Exploring Honduras: Travel Essentials

Honduras is a beautiful country with a lot to offer intrepid backpackers, expats, and budget travellers. It is home to biodiverse jungles, ancient Mayan ruins, and vast national parks brimming with wildlife. However, it is often overlooked due to its violent past and reputation as the 'murder capital of the world'.

While crime and gang activity are still common, Honduras is much safer today. The majority of tourists have fun and stay safe. The biggest dangers are in the big cities, such as San Pedro Sula and Tegucigalpa, so it is recommended to stick to the islands of Utila and Roatan or visit the ruins at Copan.

Honduras is also very affordable, with cheap accommodation, food, and activities. It is one of the cheapest places in the world to get an open water diving qualification, and the country has some of the best diving spots in the Caribbean.

When travelling to Honduras, it is important to take certain precautions. Violent crime and petty theft are common, so it is best to avoid wearing fancy jewellery or carrying large amounts of cash. It is also important to be aware of food and drink spiking, and to only use official border crossings.

Overall, Honduras is a fascinating and rewarding destination for those willing to venture off the beaten path.

Crime and safety

It is important to exercise a high degree of caution in Honduras due to the threat of violent crime. This includes carjackings, armed robberies, kidnappings, and sexual assaults, which can occur anywhere in the country but are more common in major cities such as Tegucigalpa, San Pedro Sula, and La Ceiba, as well as in remote and border areas. Violent crime often involves firearms and street gangs, and there have been mass shootings in urban centres. Honduras also has very high rates of murder, with active criminal groups leading to particularly high murder rates in certain districts, such as Chamelecon in San Pedro Sula.

To protect yourself from violent crime in Honduras, it is recommended to avoid walking or travelling alone or after dark, always keep vehicle doors and windows locked, and only use official border crossings during the daytime. It is also important to be vigilant and aware of your surroundings, especially in isolated and remote areas, and to leave valuables and your passport in a secure place. In addition, it is best to avoid discussing your travel plans in public and to use caution when withdrawing money from ATMs, only doing so in secure areas during the daytime.

While the Bay Islands are generally safer than mainland Honduras, crime and petty theft are still common, and tourists can be the victims of violent crime. Scams and credit card fraud are also risks in Honduras, so it is important to take precautions when using debit or credit cards.

Natural disasters, such as hurricanes, landslides, mudslides, and flooding, can also pose a threat to safety in Honduras during the hurricane and rainy season, which typically lasts from June to November. It is important to monitor local media and follow the advice of local authorities during this time.

In terms of health, insect-borne diseases such as Zika, malaria, dengue, and chikungunya are widespread in Honduras, so it is important to use insect repellent and take other precautions to protect yourself. In addition, HIV/AIDS is common in the country, and waterborne, foodborne, and other infectious diseases are also common, so it is important to drink boiled or bottled water and avoid raw or undercooked food. The quality of medical facilities in Honduras varies, with poor facilities in Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula and limited services outside of these areas, so it is crucial to have comprehensive travel insurance before travelling to the country.

Food and water

Food

Honduran cuisine is a fusion of Mesoamerican, Spanish, Caribbean, and African cuisines, with some dishes influenced by the indigenous Garifuna people. Coconut and coconut milk are used in both sweet and savoury dishes, and lime juice and fresh herbs are also common. Spices like cumin, curry, allspice, and achiote are used to flavour dishes.

Tortillas and refried beans are staples of the Honduran diet, and meat is often a constant, with beef being the favourite, and chicken and pork also common. With a tropical climate, fresh fruit is abundant, and the two coastlines provide a wealth of seafood, including fish, lobsters, and conch.

Some popular dishes include:

• Anafre: a common appetiser of refried black beans and cheese fondue, served with tortilla chips and sometimes chorizo, in a clay pot.
• Burritas: a flour tortilla filled with shredded meat, refried beans, cheese, and avocado.
• Sopa de Caracol: a conch soup, where the conch is cooked in coconut milk and broth, flavoured with spices, yuca, cilantro, and green bananas.
• Ceviche: raw seafood, typically fish, shrimp, or conch, marinated in lime juice with onions, tomatoes, and cilantro, and served with tortilla chips.
• Pastelitos de Carne: a flour pastry filled with meat and rice, sometimes potatoes, and then deep-fried.
• Tostones: a popular side dish of crunchy deep-fried plantains.
• Baleadas: a folded wheat flour tortilla filled with refried beans, crumbled cheese, and sour cream, sometimes with beef, chicken, pork, eggs, or plantains. These are a cheap and common snack food, found everywhere from street stalls to fast-food restaurants.
• Pupusas: similar to baleadas, but more like a calzone, filled with meat, cheese, and beans.

Water

It is not advisable to drink tap water in Honduras, and bottled water should be used instead. In restaurants, the water served is filtered and safe to drink, and the ice is also safe for consumption.

Transport

The main form of transport in Honduras is by bus. There are three kinds of buses that go around the country: chicken buses, rapiditos, and express buses. Chicken buses are the cheapest option, but they make the trip much slower. A faster option is the rapidito, which is more expensive but quicker. Express buses have scheduled stops and take intercity routes. You can also take the ferry to the Bay Islands from La Ceiba. A round-trip ticket to Roatan costs around $53 USD for a first-class ticket and $43 USD for a regular ticket. Those going to Utila can take a ferry from La Ceiba for $25 USD one way, with two daily ferries going from La Ceiba to Utila.

There is a very small rail network in Honduras, but it does not connect any major cities and seldom carries passengers. Taxis are common in large cities like Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula. They are called "directos" by locals, and you should negotiate the price before departing as they do not run on a meter.

Car rental is available at Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula airports from major companies such as Alamo, Hertz, and Thrifty. You can also rent scooters on the island of Roatan in the West End, which is a great way to get around small distances.

Double-carriageway highways are slowly being developed in the main population areas in Honduras, but they are not traffic-selective and accept any kind of traffic, thus slowing the speed along them.

Money

The currency in Honduras is the Lempira (HNL). As of 2022, 1 USD is worth about 24-25 HNL. The Lempira is divided into 100 centavos. The currency is named after the 16th-century cacique Lempira, a ruler of the indigenous Lenca people, who is renowned for leading the local resistance against the Spanish conquistadors.

ATMs are widely available in Honduras, but it is still recommended to carry cash and some traveller's cheques as a backup in case of system difficulties. Most businesses, especially smaller shops and restaurants, only accept cash. Credit cards are rarely accepted outside of international businesses.

If you need to withdraw cash, it is recommended to do so at the airport. It is also recommended to have a separate bank account for travel.

It is a good idea to have small denominations of money. Most ATMs will dispense money in 500 Lempira notes (worth about $20 USD), which is a lot for small purchases. Try to break large bills in larger restaurants, hotels, and shops.

Tipping is expected if a service charge is not included on the bill. A tip of 10% or more is good, as most of the population of Honduras lives below the poverty line.

It is also recommended to exchange any leftover Lempira back into USD before leaving the country, as it can be difficult to find a place that will accept the currency.

Health

The CDC recommends getting vaccinated and taking prescription medication to prevent certain diseases before travelling to Honduras. This includes being up-to-date on all routine vaccines, such as chickenpox, diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis, and measles-mumps-rubella (MMR). Additionally, all eligible travellers should be up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines. The CDC also recommends getting vaccinated against diseases such as hepatitis A and B, and taking prescription medication to prevent malaria.

It is important to note that some diseases, such as rabies and dengue fever, are present in Honduras and cannot be prevented with vaccines or medication. To reduce the risk of getting these diseases, the CDC advises taking steps to prevent bug bites, such as wearing long-sleeved shirts and using insect repellent.

Food and water standards in Honduras may not meet the same standards as in your home country, so it is important to take precautions when eating and drinking. Avoid drinking tap water and be cautious when consuming food and beverages from street vendors. Only eat food that is cooked and served hot, and avoid raw or undercooked food, including raw vegetables.

In the event that you do get sick, it is important to seek medical attention. Carry a list of local doctors and hospitals, and review your health insurance plan to understand what medical services it covers. Keep in mind that many foreign hospitals and clinics are privately owned and may require upfront payment in cash.

In addition to the health risks mentioned above, there are other health and safety considerations to keep in mind when travelling to Honduras. Violent crime, such as homicide, armed robbery, and kidnapping, is common in Honduras, and the ability of local law enforcement to respond to criminal incidents is limited. It is important to be vigilant and aware of your surroundings at all times, especially in urban areas and after dark. Avoid displaying signs of wealth, such as expensive jewellery or electronics, and try to blend in with the local dress as much as possible.

When it comes to transportation, it is generally recommended to avoid public transportation in Honduras, as it is often unreliable and unsafe. If you must use public transportation, avoid travelling at night and choose first-class conveyances over economy buses. For taxis, use reputable companies recommended by your hotel, and avoid hailing taxis on the street.

Overall, while travelling to Honduras, it is important to prioritise your health and safety by taking the necessary precautions and staying informed about potential risks.

Frequently asked questions