Quick Guide to Honduras

I always hear terrible things about how dangerous Honduras is. I went in a bit skeptical and a bit scared but my impression quickly changed. I split my time in Honduras between the capital of Tegucigalpa and the island of Roatan. Both are spectacular places. The people are so warm and always try their best to communicate with you. My Spanish is subpar and I spend most of my time using hand gestures and broken Spanglish. The weather is a bit schizophrenic with beaming sunshine one minute to roaring thunderstorms the next. Nonetheless, I enjoyed every minute I had here in Honduras.

Getting To Honduras

While Honduras is on the same continent as the United States, it is not the easiest country to travel to. You will need to connect through Atlanta or Minneapolis on Delta, Houston or Denver on United, and Dallas and Miami on American. I had an hour layover traveling to Honduras and a five hour layover on the way back to the United States. Not the best options. Most tourists travel to Roatan to enjoy sunshine and scuba diving but I flew into Palmerola International Airport (PIA) in Comayagua, Honduras. That airport is an hour drive to the capital of Tegucigalpa. Needless to say, I was not making this trip easy for me, but it was worth it.

Entry/Exit Requirements

Visas are not required for those visiting Honduras for less than 90 days; however, passports must have a validity of at least three months beyond the date of entry. In addition to a valid passport, visitors must complete the immigration precheck form. This form will need to be completed for both entering and exiting Honduras. You will need to complete one form for each person traveling. It is important to complete this form prior to arriving at the airport. You will not be able to enter or leave the country without it. There are posters with a QR code to the website located through the designated entry/exit lines. There were crowds of people attempting to complete the form outside of the lines. Agents are present to ensure that the forms have been completed before permitting travelers to clear immigration. Many had tech issues and problems saving. It is vital that you complete this task before arriving at the airport. Upon completion, you will receive a confirmation email that you will need to show the agent on your phone or provide a printed copy. A customs declaration form will also need to be completed when entering Honduras. The form must be completed by the head of the household if traveling with family or by each traveler. When the form is completed, it should generate a QR code that you will need to present to Honduras Customs before retrieving your bags in baggage claim. 

Getting Around

I traveled through Tegucigalpa using Uber. Uber is affordable but knowing some Spanish is helpful. Uber drivers typically do not know where you are trying to go until they accept the ride. Drivers usually contact their passengers to see where they are trying to go and let them know that they are on their way. Most conversations have been through text messages instead of calls.

Travelers may also travel around Tegucigalpa through rental cars but I strongly advise against it. Drivers need to be aggressive and squeeze through the smallest nooks. There are no “real” driving laws and I have several near accidents. 

If you are traveling outside of Tegucigalpa, you will need your own transportation or hire transportation through a taxi or company. Roatan for example does not have uber and there are no taxi companies located in the west end. Hotel generally have their own transportation to the hotel from the airport. Transportation from/to the airport can cost anywhere from $10 to $65 USD per reservation one way depending on the hotel. My hotel charged a whopping $50 per reservation. We had 4 people in the group traveling to the same hotel but they were charging us $200 USD because we had different reservations! There were taxi drivers at the airport. They charged us $35 USD total to get all 4 of us to the hotel. We got his business card and were able to reach out to him for the duration of our stay in Roatan. I highly recommend getting in contact with a taxi driver. This is the best way to know that you have a ride. 

Exit Taxes

There is an airport departure tax which should be included in the price of the ticket. If it is not included, the check-in agent will point you to the tax line after checking in. I did not have to go to the tax line when I traveled on American and United Airlines but I had to pay a departure tax traveling to and from Roatan on Sosa Airways. Domestic airport fee such as traveling to Roatan from Tegucigalpa was 54.13 Limperas. International departures airport fee such as traveling back to the United States was USD 48.44. Cash or credit card is acceptable. You will need to pay this tax before proceeding to security. The agent at the tax line will stamp your bording pass. This stamp will permit you to proceed to security. 

Language

The primary language in Honduras is Spanish. From my experience, very few people speak English.

Currency

The currency in Honduras is Limperas; however, the island of Roatan prefers US Dollars. Below is the exchange rate as of January 2024. 

• $1 USD = L 24.73
• $1 CAN = L 18.49
• $1 AUS = L 16.59
• €1 EUR = L 27.06
• £1 GBP = L 31.45
• ¥100 YEN = L 17.09

Sim Card

Claro is the primary phone company in Honduras. There are various options to choose from based on each traveler’s needs. I purchased a 15-day All-Inclusive+ 40 GB which includes browsing the internet and unlimited talk and text to all networks for 250 Limperas. Claro once allowed users to purchase minutes using the booths but now, users must go to a full-service store to activate their local number. You will need your passport to get a local number. Once the number has been activated, the phone may be reloaded at a booth or online. The booths are located throughout the country.

Food

Here are a few foods to try when visiting Honduras: 

1. Baleadas – A flour tortilla that is filled with mashed beans and other toppings. It is folded like a taco but filled like a burrito. 
2. Pupusas – Stuffed cheese and meat that is rolled up than flattened like a patty. It is cooked on a griddle and served hot with picked cabbage, chili, and onions. 
3. Any soup. I liked every soup I’ve had in Honduras. It did not disappoint! 

Supermarket

Supermarkets are not all the same. There were local and international markets that were stocked with different goods. Shockingly, I found that some goods were competitive with those of the States. Supermarkets accept Honduras dollars or credit cards. Patrons who pay with a credit card must provide a photo ID. I used my State license and had no issues.

Hotel

Tegucigalpa

In Tegucigalpa, I recommend staying at the InterContinental Tegucigalpa at Multiplaza Mall. The hotel is located right across the street from the Multiplaza Mall, it is in a safer region of the city, and they have excellent dining options. A classic room is $238 a night. If that is too steep, the Hyatt Place Tegucigalpa is also a great affordable option. There are countless restaurants in proximity to the hotel and the neighboring area is pretty safe. A night at the Hyatt Place will cost about $155 a night. 

Roatan

In Roatan, I selected a more luxurious option. I stayed at the Kimpton Grand Roatan Resort and Spa Hotel. The most economical room is $379 a night in the canopy room. The canopy room is located outside of the main building and is pretty secluded. It is a great place for honeymooners. I, however, opted for an ocean-view room that is located in the main building. I prefer to stay in the main building since the concierge and dining areas are nearby. My stay here was fantastic and would stay here again in the future. 

Another accommodation I would recommend is the Paradise Beach Hotel. The hotel is $230 a night. What is so special about the Paradise Beach Hotel is that it provides a fire show nightly and is located next to a tour booth. This makes it convenient to book any snorkeling or boating tours. 

All hotels in Roatan charge a nightly amenity fee and a tourism fee. The amenity fee goes towards upkeeping the pool and activities within the hotel. The tourism fee is a fee charged to all foreigners. 

Itinerary

*Click on the location for more details on what to do in those areas.