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Visitor
Information and Travel Tips
Getting Around on the Mainland
There are car rental agencies at the airports and in the
larger towns. An international or foreign driving license
is all you need. Roads in the city and on the highways
are in fairly good condition but not so in the rural areas.
Driving is to the right. If you prefer to let someone
else do the driving, you can hire a taxi. But taxis are
unmetered so remember to fix the fare before you step
into one.
The cheapest option is the local buses. The signs on the
buses indicate the direction they are headed in.
Getting Around on the Islands
There is little need for transportation on the smaller
islands. Roatan with it's 60 miles of roads, offers cars,
trucks, bikes and scooters for rent.
Medical
Medical care in Honduras varies in quality. Although doctors
are generally well trained, support staff and facilities
are not up to U.S. standards. Facilities for advanced
surgical procedures are not available. The islands of
Roatan, Utila, and Guanaja do not have a general surgery
hospital. There is a decompression chamber on Roatan for
divers. Travelers carrying prescription medicine should
ensure that the medication is clearly labeled.
Language
Spanish is the official language of Honduras. English
is spoken in the Bay Islands and in most tourist areas.
Traditional languages are still used in some remoter areas
of the country such as Olancho and the Mosquitia.
Money and Banking
There are banks in all major towns and cities ( Hours
- Mon-Fri 0900-1500 (some banks open until 1800). Some
branches open Sat 0900-1200 ). However, banks only exchange
US dollars and very few exchange travellers’ checks. Even
exchanging currencies of neighbouring countries away from
the border is difficult. There are a number of ATM machines
around but most of them accept only Honduran cards. Cashing
a personal check is very difficult as is wiring money
to Honduras. The best alternative is to carry US dollars
before you enter Honduras and exchange to Lempira once
you’re in Honduras.
When you first arrive in Honduras, San Pedro Sula and
Tegus airports have exchange cages where you can exchange
enough to hold you until the next day, when you can visit
the bank. Shops and hotels usually charge hefty commissions
to exchange currency.
American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa are
accepted. Check with your credit or debit card company
for details of merchant acceptability and other services
which may be available.
Shopping
Local craftsmanship is excellent and inexpensive. Typical
items include woodcarvings, cigars, leather goods, straw
hats and bags, seed necklaces and baskets. General shpping
hours are Mon-Fri 0800-1200 and 1330-1800, Sat 0800-1700.
Food
The sweet tooth of the Hondurans is obvious in their variety
of desserts. If you like sweets, try the sweet rice that
is soaked in coconut milk and sugar. Coconut milk is a
common ingredient used frequently in Garifuna cuisine.
There is so much to sample, so much diversity, and so
many dishes. And what may be called ‘baleada’ (something
like a burrito) in one region may just turn out to be
a tortilla stuffed with fried beans and onions in another.
The staple food is combination of rice and beans and tortillas.
But rice and beans may not always be just rice and beans
- it may be cooked in animal fat.
Lots of fresh seafood is available, especially around
the coastal areas. Grouper, snapper, tuna and barracuda
are what you’ll find on the menu. Most fish dishes are
liberally sprinkled with spices.
Honduras offers a fair selection for the vegetarians as
well. The choice is somewhat limited but there’s much
to sample and savour.
Wash down your food with Salva Vida beer, the most popular
drink among the Hondurans.
Taxes/Tipping
A 12% value added tax is added to the price of all services
and merchandise. Also many restaurants or hotels will
add an additional 10% service charge as a tip. This is
not compulsory to pay. Check your bill before tipping
as it may have already been included.
Water
Water is not safe to drink anywhere in Honduras. This
goes for the ice as well. Ask for agua purificada - purified
water. In restaurants always check with the waitress to
make sure it had been boiled.
Time Zone
GMT/UTC -6
Electricity
110/220V, 60Hz
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 connections.
Weights and measures
The Metric system is in use here
Tourism Offices
Honduras
Chamber of Commerce
Edificio San Miguel
Tegucigalpa, Honduras
+504-22-7594
Honduran Tourism Institute - Honduras
Edificio Guancast, Barrio Guanacaste
P.O. Box 3261
Tegucigalpa, Honduras
+504-22-6618, +504-22-2124, +504-38-3975;; FAX +504-38-2102
Honduras Tourism Institute - USA
2100 Ponce de Leon Blvd, Suite 1175
Coral Gables FL 33134
Telephone: 1-800-410-9608 toll-free in USA
Honduras- Honduran Consulate (USA)
1612 K St N.W., #310
Washington, DC 20006
+1-202-223-0185;800-410-9608 |
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