especially in Honduras. 

1. Use common sense – if it’s something you wouldn’t do at home, don’t do it in Honduras. 

2. Be vigilant. Stay aware of your surroundings, especially if traveling solo or at night.

3. Ask your hotel/hostel about your neighborhood. They will be able to advise of the area’s safety and let you know if there’s anything specific to be aware of.

4. Try to avoid walking at night. Check with your hostel or hotel to know if your neighborhood is safe enough to do so (for example, West End in Roatan is probably fine).

5. Avoid driving at night in Honduras. Cars don’t always have functioning headlights. Animals are known to cross the street at night, often causing accidents.

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6. Never try to resist a robber. It’s not worth it.

7. Take out money from the ATMs at banks whenever possible since some standalone ATMs have been tampered with.

8. Don’t carry a lot of money with you, so you don’t have much to lose. Don’t let anyone see how much money you have.

9. If you’re really worried, you can carry a dummy wallet with a couple of expired credit cards inside to give if you’re ever robbed. I don’t do this, but I have met some people who do.

10. Don’t carry all of your credit and debit cards out with you. Always keep one or two hidden in different parts of your luggage. I do this with small amounts of cash, too. If I get robbed, I won’t be left without anything.

11. Do not take out money from ATMs at night; always be extra vigilant when using an ATM.

12. Do not draw attention to yourself by wearing expensive-looking clothes, jewelry, or watches. Leave anything expensive at home. I recommend this for traveling in general, as you can see from my round-the-world packing list.

13. Keep your passport and valuables locked in a safe at your accommodation.

14. Phones can be easily grabbed out of your hand in public, so be mindful about holding your phone in your hand.

15. Don’t get drunk. It’s ok to have a couple of drinks, but don’t make yourself an easy target by being intoxicated in public.

16. If you are drinking in public, be mindful of your drinks. Don’t leave your drink unattended, even for a second. I met a girl in Ecuador whose drink got spiked – so scary.

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17. Don’t do drugs or buy drugs.

18. Sometimes, protests or other political demonstrations happen in Honduras. These typically remain peaceful, but can sometimes turn violent without notice, so just avoid them.

19. Don’t accept a ride from a stranger, and do not hitchhike in Honduras.

20. Don’t drive in remote areas or on side streets.

21. Don’t walk on the beaches in Roatan after dark.

22. Don’t walk around in major cities in mainland Honduras, such as Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula. 

23. There are scam artists who target tourists. Be careful about transferring money electronically to someone you don’t know.

24. When visiting other countries, complete border crossings in the morning.

25. Scooters are one of the leading causes of accidents in Roatan and throughout Honduras.

26. Never travel without travel insurance. Don’t drive without good car insurance.

27. Be aware that there are high levels of HIV and AIDS in Honduras. Practice safety.

28. Hurricane season in Honduras is June-November. Keep an eye on the weather, and stay somewhere safe in the event of a hurricane (A hurricane hit Roatan when I was there! Luckily, there wasn’t significant damage).

29. Check with your doctor to ensure you’re current on any vaccinations you may need, such as tetanus, MMR, etc.

If you follow these safety travel tips, my answer to “Is Roatan safe?” is a big YES!

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Conclusion: Is Roatan Safe? Is Honduras Safe for Tourists?

Roatan and Honduras are definitely worth visiting. The Bay Islands of Honduras (Roatan!) is the safest place in Honduras.

Like with most places around the world, there is some risk. Nobody can tell you with 100% certainty that you will be safe in Honduras. Anyone who tells you there is no crime in Roatan is lying.

But there are absolutely places in Honduras you can and should visit, Roatan and the Bay Islands being some of them. Copan Ruinas is also a great stop in Honduras.

Roatan has some of the best scuba diving in the world, and I will never forget it. I had the ancient Mayan ruins of Copan almost all to myself. These are experiences I never would have had if I had written off Honduras simply because of the crime rate.

I hope you keep Honduras on your list.

Follow all of the advice in this article, and you’ll likely be as sad to leave as I was.