Coming to San Pedro 22nd Feb for some diving. Have heard the mosquitoes are ravenous any tips in advance how to avoid the little bloodsuckers. Any need to take anti- malarial medication.

100% deet (think walmart sportings good section) around $3-4 bottle, be sure and get the pump kind, in a yellow bottle.

My travel doctor does not think anti-malarial meds are needed for AC. Inland trips (or your travel doc) might have a different recommendation.

Bugs don't bother me much on AC. Might just be my luck or the times of year I've visited.

Roatan bugs seem to be more bothersome. I've had better luck with 'Cutter Advanced' than deet. www.cutterinsectrepellent.com (the one with the orange top) It contains Picaridin, which was recently approved for sale in the US but has been widely used in other parts of the world. It worked better for mozzies AND sand fleas without melting everything it touches.

REI carries it, not sure about WalMart, Target etc...

When we went on an inland tour to Lamanai last year the mosquitoes bit freely! On our three February trips, we never had a problem with them in San Pedro.
3 weeks and we will BE THERE!!

The mosquitoes aren't too bad on the island as long as there is a little breeze. On the other hand in the last two weeks we have had an ice storm and did without power for 6 days, then the next weekend 4" of snow. Now they are predicting 6" more snow for this weekend. We are so looking forward to getting a few bug bites. We only have to wait 22 days to be back on the island.

my doctor told me the anti-malaria prob isn't necessary... been there twice now and no problem! even when i went to Dominican republic... same thing...

recommendation: DEET!!!!! some ppl also suggested baby oil for nite!

i did find the bugs worse at nite (b/c it's a lot cooler for them to come out instead of frying during the day so baby oil would be good for nite)... i don't think i got bite during the day...

Hey Jimmy
Been coming down a lot in Feb. & have never experienced any thing more than a few ankle biters in S.P.
Used skin so soft last year on the ankles & not a single bite.

We do pretty well on AC with avoiding the mozzies, but down towards Plancencia they are vicious. And, they have a little black fly that lands with a knife and fork, ready to feast. If you avoid being out at dawn and dusk, you can do pretty well. If you go out during those times, just use some repellent, and carry it with you to reapply, since not many are sweat proof.

Guess everyone is different. I have NEVER been to the island without getting eaten alive by mosquitos. September is worse than spring/summer, but March and May have still been pretty bad. I got mosquito bites through my swim suit last May. Nothing works 100%, but Skin-so-Soft, baby oil, etc don't work for me and all the online reviews I've read say those "home remedies" have no ingredients with repellent qualities. Deet is the only thing that comes close.

As for the anti-malarials, check the CDC website, then talk to your Doctor. I'm a better-safe-than-sorry kind of person, have never suffered any side-effects and the medication is covered by my insurance, so I always think it's worth it.

Again, I'm sure everyone is different.

Thanks for all the replies. Have purchased Jungle formula extra strenghth with active ingredient DEET and Autan with Bayrepel
/Picaridin. There are 2 of us so will post something on our return to see who gets the highest score for lumps and bumps. I guess if we get on the Belkin beer and forget to apply spray, we deserve what ever the creatures of the night have in store.