Wood crafts produced on Roatan are made from local woods. Because Roatan's natural landscape is the jungle, many species of trees abound. Artists carve from fruitwoods such as fig, mango, almond and cashew. Furthermore, tropical hardwoods such as mahogany, tropical oak, hibiscus and bursera grow in profusion. Even pine, the national tree of Honduras, is used. It is very hard compared with the soft pines of North America. The softest wood and easiest to carve is balsa, which is also native to the island. In addition, artists collect driftwood of all types to dry and carve into wood crafts.
You can find local carved pieces at the beach on Roatan, where vendors are always staked out for the tourist traffic. In addition, a short walk from the cruise ship dock brings you to the main city of Coxen Hole, where you can find shops filled with local goods. On Coxen Hole's West End you will find Yaba Ding Ding and Waves of Art, two reliable retailers of local wood crafts and other wares.
You'll find at least one local artist, Melvin Bodden, at his small house in a field in Sandy Bay. Visitors are invited to seek him out there and have a conversation as they pick out one of his uniquely carved pieces for their own.
Things you might find among the wood crafts are masks, wall art, mirrors, fish, tropical birds and wooden boxes. Brightly colored paint and rough-hewn textures define the local carving. If you want to make sure that the wood-crafted items you buy in Roatan truly come from the island, avoid highly polished pieces. According to RoatanIsland.com, this indicates that the item probably came from the mainland, not from Roatan.
Prices for local wood carvings are usually very low. Tim Leffel, author of "The World's Cheapest Destinations," states that smaller wood carvings go for a few dollars.
Moreover, Leffel reports that shipping costs can be very high out of Roatan, so you should buy something that you can carry home yourself or at least ship from another location after visiting the island.
