Why Honduras?
- Honduras and its growing eco-tourism sector have easily accessible, gorgeous national parks; cloud forests; national reserves; and botanical gardens - - all with remarkable scenery.
Each park offers great birding, hiking, photography opportunities, water rafting near La Ceiba, kayaking or sightseeing.
- Honduras has marvelous beaches on Roatán, Guanaja, and Utila - - some of the finest in all of Latin America and the Caribbean. These beaches are tourism 'gold' for Honduras. Go for the great scuba diving, the snorkeling, the kayaking, the swimming, the long walks on the beach. (The beaches are probably Honduras' tourism best known destinations).
- Honduras has the Mayan Ruins at Copan Ruinas - An ancient civilization rich in culture comes alive alongside its descendents. Planned infrastructure improvements will only add to the Honduras eco-tourism growth in the Copán area, a short 2.5 hour bus ride from San Pedro Sula.
- Honduras is a different culture, very unlike North America, yet ever so close. San Pedro Sula and Tegucigalpa are a 2.0 hour non-stop flight from New Orleans, Houston,Atlanta or Miami. As leisure time increases, eco-tourism in Honduras can become a growing industry; for those desiring a visit to nature at its purest, Honduras is a good choice.
- A Honduras Vacation is Inexpensive - Honduras tourism offers a tremendous value for your dollar. Transportation, food and hotel prices are as reasonable as any place in the world. If you can get your PADI-diving certification more inexpensively anywhere, please let me know.
- Honduras is manageable - Unlike some of the larger countries in Latin America, much of Honduras can be seen in a two-week visit.
What types of identification are necessary to enter Honduras?
Visitors from the U.S., Central and South America need a valid passport (at least 6 month validity) . Travelers from other countries may need a visa; please contact us for any additional question in this matter. You will need US $32.00 for departure taxes.
Do I need any type of vaccines to visit Honduras? Malaria pills?
There are no outbreak of diseases in Honduras and if you want to take any malaria pills it is only for your own peace of mind, we have never had any visitor catching malaria.
Can I bring my pet?
If you are visiting the country for a short period of time, it is better not to do it, since the quarantine periods for a pet to clear its entry to Honduras is more than 8 days.
What should I pack?
Packing for Honduras differs depending on where you go. The central plateau and mountainous zones tend to be cool, while the coastal regions are warmer with relatively high humidity. The time of year can also play a part. The rainy season runs from May to October, it is advisable to carry a raincoat. If you go sightseeing bring sturdy hiking boots and wear light, loose clothing, which is great for trekking. Conservative attire is best for smaller towns and the interior of the country while sporty, comfortable beachwear is ideal for resort areas. When traveling to Honduras, bug repellent is usually a good idea in the National Parks and some beaches. Sunscreen is also a must because of Honduran bright sunshine and long days.
Where can I exchange my currency?
US dollars are easily exchanged for Lempiras in banks, major hotels, airports and exchange houses. Most Honduran banks are open on weekdays only from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. There are ATM’s available throughout the most important cities of Honduras. (i.e. San Pedro Sula, Tegucigalpa, Roatan, Copan Ruins & La Ceiba) and you can perfectly use you ATM cards to withdraw money. Traveler checks are honored at major banks.
How much is the sales tax?
A 12 percent value added tax (“ ISV ” ) is added to all retail items except medicine. Some luxury goods have a higher tax.
What are the refund polices in Honduras?
Unused portions of land packages are not refundable for any reason including airline delays, cancellations, weather, or acts of God. We highly recommend Travel Insurance when traveling to Honduras.
Should I be concerned about the water?
Purified water is used in beverages and ice and for cooking in all big-city hotels and restaurants. It is best to stick with bottled water and beverages, without ice, in outlying areas.
How much should I budget for on a daily basis?
This is a tough question. Visitors to this site are all the way from backpackers to folks who stay at all-inclusive resorts. One hundred dollars per day for room, traveling expenses, meals, rafting, special entrance fees, etc. should be more than enough. Hard alcohol and wine are expensive (local rum and beer are not).
Backpackers can get by on $15-20 per day if frugal and traveling with others. Dive resorts at the high end on Roatan and Guanaja can start at $200 per day and on up. You will find many options between those extremes.
When is the Carnival in Ceiba?
La Ceiba is renowned for its Carnival (Carnaval in Spanish), with many saying it is the second best in all of Latin America. Music, food, dancing in the street, a wee-bit of imbibing, and parades. It usually falls the last two weeks in May but you really, really, need to check with someone in Ceiba, say your hotel, for specific dates. Get those reservations way early, though. Rooms get booked really fast.
Should I bring adapters for my small appliances?
Standard current is 110 volt AC, as in the US, however adapters are useful because three prong outlets are not widely available.
From where do you have International direct flights from, and which are the airlines?
We have direct flights from: Miami, Houston, Atlanta, Italy (Roatan Island only) and Central America. The airlines that are flying in are: TACA, Delta, American Airlines, Continental.
What about internet access or calling overseas?
The opening of telecommunications in Honduras has helped in a way that internet access and international phone calls are getting cheaper by the day. There are always lots of internet cafes near hotels especially in major cities. Internet access and international phone calls are very cheap. Hotels also have them, but they are pricier, though.
Emergency phone numbers in Honduras:
- 195 – HONDURAN RED CROSS
- 198 – FIRE DEPARTMENT
- 199 – POLICE
- 222 – TRANSIT POLICE
If calling from a cell phone, dial * followed by the three digit number and your call
will be free of charge.
Other Contacts:
- TURASER HONDURAS: 800-220-8687
- TURASER REPRESENTATIVE 24X7 (Angeles Armstrong): 9979-4291 (cell phone)
- AMERICAN EMBASSY HONDURAS: 236-9320
- TOURIST INFORMATION AND ASSISTANCE IN TEGUCIGALPA: 800-222-8687
- TOURIST INFORMATION AND ASSISTANCE IN MIAMI (USA) AND CANADA: 1-800-460-9608
- TEGUCIGALPA TOURISM POLICE: 222-2124 / Cell: 392-5157
- SAN PEDRO SULA TOURISM POLICE: 550-3472
- TELA TOURISM POLICE: 448-0150, 448-0253
- LA CEIBA TOURISM POLICE: 441-6288
- ROATAN TOURISM POLICE: 982-8542
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