Roatan
Port of Call – Roatan
The island of Roatan is the most popular travel destination in Honduras, and fast becoming one of the biggest ports of call in the Caribbean. The narrow island is the most well-developed in the country, especially in the West End, where luxury resorts, restaurants, bars and other attractions are constantly being built.
Roatan is a paradise for people who like to get wet: snorkelling and scuba diving along the coral reef offers the chance to see colourful fish and sea turtles, while the Bay Island Underwater Museum is a unique facility for guided snorkelling tours of sunken treasures. Land-based activities are just as plentiful, ranging from village excursions to zipline tours and cave exploration.
Cruise ships in Roatan dock at either the Coxen Hole cruise ship dock and mall complex or the Mahogany Bay Cruise Center, both of which contain a number of shops and restaurants.
Shopping in Roatan
Nearly all the shops in Roatan are in the West End along Main Street. Most are quirky little shops with a mishmash of souvenirs, local art and jewellery. Haggling is a serious sport in Roatan, and you can often bargain the price down by 50 percent or more.
Best Buy:
Brightly-painted local pottery
Dining in Roatan
Sundowners – Caribbean restaurant with creative cocktails and evening bonfires
Rendezvous Sushi Cafe – quirky restaurant serving sushi made from local fish
Earth Mama’s Garden Cafe – healthy natural food in a tranquil setting
Best Dish:
Prawn tostadas
Travel to Honduras
Climate in Honduras
Honduras has a tropical climate and experiences hot and humid conditions almost all year round, though the mountainous area is slightly cooler than the rest of the country. Travellers should note that the dry season runs from November to April and the wet season from May to October. The north coast receives rain throughout the year and the Caribbean coast experiences heavy downfall from September to February. Average annual temperatures hover around 90F (32C). Hurricane season runs from June to November and landslides, mudslides and flooding may occur.
Health Notes when travelling to Honduras
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 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. Travel health insurance is recommended.
Safety Notes when travelling to Honduras
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, are common, and petty crime occurs frequently 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.
Customs in Honduras
The basic greeting between locals is a firm handshake and people will shake hands again when they part. If they chat a bit longer after the last handshake, they will shake hands again as they leave. On country roads, people say goodbye to people they pass, even if they don’t know each other. There is a fair amount of touching on the arms, hands or shoulders during conversations, though this tends not to be the case between genders, especially in business and formal environments. Locals mostly tolerate individuals’ personal lifestyles, and small displays of affection between same-sex couples are accepted. The attitude towards the LGBT community is more conservative outside Tegucigalpa City, and public displays of affection by same-sex couples are not recommended. There are severe penalties for drug trafficking.
Duty Free in Honduras
Travellers over 18 years do not have to pay customs duty on 200 cigarettes or 100 cigars or 450g of tobacco, 5 litres of alcoholic beverages, and reasonable amount of perfume for personal use.
Doing Business in Honduras
Appointments are necessary and should be made two weeks in advance, and visitors are expected to be punctual, even 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 suits or jackets are appropriate for men; women should wear dresses and skirts. Some businesspeople speak English, but correspondence should be in Spanish. Business hours are Monday to Friday, from 8am to 5pm, with an hour or two taken over lunch.
Communication in Honduras
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). Roaming agreements exist with international mobile phone companies and coverage is generally good along the coast and around major towns; visitors can purchase local prepaid SIM cards for unlocked phones. Nearly every hotel and hostel offers free WiFi, as do many bars, cafes, restaurants, as well as public squares and other government institutions.
Tipping in Honduras
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.
Passport/Visa Note
All foreign passengers to Honduras must hold onward or return tickets, and all necessary travel documentation for their next destination. Visa extensions can be obtained from the Immigration Office. 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.
Entry Requirements
- Entry requirements for Americans:
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.
- Entry requirements for Canadians:
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.
- Entry requirements for 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.
- Entry requirements for Australians:
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.
- Entry requirements for Irish 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.
- Entry requirements for New Zealanders:
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.
- Entry requirements for South Africans:
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.
Tourist Offices
Honduran Institute of Tourism, Tegucigalpa: +504 2222 2124, http://www.honduras.travel/en/
Honduras Embassies
- In the United States:
Embassy of Honduras, Washington DC, United States: +1 202 966 7702.
- In Canada:
Embassy of Honduras, Montreal, Canada: +1 514 439 7151.
- In the United Kingdom:
Embassy of Honduras, London, United Kingdom: +44 20 7486 4880.
- In Australia:
Embassy of Honduras, Sydney, Australia +61 2 9350 8115.
Foreign Embassies in Honduras
- American Embassy
American Embassy, Tegucigalpa: +504 236 9320.
- Canadian Embassy
Canadian Embassy, San José, Costa Rica (also responsible for Honduras): +506 2242 4400.
- British Embassy
British Honorary Consulate, Tegucigalpa: +504 237 6577.
- Australian Embassy
Australian Embassy, Mexico City, Mexico (also responsible for Honduras): +52 55 1101 2200.
- South African Embassy
South African Embassy, San Pedro Sula: +504 552 2093.
(+504) 552 2093
Public Holidays Around the World
Planning your year? Knowing public holidays in different countries can help you plan trips, schedule events, or understand global schedules. Below, find a comprehensive list of public holidays sorted by country.
