Many tourists take a traditional Honduran boat ride.
Internet Connections
High speed internet connections are available at cyber cafes throughout Honduras. Ask at your hotel’s front desk for the cafes with the fastest (DSL) connection. The Ceiba area has the best speeds at the most reasonable price if you need to do more significant internet connecting.
Gas Stations and Parking
Fuel stations are quite plentiful and generally well staffed and well run. Gasoline was usually just a little more that $3.10 US per gallon ($3.60 US for high grade) at the time of my travels. When we stopped for the night, I always inquired about where to safely park the car for the night and was always assured that the area that I was shown would be secure.
Electrical Appliances
Honduras has 110-volt electricity so your appliances will work. Many of the outlets in Honduras are the old variety and won’t accommodate the larger left prong (polarity prongs) that our appliances have. Buy a flat prong adaptor before leaving home and toss it into your backpack.
Climate
Late spring and summers are very warm and the humidity soars on the North Coast and the Bay Islands.
• March and April can be dry and dusty in the mountains, with smoke (from intentional burn-offs and brush fires) diminishing the vistas. Just be aware, that’s all.
• The rainy season on the Coast (Tela and La Ceiba) is October through January. You can plan on some entire days of rain, not just thunderstorms. Plan accordingly.
Money In Honduras
Honduras currency is called lempiras. Honduran money is not that difficult.
Banks
Buy your Honduras money (lempiras) and cash your travelers checks (buy American Express at home) at banks. When you arrive in Honduras, San Pedro Sula and Tegus airports have exchange cages. Buy enough lemps to hold you until the next day, when you can visit the bank.
Hotels and shops are going to charge you hefty commissions to exchange for Honduras currency. It makes no sense to stand on the curb with a money-changer (quite legal), flashing 3,500L (lempiras) in Honduras money. If you see a bank without a line, jump in it while you can and buy your Honduras money. Banks are slow, but safe. Major cities offer full banking services if you have a command of Spanish and a lot of time. Take US $s to Honduras. I didn’t see a Canadian $ or a Euro once in Honduras.
Lush lands of Honduras are a tropical haven for exploring.
Cash
Use good judgment on handling Honduras money. If traveling with another person, each person should carry half of the traveler’s checks and half of the currency. ◊ Make sure you have plenty of currency in 100- and 200-lempira notes. The 500-lempira note (~$26.00) if often difficult to cash. Have sufficient smaller notes (1, 2, 5, 10, and 20’s for buses, tips, etc.). Take along a pocket calculator and leave it a school when your trip is complete. It will come in handy when your hotel bill runs 2451 lempiras and you need to know how much that is.
Lempiras and Dollar
Many of the shops and restaurants on the Bay Islands will accept dollars as Honduras currency in addition to lempiras. Always ask in advance. Lempiras are ‘cash du jour’ on the mainland, the only currency you will see.
Exchange rates
Honduras money and exchange rates fluctuate daily between the lempira and the dollar. Overall, the lempira has taken a beating against the US dollar (because of commodity prices and fiscal policy) in the last year. Numerous sites exist to help you with current exchange rates for all currencies, to include US $s, Canadian $s, and the Euro. Best site for exchange rate: Oanda, mainly because I can print and clip a nice, small cheat-sheet (about the size of a credit card) that I can throw in my wallet before I leave.
Cash belts
Buy one at any luggage store. Keep your passport and extra Honduras currency and loose cash in it. Put the day’s anticipated money needs in your front pocket. Nothing more.
ATM’s
Some have reported problems with ATMs. (Jul 2004) — A Siguatepeque resident states that the machines function without problems in Tegus, San Pedro Sula, and Siguatepeque. On occasion, there is no cash available.
Tipping
Some books will encourage you to keep tipping to a minimum in Honduras and Latin America. Implicit in that suggestion is “you don’t need to ruin it for the next North American that visits after you.” Well, I choose to tip with Honduras money (dollars, while stronger, may be inconvenient for the recipient although you won’t find anyone turning them away). When to tip and how much? (Again, this is on the heavy side, I know). First, check your bill. Often, there is a 10% added in. ◊ I generally tip 15%, depending on the service at meals. I leave 2% of the cost of an evening’s lodging on the dresser for the maid (local Honduras currency). Overdoing it? I don’t know but the small amount means 3-4 pounds of beans, rice, or corn for the home of the person who is serving you. Consider: ◊ Bellhops can be invaluable allies. I tip (again, with Honduras currency) them early in a visit, posing questions before they slip out of the room. If he (and they are all he’s) has a good feel for the city, find out what days and times he works. The information they can share is worth the money. If I go out early for coffee and pastries (pasteles), I buy some sweets from the bakery (panaderia) to share with the night staff and bellhops.
Prices
Traveling in Honduras is as inexpensive as it gets. Your Honduras money goes a long, long way. Utila and Roatan are among the cheapest places in the world to become PADI certified in diving. Food and hotels are extremely good values for your money. Prices double from the mainland as soon as you step off the plane on Guanaja, Roatan, or Utila.
List of Available Transportation
