North and Central America and Caribbean

Terrorism

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. 

 

For more general information see Terrorism abroad.

Crime

There are high levels of crime in Honduras.  The majority of serious crime involves Honduran citizens and does not affect tourists.  However, there have been attacks on tourists in recent years, including armed robbery, car/busjackings and sexual offences including rape. 

 

For more general information see Rape and sexual assault abroad.

 

The main type of incident for which British nationals require consular assistance in Honduras is for pickpocketing and loss of passports.  Petty theft is a problem in cities and tourist areas, including the Bay Islands.  You should be particularly careful of your belongings at bus stations, airports, tourist places and on public transport.  You should keep your valuables locked away in a safe or keep them on your person when travelling.

 

Despite the high levels of crime most visits to Honduras are trouble-free.  However, the risk of becoming a victim exists and you should take steps to mitigate the risk.  You should take your personal security seriously and be aware of your surroundings at all times.  The following advice may help:

 

Particular attention should be taken if travelling between towns and cities at night.  We advise against walking around Tegucigalpa, San Pedro Sula and other main towns and cities on mainland Honduras after dark.

 

The Bay Islands are generally safer than mainland Honduras.  However there have been several attacks on visitors at the Bay Islands including on the ferries to/from mainland Honduras.  You should remain aware of your surroundings and take sensible precautions when travelling on the Bay Islands. 

 

You should avoid walking in quiet areas after dark, in particular on beaches in Tela and the north coast towns.  There have been several attacks on foreigners on beaches in recent years after dark, including on the Bay Islands.  Victims have been killed and injured resisting attack.  It is useful to carry a few Lempiras to hand out in the event of a robbery.

 

You should avoid displaying items of value such as cameras, MP3 players and mobile phones.  This is particularly important when arriving at the airport.  There have been instances of foreigners being targeted when leaving the vicinity of the airports in San Pedro Sula and Tegucigalpa.  You are advised not to wear expensive jewellery and only carry minimal amounts of cash when travelling in Honduras.

 

You should take care travelling alone in Honduras.  When travelling to remote areas it may be safer to travel with others or take part in a tour with a reputable company.  The same applies to walking on trails and at historical places, as there have been reports of attacks on tourists walking alone.  You should never accept lifts from strangers or attempt to hitchhike anywhere in Honduras.

 

You should take care travelling in Honduras as there have been reports of violent attacks on cars and buses in recent years. We advise against travelling on microbuses (colectivos) in large cities such as Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula for security reasons. You should exercise caution when driving in Honduras on certain routes as car jackings have occurred. Please see the Local Travel section of this travel advice for more details.

 

It is safer to withdraw money from ATMs in shopping centres or change money in hotels or banks.  It is wise not to withdraw too much money at one time.  There have been attacks on foreigners after they have withdrawn money from ATMs.  You should avoid withdrawing money at night.

 

Petty crime is widespread in urban areas, and at tourist sites.  You should be particularly careful of your belongings at bus stations, airports, crowded tourist places and on buses.  Theft is common on Roatan and the Bay Islands.  Travel with several sources of funds: cash, travellers’ cheques (in US dollars), credit cards, etc, but keep them safe and in separate places.  Carry a photocopy of your passport for identification purposes.  Although it is illegal to be without some form of identification in Honduras, a photocopy is acceptable.

 

For more general information see Victims of crime abroad.

 

Political Situation

Honduras Country Profile

We continue to advise against all but essential travel to Honduras due to the ongoing political crisis. Although both parties signed an agreement on 30 October as a means to end the crisis, further political debate is required by the Supreme Court and Congress to bring the agreement into effect.  President Zelaya is maintaining his refuge in the Brazilian Embassy and his supporters continue to demonstrate sporadically in the capital and elsewhere in the country. There is a cordon around the Brazilian Embassy. As a result of these events the situation in Honduras, particularly the capital Tegucigalpa, remains tense and unpredictable and may deteriorate very quickly.

Military personnel are still deployed on the streets of Tegucigalpa.  The curfew previously in place has been lifted, but could be reintroduced at any time should there be a change in the situation in Honduras.

Previously, these curfews have been countrywide and have impacted heavily on transport networks and interfered with flights in and out of Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula International Airports. Anyone intending to travel to or through Honduras should contact his or her travel operator for further advice. We advise all British nationals in Honduras to respect any imposed curfew hours and keep abreast of the situation by monitoring local media and the FCO's Travel Advice or by consulting with relevant travel authorities or by getting in touch with your closest Consulate (contact details on our Embassy website www.ukinguatemala.fco.gov.uk).

Generally, demonstrations occur in Honduras from time to time, sometimes with little warning.  They can become violent and disrupt movement.  You are advised to avoid large gatherings or demonstrations.

The Honduran Constitution prohibits political activities by foreigners, and participation in activities such as demonstrations may result in detention and/or deportation.

Local Travel

We advise against all but essential travel to Honduras for the duration of the current crisis.

 

Should you choose to ignore this advice you should take care travelling in Honduras as there have been reports of violent attacks on cars and buses in recent years.  Particular care should be taken if travelling on microbuses (colectivos) in large cities such as Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula for security reasons.  Travelling on major roads between large towns/cities is safer than travelling on more remote routes.

 

When travelling by car, it is safer to travel on main roads between major cities and destinations. You are at greater risk of attack in remote areas with fewer police patrols.  Take simple precautions such as locking doors and keeping windows closed whilst travelling. Do not travel between towns/cities after dark as you greatly increase the risk of attack.

 

Roads that have seen attacks in recent years include routes from Limones to La Union and also from Olancho via Salama to Saba.  You should exercise particular caution on the roads from Gualaco to San Estaban and La Esparanza to Gracias.  The isolated roads of the Department of Santa Barbara have also seen criminal activity, and hijackings of vehicles have occurred on roads in/around Tela, La Ceiba, Trujillo and El Progreso.  In October 2007, two incidents of busjackings have occurred involving British and German tour bus groups in Santa Rita, on the road between San Pedro Sula and Copan.

 

You should pay attention to your security at the border areas with Guatemala, El Salvador and Nicaragua.  In particular, travellers have been targeted by armed robbers after crossing the Honduran border into El Salvador.  You should avoid openly changing large amounts of money and make sure valuables are kept out of sight.  It is often better to cross borders in the morning as borders sometimes close in the early evening or remain unmanned at nights.  It also allows time for you to reach your destination before dark.

 

There are unmarked minefields in/around the border with Nicaragua.  You should exercise caution and avoid walking on unmarked paths or off main roads in these areas.

 

Road travel

Driving standards in Honduras are generally poor and you should drive with caution.  Road travel at night is inadvisable, not only for security reasons, but also because many vehicles travel without lights and animals often wander across the roads causing accidents. 

Public buses in Honduras are often poorly maintained and recklessly driven. Accidents are common and occasionally fatal.  Luxury-type buses, normally operated by private companies, are usually better maintained.

 

For more general information see Driving abroad.