Practical information for visiting Honduras

Honduras uses the lempira (HNL). US dollars are accepted in the Bay Islands and some tourism businesses but not generally on the mainland.

This is a cash economy outside hotels and larger establishments. Cards work in cities and on Roatán; markets, buses and small towns do not take them.

Use ATMs inside banks or supermarkets during daylight and be discreet. Tipping is around ten per cent in restaurants where service is not already added.

Coverage for mobile networks is reasonable in cities, along the north coast and on the Bay Islands, and absent across the Mosquitia and remote highlands.

Local SIMs are inexpensive and sold widely. Wi-fi is standard in accommodation and often slow.

Roads vary from good to poor, and night driving is best avoided for both safety and road-condition reasons. Domestic flights link the main centres and the Bay Islands.

Honduras has a higher crime rate than many of its Central American neighbors, and it's worth taking real, specific precautions -- though the country's established tourist areas (the Bay Islands, Copán, and organized transport between them) see far less of the violent crime associated with the mainland's larger cities.

• San Pedro Sula and Tegucigalpa have historically had some of the highest urban crime rates in the region -- most travelers pass through only briefly (often just the airport) rather than spending time in either city, and that's a reasonable approach for a first visit.
• Stick to organized transport between destinations -- shuttle services connecting the Bay Islands, Copán, and other tourist stops are standard and considerably safer than independent overland travel through unfamiliar areas.
• Petty theft is a real but comparatively minor risk in tourist areas like Roatán's West End -- keep valuables secured and avoid displaying expensive jewelry or electronics openly.
• Water safety: strong currents can occur around some Bay Islands beaches -- follow local guidance and dive with a certified operator rather than independently in unfamiliar water.
• Check current government travel advisories before finalizing an itinerary, and consider registering your trip with your embassy -- Honduras's advisory level is typically higher than neighboring Belize or Costa Rica, and it's worth understanding what that's actually based on before planning independent travel off the main tourist circuit.
• Emergency number: 911 works in most of the country.

Hepatitis A and typhoid vaccinations are commonly advised; malaria prophylaxis is recommended for the Mosquitia and some coastal areas, and dengue is present year-round with periodic outbreaks.

Do not drink tap water anywhere.

Medical facilities are limited outside Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula. On the Bay Islands there is a recompression chamber on Roatán, which matters given how much diving happens there.

Comprehensive insurance including evacuation is genuinely necessary rather than advisable.

Be honest with yourself about safety here. Honduras has one of the higher violent crime rates in the region, concentrated in specific urban areas rather than spread evenly. Most visitors who stay on the Copán and Bay Islands routes have no difficulty; wandering in Tegucigalpa or San Pedro Sula after dark is a different proposition. Check your government’s current advice, which distinguishes between regions.

Do not display valuables, use registered taxis or apps rather than hailing, and avoid intercity travel at night.

Drug offences carry severe penalties. Removing archaeological material is illegal.

Dress modestly outside beach areas, and ask before photographing people, particularly in Garífuna and Indigenous communities.

911 is the national emergency number for police, fire and ambulance. English-speaking operators should not be assumed.

In practice, for medical emergencies, private hospitals in Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula are the realistic destination, and your insurer will direct you.

There is a tourist police presence in Copán, Roatán and the main visitor areas, which is the better first contact for theft or lost documents.

Hurricane warnings are issued nationally; if one is coming, follow local instructions and do not attempt to travel.