Honduras, Roatan and Bay Islands Newsletter

We would like to take this opportunity to welcome you to the first edition of the monthly Honduras, Roatan and Bay Islands Newsletter. In this edition we bring you articles on Visa and Residence, Tropical Pathways Roatan Discovery Tours and a Mini Guide of Santa Rosa de Copan. We also have informative sections: Opinion Poll, Upcoming Events, Volunteer Positions, and Classified Ads.

If you would like to get more involved in this Newsletter there are a few possibilities. We are currently looking for Honduras Articles and Mini Guide writers. Additionally you can send us Up Coming Events, Volunteer Positions and Classifieds, all information will be posted in our website while selected information will be posted in this newsletter. Or you can feature your business or tourism services in this newsletter. Please contact us for more information on any of the above.

Coming soon also is our Tourism Professional's Newsletter. This newsletter will supply the busy Tourism Professional with Honduras Tourism News, Press Releases, Tourism Articles, Featured Business Listings and all the latest Travel Specials. If you would like to feature your Business in this upcoming Newsletter please contact us. This Newsletter will also be sent to a wide range of National and International Travel Agents and Tour Operators.

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We hope you enjoy this Newsletter Service.

Best Regards
Honduras, Roatan and Bay Islands Newsletter Team

In This Issue:
=> Honduras Tourist Visa and Residency Information
=> Tropical Pathways Discovery Tours
=> Mini Guide to Santa Rosa de Copan
=> Current Poll
=> Upcoming Events
=> Volunteer Positions
=> Classified Ads  

Sponsored By:

Roatan Island Real Estate
At Las Palmas Villas on the Beach, 3 villas are completed, 2 villas are under construction and 2 villas will start in May. In June our artisan shops will be relocated adjacent to the bird reserve and ocean front restaurant. Our water sports center offers diving, snorkeling, kayaking & boat tours. Our 1,700 sq. ft. vacation villas with cathedral ceilings, dramatic ocean views, rosewood floors and a few steps to our white sand beach are priced from $165,000 to $235,000--and rent at $1,290 per week. For more information click here.

Honduras Tourist Visa and Residency Information
When you enter Honduras, you will receive a slip of paper in your passport. This is a tourist visa, and is valid for 30 days. If you stay beyond 30 days, you will need to renew your tourist visa at the Immigration office. The tourist visa can only be renewed 6 times; at that point you must leave the country, although you can return almost immediately.

Tourists are not allowed to work. To legally work, or to legally stay beyond six months, you must apply for Residency.

In order to qualify for residency, you must qualify for one of the Residency classes. These include Pension Residents, Employees, Immediate Family of Hondurans, and Investor.

There are some basic requirements that are applicable for all Residencies. You need a birth certificate, police report, and marriage certificate (if a couple is applying based on the status of one spouse). These documents must be authenticated at a Honduran Consulate in the country of origin. Contact your nearest Consulate for more information on their authentication procedures.

If you are applying as a Pension Resident, you also need a document that proves your pension-type income. An Employee needs a notarized job offer from a Honduran Company that is at least 2 years old. If you are applying as a relative of a Honduran, you need to document that relationship.

Costs vary depending on the Residency class, but there will be authentication fees at the Consulate, a filing fee in Honduras, and legal fees (the process requires a lawyer).

These requirements change occasionally, so please check with your lawyer before starting the costly authentication process.

By Melanie Wetzel

Honduran Legal Services, Tegucigalpa
For more information click here

Tropical Pathways Discovery Tours
Have you ever longed to own your own place in the sun on a Caribbean island, but always found it too expensive? If this fits you, then you just might be interested in Roatan, and all it has to offer. While still very affordable, it won't always be this way. It's important you act quickly to maximize your investment potential.

Do you want a second home for family vacations? Are you looking for that extra special place to retire? Or is a long, or short, term investment in real estate, or commercial business more your style? If your answer is "yes" to any of these questions, then you owe it to yourself to find out about Tropical Pathways Roatan Investment Tour, which runs from 6 to 13 September.

This 7-day Roatan excursion will treat you to an insider's view of this developing Caribbean Island. You will learn of excellent investment opportunities: vacation or retirement properties from condominiums to bungalows, and even estate homes; commercial opportunities that can be as big, or as small, as your imagination will allow and meet with developers, local business owners, lawyers and expatriates.

Highlights of this special trip include visits to Luna Beach Development, the Mediterranean style Parrot Tree Resort, Palmetto Bay Plantation, shopping at Las Palmas which is home to local crafts and products and traditional Garifuna dancing at Punta Gorda. To add to this you will explore and experience this beautiful Caribbean Island and all it's tropical wonders.

Time is running to join this limited trip so do not miss out on one of the tour positions. For more information click here.

Courtesy of Tropical Pathways Discovery Tours

Mini Guide – Santa Rosa de Copán
Click here: To view the full Mini Guide of Santa Rosa de Copán, which includes Attractions, Activities, Accommodations, Restaurants, Internet Cafes, Nightlife, When to go, Why and How to get there.

Location: Santa Rosa de Copán is located in the heart of mountainous western Honduras, nearly equidistant between the cities of San Pedro Sula and Guatemala City. Its altitude of 1,200 meters (3,900 feet) gives Santa Rosa an ideal spring like climate almost year round.

Local History: The history of Santa Rosa de Copán begins in 1765, when the Spanish colonial authorities established the "Real Factoría de Tabaco" (royal tobacco trading post) at what is now Santa Rosa. By providing seed and implements for the cultivation of tobacco and a reliable market for its purchase, the Spanish crown stimulated the cultivation of tobacco and production of cigars in the area, and the settlement of the region. Tobacco cultivation and cigar production continue to be important today, although in recent years coffee and commerce has become the region's major economic activities.

By Warren Post

Current Poll

What do you think about the filming of Temptation Island on Roatan?

- Great exposure for Roatan and Honduras!
- The program and its effects should not be taken too seriously.
- It gives an unrealistic idea of life on Roatan.
- It is disrespectful of local moral or cultural standards.
- Temptation Island???

Click Here to Vote

Upcoming Events

Tropical Pathways Roatan Discovery Tour
6 to 13 September
Visit Roatan, Bay Islands

For more information click here.

Volunteer Positions

Teaching
A small bilingual school in Tela, on Honduras’s North Coast has 2 current Teaching positions open. The school is supplying accommodation and food with a small stipend added to cover incidental expenses and some tourist type activities during your time. The positions require the teaching of a full primary school curriculum in English, although some basic Spanish would be an advantage. Positions open from the earliest date you can arrive until June and there is also an opportunity to run summer programs and/or return for the next school year in late August. For more information email Ben at ben@cofradiaschool.com. Please put "Tela" in the Subject line.

Summer Break
Looking for a great experience during this year's summer break? Why not volunteer in Honduras, do something rewarding, explore a beautiful country and meet amazing people. For more information email Ben at ben@cofradiaschool.com. Please put "Summer Break" in the Subject line.

Classified Ads

For Sale Section

Perfect house site, Roatan
Beautiful 6 acres on the ocean with over 400 feet of white sand beach, all usable land, great views and tropical flora. Located just west of Crawfish Rock on the north shore of Roatan. Needs road put in. $250,000. For more information click here

Las Palmas, Roatan
1,600 square foot home on the ocean, two bedrooms, two bathrooms, cathedral ceilings, Spanish tile floors, tropical hardwood floors, covered ocean view deck and patio. $179,000 to $215,000. Two minute walk to contiguous Las Palmas Roatan Resort with restaurant, diving, fishing, kayaking, snorkeling, and nice beaches. Click Here for purchase information or for vacation rentals.

Bed and Breakfast or Wonderful Private Residence, Roatan
Large 2-story (5420 sq. ft under roof) home at First Bight. 5BR, 3BA, 1400 sq. ft wrap around screened in porch, 10,000-gallon cistern, community water, Satellite TV, Central Air, community dock, 100 feet from beautiful sandy beach. House is completely furnished and ready to move in. Price reduced to $250,000.00 for quick sale. Contact Tom Will on Roatan at 504-435-2215 or email: tjwill@hondutel.hn

Rentals/Hotels Section

Judy’s Fantasea Sandy Bay, Roatan
Enjoy romantic sunsets each evening at our budget accommodations. The secluded island beachside retreat consists of a six-sided house adjacent to its twin cafe. The house sleeps eight with three double bedrooms and one twin, bunk bedroom; two full baths with hot water. The best diving and snorkeling in Roatan is on the reef, which is a brief shallow swim from the beach. Don't miss your place in tropical paradise! Click here

Bananarama Diving Resort West Bay Beach, Roatan
Come stay with us on Roatan at Bananarama . . . for sweet dreams & great dives. Feel at home in our cute, comfortable and totally immaculate little houses located in the middle of West Bay Beach, one of the world’s most perfect beaches. We are directly on the marine reserve park, with very good conditions for swimming, sunbathing, snorkeling, diving, kayaking, bicycling and more! Our onsite diveshop is also tops! For more information Click Here

Services Section

Omega Tours, La Ceiba
Join us in a natural adventure! The very best Rio Cangrejal Rafting, Kayaking, Horse Riding, Jungle Hiking, River Hiking, Cuero y Salado, Cacoa Lagoon and La Moskitia Trips. Come and explore the beauty of Honduras with us. Or spend a few cozy and relaxed nights in our Jungle Lodge, which is located on the edge of the Rio Cangejal and the Pico Bonito National Park. All our Trips include a free night in our Jungle Lodge. For more information email omegatours@laceiba.com

Paradise Computers and Internet Cafe, Roatan
The Internet Cafe can take care of your entire Internet and email needs, while you enjoy coffee and snacks. Paradise Computers offers the excellent on site service, have your computer equipment fixed right and quickly, also we offer computer and accessory sales, computer rentals, copy services and more. We have two great locations: Right at the entrance of Coxen Hole, on the right side of Thicket Mouth road in the blue, J.C. Commercial Building upstairs AND our new location right in the middle of West End, with Super Fast connection, 8 desktops, 10 wired laptop connections, and wireless hot zone, adjoined to a cafe/coffee shop. For more information click here.

Fosters West End & West Bay, Roatan
With locations at both West End and West Bay Beach, Foster’s is a great choice for beach hotel, cabanas and suites. From single cabanas to 2 and 3 bedroom units with full kitchens, Foster's provides a variety of accommodations for singles, the romantic couple, to families and large groups. All of Foster's West Bay accommodations and full service Foster's Restaurant and Bar are oceanfront, oceanview on Roatan's most beautiful white sand beach. Fosters is always happy to accommodate your needs in any way they can. For more information click here.

Sponsored By:

Tropical Pathways Discover Tours
Have you ever longed to own your personal place in the sun? On a tropical island or in an exotic country? Are you looking for that special place to retire or a 2nd home for family vacations? Or would you prefer investing in land or a commercial business? Get an insider's look at real estate investment options and have a fun filled, relaxing vacation at the same time in a small group. For more information click here.

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www.travel-to-honduras.com

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