Honduras - Consular Information Sheet

May 9, 1995

Country Description: Honduras has a developing economy. Tourist facilities are generally adequate, but vary in quality.

Entry Requirements: A passport is required for travel to Honduras. For additional information concerning entry and customs requirements travelers can contact the Embassy of Honduras at 3700 Tilden Street N.W., Washington, D.C. 20008, tel: (202) 966-7702 or the nearest consulate in Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, or San Francisco.

Areas of Instability: Cross-border bandit groups operate out of areas near the Honduran/Salvadoran border. Travel by road, even on main highways, between Nicaragua and Honduras is potentially hazardous. The presence of extensive minefields on both sides of the border, particularly along the Rio Coco and in the atlantic coast region, presents a danger to anyone venturing close to the border at other than the El Espino, Las Manos, and Guasaule border crossings. (The El Espino crossing is known by the name La Fraternidad.) It can be hazardous to venture off main roads in the Honduran-Nicaraguan border area. The Las Manos and El Espino border crossings between Honduras and Nicaragua, as well as the Agua Caliente border crossing between Honduras and Guatemala, are open only during daylight hours. The Guasaule border crossing is open daily from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Medical Facilities: Medical care varies in quality. Cholera is present in Honduras. Visitors who follow proper precautions are not usually at risk. Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate cash payment for health services. U.S. medical insurance is not always valid outside the United States. In some cases supplemental medical insurance with specific overseas coverage has proved useful. For additional health information, the traveler can contact the Centers for Disease Control's international travelers hotline at (404) 332-4559.

Crime Information: The number of reported urban street crimes, such as robberies and assaults, continues to rise. The level of rural criminal activity is also high. Tourists have been targeted by criminals in some areas of San Pedro Sula and Tegucigalpa. Displaying jewelry or large amounts of money increases the risk of robbery. Travelers to rural areas and to the border regions near Guatemala, El Salvador, and Nicaragua, should use caution. There have been reports of armed bands operating in some of the border regions. Useful information on guarding valuables and protecting personal security while traveling abroad is provided in the Department of State pamphlet, "A Safe Trip Abroad." This publication, as well as others such as "Tips for Travelers to Central and South America," are available from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402. The loss or theft abroad of a U.S. passport should be reported immediately to the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate and the local police.

Drug Penalties: U.S. citizens are subject to the laws of the country in which they are traveling. Penalties in Honduras for possession, use and trafficking in illegal drugs are strict, and convicted offenders can expect lengthy jail sentences and fines.

Purchasing Property: The enforcement of laws pertaining to property titles in Honduras is uncertain and unreliable. Even though the Honduran Congress passed a law authorizing the purchase of coastal property by foreigners, there are constitutional restrictions prohibiting such ownership. Local governments or squatters have laid claim to a number of properties owned by U.S. citizens.

Currency Regulations: It is impossible to cash personal checks in Honduras. It is also extremely difficult to arrange for the transfer of funds from abroad to Honduras, and in particular to the Bay Islands, where banking facilities are limited.

Adoption: Information on adoption in Honduras can be obtained by writing to the Office of Children's Issues, CA/OCS/CI, Room 4811, Department of State, Washington, D.C. 20520, or by telephoning (202) 647-2688.

Aviation Oversight: In May 1993, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration assessed Honduras as not providing oversight in compliance with international aviation safety standards for Honduran carriers operating to and from the U.S. As a result, Honduran carriers arrange to have their flights conducted by an air carrier from a country meeting international safety standards in order to provide commercial passenger service to the United States. For further information, travelers may contact the Department of Transportation at 1 (800) 322-7873.

Registration: U.S. citizens may register at the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Tegucigalpa, and may also obtain updated information on travel and security within Honduras.

Embassy Location: The U.S. Embassy in Honduras is located at Avenida La Paz in Tegucigalpa; telephone (504) 36-9320.

No. 95-063

This replaces the Consular Information Sheet dated September 2, 1994, to add information on purchasing property.

Transmitted: 95-05-11 10:14:19 EDT