Threat level: Medium - High
COVID-19 Situation in Honduras
There are reported cases of the coronavirus in Honduras and the country has declared a state of
emergency. To curb the spread of the virus, Honduras has implemented a series of measures: closing its
borders, shutting down schools, unnecessary businesses except grocery shops and pharmacies, as well as
suspending public gatherings. To avoid contracting the disease, apply good hygiene practices, maintain
social distancing, avoid public gatherings and unnecessary travel.
The overall travel advice for Honduras is that when vising Honduras, travellers are warned that there is a high degree of crime and violence across the country and you should exercise the upmost degree of caution throughout your stay.
Despite these high levels of crime, most crime is not usually aimed towards tourists, travel advice for Honduras is to take security precautions at all times and trips to Honduras can be pleasant and trouble-free. Tourists can enjoy the 12 national parks in the country, the three stunning Bay Islands and many other attractions.
Intelligent Protection International Limited provides Executive Protection services in Central and Latin America. If you are interested in these services, please visit: Bodyguards in Central and Latin America.
Recent Security Risk Events
June 2016 saw 6 Honduran police officers, alongside the son of a former Honduran president, charged with conspiring to import drugs into the United States in what was thought to be a ‘massive drug trafficking conspiracy’.
Security Risks
Demonstrations can spontaneously occur in Honduras, often with little or no warning. For the most part, these are peaceful, however it does not take much for them to turn violent. You should avoid any large gatherings and monitor the local news to check which areas are safe to visit.
Petty crimes such as theft and pickpocketing are common in many cities and tourist areas including the popular Bay Islands. You should remain alert at all times, particularly at bus stations, tourist sites, on public transport and isolated beaches. Do not display signs of your wealth and keep any valuables safe in your hotel.
Honduras enjoys many bilateral relations, particularly with the United States. It sent soldiers to Iraq to help the U.S. and other fighting countries, however they were withdrawn after a year. The gesture was mainly to try and improve relations between the countries.
Honduras has shaky relations with Nicaragua over a border dispute, which is still waiting to be settled.
The country was one of the founding members of the United Nations and is further associated with organisations including the World Trade Organisation, Central American Parliament and International Criminal Court.
A combination of poor road conditions, truck traffic and general crime levels makes driving in Honduras extremely dangerous. When driving along rural or isolated roads, ensure that you have planned your route and remain on high alert to the roads and the threat of carjacking and armed robberies. The roads are poorly maintained, lit and marked. Alongside this, other hazards such as pedestrians in the road means that you should drive defensively and it is advised that you do not drive after dark.
The road between Tegucigalpa and Choluteca is particularly dangerous as its sharp, mountain curves causes issues for many drivers. You should exercise extreme caution when driving along this road. Be wary of stray animals on the roads too as this is a frequent occurrence. During Honduras’ wet season, flooding and landslides can cause bridges to collapse and damage infrastructure.
Public transport is not recommended as drivers can be erratic which frequently causes crashes. Crime such as robbery is also common on buses too, if you have to travel by bus ensure your valuables are left out of sight and keep your possessions close at all times.
Providing your visit is less than 3 months long, most national licences are accepted. It is recommended that you also purchase an international driving permit too. You should take out adequate insurance too in case of an accident.
Hurricanes frequently occur in Honduras between June and November which can affect the roads and cause landslides and flooding. You should be careful if you plan to drive during this period as the weather conditions can make roads treacherous. Honduras is also located in a seismically active zone, making it prone to earthquakes. You should familiarise yourself with the precautionary measures you should take in case of an emergency.
Official sources of information and advice are:
Federal Emergency Management
US National Hurricane Centre
US National Weather Service
World Meteorological Organisation
Intelligent Protection International Limited provides companies and organisations with
Commercial Travel Risk Services designed to mitigate risks of staff when they travel for
business. If you are interested in these services, please see: Commercial Travel Risk Services.
Police emergency: 119
Fire emergency: 198
Medical emergency: 195
Capital: Tegucigalpa
Official languages: Spanish
Religion: Christianity (Roman Catholic)
Currency: Lempira
U.S. Embassy Tegucigalpa
Avenida La Paz,
Tegucigalpa M.D.C.
Honduras
Telephone: +504 2236 9320
Telephone: +504 2238 5114
Telephone Emergency After-Hours: +504 2236 8497
Telephone Emergency After-Hours: +504 2238 5114
Telephone Emergency After-Hours: +504 2236 9320, extension 4100.
The British government do not have a Embassy in Honduras, all consular services are provided via the British Embassy in Guatemala City.
British Embassy Guatemala
Edificio Torre Internacional,
Nivel 11, 16 Calle 0-55,
Zona 10 Guatemala City,
Guatemala
Telephone: +502 2380 7300
Email: embassy@intelnett.com
Most foreign travellers who visit Honduras, including EU, Canadian, American and British nationalities, do not need a visa for a stay of up to 30 days and can apply with the Immigration Office for an extension for up to 90 days. Your passport should be valid for at least 6 months from your arrival.
An airport departure tax is to be paid as part of the price of your flight ticket.
It is advised that visitors to Honduras are up-to-date with primary boosters such as MMR. You should ensure that you have been further vaccinated against diseases such as Tetanus which is usually administered when you are a young baby. You may also want to consider a Hepatitis A vaccination.
Although there is no direct risk of Yellow Fever in Honduras, if you are coming from a country where there is a risk of the disease, or transiting for longer than 12 hours in an at risk country, you will be required to provide a vaccination certificate. There are some exceptions though and more information can be found here: Yellow Fever vaccination requirements. Check with your local health professional prior to travel if you are unsure.
If you require medical attention in major towns in Honduras, it is highly recommended that you use a private clinic if possible as the state funded hospitals lack resources and are often understaffed. Emergency medical facilities on the Bay Islands are extremely limited and may require transport via air ambulance. It is essential that you have health insurance and you should carry a copy of the documents at all times. You should have enough funds to be able to cover the cost of treatment.
Personal hygiene is very important in hot climates and it is advised that keep hydrated and you only drink bottled water and not unsafe tap water.
There have been reports of Dengue Fever, the Zika Virus and Chikungunya Fever. All three are transmitted through mosquito bites and it is recommended that you take necessary precautions to prevent being bitten such as wearing the appropriate clothing and using insect repellent whenever possible. More information of these can be found here:
You can find more about the Zika virus here:
Zika virus facts
More information on Dengue fever, see:
Dengue Fever facts
Information about the Chikungunya Fever, see:
Chikungunya Fever facts
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