Travel & safety — Honduras

Honduras is a democracy with a developing economy bordered by the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south.

The national language is Spanish, although English is often spoken in the Bay Islands.

The climate is generally temperate, with dry and wet seasons.

During the dry season from February into May, widespread forest fires and agricultural burning can severely degrade air quality throughout the country, possibly causing respiratory problems and airport closures.

The terrain includes mountainous areas, coastal beaches, and jungle lowlands.

Facilities that would normally be used by tourists, including hotels and restaurants, are generally adequate in the capital city of Tegucigalpa, in San Pedro Sula, Tela, La Ceiba, the Bay Islands, and near the Copan ruins.

Large sections of the country, however, lack basic public services or a governmental presence.

Currency exchange is readily available at banks and hotels in the major cities.

All travelers to Honduras should review the Department of State’s Travel Warning for Honduras,which provides detailed information about security issues affecting many parts of the country, including the major cities.

Demonstrations Political demonstrations occur frequently in the major cities of Honduras.

During demonstrations, protestors frequently block public roads.

Police may use tear gas, water cannons, or rubber bullets to disperse demonstrators.

Travelers should avoid areas where demonstrations are taking place and never try to pass roadblocks.

U.S. citizens may stay informed by visiting the U.S.

Embassy website, following the local news, and consulting hotel personnel and tour guides.

Other Threats While the Honduran side of the Honduras-Nicaragua border has been largely cleared of land mines, travelers should exercise caution there.

Honduras is vulnerable to hurricanes, heavy rains, and flooding.

The rainy season extends between June and November.

Honduras’ National Emergency Management Commission (COPECO) issues national alerts.

Visit the COPECO website for current alerts.

Crime is widespread in Honduras and requires a high degree of caution by U.S. visitors and residents alike.

U.S. citizens have been the victims of a wide range of crimes, including murder, kidnapping, rape, assault, and property crimes.

Widespread poverty and unemployment, along with significant street gang and drug trafficking activity, have contributed to the extremely high crime rate.

In January 2012, the Peace Corps suspended its program in Honduras in order to review the safety and security of its volunteers.

According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime 2011 Global Study on Homicide, Honduras has the highest per capita homicide rate in the world, with 86 homicides for every 100,000 inhabitants.

Although crime and violent crime occur in all parts of Honduras, the north coast and central portions of the country have historically had the country’s highest crime rates.

Copan, Roatan/Bay Islands, and other tourist destinations have lower crime rates than other parts of the country.

Since 1995, 115 U.S. citizens were reported murdered in Honduras; of these, just 32 cases have been resolved.

Three U.S. citizens were reported murdered in Honduras between January and September 2013.

Since 2010, nine U.S. citizens have been reported as victims of rape or sexual assault in Honduras, signaling an increasing trend in these types of crimes.

Two U.S. citizens reported incidents of rape or sexual assault between January and September 2013.

Perpetrators of sexual assaults are often armed.

Kidnappings have occurred in recent years, with large ransoms paid and infrequent capture of the kidnappers.

One U.S. citizen was reported kidnapped between January and September 2013..

U.S. citizens are primarily the victims of opportunistic crime.

There is no evidence suggesting criminals specifically target U.S. citizens, but foreigners have been targeted for crime due to their perceived wealth.

Weapons abound in Honduras, and armed street robberies are especially common, with criminals taking advantage of relatively isolated victims to steal their valuables.

Young males working in pairs, often riding motorcycles, are perpetrating many of the armed robberies in Honduras’ urban areas.

Criminals and pickpockets target visitors as they enter and depart airports and hotels, so visitors should consider carrying their passports and valuables in a concealed pouch.

We have also confirmed reports of armed robbers traveling in private cars targeting pedestrians on isolated streets.

Incidents of crime along roads, including carjacking and kidnapping, are common in Honduras.

There have been frequent incidents of carjacking and highway robbery on a number of roads including the main highway (CA-5) between San Pedro Sula and Siguatepeque, with the greatest risk between Potrerillos and Pito Solo in the lake area.

Travelers should always drive with their doors locked and windows rolled up to avoid potential robberies at traffic lights and other places, such as congested downtown streets.

Avoid driving at night.

All bus travel should be during daylight hours and on first-class conveyances, not economy buses.

Choose taxis carefully, and note the driver’s name and license number.

Instruct the driver not to pick up other passengers, agree on the fare before you depart, and have small bills available for payment, as taxi drivers often do not make change.

When possible, travel in groups.

Incidents of piracy off the coast of Honduras can occur.

In 2012, a U.S. citizen reported that his boat was boarded and his passengers were the victims of an armed robbery while sailing in Honduran waters near Puerto Cortes, three miles north of Punta Sal.

In 2011, a Canadian citizen was killed in a similar incident.

U.S. citizens should exercise caution while sailing or mooring in Honduran waters.

U.S. citizens are encouraged to be vigilant of their surroundings at all times, especially when entering or exiting their homes, cars, garages, schools, and workplaces.

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While you are traveling in Honduras, you are subject to its laws even if you are a U.S. citizen.

Foreign laws and legal systems can be vastly different from our own.

In some places, you may be taken in for questioning if you do not have your passport with you.

Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking in illegal drugs in Honduras are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines.

There are also some activities that might be legal in the country you visit but illegal in the United States; for example, you can be prosecuted under U.S. law if you buy pirated goods.

Engaging in sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime prosecutable in the United States.

If you break local laws in Honduras, your U.S. passport will not help you avoid arrest or prosecution.

It is very important to know what is legal and what is not in Honduras.

If you are arrested in Honduras, you have the right to request the authorities to alert the U.S.

Medical care in Honduras varies greatly in quality and availability.

Outside of Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula, medical care is inadequate to address complex situations.

Support staff facilities and necessary equipment and supplies are not up to U.S. standards anywhere in Honduras.

Facilities for advanced surgical procedures are not available.

Wide areas of the country, including the popular tourist areas of the Bay Islands, do not have a general surgery hospital.

Ambulance services are limited in major cities and almost non-existent elsewhere.

Emergency services may be contacted directly through their local numbers, including 199 for the national emergency line and 195 for the local Red Cross.

The U.S.

Embassy encourages visitors who are considering medical care in Honduras to obtain as much information about the facility and the medical personnel as possible.

Medical tourists should confirm that the facilities they are considering are accredited, purchase medical evacuation insurance before traveling, and confirm that the cost and payment for their treatment is clearly understood by both parties.

In addition to other publicly available information, U.S. citizens may consult the U.S.

Embassy’s website for a list of hospitals and air ambulance services..

Scuba diving is popular in the Bay Islands, but limited medical facilities there pose a special risk in the event of an emergency.

There is a decompression chamber on Roatan and Utila for divers, but no advanced medical care on either island for diving related accidents.

Mosquito-borne illnesses are a problem in Honduras.

Malaria is present throughout the country at altitudes

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Do not buy counterfeit and pirated goods, even if they are widely available.

Not only are the bootlegs illegal in the United States, if you purchase them you may also be breaking local law and be subject to local penalties.

Criminal Penalties While you are traveling in Honduras, you are subject to its laws even if you are a U.S. citizen.

Foreign laws and legal systems can be vastly different from our own.

In some places, you may be taken in for questioning if you do not have your passport with you.

Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking in illegal drugs in Honduras are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines.

There are also some activities that might be legal in the country you visit but illegal in the United States; for example, you can be prosecuted under U.S. law if you buy pirated goods.

Engaging in sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime prosecutable in the United States.

If you break local laws in Honduras, your U.S. passport will not help you avoid arrest or prosecution.

It is very important to know what is legal and what is not in Honduras.

If you are arrested in Honduras, you have the right to request the authorities to alert the U.S.