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Honduras travel guide
Caribbean reefs, Maya ruins and cloud-forest mountains.
Honduras offers some of the cheapest diving in the world around the Bay Islands of Roatán and Utila. Inland you find the beautifully carved Maya ruins of Copán, cloud forests and Lake Yojoa.
Travel tools
Getting there
The main airports are in San Pedro Sula, Tegucigalpa (Palmerola) and Roatán, with flights from the US and Central America. Land borders connect to Guatemala, El Salvador and Nicaragua.
Best time to visit: Feb–Aug for the Bay Islands; Nov–Apr is driest inland.
Tougher months: October-January on the Caribbean coast and Bay Islands due to heavy rain and storms; September-November is the peak of hurricane risk.
Weather by month in Tegucigalpa
- 27°J
- 29°F
- 31°M
- 31°A
- 31°M●
- 29°J●●
- 28°J●●
- 29°A●●
- 29°S●●
- 28°O●●
- 27°N●
- 26°D
Average daytime highs in °C; dots show how rainy the month is (one dot dry, three dots wet).
Time zone: America/Tegucigalpa. Compare with your local time.
Visas: in our passport dataset, 86 of 198 other passports can enter Honduras without arranging a visa first (visa-free or visa on arrival), 0 need an e-visa or electronic authorisation, and 112 need a visa in advance. Check your passport.
Background: Visa policy of Honduras (Wikipedia).
Official advisory: Level 3: Reconsider Travel (U.S. Department of State, updated 2026-08-25). Read the advisory.
Source and more: Honduras travel facts on RoamSun
Stay
Most trips to Honduras are based around Copán Ruinas, Roatán or Utila. Pick a base for your main interest, then add day trips rather than moving hotels every night.
Typical daily budget: about US$30–45 for a backpacker and US$70–140 mid-range, per person.
Source: RoamSun Honduras page · Browse hotel guides
Connect
Plug types: A, B. Voltage: 120 V. Check your own devices on the plug and currency checker.
Calling code: +504.
Mobile data: read the travel eSIM setup guide before you fly so the plan is installed and ready on landing.
Source: Advinne eSIM guide · RoamSun
Do
- Copán Ruinas (West · Maya ruins): A charming cobbled town beside spectacular UNESCO-listed Maya ruins.
- Roatán (Bay Islands · diving & beaches): White-sand beaches like West Bay and superb reef diving.
- Utila (Bay Islands · budget diving): A laid-back island famous for affordable dive courses and whale sharks.
- La Ceiba & Pico Bonito (North coast · adventure): Gateway to rafting, jungle hikes and ferries to the Bay Islands.
- Lake Yojoa (Central · lake): The country's largest lake with birdlife, coffee farms and waterfalls.
- Gracias (West · colonial town): Colonial charm, hot springs and access to Celaque cloud forest.
- Comayagua (Central · colonial city): A former capital with churches and a beautifully restored centre.
- Cayos Cochinos (Caribbean · marine reserve): Tiny protected islands with Garifuna villages and clear water.
Things to do
- Explore Copán Ruins. Marvel at intricately carved stelae and the Hieroglyphic Stairway of one of the Maya world's artistic capitals.
- Dive Roatán and Utila. Explore the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, one of the cheapest places in the world to learn to dive.
- Swim with whale sharks. Search for gentle giants off Utila in the right season.
- Visit Garifuna villages. Hear punta music and taste coconut-based dishes in coastal communities near Tela and Trujillo.
- Hike Pico Bonito. Trek rainforest trails and swim in rivers near La Ceiba.
- Raft the Cangrejal River. Tackle whitewater rapids flowing out of the mountains.
- See the scarlet macaws. Watch Honduras' national bird at the Macaw Mountain bird park near Copán.
- Wander colonial Comayagua. See one of the Americas' oldest working clocks in its cathedral.
Source: full Honduras guide on RoamSun
Eat and drink
- Baleada – flour tortilla with beans, cheese and cream
- Sopa de caracol – conch soup in coconut milk
- Plato típico – grilled meat with beans, plantain and rice
- Pastelitos – fried corn pastries
Source: RoamSun Honduras guide
Money and safety
Currency: Honduran lempira (HNL). Currency and plug checker.
Tipping: 10% in restaurants.
Emergency numbers: 911 police, fire & ambulance.
- The currency is the lempira; US dollars are widely accepted on the Bay Islands.
- Use ATMs inside banks or malls during the day; carry small notes.
- Check your government's latest travel advice; crime levels are high in parts of major cities like San Pedro Sula and Tegucigalpa.
- Avoid travelling after dark and use registered taxis or arranged transport.
Source: RoamSun Honduras facts
Frequently asked questions
What is the best time to visit Honduras?
Feb–Aug for the Bay Islands; Nov–Apr is driest inland. Hot on the coasts and cooler in the mountains, with heavy rains late in the year on the Caribbean side.
What time zone is Honduras in?
Honduras uses America/Tegucigalpa.
Do I need a visa for Honduras?
It depends on your passport. In our dataset 86 of 198 other passports can enter without a prior visa, 0 need an e-visa or eTA and 112 need a visa in advance. Use the visa checker and confirm with the official government source.
What plug and voltage does Honduras use?
Honduras uses plug type A, B at 120 V. Check whether your devices are dual-voltage before you plug in.
What is the calling code for Honduras?
The international calling code for Honduras is +504.
Do you tip in Honduras?
10% in restaurants.
What is the emergency number in Honduras?
911 police, fire & ambulance.
Which side of the road do they drive on in Honduras?
Traffic drives on the right.