Honduras FAQ's

What is the departure tax/fee?

The Honduran departure tax is US$38 and must be paid in cash in person. You can use either US $$ or Lempira or combination, but no credit cards.

Is it safe to travel to Honduras?

The government of Honduras is working hard to improve safety throughout the country for both citizens and tourists. Safety in most cities is comparable with other big cities around the world. It is advisable not to carry a lot of cash. Store any valuables in your hotel's safe when possible and keep a copy of your important document numbers (passport, visa, traveler’s checks, etc.) in a safe place.

What are the business hours?

Most banks are open from Mon-Fri 9 am to 3 pm (some banks open until 6 pm) this does though vary branch to branch. Some branches also open Sat 9 am to midday. If possible try to avoid visiting banks the day before or after a public holiday or at the end of the month as the banks can be extremely busy and you may need to wait up to an hour for service.

What are the public and bank holidays?

Jan 1 - New Year’s Day.
Apr 14 - Day of the Americas.
 varies - Maundy Thursday. 
 varies - Good Friday.
May 1 - Labor Day.
Sep 15 - National Day.
Oct 3 - Morazán Day.
Oct 12 - Columbus Day.
Oct 21 - Armed Forces Day.
Dec 25 - Christmas Day.

What types of health services are available?

Health care is most available in major cities and touristic areas. We highly recommend you purchase insurance before traveling, just to be sure.  Check the Travel Guard button on our home page for a quote.

What is the currency? Can I use a Credit Card?

The currency is the Lempira. 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. Exchange houses are open longer and offer quicker service (and usually a better exchange rate) than banks.
 

MasterCard and Visa are accepted in major hotels and restaurants in larger towns. Some establishments may charge you a user fee of up to 6%. Before traveling, be certain to let your card company that you are traveling and may be using a card. 

We are happy to check with your hotels in advance as to credit card acceptance.

What is the protocol for tipping? What is the sales tax?

 A 12% value added tax is added to the price of all services and merchandise. Some luxury items have a higher tax. Also many restaurants or hotels will add an additional 10% service charge as a tip. This is not compulsory to pay. Check your bill before tipping as it may have already been included.

Will my cell phone work in Honduras? What about Internet?

 Some US carries offer GSM roaming services in Honduras.  Please check with your provider. You can buy a local cell phone and prepaid minutes. Tigo, Claro and Digicel are among the cell companies in the country; there should be a kiosk at the airport. Wi-Fi is growing all over the country and the islands although connections vary greatly. Establishments may charge for usage.

What language is spoken?

Spanish is the official language of Honduras. English is spoken in the Bay Islands and in most tourist areas. Traditional languages are still used in some more remote areas of the country such as Olancho and the Mosquitia.

What is the time zone?

 Honduras is in the Central Time zone and does not observe daylight saving time. Honduras is 6 hours behind Greenwich mean time (GMT).

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