Honduras

Region

Central America.

Area

112,492 km² (43,433 sq miles).

Population

7.3 million (2006).

Population density

64.9 per km².

Capital

Tegucigalpa. Population: 1.2 million (2005).

Government

Republic.

Geography

Honduras shares borders in the southeast with Nicaragua, in the west with Guatemala, and in the southwest with El Salvador. To the north lies the Caribbean and to the south the Pacific Ocean. The interior of the country comprises a central mountain system running from east to west, cut by rivers flowing into both the Caribbean and Pacific. The lowlands in the south form a plain along the Pacific coast. The Gulf of Fonseca in the southwest contains many islands which have volcanic peaks.

The large fertile valleys of the northern Caribbean lowlands are cultivated with banana plantations. However, large areas of land in Honduras are unsuitable for cultivation. The majority of the population lives in the western half of the country, while the second-largest concentration of people is in the Cortés area which extends northwards from Lake Yojoa towards the Caribbean.

Language

The official language is Spanish. English is widely spoken by the West Indian settlers in the north and on the Bay Islands off the Caribbean coast. Amerindian dialects are also spoken.

Religion

Roman Catholic majority, Protestant minority.

Time

GMT - 6.

Social Conventions

There are strong Spanish influences, but the majority of the population is mestizo, mainly leading an agricultural way of life with a low standard of living. Many rural communities can still be found living a relatively unchanged, traditional lifestyle. Social courtesies should be observed. It is customary for a guest at dinner or someones home to send flowers to the hostess, either before or afterwards. Conservative casual wear is widely acceptable with dress tending to be less conservative in coastal areas. Beachwear and shorts should not be worn away from the beach or poolside. Men are required to wear dinner jackets for formal social occasions. Hotels, restaurants and shops include a 12% sales tax on all purchases.

Electricity

110/220 volts AC, 60Hz.

Head of State

President Manuel Zelaya Rosales since 2006.

Recent History

President Manuel Zelaya was sworn in on 28 January 2006. The previous president, communist Porfirio Lobo, led an offensive against Honduras soaring crime rates. Despite his efforts, crime continued to rise with street gangs (known as maras) being blamed.

Standing for the Liberal Party, President Manuel Zelaya has pledged to tackle the worsening crime problem by maintaining life sentences for the most serious offences and doubling police on the streets. He also vowed to tackle poverty in one of central Americas poorest nations. Drug trafficking and gang violence are major problems in the country and the economy is struggling. Strikes and demonstrations are common.

Climate

The climate is tropical with cooler, more temperate weather in the mountains. The north coast is very hot with rain throughout the year, and though the offshore breezes temper the climate, the sun is very strong. The dry season is from November to April and the wet season runs from May to October.

Required Clothing

Lightweight cottons and linens; warmer clothes are recommended between November and February and in the mountains. Waterproofs are needed for the wet season.

Reasonable hotels are available in both Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula (where the rates are lower, but standards equivalent to those in the capital are maintained). Elsewhere both rates and standards of comfort are somewhat lower.

The Instituto Hondureño de Turismo (see Contact Addresses) can supply lists of hotels with accommodation details.

Grading: Hotels are split into three categories (upper, middle and lower) according to standard.

GDP

US$9.3 billion (2006).

Main imports

Fabric, machinery, chemicals, petroleum and plastic and paper articles.

Main exports

Coffee, bananas, shrimp, lobster, meat, zinc and timber.

Main trade partners:

Guatemala, Mexico, UK, Canada and USA.

Economy

The economy of Honduras, which is one of the poorest nations in the western hemisphere, relies on agriculture and timber. Light industries produce a variety of consumer goods and there is a small mining industry. The economy draws heavily on various forms of US-sponsored aid. Inflation is 7.7% (2004) and annual growth 5.5% (2006). Growth is dependent on the US economy, the continued export of non-traditional products such as melons and shrimp, and the reduction of the high crime rate.

Honduras suffers from massive unemployment and extremely uneven distribution of wealth. Export earnings have been badly hit in recent years by low world prices and slack demand within the Central American Common Market, of which Honduras is a member. To compound its difficulties further, Honduras is still feeling the consequences of Hurricane Mitch in 1998, which caused an estimated US$3 billion worth of damage.

Business Etiquette

It is customary to address a professional person by his or her title, particularly on first meeting or during early acquaintance. Businesspeople are generally expected to dress smartly and some dining rooms require men to wear a jacket. There are very few local interpreter or translation services available. Though many businesspeople throughout the country also speak English, correspondence should be in Spanish.

Office Hours

Mon-Fri 0800-1200 and 1400-1700, Sat 0800-1100.

Currency

Lempira (HNL; symbol L) = 100 centavos.

Notes are in denominations of L500, 100, 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1.

Coins are in denominations of 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 centavos.

A real is one-eighth of a Lempira, and is used colloquially, though there is no such coin.

Currency Exchange

Pounds Sterling cannot normally be exchanged; visitors should therefore take US Dollars, which are easily exchanged in banks, major hotels, airports and bureaux de change. The bureaux de change usually offer a quicker service and better rate than banks.

Credit / Debit Cars

American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa are accepted. Some banks offer cash withdrawal with Visa or Mastercard.

Travelers Cheques

To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take traveller's cheques in US Dollars.

Banking Hours

Mon-Fri 0900-1600 (some banks open until 1800). Some branches open Sat 0900-1200.

Exchange Rates

Date Jan 2009

£1.00 = L18.97

$1.00 = L18.97

€1.00 = L25.36

Duty Free

The following goods may be imported into Honduras without incurring customs duty:

200 cigarettes or 100 cigars or 450g of tobacco.

Two bottles of alcoholic beverages.

A reasonable amount of perfume for personal use.

Gifts up to a total value of US$50

Shopping

Visit the local markets where local craftsmanship is excellent and inexpensive. Typical items include woodcarvings, cigars, leather goods, straw hats and bags, seed necklaces and baskets.

Shopping hours

Mon-Fri 0800-1200 and 1330-1800; Sat 0800-1700.

Food and Drink

There is a wide variety of restaurants and bars in Tegucigalpa and the main cities.

National specialties

Curiles (seafood)

Tortillas

Enchiladas

Tamales de Elote (fresh corn cakes sometimes served with cheese, chillies or raisins).

Plato tipico (rice, beef meat, fried beans (frijolitos) and fried potato (tajaditas)

National drinks

Licuados (fruit juices and milk shakes made from fruits such as mangoes, piñas, watermelons and bananas).

National beers include Salva Vida (lifesaver), Port Royal and Barena.

Tipping

Service is included in most restaurant bills. In hotels, cafes and restaurants, 10% of the bill is customary where service is not included.

Nightlife

There are cinemas and discos in the main cities. There are also casinos in the major cities, plus many bars, some of which offer happy hours.

Health

Diphtheria - Sometimes;

Hepatitis A - Yes;

Malaria - Sometimes*;

Rabies - Sometimes;

Tetanus - Yes;

Typhoid - Yes;

Yellow Fever - No**.

Note:

* Malaria risk is a variable risk throughout the year in 80% of the municipalities, especially in the rural areas such as Roatán and the other Bay Islands.

**A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from all travellers arriving from areas in the endemic zone.

Health Care

Health insurance is recommended. There are hospitals in Tegucigalpa and all the large towns. Mosquito nets are recommended for coastal areas.

Public Holidays

Below are listed Public Holidays for 2010:

1 Jan New Year's Day;

14 Apr Day of the Americas;

1 Apr Maundy Thursday;

2-5 Apr Easter;

14 Apr Americas' Day;

1 May Labour Day;

15 Sep Independence Day;

3 Oct Soldiers' Day;

12 Oct Columbus Day;

21 Oct Armed Forces' Day;

25 Dec Christmas Day

Things to Do

Take advantage of the excellent hiking on offer in Pico Bonito National Park, near La Ceiba. It also offers spectacular scenery, steep slopes and numerous waterfalls.

Go birdwatching in Honduras premier destination, Lake Yojoa in the west of the country.

Go spelunking in the Cuyamel Caves, near Trujillo. The caves have been used by various ethnic groups since pre-Colombian times. Hire a guide as they are well hidden but worth seeking out.

Take a boat trip along the winding canals of the Cuero y Salado Wildlife Refuge, which provides a habitat for numerous animal species, including monkeys, alligators and manatees, and dozens of waterbirds.

Try canopy touring: a series of cables are fixed from tree to tree and, attached to a pulley while wearing a harness, you can fly through the canopy of the rainforest.

Reel them in! There is good fishing on both coasts and Lake Yojoa offers some of the best bass fishing in the world.

Scuba-dive in the crystalline water and pristine coral reefs of the Bay Islands. The islands are one of the worlds top certification destinations. For those already certified, there are courses in underwater photography, cave diving and instructor training.

Experience some of Central Americas best white-water rafting along the Cangrejal River, near La Ceiba.

Things to See

Admire the view across Tegucigalpa, the temperate capital city, from the site of the citys most recent monument, Christ of the Picacho, set atop a mountain. Be sure to take a look around the city itself too, especially the old historical centre.

Seek heritage and history in Comayagua, former capital of Honduras and now a colonial masterpiece of cobbled streets, tiny plazas and whitewashed houses. The best time to visit is during the unique and fervent celebrations of Easter week.

See the ancient city of Copán. The Copán Ruins Archaeological Park is the best remaining testament to the culture of the Mayan Indians. Among the best of the ruins are the magnificent Acropolis, the Great Plaza, and the Court of the Hieroglyphic Stairway.

Play at being a pirate in Trujillo on Honduras gorgeous Caribbean coast. Once a thriving port and the old capital of colonial Honduras, Trujillo is today home to many old Spanish buildings, a fascinating pirate history and superb tropical beaches.

Make a splash in the exotic archipelago of the Bay Islands. Hilly, tropical Guanaja and Roatán are protected by a great coral reef. Utila has wide sandy beaches ringed by tiny cays surrounded by palm trees. There are several smaller islands.

Get back to nature: wildlife refuges and national parks all over the country offer an exciting, unspoilt landscape and multitude of flora and fauna. Cloud forests, mountains, dry forests, pine forests, coastal wetlands and huge rivers are there to be enjoyed.

Travel Advice

There are high levels of crime in Honduras. The majority of serious crime involves Honduran citizens and does not affect tourists. However, there have been attacks on tourists in recent years, including armed robbery, car/busjackings and sexual offences including rape. In October 2007, two incidents of bus-jackings have occurred involving British and German tour bus groups in Santa Rita, on the road between San Pedro Sula and Copan.

Travellers should avoid walking in quiet areas after dark, in particular on beaches in Tela and the north coast towns. There have been several attacks on foreigners on beaches in recent years after dark, including on the Bay Islands. Travellers should not resist when being robbed. Victims have been killed and injured resisting attack. It is useful to carry a few Lempiras to hand out in the event of a robbery.

The threat from terrorism is low, but you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks, which could be against civilian targets, including places frequented by foreigners.

Honduras can be affected by tropical storms and hurricanes. The hurricane season lasts from April to October.Dengue Fever is endemic to Latin America and the Caribbean and can occur throughout the year. The highest number of cases is usually reported in the hot season from May to November. There has been a marked increase in the number of reported cases of dengue across the region in 2007.

Passport note

Honduras is party to the Central America Border Control Agreement (CA-4). Under the terms of this agreement, tourists may travel within any of the CA-4 countries (Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador and Guatemala) for a period of up to 90 days, without completing entry and exit formalities at border immigration checkpoints. This period begins at the first point of entry in to any of the CA-4 countries. Fines are applied for travellers who exceed this 90-day limit, although a request for a 30-day extension can be made before the 90 days limit expires.

Passports

Passport valid for three months from date of arrival required by all nationals referred to in the chart above.

Visas

Not required by all nationals referred to in the chart above for stays of up to 90 days.

Note

Nationals not referred to in the chart above are advised to contact the embassy to check visa requirements (see Contact Addresses).

Telephone

Country code: 504.

Roaming agreements exist with international mobile phone companies. Coverage is generally good along the coasts and around major towns.

Internet

Internet cafes exist in major towns.

Media

The media is restricted by punitive defamation laws, which, in certain cases, require journalists to reveal their sources. Journalists tend to exercise self-censorship in order to avoid offending the political or economic interests of the media bigwigs, and cases of journalists accepting bribes from officials who wish to influence coverage are not unknown.

Post

Airmail to Western Europe takes between four and seven days.

Mon-Sat 0800-1200 and 1400-1800.

Press

Daily newspapers are in Spanish and privately owned.

They include El Heraldo, La Prensa, El Tiempo and La Tribuna.

The weekly Honduras This Week is published in English.

Radio

Radio America and Radio HRN are both privately-owned national stations.

Getting around by Air

The three local airlines, Isleña Airlines (website: www.flyislena.com), Sosa Airlines (website: www.laceibaonline.net/aerososa/sosaingl) and Rollins Air, operate daily services which link Tegucigalpa and other principal towns. Sosa Airlines runs services to Utila, the cheapest Bay Island (off the Caribbean coast). Over 30 small airfields handle light aircraft and commercial aviation. Air travel is especially more convenient for business visitors.

Water

Ferries operate between ports on the Pacific and Caribbean coastlines. For details, contact local port authorities. There are sailings from La Ceiba and Puerto Cortés to the Bay Islands several times a week; schedules regularly change. Arrangements must be made with local boat owners.

Road

Traffic drives on the right. An all-weather road exists from Tegucigalpa to San Pedro Sula, Puerto Cortés, La Ceiba and towns along the Caribbean coast, as well as to the towns around the Gulf of Fonseca in the south. Otherwise road conditions are poor. During the rainy season even major highways may be closed due to rockslides and flooding.

Travellers are advised not to drive at night as many vehicles drive without lights on and animals wander onto the road. Some minor roads are still being repaired after Hurricane Mitch in 1998.

Bus

Local lines run regular services to most large towns, but the services are well used and booking in advance is essential. On the whole the services are very cheap.

Car hire

Self-drive cars are available at the airport.

Regulations: All drivers and passengers must wear a seatbelt. The phone number of the Transit Police is 222

Documentation: Both international and foreign driving licences are accepted for up to 90 days.

Journey Times: The following chart gives approximate journey times (in hours and minutes) from Tegucigalpa to other major cities/towns in Honduras.

Getting there by Air

American Airlines (website: www.aa.com) operates daily flights to Honduras from Miami. There are no direct flights from the UK; connections are generally via the USA.

Main airports

Tegucigalpa (TGU) (Toncontín) is 5km (3 miles) southeast of the city.
To/from the airport: Taxis and buses are available to the city.
Facilities: Bar, restaurant, duty-free shop, bank, car hire, post office and first aid facilities.

There are also international airports at San Pedro Sula (SAP) (La Mesa International Airport), at La Ceiba (LCE) (Golosón) and at Roatán (RTB) (Dr Juan Manuel Galvez).

Getting there by Road

Road routes run from El Salvador and Nicaragua via the Pan-American Highway, and from Guatemala on the Western Highway. Visas must be obtained before the journey is undertaken. Border crossings can be fraught with long delays. Areas around the border can be dangerous.

Bus: Ticabus (tel: 220 0579/0590; website: www.ticabus.com) runs international services to all Central American capitals, but these comfortable coaches are often booked days in advance.