Honduras Travel Advice
Honduras is a Central American nation situated on the Caribbean coast and shares a border with Nicaragua, El Salvador and Guatemala. The Honduras climate is temperate, with dry and wet seasons. Tourists flock to Honduras for its warm Caribbean beaches, turquoise clear ocean waters ideal for diving and snorkeling as well as spoting and swimming along Whale Sharks, lush jungles perfect for hiking and bird watching, spectacular mountains and mysteriously advanced ancient ruins such as Copan.
The U.S. State Department notes that the security situation in the country is precarious, due to the country’s high crime rate and frequent political demonstrations.
When you travel to Honduras it is important to keep up to date with the latest travel alerts and advisories issued by your country of origin. Below you will find the latest travel alerts and advisories issued by various countries around the world; including the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia.
For those Expats living in Honduras this page should be kept bookmarked and checked often as conditions change you will be able to check the latest Travel Alerts related to the Country of Honduras in order to insure your safety. Official reports about crime as well as Weather conditions such as tropical storms and Hurricane season which begins June 1 and ends November 30th each year and monitored by the National Hurricane Center NOAA. When countries issue a Travel Advisory for Honduras this page will be updated with the latest travel advisory along with news and reports from within Honduras. Below are important contacts in case of any emergency.
Honduras Emergency Telephone Numbers
Contact your Embassy; Foreign Embassies in Honduras along with Contacts and telephone Numbers.
United States Travel Advisories
June 17, 2013
Honduras President Porfirio Lobo Sosa’s reaction to this latest US Travel Warning for Honduras
The Department of State has issued this Travel Warning to inform U.S. citizens about the security situation in Honduras.
The Department of State continues to warn U.S. citizens that the crime and violence levels in Honduras remain critically high. This Travel Warning supersedes the Travel Warning dated November 21, 2012, to include additional information about reported kidnappings, information for victims of crime, as well as the Honduran police force’s ability to respond to reports of crime, and also serves to update contact information.
Tens of thousands of U.S. citizens visit Honduras each year for study, tourism, business, and volunteer work without incident. However, crime and violence are serious problems throughout the country and the Government of Honduras lacks sufficient resources to address these issues. Honduras has the highest murder rate in the world. These threats have increased substantially over the past several years and remain high. Incidents can occur anywhere.
U.S. citizens do not appear to be targeted based on their nationality. Crimes are committed against expatriates at levels similar to those committed against locals. Most resort areas and tourist destinations have lower levels of crime and violence than other areas of the country, though still high by international standards. Moreover, tourists traveling with group tours report fewer criminal incidents. In 2012, the government agreed to increase police presence in areas frequented by tourists, such as the Copan Mayan ruins and Roatan. The government also established special tourist police forces in Copan and Roatan and is evaluating this option in other locations. Additionally, major hotels and other tourist installations have increased security, including with the help of police, in response to the crime epidemic. These efforts are in various stages of implementation.
A majority of serious crimes are never solved; of the 18 murders committed against U.S. citizens since January 2011, police have closed none. Members of the Honduran National Police have been known to engage in criminal activity, including murder. The Government of Honduras lacks sufficient resources to properly investigate and prosecute cases, and to deter violent crime. In practice, this means police may take hours to arrive at the scene of a violent crime or not respond at all. The police often lack vehicles or fuel to respond to calls for assistance. As a result, criminals operate with a high degree of impunity throughout Honduras. The Honduran government is in the early stages of substantial reforms to its criminal justice institutions.
Transnational criminal organizations conduct narcotics trafficking and other unlawful activities throughout the country and use violence to control drug trafficking routes and carry out other criminal activity. Other criminals, acting both individually and in gangs in Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula, commit crimes such as murder, kidnapping, carjacking, armed robbery, rapes, and other aggravated assaults.
Kidnappings and disappearances are an ongoing concern throughout the country. Kidnapping affects both the local and expatriate communities, with victims sometimes paying large ransoms for the prospect of release. Kidnapping is believed to be underreported. Since January 1, 2012, four cases of U.S. citizens being kidnapped were reported to the U.S. Embassy. The kidnapping victims were all subsequently released.
U.S. citizens should be vigilant of their surroundings at all times and in all locations, especially when entering or exiting their homes, hotels, cars, garages, schools, and workplaces. Whenever possible, U.S. citizens should travel in groups of two or more persons; avoid wearing jewelry and carrying large sums of money or displaying cash, ATM/credit cards, or other valuables; and avoid walking at night in most areas of Honduras or walking alone on beaches, historic ruins, and trails. Incidents of crime along roads, including carjacking and kidnapping, are common in Honduras. Motorists should avoid traveling at night and always drive with their doors locked to deter potential robberies at traffic lights and on congested downtown streets.
The location and timing of criminal activity is unpredictable. We recommend that all travelers exercise caution when traveling anywhere in Honduras. However, certain areas of the country demonstrate higher levels of criminal activity than others. Honduran “departments” (a geographic designation similar to U.S. states) with homicide rates higher than the national average of 85.5 per 100,000 in 2012 include:
Atlántida (including La Ceiba)
Colón
Comayagua
Copán
Cortés (including San Pedro Sula)
Francisco Morazán (including Tegucigalpa)
Ocotepeque
Olancho
Yoro
There are not reliable statistics for the department of Gracias a Dios, however travelers to this area should note that it is a remote location with limited government services and frequent presence of narcotics traffickers.
For more detailed information regarding personal security, please see the State Department’s Country Specific Information for Honduras. For the latest security information, U.S. citizens traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Bureau of Consular Affairs’Web site, where the Worldwide Caution, Travel Warnings, and Travel Alerts can be found. U.S. citizens living or traveling in Honduras are strongly encouraged to sign up for the State Department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program to obtain updated information on travel and security within Honduras.
If you or someone you know becomes the victim of a crime in Honduras, you should contact the local police and the U.S. Embassy in Tegucigalpa. If your passport is stolen, the U.S. Embassy can help you replace it. For violent crimes such as assault and rape, the U.S. Embassy can help you find appropriate medical care, contact family members and friends, and help them send you money. Although the investigation and prosecution of crime are the responsibility of local authorities, U.S. consular officers can provide guidance on the local criminal justice process and find you an attorney if needed. The U.S. Embassy does not provide private security for citizens visiting Honduras.
The Embassy is located on Avenida La Paz in Tegucigalpa and can be reached by telephone at (504) 2236-9320/2238-5114 or by fax at (504) 2236-9037. For after-hours emergencies, please call (504) 2236-8497. The Embassy’s American Citizen Services Unit can be reached directly by telephone at (504) 2238-5114 ext. 4400 and by fax at (504) 2238-4357 or by e-mail at usahonduras@state.gov. The American Citizen Services Unit’s Facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/
The U.S. Consular Agency in San Pedro Sula, which accepts passport applications and performs notarial services, is located on the eleventh floor of the Banco Atlantida building (across from Central Park), telephone (504) 2558-1580. The agency is openMonday-Wednesday-Friday from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. In case of emergency in the San Pedro Sula/north coast area, please contact the Embassy in Tegucigalpa at (504) 2236-9320/2238-5114, which will forward the call to the consular agent if necessary.
United Kingdom
Still current at: 24 November 2012Updated: 09 August 2012 |
This travel advice by the United Kingdom Government has been reviewed and reissued with an amendment to the Travel Summary (removal of advice relating to Tropical Storm Ernesto). The overall level of the advice has not changed; there are no travel restrictions in place in this travel advice for Honduras.
(see travel advice legal disclaimer)
Travel advice for Honduras by The UK Government
TRAVEL SUMMARY for Honduras by the UK Government
- The rainy season in Honduras normally runs from June to November, coinciding with the hurricane season in the Caribbean. The country has already suffered heavy rain damage, flooding and landslides this year, with a yellow alert currently in place for parts of the country, including Tegucigalpa. See Natural Disasters -Hurricanes/Tropical Storms.
- There is no British Embassy in Honduras. For emergency consular assistance, contact the Honorary Consuls in Tegucigalpa, San Pedro Sula or Roatan, or the British Embassy in Guatemala City. See General -consular assistance.
- Crime rates in Honduras are high. The presence of the military supporting the police can be seen in some parts of the country, for example in Bajo Aguan. See the Political Situation
- There remains a risk of short-notice public demonstrations in Honduras in response to political events. British nationals in Honduras should exercise a high degree of caution and to stay away from large gatherings and places of public protest. See the Political Situation section of this Travel Advice.
- The main types of incident for which British nationals required consular assistance in Honduras in 2010 were: victims of crime, mostly from armed robbery or pickpocketing, and replacing lost or stolen passports.
- There is a low threat from terrorism. But you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks which could be in public areas, including those frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers.
- You should take out comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. See General - Insurance.
Canada
February 12, 2013
Advisories
HONDURAS CANADA Travel Advisory - Exercise a high degree of caution
Regional Advisory for parts of Valle, Choluteca and Olancho
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada advises against all travel to San Francisco de Coray and Langue in the department of Valle; Orocuina, Apacilagua and Morolica in the department of Choluteca; San Francisco de la Paz and Gualaco in the department of Olancho due to high levels of violence and crime.
Australia
This Advice was last issued on Thursday, 06 September 2012. We continue to advise Australians in Honduras to exercise a high degree of caution because of the high levels of violent crime.
Condition Yellow
Exercise a high degree of caution. Pay close attention to your personal security at all times and monitor the media about possible new safety or security risks.
Each year over seven million Australians travel overseas – and each year the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade provides consular assistance to more than 20,000 Australians in difficulty.
Australia Travel smart provides useful travel information and advice to help you have an enjoyable, hassle-free travel experience.
The travel advice on smartraveller.gov.au contains important destination-specific information that you need to know when planning an overseas trip. There’s useful advice on local laws, entry and exit requirements and health issues, and an indicative rating of the security situation in particular countries. Our aim is to help you determine at a glance the level of risk in travelling to a particular destination. However, it’s a good idea to also consider the other travel information on smartraveller.gov.au before you go. Remember that the security situation can change quickly, so check the travel advice regularly while you’re away or subscribe to get free email updates.
Visit the Australian top ten travel tips for Australians page for our ten most important travel tips.
New Zealand
Reviewed: 11 June 2010, 12:05 NZDT
Still current at: 03 December 2012
There is some risk to your security in Honduras due to violent crime and the potential for civil unrest and we advise caution.
There are high levels of violent crime in Honduras including armed robbery, kidnapping and murder. There have been reports of armed robbery and bus/carjackings, affecting tourists on a number of routes, including on main highways. We recommend you avoid travelling or walking alone and at night and advise you to remain vigilant at all times.
New Zealanders travelling or resident in Honduras should have comprehensive medical and travel insurance policies in place that include provision for medical evacuation by air.
New Zealanders travelling or resident in Honduras are strongly encouraged to register their details with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
GENERAL TRAVEL ADVICE
Recent Honduras Political History
Honduras is traditionally considered to have a democratic constitutional government. This all changed on June 28, 2009, when members of the Honduran army led a coup d’etat, expelling the country’s president, Jose Manuel “Mel” Zelaya Rosales, to Costa Rica. The Honduras national congress declared the president of congress, Roberto Micheletti, to be the new president of Honduras. Five months after the coup, in a democratic election on November 29, 2009, the people elected Porfirio “Pepe” Lobo Sosa president. His term will end in January of 2014.
Porfirio (Pepe Lobo) Sosa’s election has restored some political stability in Honduras, political demonstrations frequently occur in major cities, at border crossings and along major roads and highways. The United States of America State Department notes that while most of these demonstrations are peaceful, they can disrupt traffic for hours at a time, and police may use tear gas, water cannons or rubber bullets to break them up. The USA State Department urges U.S. citizens traveling in Honduras to avoid areas where these demonstrations are taking place. Because the demonstrations are designed to block traffic, the State Department warns U.S. citizens never to attempt to cross such a road block. Doing so and even trying to “bribe” your way through can sometimes lead to riots breaking out. (Editors note: Personally have attempted this a few times, no more! Wait it out or find another way.
Crime
According to the U.S. State Department, crime is widespread throughout Honduras. Violent crime against U.S. citizens includes robbery, assault, kidnapping, rape and murder. Apprehension and conviction of criminals is low. Only 28 of the 102 murders of U.S. citizens since 1995 have been resolved. Concern for safety caused the Peace Corps to pull its volunteers out of Honduras in January 2012. According to the United Nations Development Program, Honduras has the highest per capita murder rate in the world. The Peace Corps had one its largest deployments World Wide in Honduras and is sorely missed.
Prevention
The USA State Department urges U.S. citizens to take responsibility for their own safety when traveling in Honduras. Driving with car doors locked and windows up can help prevent robberies and carjackings in heavily congested areas or at traffic lights. (This is a “must” in cities like Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula) U.S. citizens are encouraged to avoid traveling at night. Travel throughout Honduras on public transportation such as Hedman Alas Buses are the safest and should be by first class, rather than economy class. The State Department also encourages common sense actions such as going out only in groups of at least two, refraining from wearing excessive or expensive jewelry, avoiding carrying large sums of cash and not displaying credit or ATM cards. (If you have the time, go inside the banks and get your cash advances; this is much safer not only from street crime but also some ATM machines throughout the country have been knowned to be hacked by Columbian cyber hackers. (This is especially true in the Bay Islands. Also this will save you the ATM fees which can amount to a very nice meal in Honduras.)
Considerations
The U.S. State Department recommends all U.S. citizens visiting Honduras to register with the U.S. embassy through the State Department’s travel registration website. This allows the State Department to provide travelers with updated travel and security information. It also improves the embassy’s ability to contact the traveler in the event of an emergency. U.S. Consular Agency Banco Atlantida Building – 11th Floor San Pedro Sula, Honduras 011-504-558-1580 The Consul’s name is Mark Werner and has been doing his Job since this “Editor” was a teenager in the 70′s so he is extremely helpful and “knows” everyone. There are also assigned US “Wardens” in most regions throughout Honduras. If you get into any conflict ask Law enforcement to get in touch with the US Embassy immediately. This holds true for Germany, the United Kingdom Australia and many other countries who have large populations of Expats living in Honduras.
Health Concerns
The U.S. State Department notes that no medical facilities in Honduras live up to U.S. standards and facilities for advanced surgical procedures are not available outside of the major cities. Mosquito-borne diseases, including malaria and dengue fever, continue to be a problem in Honduras. In addition to regular vaccinations, the U.S. State Department recommends citizens traveling to Honduras get vaccinated against hepatitis A and B and typhoid. Honduras also suffers from the highest rate of AIDS in the region and precautions should be taken. The threat of contracting AIDS in Honduras should not be taken lightly especially in tourist destinations where prostitution levels are extremely high.
Vaccinations
A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from all travellers arriving within six days from infected areas. A cholera vaccination certificate is no longer a condition of entry into Honduras, but precautions are essential. Typhoid may be a risk in rural areas. Malaria risk, in the benign vivax form, exists throughout the year in 80% of areas, especially rural ones. Transmission risk is low in the remainder, which includes the cities of Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula. Hepatitis A vaccination is recommended. Tap water is generally unsafe to drink in all of Honduras and milk is often unboiled and it is best to buy canned. Take local advice.
To live in Honduras and travel in Honduras can be an extremely satisfying experience; just use COMMON SENSE!
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