10 days alone on Roatan - what would you do?

[Sloeber]

Hey all,

I'm planning on spending 7 days at FIBR at the end of February with my father. Lots of diving obviously and little time for much else. However, after he leaves I'm staying behind for an additional 10 days. More than likely ill be alone but there is a chance a non-diving female will join me for 7 days.

Obviously I've tossed around several ideas. From hitting Utila and/or Guanaja for a few days to sitting at West End for all 10 days. I've searched online and hve seen all the day tours...

I little info - mid 30's male who is adventurous and seeks fun. I don't need a posh resort. I'm actually considering the $5/night places but I am concerned about safety or my photography equipment and such.

So what have you? Any sweet n Special pricing for a week long dive excursion...? Or maybe Hostel and horseback week for a truly unique week... Accepting all ideas...

Thanks...

 

[sdiver68]

I'd PM Scubaboard user Rob@diveinutila.com about their backpacker program and consider additional training, but since I've never been there that's just my opinion from research afar. I'd certainly gather as many options as possible and not pre-book...rather decide once I'm down there with presumably better first-hand knowledge. That's truly an "adventure"

I'll see you at FIBR, glad to see a fellow Illini fan (I assume?) I'm originally from the Champaign area.

 

[georoc01]

If it were me, I am looking of going down and staying in the West End and doing a class with Coconut Divers. There are some options above the $5 a day which are still reasonable and nice enough to leave your gear at in the West End.

 

[ncchuck]

I'd take a quick trip down to West End and look around. Lots of dive shops, t-shirts everywhere, bars everywhere, and several good places to eat. Several places to stay though most if not all of the $5 variety are in the woods. Then take a ferry over the Utila and look around. I'd be shocked if you decided to return to West End. Lots of dives shops, a few interesting bars (don't miss treetanic - no place in this world like it), several good places to eat. There are plenty of $5 to $30 places to stay. Utila just has a much more authentic Honduran village atmosphere than the tourist traps on west end. You'll have a blast. If your friend comes to visit, let her talk to a few of the dive shops and for $250 or so, she can get certified too.
If you don't plan on diving at all during your extended stay, I think you'll get bored on either island but Roatan may be a better choice in that case.

 

[idocsteve]

Totally alone with no chance of meeting anyone?

For 10 days?

Spoiler

I'd bring one of my favorite DVDs and a bottle of astroglide.

 

[adjuster-jd]

Astroglide? Is that latex compatible? I always worry about damages to the seals on my drysuit so I use KY!

 

[nomoresnow88]

I highly recommend going to Omega Jungle lodge in La Ceiba for some white water rafting, hiking and horse back riding. Great owners and very friendly guides who are also the bartenders at night. You get free accommodation when you book a tour or you can splurge in stay in one of their nicer rooms.

The ferry costs approximately $25 each way and you can get picked up by the lodge at the ferry or be a little more adventurous and take the local bus.

I have not been there myself but my friends have suggested diving off Cayos Cochinos. You can dive with and stay on one of the islands with either Pirate Island Divers or with Plantation Beach Resort. Very laid back atmosphere and the locals make a great fish lunch or dinner.

If you go to Utila make sure you stop by the Jade Seahorse...coolest thing I have ever seen..the owner has made tunnels and walkways and art pieces out of glass and tile mosaic..hard to describe but something you'll never forget...see it in the day and at night. There is a catamaran that goes from Roatan to Utila or you can take the ferry from Roatan - La Ceiba - Utila.

Hope you have a great trip!

 

[diversteve]

10 Days in the West End you'd likely be bored.

What I'd do is go to Utila then come back to Roatan for your flight out. Take the ferry over, it's out of Dixon Cove so near FIBR. You're on Utila within about 3 hrs. If your friend can get there by about 1PM, the Galaxy ferry leaves at 2PM. They match schedules so in La Ceiba you just walk across the parking lot to the Princess ferry to Utila.

Whaleshark season runs February - May. Optimal season is March-April. We snorkeled with six in two days the end of March. It's a snorkel only so your non-diver friend can do it also. It's also a backpacker haven so there's some inexpensive accommodations in town.

Then come back on Capt. Vern's Catamaran and spend a day or two in the West End. Do the zipline and maybe the AKR Dolphin encounter (not the dive) with your friend.

Coconut Tree cabins seemed safe and under $50 - my friends stayed there. Or Chillies if you dive with Native Sons - it's a shared bath sort of place. If it works into your schedule - Friday night is best night for West End festivities. Sundowners is a good place to start - then work your way east.

 

[Sloeber]

Sorry for the multiple replies but I'm on my Blackberry so these forums aren't conveniently capable of surfing other replies while I reply to one.

I'd PM Scubaboard user Rob@diveinutila.com about their backpacker program and consider additional training, but since I've never been there that's just my opinion from research afar. I'd certainly gather as many options as possible and not pre-book...rather decide once I'm down there with presumably better first-hand knowledge. That's truly an "adventure"

I'll see you at FIBR, glad to see a fellow Illini fan (I assume?) I'm originally from the Champaign area.

I dove about a year ago on Utila. Received my Rescue Cert from UDC. So I know a little about Utila already and have experienced the Treetanic among other places. Its likely I'll return there for a few days at least, but I'm just keeping possibilities open right now.

I've lived in Champaign since 1995 but spent my first 20 years smack in the center of Chicago's Southside Irish Catholic. I'm a devout Notre Dame fan and if you mention the Illini while at FIBR I'll be sure to mock you

 

[Sloeber]

If it were me, I am looking of going down and staying in the West End and doing a class with Coconut Divers. There are some options above the $5 a day which are still reasonable and nice enough to leave your gear at in the West End.

I do plan on diving with Coconut Divers. I'll be doing my EAN earlier in the week at FIBR and possibly one or two specialties at UDC as well. I may wish to skip any further classes by the time I get back to Coco. But then again it could be the perfect chance to finish up a Master Cert.