Safety in Santa Rosa De Copan, Honduras What do other Racers need to know in order to be safe? Current safety protocols/precautions in place? Any relevant issues/concerns? Any precautionary suggestions?
People’s Opinions
Santa Rosa de Copan was very safe! It is a beautiful city and great for walking around. Our hosts expressed that it would be safe to go running, and exploring on our own during the day and at night as well. Common sense is still applicable, but there were no issues that we saw or heard about for safety. Enjoy!
Santa Rosa de Copan is a beautiful, safe, comfortable small city! The neighborhood you’ll stay in is extremely safe – “gringo street”! Going out during the day or night is definitely a safe thing to do, but don’t forget your common sense. Have fun and don’t be afraid to explore a little!
Santa Rosa de Copan is a beautiful and small city, and it was recently rated on of the safest cities in Honduras! Which we truly felt that it was safe! Some of the girls would go out at night sometimes and still felt safe! And the people are very pleasant!
Santa Rosa is a fairly safe city. Use common sense and always walk with a buddy! We went out at night as a group and our contacts had no worries about us doing so.
Ministry Summary
Ministry Summary in Santa Rosa De Copan, Honduras Breakthroughs? Suggestions? Concerns? On a scale of 1-4 (1 being not at all, 4 being absolutely) how strongly would you recommend another World Race team go to this ministry location & why?
People’s Opinions
Matt and Marianne were our main hosts and Marianne’s sister Becca was our main team contact! Becca and her husband Buff were our contacts for daily ministry and any updates to schedules. Our ministry was split and our team ended up doing 3 different job tasks while we were there. Team time is important! Our days were very different and separate at times. Some of us worked with the kiddos, some did inventory work for the ministry supplies, and some of us helped prepare the new buildings for housing children in Transitional Care in the future. Ministry worked changed some as were there, and remember to be flexible with it! Have fun! Legacy of Hope has a beautiful view of trauma care, and offered us training on working with children who’ve experience trauma. It’s a great opportunity to learn and serve kids with them!
Matt and Marianne are the main hosts, but there are other homes in which your team will be serving. Jim, Theresa, and their two daughters live in Santa Rosa de Copan and do not have a home in which your team will be serving in, but they are there to serve the ministry in any way possible! They are all wonderful people!! Your ministry days will be long, so you must be extremely intentional about having team times. Also, your team will be split amongst the different homes, so be understanding and flexible with your team time. Some people will have to be at ministry earlier than others and some will have to work later than others. We hope you LOVE kids because this month will be all about them!! If you do love kiddos, this may be your favorite place all race!Rating Scale: 3.5
Yes we did do ministry around the clock for the first two weeks because they have their staff a much needed break. However we arranged to have a break between 1-3PM so we could all be present for team time. And Matt and Marianne are very sweet to help you out move you communicate with them!
While we were with Matt and Marianne we worked with the babies that they foster. We gave their workers a break for the week. We were trained our first week there and then we worked around the clock doing baby care and household chores. Since there was always one person on baby duty from 7pm – 7am, there was always one person missing from team time and we were never all together for ministry. Overall, the ministry and house was extremely pleasant. Matt and Marianne went out of their way to make us feel at home, which made them more busy than normal. Scale Rating: 3
Lodging
Lodging in Santa Rosa De Copan, Honduras Where did you stay? What were the accommodations (sleeping arrangements, toilets, showers, etc.)? Cost (per person per night in USD), Contact info.
People’s Opinions
Matt and Marianne have a home which they have turned into the school for all the kids. There is a pre-school room, a main school room, a bedroom for the team with 6 beds and a room one of their staff members lives in. You will have access to a semi kitchen. The kitchen has a sink, fridge (which you share), a portable stovetop, microwave, and coffee maker. Remember, this is their school so it is essential you keep all of your stuff picked up and out of the common areas during school hours. We had hot water for part of the time, but the “widow maker” kept burning out so we did end up having cold showers. If you’re patient though, you can boil water and have a bucket shower..! Our team often ended up boiling water to shower because the cold temperatures make cold showers not so fun. Otherwise, it is an extremely comfortable environment to live in with a decent amount of space to “sprawl out.”
We stayed in the preschool/office. And they have a guest bedroom there,there is a queen size bed that we took turns sleeping there. While Other girls slept in the outside room, where the preschool is at, with their mats. You just have to pick them yo everyday and put it nicely on the guest bedroom. And other girls slept in their office, but always tried to keep stuff nice and neat also so we could respect Matt’s space since it is his office! But no matter what we were very comfortable!
We stayed in the preschool house that Matt and Marianne rent. It has a guest bedroom with a queen size bed and Matt’s office. The guys stayed in the office and the girls stayed in the guestroom. We had 2 full bathrooms with hot water showers. We also had a small kitchen with a fridge (no stove).
Food / Meals
Food / Meals in Santa Rosa De Copan, Honduras What did you eat? Where did you get the food? Cost (per person per day in USD)? Contact info (if applicable).
People’s Opinions
Food was given to us or prepared for us for every meal, even on off days. For breakfast you will be given food to “prepare” (cornflakes, oatmeal, eggs, coffee) for yourselves. Lunch will be prepared for you and you’ll eat with the kids and staff. Marianne will make your dinners and her cooking is AMAZING!!Cost of food per day was $7 USDLodging cost per day was $3 USD
All I can say is…. Amazing food all the time!!! You will be blessed by Marianne’s cooking skills!
All of our meals were prepared for us. We ate a variety of food, mostly American like dishes. We ate soup, pork chops, chicken, pasta, eggs, and tipico, plus more! You will LOVE Marianne’s cooking. We had cornflakes for breakfast every morning. If you have a birthday, there will be amazing cake or pie or your favorite dessert. We paid $5 per day for food.
Transportation
Transportation in Santa Rosa De Copan, Honduras What transportation did you use to enter the country? Where were you coming from? What transportation was used to move throughout the country? Be sure to include the cost per person in USD and contact info if applicable.
People’s Opinions
We entered Honduras from Nicaragua on a school bus our squad rented. We stayed for a short while at a hostel (Palmira) in Tegucigalpa. From the hostel we took a taxi to the bus station, from the bus station we took the Sultana bus all the way to Santa Rosa de Copan. The total time on the bus 13 hours; we suggest you get on the earliest bus possible. The total for 6 people to take the Sultana bus to Santa Rosa de Copan was $73.50 USD – that does not include the cost for the taxi to the bus station. Once in Santa Rosa de Copan you can really walk just about any where you want to go, but getting a taxi is also extremely easy.
To enter the country, we used Hedman Alas bus company. We came from Guatemala City. To move throughout the country we used their bus system. It is cheap (anywhere from $1 – $5 per person depending on the distance). We also used the moto taxis to run errands and those are about $1 per person one way.
Medical
Medical in Santa Rosa De Copan, Honduras Information on local hospitals / doctors / pharmacies. Where would someone go in a medical emergency? (addresses and contact info).
People’s Opinions
There are multiple pharmacies within walking distance.If a medical emergency should arise, do not go to the public hospital, go to the private hospital.
Communication
Communication in Santa Rosa De Copan, Honduras Did you have cell reception / Internet service? Where? Carrier / Provider, where did you get phones / SIM cards, cost? Country code?
People’s Opinions
Do not buy the Claro chip, get TIGO! You can buy your chips at the Pulperia which is less than a 5 minute walk from the house. You will have internet access all month! Use it responsibly and respectfully…remember, you’re watching after little ones they desire you attention.
If possible when you first get to Honduras purchase a claro chip rather than tigo, because tigo has eaten our communication minuets like crazy! And about internet, the Spangler’s are very nice and gave us internet access all month! Enjoy it, however don’t abuse it while in ministry, and I would recommend use it in moderation to make sure you’re staying present!
Financial
Financial in Santa Rosa De Copan, Honduras Location of banks or ATMs, notes about transaction fees, best places to exchange money, and other money related advice.
People’s Opinions
There are ATM’s all around, you won’t have any trouble getting money out. Be sure you do check to see if there are any external card readers attached to the ATM though, it is not uncommon.
There are banks and ATM’s in town, but you do have to go into town for it. However, we have a local “pulperia” (store) that is owned by a really sweet couple who happen to also be Christian! And if you purchased anything, you can get cash back! And they only charge you a 4% of the amount of cash that you’ll get back! and most of the time it ends up being less than an ATM fee! The store is called “Heidi”
Translators
Translators in Santa Rosa De Copan, Honduras List any local translators – name and contact information, languages spoken
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Off Days / Fun Activities
Off Days / Fun Activities in Santa Rosa De Copan, Honduras What activities did your team experience? Recommendations? List locations/contact info. Any locations to be avoided? Any extra safety tips for off days?
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Other Important Contacts
Other Important Contacts in Santa Rosa De Copan, Honduras Additional ministry opportunities, local pastors, etc. Relationship & follow up suggestions
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Tips
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Additional Info
Additional Info in Santa Rosa De Copan, Honduras Anything we’ve left out? Any additional suggestions to make travel easier for others?