West End Roatan question(s)...directions....

[kimanjo]

Hi, all. I have a map of the West End in front of me and I would like some help from those who are familiar with the territory. MAP:
http://www.bayislandsdiver.com/West End Map.gif

Looking at the map, left hand side, where the road goes towards FUBAR, etc (near the water taxi dock)...

1) How far is Rudy's and Sueno del Mar, etc from the main intersection where the Church and Coconut Tree Divers and Cabins are located?

2) In terms of walking time, about how long would it take to get from the water taxi dock (extreme left of map) to the Half Moon Bay Cabins and the Dive Half Mile Submarine (extreme right of map)?

3) At night--not late night, but around 8 or 9 pm--is is safe for a single female to walk this main road?

Thanks!

 

[Bay Island Diver]

1) Rudys to Sueno is about 1-3 minutes depending on how drunk you are.

2) Water Taxi Dock to Half moon bay cabins 3-5 minutes

3) Its such a friendly place yu are unlikely to find yourself walking alone! Not in a frightening way, you'll just make lots of friends real quick and will be hanging out with the gang. But its pretty safe, much safer tha say walking alone at night in any big city anywhere in the world.

By the way i drew that map about 4 years ago, its roughly similar but a lot has changed. A new one will be published in the very near future.

 

[diversteve]

We stayed just a little past there out on the point last year. Walked by Half Moon daily. Once you turn at Velva's, the road north is just for people going to Half Moon and a few other properties in the area. Totally under the trees. It's really quiet at night, lit only by the resorts you walk by. The first night we carried a light, after that not so much. There's a few local houses in the area and they were building last year on the ocean side just south of HMB - probably done now. I felt totally safe walking back/forth with my video gear daily/nightly. The local people are really nice, never once felt threatened in any way. Probably didn't see a dozen people all week on that part of the road.

Once you get to Velva's (#30), you're on the main road through the West End. Lots of people, dogs etc. There's always a crowd at Sundowners and the Argentinian Grille is open till 10 or so - both are well lit and literally steps off the main road. Past Coconut Tree going west it gets almost crowded at night. (for Roatan) Taxi's congregate in front of Coconut Tree if you need a ride somewhere.

Google Earth has Half Moon Bay Cabins to Sueno Del Mar at 7/10ths of a mile walking.

Woody's is like a big 7-11 or local market, the CTD store has the basics. Don't drink anything but bottled water, it's all R/O.

We had a blast diving with Coconut Tree Divers also. I highly recommend them.

 

[Vetdrm]

Great map. Can you share where you got it? We're visiting Roatan for the 1st time and haven't committed to lodging yet. We'd appreciate maps of the West Beach or the whole island if you have them.
Thanks

 

[kimanjo]

Sure: I got that map by Googling "map West End Roatan" in the images section.

I want to THANK our BAY ISLAND DIVER for drawing that map: it is an immense help!

Also, you all have made me feel so comfortable about the West End. I am bringing my 16 year-old daughter there and she really treasures her freedom to walk around alone...she's been traveling all over the world since a little tyke...when we in Paris and she was 12 we let her go out alone to the local cafes (the neighborhood was very safe) and when she was 14 in Lima, Peru she walked alone to get her daily con leche... last year in Mexico and Guatemala she went out at night with college kids she met (she's a very mature girl!)....So she would go nuts if mom had to escort her everywhere around the tiny village of West End...

 

[sololady]

Read diversteve's post...#2 on thread "Lodging in West End." It describes some of what I couldn't about the CTD rooms/cabins.

Have fun!!

 

[diversteve]

Great map. Can you share where you got it? We're visiting Roatan for the 1st time and haven't committed to lodging yet. We'd appreciate maps of the West Beach or the whole island if you have them.
Thanks

There's West Bay and there's the West End. They're about 2 miles apart.

Here's two maps, the first is a West End locator. It might be a little out of date. The second is all the dive sites from about Spooky Channel east to West Bay with a few South sites noted as well. I think it's everywhere Luna Beach dives.

http://www.roatanisland.net/west_end_locator.htm
http://www.lunabeachresort.com/maps/roatan_map_full_page.shtml

If you use Google Earth, I can send you a .kmz file with some of the West End and other major resorts/places of interest located on it.
PM your e-mail address if interested.