Utilities on Roatan

Electricity - RECO

”And God said, ‘Let there be light’ and there was light, but the Electricity Board said He would have to wait until Thursday to be connected.” - Spike Milligan

The Much-Maligned RECO

RECO is the generator and distributor of electricity for Roatan and will be for the next few decades. It has a monopoly from the federal government that cannot be reversed, no matter what local politicians campaign on!

Why We Are Lucky to Have RECO!

17 years ago, RECO was a collective that couldn’t pay for fuel or maintenance. Power would often be out all day for weeks. Generators were essential. Everyone had to have gas to cook, and refrigeration was impossible.

RECO has invested an estimated $70-100 million in infrastructure:

  • $45 million 24 MW plant - most advanced of its type when built
  • $7 million 3 MW wind farm
  • Two solar farms (7 MW and 5 MW)
  • 10 MW/26 MWh battery backup system
  • $7 million submarine cable to St. Helene
  • Converting wooden poles to concrete (30-year lifespan)

Power Generation Mix

In a typical month:

  • 78% from LPG plant
  • 3% from Diesel
  • 0.5% from wind
  • 8% from solar
  • 2-3% from batteries

10 years ago, we were 100% Diesel generated. Quite a change!

Internet on Roatan

Quality and Availability

The internet quality here is good enough for almost any need. You are more likely to experience a dropout due to power outages than internet issues. We now have an underwater fiber cable to La Ceiba.

Providers

MaxComm

Primary provider with fiber network. Locations in Coxen Hole, French Harbor, Oak Ridge. Offers TV and internet packages.

Claro

Part of Carlos Slim’s telecommunications empire. Competitive packages, expanding fiber network.

Starlink

Available since January 2024. $60/month, $400 hardware. Game-changer for remote locations. Not affected by rain like old satellite systems.

VPNs: Essential for streaming services. ExpressVPN recommended. Makes services think you’re in USA/UK/Europe.

Cell Phones

”In Honduras WhatsApp is king”

Traditional text messaging and direct calling are not widely used. Everyone uses WhatsApp for communication. If you don’t use WhatsApp, you’ll be somewhat disconnected.

Providers

  • TIGO: Good coverage in most areas, better app support
  • CLARO: Better coverage on East End, necessary for areas like Camp Bay

Prepaid vs Postpaid

Most people use Prepago (prepaid):

  • Buy weekly packets of data (9GB ~$17)
  • No contracts
  • Better control over spending
  • Can manage via apps

Important: Register your SIM card! If lost/stolen, you can recover your number quickly.

Mail and Packages

There is no address system like in first-world countries. My address for years was “The blue house, past the zip line, west bay.”

Package Consolidators

Most mail comes via consolidators who ship containers from USA:

  • DPS Logistics (formerly DIP): $50/year, delivers to door, 14-18 days
  • Tropical Consolidators: Direct to Roatan, 2-3 weeks
  • MAX Shipping: Will consolidate packages, beat any price

Best method: Have someone bring it down for you! Post in Facebook groups asking if anyone can bring a package.

Postal Service

Honduras postal system is extremely slow. Use only for non-urgent, non-important items. Post office located in Coxen Hole (16.31457, -86.53875).