Honduras

1. What are the best places to visit in Honduras?
Top destinations include the Copán Ruins, a UNESCO World Heritage site with ancient Mayan structures, and the Bay Islands (Roatán, Utila, and Guanaja) for world-class diving and beaches. Tegucigalpa’s historic center, La Tigra National Park for hiking, and the colonial town of Gracias in Lempira are also must-sees.

2. Is it safe to travel to Honduras?
As of March 2025, the U.S. State Department rates Honduras at Level 3: Reconsider Travel due to crime, particularly in urban areas like San Pedro Sula and Tegucigalpa. However, tourist areas like Roatán, Copán, and Utila are generally safer if you avoid risky areas, travel with guides, and stay vigilant. Check the latest travel advisories before planning.

3. Do I need a visa to visit Honduras?
U.S., Canadian, EU, and UK citizens can visit Honduras visa-free for up to 90 days under the CA-4 agreement (including Guatemala, El Salvador, and Nicaragua) with a valid passport. Other nationalities may need a visa, which can be checked via the Honduran Embassy. Ensure your passport is valid for at least 6 months beyond your stay.

4. What is the best time to visit Honduras?
The best time to visit is during the dry season, from November to April, with temperatures between 77°F and 86°F (25°C to 30°C), ideal for diving, hiking, and exploring ruins. The rainy season, from May to October, brings heavy rainfall and a higher risk of hurricanes, especially in September and October.

5. What are the best diving spots in Honduras?
The Bay Islands are a diver’s paradise, with Roatán’s West End offering vibrant coral reefs and shipwrecks, Utila known for whale shark sightings (March to April, September to December), and Guanaja’s less-crowded dive sites. The Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, the second-largest in the world, runs through these islands, offering diverse marine life like eagle rays and sea turtles.

6. What are traditional Honduran foods to try?
Try baleadas, a flour tortilla filled with beans, cheese, and cream, and sopa de caracol (conch soup), a coastal specialty. Enjoy tamales, yuca con chicharrón (cassava with pork), and pescado frito con tajadas (fried fish with plantain slices). For drinks, sip on horchata (a rice-based drink) or a licuado (fruit smoothie).

7. What are the best beaches in Honduras?
Roatán’s West Bay Beach is famous for its white sand and clear waters, perfect for snorkeling. Utila’s Chepes Beach offers a quieter vibe, while Tela on the mainland has palm-lined shores like Playa de Tela. Trujillo’s Playa de la Coca is great for a more local experience, and Cayos Cochinos has pristine, undeveloped beaches.

8. What are the best cultural experiences in Honduras?
Visit the Copán Ruins during a guided tour to learn about Mayan history, attend the Feria de San Isidro in La Ceiba (May) for Garifuna music and dance, and explore the Garifuna villages in Tela or Trujillo. Join a coffee tour in Santa Rosa de Copán, and experience Semana Santa celebrations in Comayagua with colorful sawdust carpets.

9. How can I travel around Honduras?
Buses are the main transport, with local buses costing $1–$3 and express buses like Hedman Alas between major cities (Tegucigalpa to San Pedro Sula) at $15–$25. Renting a car costs $30–$60 per day (driving is on the right), ideal for rural areas. Ferries to the Bay Islands from La Ceiba cost $30–$40 one way, and domestic flights to Roatán or Utila are $100–$150.

10. What wildlife can I see in Honduras?
Honduras is a biodiversity hotspot. Spot jaguars and howler monkeys in Pico Bonito National Park, scarlet macaws in the Río Plátano Biosphere Reserve, and whale sharks near Utila. La Tigra National Park near Tegucigalpa is great for birdwatching (quetzals and toucans), and Lancetilla Botanical Garden in Tela has over 1,200 plant species.