Honduras travel guide

Honduras' currency is the Lempira (HNL), which is subdivided into 100 centavos. Denominations are 10, 20 and 50 centavos. It is best to travel on the US Dollar as it is the more favourable exchange currency, but banks in larger cities will occasionally exchange Euros and Canadian Dollars. American Express, MasterCard and Visa are widely accepted in Honduras. ATMs are widely available.

Spanish is the official language although English is often spoken in the Bay Islands.

Electrical current is 110 volts, 60Hz. Flat blade attachment plugs and flat blades with round grounding pin are in use.

US nationals: US citizens must have a passport that is valid for at least three months beyond the date of arrival in Honduras. No visa is required for up to three months.

UK nationals: British citizens must have a passport that is valid for three months beyond the date of their arrival in Honduras. No visa is required for touristic or business-related stays of up to three months; except for British passports endorsed British National (Overseas), holders of which should confirm entry requirements before travel.

CA nationals: Canadian citizens must have a passport that is valid for at least three months beyond the date of their arrival in Honduras. No visa is required for up to three months.

AU nationals: Australian citizens must have a passport that is valid for at least three months beyond the date of their arrival in Honduras. No visa is required for up to three months.

ZA nationals: South African citizens must have a passport that is valid for at least three months beyond the date of their arrival in Honduras. No visa is required for touristic or business-related stays of up to three months.

IR nationals: Irish citizens must have a passport that is valid for at least three months beyond the date of their arrival in Honduras. No visa is required for up to three months.

NZ nationals: New Zealand citizens must have a passport that is valid for at least three months beyond the date of their arrival in Honduras. No visa is required for up to three months.

All foreign passengers to Honduras must hold onward/return tickets, and all necessary travel documentation for their next destination. Visa extensions can be obtained from the Immigration Office, for a fee that varies between USD 10 and USD 50. Note that travellers under 21 years of age are considered to be minors.

It is highly recommended that travellers' passports have at least six months' validity remaining after the intended date of departure from their travel destinations. Immigration officials often apply different rules to those stated by travel agents and official sources.

Mosquito-borne illnesses are an ongoing health problem in Honduras. All travellers are advised to take mosquito repellent to prevent illnesses such as malaria and dengue fever, as well as to protect from annoying mosquito and sand fly bites. It is strongly recommended that routine vaccinations are up to date. Tap water is not safe to drink but bottles or bags of purified water are readily available.

Honduras regularly suffers from severe air pollution, which can aggravate or lead to respiratory problems. For divers, there is a hyperbaric decompression chamber on Roatan. State hospitals are under-funded and travellers should use private hospitals where possible. Health insurance is recommended.

A service charge of 10 percent is usually added to bills at restaurants in Honduras, but anything extra is for good service. It is customary to tip hotel bellboys and cleaning staff for good service.

Political demonstrations in Honduras can sometimes be disruptive to traffic, but are generally announced in advance and are peaceful. Travellers should avoid areas where demonstrations are taking place and should stay informed by following the local news and consulting hotel personnel and tour guides. Incidents of crime, including carjacking along roads in Honduras is common. There have been frequent incidents of highway robbery on a number of roads. Petty crime is common in urban areas and tourist spots. Travellers should always carry a photocopy of their passport for identification purposes. It is not advisable to walk around town after dark.

There is a strong Spanish influence in Honduras. Beachwear and shorts should not be worn away from the beach or poolside. Men are required to wear dinner jackets for formal social occasions. A common and appropriate greeting for men and women is a handshake.

When conducting business in Honduras, appointments are necessary and should be made two weeks in advance. Visitors are expected to be punctual, though meetings may not start on time. Business travellers should allow plenty of time for socialising and should not rush getting straight down to business, as Hondurans place importance on establishing personal contact. Business is male dominated but since 2005 women now make up 47 percent of the labour force. Business suits or jackets for men and dresses and skirts for women are customary. Though some businesspeople speak English, correspondence should be in Spanish. Business hours are Monday to Friday, from 8am to 5pm, with an hour or two taken over lunch.

The international access code for Honduras is +504. The outgoing code is 00, followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0044 for the United Kingdom). City/area codes are not in use. Roaming agreements exist with international mobile phone companies and coverage is generally good along the coast and around major towns. Nearly every hotel and hostel offers free wifi, as do many bars, cafes and restaurants, as well as public squares and other government institutions.

Travellers over 18 years do not have to pay customs duty on 200 cigarettes or 100 cigars or 450g of tobacco, two bottles of alcoholic beverages, a reasonable amount of perfume for personal use and gifts up to a total value of US$1,000.