Overview
Honduras is a land of lowlands and fertile valleys, and the port city of La Ceiba, which mainly ships bananas around the world, sees tourism as an important future source of income. Honduras has good hotels and beaches and, just as important, an international airport. Once an important port, Trujillo offers visitors fascinating pirate history and great tropical beaches. Hurricane Mitch devastated most of the country in 1998, but most of the infrastructure has been rebuilt with international help. Despite everything, the economy is still marked by this natural disaster. See other countries in North America on extrareference.
Getting there
Arriving by plane
There are no direct flights from Frankfurt/M., Zurich and Vienna to Honduras. United (UA) flies non-stop to Tegucigalpa from Houston, American Airlines (AA) from Miami and Delta Airlines (DL) from Atlanta. Lufthansa (LH) offers non-stop flights to Houston, Miami and Atlanta; Connections from Austria and Switzerland include London, Paris and Amsterdam.
Flight times
Frankfurt/M. – Tegucigalpa: 18 hrs; Vienna – Tegucigalpa: approx. 21 hours; Zurich – Tegucigalpa: approx. 18 hours (each with at least 1 stopover).
Departure fee
The airport fee, which is usually already included in the ticket price, is around €36 (US$40) on departure.
Arrival by car
Honduras can be reached via the Pan-American Highway from El Salvador and Nicaragua, and there are also connecting roads from Guatemala. Waiting times must be expected at the border crossings. It is important to look out for the stamp in your passport at the border, as otherwise there is a risk of high penalties for entering the country illegally. Long-distance bus: Comfortable long-distance buses from private providers such as Ticabus go to all the capitals of Central America. Hedman Alas connects Guatemala to Honduras. Advance booking is recommended. Toll: The motorways are subject to tolls. Documents: In addition to the national driver’s license, the international driver’s license is required.
Arrival by train
There is no cross-border rail traffic.
Arrival by ship
Roatan’s state-of-the-art cruise port, Mahogany Bay, hosts numerous cruise ships from around the world.
Cruise ships
The cruise operator Transocean also docks in Honduras on its world cruises that start in Hamburg. In Panama, Sea Cloud offers sailing cruises with a stopover in Honduras.
Ferry provider
D-Express ferries connect Placencia (Belize) with Puerto Cortés weekly (journey time: 5 hours).
Transportation
Traveling by plane
Aerolíneas Sosa (SO), CM Airlines (CC) and Avianca (AV) airlines regularly connect Tegucigalpa with the country’s provincial cities. Aerolineas Sosa (SO) also offers flights to the island of Utila off the Caribbean coast. There are over 30 business and charter airports. Even remote regions are regularly served by light aircraft.
Traveling by car/bus
The road network has a length of approx. 15,000 km. The Carretera Transoceanica crosses the country from the Pacific at San Lorenzo via Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula to the Atlantic to Puerto Cortés. All-weather roads also connect Tegucigalpa to La Ceiba, as well as some towns on the Caribbean coast and the Golfo de Fonseca. In the northeast of the country, the road network is only minimally developed.
Right-hand traffic/left-hand traffic
Right
Condition of the roads
Approximately 3,000 km of the entire road network is paved and approximately 10,000 km are open to traffic all year round. Most of the other roads are gravel roads. The road network is badly damaged overall. Driving after dark is discouraged. Off the main roads, the use of off-road vehicles is advisable.
Car rental
Rental cars are available at the airports and in the cities. Drivers under the age of 25 often pay a young driver fee locally.
Taxi
Taxis are readily available throughout the cities. In Tegucigalpa it is advisable to use the so-called radio taxis, as their driver and vehicle number are registered with a taxi company. Taxis are usually not metered, so you should agree the fare in advance. Shared taxis, called colectivos, are also available.
Bicycle
Mountain bikes are available for rent in Tela, La Ceiba and the Bay Islands.
Coach
Buses are the main means of transport. Bus companies such as Hedman Alas and Rey Express regularly serve the country’s main destinations such as San Pedro Sula, Tegucigalpa, Tela and La Ceiba.
Regulations
Traffic regulations: – Alcohol limit: 0.5 ‰. Speed limits: – in built-up areas: 50 km/h; – on rural roads: 70 km/h; – on expressways: 90 km/h.
Roadside Assistance
The ADAC foreign emergency call offers ADAC members and holders of ADAC foreign health and accident insurance comprehensive assistance in the event of vehicle breakdowns, traffic accidents, loss of documents and money, and medical emergencies. The emergency number is available around the clock; in the event of damage to the vehicle: Tel. +49 (0)89 22 22 22, in the event of illness: +49 (0)89 76 76 76. In the event of breakdowns or accidents with the rental car, the car rental company should be contacted first.
Documentation
In addition to the national driver’s license, the international driver’s license is required.
Traveling in the city
In Tegucigalpa, the buses run on fixed routes, but their stops are not labeled. The final destination of the buses can be seen above the windscreen.
Locally on the way by train
There are only three railway lines in the north of the country, which are mainly used for transporting bananas. Travelers can take a banana train from San Pedro Sula and, with some advance planning, continue on to Cuero y Salado National Park by coconut train.
Traveling by ship
Safeway Maritime ferries operate several times daily between La Ceiba and the island of Roatan (journey time: 1 hr 15 min). Island Ferry connects the island of Utila with La Ceiba (journey time: 45 minutes) and the island of Roatan (journey time: 1 hour).
