This article contains affiliate links, that may earn me a small commission at no extra cost to you. For full information, please see our disclaimer here.
Honduras is a beautiful and extremely underrated country in Central America. Paradisiacal Caribbean islands, well-preserved Mayan ruins, dense rainforest and astounding biodiversity, we fell in love with it!
But is Honduras safe to travel? So many travellers in Central America skip Honduras completely because of safety concerns.
With high rates of homicide, violent crime, gangs, drug trafficking and poverty, the warnings about safety in Honduras are more than just overhyped media sensationalism.
It can be a very dangerous place, and for its citizens, life in Honduras is challenging. If you’re planning to travel here, you’re right to be concerned about your safety.
But like every country in the world, there are parts of Honduras that are very dangerous. There are also touristy areas that are generally very safe to visit, and I don’t think the entire country should be written off.
After lots of research and planning, we decided to spend 3 weeks in Honduras as part of our 6 months in Central America. I’m so glad we did because it turned out to be one of the highlights of our trip.
I want to share our personal experiences around safety in Honduras to help you decide if visiting is right for you. I can’t definitively say it will or won’t be safe, and this is not a guarantee that bad things won’t happen. All I can do is share a balanced perspective from someone who has been there, so let’s get into it.
This post is in two parts:
Click to jump to the section you’re interested in 👆🏼
Travel safety in Honduras
Why is Honduras considered unsafe?
This isn’t a full history lesson or a deep dive into the society, politics and security situation in Honduras. But here’s a quick crash course…
Like most Central American countries, Honduras is trapped in a vicious cycle of poverty, corruption and violence. It mostly stems from drugs, as the country sits right in the middle of the major drug trafficking route between South America and the USA.
Gangs like MS-13 and Barrio 18 control the drug trade, but also wreak havoc on cities and communities, charging ‘protection money’ to businesses and individuals. Aka extortion, reinforcing poverty and keeping marginalised communities stuck and without opportunities.
The government has traditionally been corrupt, and their former president has just been convicted in the US of being involved with the narco trade. The police, the army, and the government are in bed with organised crime, and the social and judicial systems are weak, ineffective and rife with corruption.
At many times throughout the past few decades, its major cities San Pedro Sula and Tegucigalpa have both held the title of ‘the murder capital of the world’ and the country overall has had some of the highest homicide rates. Although, homicide statistics have positively decreased in the past few years.
Honduras is trapped. A huge percentage of the population lives under the poverty line (many in extreme poverty), and the extortion they have to pay in exchange for their safety keeps them poor. Poverty leads to desperation which leads to violence, and that partly explains why the country is in the situation it is today.
To read more about the society, security and politics of Honduras, here are some helpful resources:
Travel advisories for Honduras
It is a good idea to check your home country’s travel advisory for Honduras. They are good resources for up-to-date information on security and regional risks.
I do think sometimes these can be a bit extreme, but you have to trust that they have intelligence inside Honduras and they should be qualified to provide valuable information. Even if it is occasionally a bit fear-mongering to protect their liability.
It’s interesting to look at the ratings each country gives to Honduras. Here are some comparisons:
We’re Australian, and Honduras does not have a higher safety rating than any other country in Central America. When we visited, every country in the region was at Level 2 – Exercise a High Degree of Caution, with higher ratings for certain areas, which we avoided. This made us feel that Honduras was not any more unsafe than anywhere else we were going, and was part of the reason we decided to go.
Places that are safe to visit in Honduras
Tourists do visit Honduras. The government is heavily promoting tourism, and Honduras was one of the first countries to recover and exceed pre-pandemic levels of international visitors.
While the majority of visitors are going to the island of Roatan, and are visiting by cruise ship, there is a generally accepted ‘tourist trail’ for more independent travellers in Honduras.
Places that are considered ‘touristy’ and ‘safe’ in Honduras are:
- 🏝️ Roatan: the most popular destination in Honduras and the largest island in the Bay Islands archipelago, Roatan receives all kinds of tourists, from cruise ship passengers to luxury resort lovers and independent travellers. Most tourist activity is concentrated on the western side of the island, and this area is generally safe.
- 🤿 Utila: another island in the Bay Islands group, Utila is more common with backpackers and budget travellers and has a bit of a party reputation. Besides drinking too much or making the bad choice to take drugs, Utila is considered very safe and we felt completely comfortable here.
- 🌿 Rio Cangrejal: inland from La Ceiba, the Rio Cangrejal and Pico Bonito National Park area have some great jungle lodges and it’s a popular place for white water rafting. Choose a reputable accommodation provider and they will help with transport and tours too.
- 🛶 Lago de Yojoa: particularly the small town of Los Naranjos at its northern edge is becoming a common fixture on Honduras itineraries. D&D Brewery and Lodge was opened by an American brewer and has generated a lot of interest in the area, and really put it on the map. It’s a friendly, rural town with tons of great outdoor activities around.
- 🦜 Copan Ruinas: this charming little town is famous for the Mayan city of Copan, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Because of this, it’s always received a steady stream of international visitors. It’s a friendly and welcoming region with lots of cultural and nature-based activities and a pretty robust local tourist industry.
There are of course dozens of other beautiful places to visit in Honduras that are probably very safe. I haven’t travelled the whole country. However, these destinations are the most commonly visited by international travellers and are generally considered to not only be safe while you’re there but also have safe routes to travel to them.
You always need to exercise the usual safety precautions wherever you are. Don’t think these places are automatically free from any risk. They’re considered to have the normal level of risk for any travel destination, so just keep your wits about you and follow all the normal safety steps.
Places that are not safe for travel in Honduras
It’s easier to list the places that are safe and assume the rest of the country is not. Generally, if you’ve never heard of a place or it doesn’t have some kind of established tourist infrastructure, I wouldn’t take the risk.
Honduras is not the place to ‘go off the beaten track’ and risk a long trip out of the way for the sake of one beautiful natural sight. I’m all for that kind of travel in most countries, but I wouldn’t be doing it here.
The whole country has an ‘off the beaten track’ feel because it has so few international tourists, so stick to the more popular destinations and don’t try and be a hero here.
This list could be 100 times the length, but I wanted to note a few places that you’ve probably heard of because they are large cities or more well-known areas, but I personally wouldn’t visit:
- San Pedo Sula: it’s almost unavoidable that you’ll transit through this major city on the bus or plane, but I wouldn’t hang around. It’s not unsafe everywhere, but it doesn’t really have that many redeeming features, so it’s not worth the risk in my opinion. While homicide rates have dropped, San Pedro has held the title ‘murder capital of the world’ in the past, and there are still very high murder rates in surrounding districts.
- Tegucigalpa: Honduras’ capital city has a lot of gangs and violence in the barrios on the outskirts of the city. There are a few nice sights around the city, but it doesn’t look amazing enough to make a stop here worthwhile. It’s also out of the way for most normal traveller’s routes, so even though it’s the capital, I wouldn’t bother. Most Hondurans will advise you the same thing.
- La Ceiba: you will spend some time in La Ceiba, it’s completely unavoidable if you’re visiting the islands or Rio Cangrejal, but I wouldn’t stick around if you can help it. It’s not the worst place, but the city is seedy and pretty sketchy at night. During the day it’s full of travellers transiting on the ferry and bus, so it’s not somewhere to be scared of, but if you can avoid spending the night, I would.
- La Mosquitia: this beautiful and virtually untouched natural area in the east of the country is very attractive for intrepid travellers and nature lovers, but the security situation is very volatile. The majority of this natural area is located in the Department of Gracias de Dios which is on the Nicaraguan border and a major stop on the drug trafficking route. Most government advisories urge you to avoid this area. If you really want to experience the nature of La Mosquitia or the Rio Platano Biosphere Reserve stick to the western areas and go with a reputable local guide or tour company.
Travel insurance for Honduras
If you are travelling anywhere, you MUST have travel insurance. This is especially important in a country like Honduras where there are safety risks, and the chances of things going wrong are higher.
Be sure to check your policy carefully, and make sure it covers travel to countries that have a a higher risk rating on government travel advisories.
For example, in Australia, our government has a 4-level travel advisory system, with level 4 being ‘Do Not Travel’. Most Australian travel insurers will not provide any cover if you decide to go against this advice and travel to a level 4 country anyway. Although some enforce this for Level 3, so you need to be very sure about what you’re covered for.
Make sure you check this caveat in your policy and check your government travel ratings.
15 Honduras travel safety tips
Besides choosing to visit safe destinations and steering clear of major cities, there are a few safety precautions you can take to make your trip to Honduras as safe and stress-free as possible. Some of these tips you should follow anywhere you go in the world, but some are more specific to Honduras.
- 💰 Be willing to spend extra for safety: backpackers introduce a very negative mentality where it’s ‘cool’ to do things as cheaply as humanly possible. Taking the chicken bus instead of a tourist shuttle or staying somewhere in a sketchy neighbourhood because it’s cheaper. It’s not cool, and believe me, if local Hondurans had access to the money that many of us foreign travellers do, they would not be taking the local bus either. Appreciate and be grateful for the ability to spend a little extra if needed to keep yourself safe. Don’t ever feel you have to do something a certain way because it’s cheap. It’s not like the cost of travel in Honduras is that high anyway!
- 🚐 Choose tourist shuttles where possible: yes it will cost more, but your safety and comfort are worth spending on and these transports are much safer than public buses. Roneey Shuttle is a great company that offers a couple of different routes across Honduras, and into Guatemala and Nicaragua too. We booked them via Bookaway.
- 🚍 Use reputable transport companies for long bus trips: if you can’t take a tourist shuttle or you really can’t afford it, opt for proper bus companies for lengthy journeys. These will go from point A to point B on a proper coach, instead of a chicken bus that stops constantly. They usually have better security and screening measures for passengers boarding the bus. Transportes Cristina are a reputable option, as well as Hedman Alas but their operations are inconsistent.
- 👟 Spread your valuables: if you do end up on a chicken bus or colectivo, which is unavoidable for some routes, spread your valuables out across your bags and body. It’s a good idea to keep some cash or cards stashed in your bra or shoe, so if the bus does happen to get hijacked and you need to hand over a bag, it doesn’t have everything in it.
- 🌛 Don’t travel at night: always plan to be at your destination before dark. I don’t mean do not leave your room at night, of course in popular tourist destinations you can go out for dinner and wander around in safe areas, but don’t take buses or move between destinations at night. If you are in a big city, I would avoid walking around after dark if you can help it.
- 👛 Don’t resist robbery: if you do get robbed on the street or your bus is hijacked, just hand over what they want. You can replace any belongings, yes even your passport, but your life is irreplaceable.
- 🌊 Avoid beaches at night: this is a common theme across all of the Caribbean, avoid wandering along the beach in the dark. They’re generally not well-lit and empty. Stick to busier streets if you do need to walk somewhere at night.
- 🚗 Use Uber or radio taxis: if you do find yourself in one of the big cities, always use Uber to move around the city. It’s much safer than walking in places like San Pedro Sula or Tegucigalpa. If they don’t have Uber, use a radio taxi that a hotel or business calls for you, not a random taxi off the street.
- 🤳🏼 Don’t flash your wealth: don’t wear fancy clothes, sunglasses or jewellery, and avoid flashing cash or expensive electronics. In practice, of course, you are going to use your phone, but don’t be wandering around staring at it without any awareness of your surroundings. This is mainly an issue in big cities, but it’s a good habit to be in. If you need to look at the map or check something on your phone, take a minute to sit down and if you’re with a companion, they can keep a lookout. Keep your phone in a zipped bag on your body, not in your back pocket.
- 💵 Don’t carry more than you need: if you’re transiting between destinations, you’ll obviously have all of your belongings. But if you’re just heading out for the day, you don’t need hundreds of dollars of cash, your passport and all your credit cards. Just take out what you need for that day.
- 🏧 Use bank-affiliated ATMs: avoid the random third-party ones on the street, they’re often tampered with. If you can choose ATMs that are provided by banks and have either little rooms to enter or are inside a store or bank, they’re the safest options. Only take money out during the day, and if you need to withdraw a big amount, plan to go straight back to your accommodation afterwards to store it securely.
- 📷 Be careful with your camera: as a photographer, I always wonder how people take any photos while also advising not to flash around electronics. We didn’t visit the big cities, which is where most problems occur, but I was always cautious with my camera. I used it frequently at every destination we visited, but I only pulled it out to take photos when I needed it and then secured it away. I didn’t leave it hanging around my neck. I always got Brayden to watch closely when I was taking photos. But I safely and happily used my camera in Roatan, Utila, Lago de Yojoa and Copan Ruinas. I never use it on public transport or at bus stations though, and if I’m juggling my big backpack too, I would never take it out.
- 🍻 Don’t drink too much: this applies everywhere, and if you love partying, I won’t say don’t do it. But it’s undeniable that alcohol often equals trouble. Don’t get completely black-out drunk, don’t end up alone at night, and always have a safe means of getting home.
- 💊 Avoid drugs at all costs: always, always say NO to drugs. Number 1, it’s illegal, and number 2, it’s the quickest way to get into trouble, willingly involving yourself with criminals. Also, why would you want to support the people who are making this beautiful country so dangerous?
- 🇭🇳 Seek advice from people in the country: there can be a lot of sensationalised media coverage out there, and it’s easy to scare yourself into thinking it’s not safe to visit Honduras. Instead, seek safety advice about the specific places you want to visit, from people who are there or have been recently. Facebook groups like Backpacking Honduras and Backpacking Central America are a good resource, as well as Reddit. Just be prepared for some extreme responses, and use your common sense in interpreting the answers.
Our perspective on safety in Honduras
A note on the concept of ‘safety’
Before I get into our experience of safety in Honduras, I think it’s important to touch on what ‘safety’ even is.
I generally don’t like the question ‘is X country safe?’. It’s an impossible question to answer. Even in the smallest of countries, the security situation can differ from place to place, and things can change extremely quickly. There are also so many factors that makeup ‘safety’.
But what’s even more important to note, is that safety is totally subjective.
What I consider to feel safe, might not be what you think is safe.
Your race, culture, history, ethnicity, previous travel experiences, gender, sexual orientation, travel styles, languages spoken, travel budget and countless other factors all come into play in determining what YOU deem as safe.
If you’ve never travelled to Latin America before, don’t speak any Spanish and grew up in a developed and traditionally ‘safe’ country, your perspective on whether Honduras is safe or not is going to differ greatly from someone who has, say grown up in Colombia. Who speaks Spanish, has been exposed to security events and societal issues that are considered ‘unsafe’, and has an ingrained understanding of Latin American culture, history and customs.
To give some context to the rest of this post, you need to understand more about us and our backgrounds, which led us to the conclusions we made on safety in Honduras.
Brayden and I grew up in Australia, and we travel together as a couple. We have travelled quite extensively, and by the time we reached Honduras, we had spent 8 months in Latin America travelling around Mexico, Belize and Guatemala.
We speak okay Spanish, and can usually get by with basic conversations about travelling. We’re not fluent, but we feel confident we can ask what we need and understand the answers.
I spend a lot of time researching and planning for our trips (duh, I’m a travel blogger), so I felt prepared to go to Honduras.
We’ve been to places many would consider ‘sketchy’ before, but we do not get a kick out of being in places that are hailed as unsafe and have no thrills or desire to put ourselves in uncomfortable situations.
We are moderate budget travellers, but are not penny-pinching, and would never put our safety and comfort at risk for the sake of a few bucks. We stay in comfortable, secure places and would pay more for secure transport.
I was definitely a little apprehensive about Honduras before we arrived. I subconsciously noticed I was a lot more aware of my surroundings, wanted to be ultra prepared about every step of our trip and not left in a situation where we didn’t know where we were going, how we were getting from A to B etc.
Our experience with safety in Honduras
I can NEVER say somewhere is definitively safe or unsafe. This goes for Honduras.
All I can do is share our experience travelling in Honduras as a couple, to help you make your own determinations on whether it’s a country you would feel safe visiting.
Honduras is definitely not a safe country overall.
I do not want to minimize or ignore the serious issues this country faces. The situation for many Hondurans is truly tragic. The violence, gangs, extortion, drug trafficking, poverty and corruption are truly awful, and so many Hondurans are not able to live a safe and fulfilled life.
Concerns about safety when travelling in Honduras are completely valid, and if you think they don’t apply to you, then you’re being ignorant and naive.
However, we didn’t experience any situations where we felt unsafe, or even uncomfortable.
We were in the country for 18 days, we travelled partly via tourist shuttle and partly via local transport, and we had absolutely no issues whatsoever. People were always kind and helpful.
I wasn’t often alone without Brayden, but I didn’t experience any behaviour that indicated I wouldn’t be safe alone. However I know it’s always different if you’re a solo female traveller, and it’s impossible to tell how you would feel being alone until you’re in that situation.
We crossed the border to Honduras by land from Guatemala. We booked a tourist shuttle with Roneey Shuttle from Rio Dulce in Guatemala because we didn’t really feel like navigating 5+ chicken buses. It costs more, but we always feel super safe being in a shuttle with other tourists and a helpful driver.
I would always recommend using shuttles for long trips in Central America if you can, especially when you’re crossing borders. It’s quicker, easier and safer and although uncomfortable in a small van, you don’t have to do as much thinking or coordinating. You just get in and they take you where you want to go.
The shuttle drivers are also really helpful when crossing borders, and our entry to Honduras was smooth. The driver told us exactly where to go and what to do, and he helped a few of the passengers who hadn’t done the correct forms in advance.
The Bay Islands (Roatan and Utila) are super touristy and full of foreigners and we had no concerns at all there. We were out and about at night (not partying or clubs, but wandering around in the evenings, having dinner and drinks etc.) and went about our usual travel life with no issues. It didn’t feel any different to islands like Caye Caulker in Belize or beach towns in Mexico.
The ferry to get to and from the islands was really well organised, and our luggage was scanned as it would be at an airport. We always carry a cutlery set and they picked up on our knife. They eventually let us through after we explained what it was for, but that was comforting to know that any weapons should be picked up on the ferry or flights into the islands.
On the mainland, we avoided any big cities (Tegucigalpa, San Pedro Sula, La Ceiba). This is where most of the problems occur, and honestly, most Hondurans will tell you there is not much to see there. Why would you risk your safety for a sub-par city when you can experience stunning beaches and pristine nature in other (safer) parts of the country?
We did safely transit through La Ceiba and San Pedro Sula with no problems.
The two small towns we visited on the mainland, Lake Yojoa and Copan Ruinas, were so lovely. Although they were less touristy than the islands, no one made us feel like gringo aliens. They receive enough tourists that you don’t stand out like a sore thumb, and the locals are used to seeing foreigners, albeit in small numbers. We were very comfortable in both of these towns.
We didn’t really venture out at night too much in Lago de Yojoa. Not because we felt we would be unsafe, we just really enjoyed where we were staying at D&D Brewery, and we ate there most nights because it was so nice.
In Copan Ruinas, we went out for dinner every night and happily and safely wandered around the centre of town. We also walked everywhere during the day to all the sights in and around town with no problems.
We opted for tourist shuttles to travel between destinations when they were available. This was mainly out of laziness and because I like to use the travel time to work on my laptop (which I would NOT do on a public bus).
There was a leg of our Honduras itinerary where shuttles didn’t run (Lago de Yojoa – Copan Ruinas), and we had to use chicken buses and colectivos, but they were totally fine.
We travelled only during the day and set off early in the morning so there was no chance we would be on the bus after dark. We didn’t have any concerns, everyone was helpful and friendly and we were charged correctly for all the fares.
Although, I do want to note that I have heard many legitimate stories of public buses being hijacked and held up by armed men. Hondurans usually carry a dummy phone and wallet in these situations, and if this happens to you, hand over everything without question. Your life is not worth an iPhone.
I always try and keep my phone backed up regularly because the only thing I would be really upset about is losing my photos. I can buy a new phone, that’s what travel insurance is for. Always store copies of travel documents, bank cards etc. in the cloud, so if this did happen, the worst-case scenario is a few days of administrative inconvenience.
We noticed a lot more armed security guards around Honduras. At petrol stations in particular we often had doors opened for us by guards with huge machine guns. In the right hands, I guess it’s not a bad thing, but weapons are far too common in Honduras and I’m sure a lot of people were armed with things we couldn’t see.
When we left Honduras for our next destination, El Salvador, we booked another shuttle from Copan Ruinas to Santa Ana (with Go Travel El Salvador, also try Gecko Trails) and it was a smooth and safe trip exiting Honduras.
All in all, we didn’t feel any more or less unsafe than we felt in any other Central American country.
This is OUR EXPERIENCE only though, and someone who visited 2 days after us could have had a completely different experience. Or maybe someone who was even in the same place, at the same time as us, could have interpreted the situation differently, as unsafe.
All I can do is share our experience to provide another balanced perspective. It’s up to you to do more research and planning and check current warnings and news.
Your safety is ultimately in your hands, and you are responsible for making choices that are safe for you.
GET OUR HONDURAS GOOGLE MAP
Save hours with our FREE custom Honduras Google Map!
Get 200+ locations pinned, giving you our best tips and recommendations in your pocket.
So, is Honduras safe to travel?
As you can see, the answer to this question is complex and multi-faceted.
My conclusion is that Honduras is not a safe country overall, but it can be safe to travel in the right places for the right travellers.
If you’re a brand new traveller who has never been anywhere in Latin America, doesn’t speak any Spanish and has no travel experience, I would say Honduras is not safe for you.
However if you’ve spent some time in this part of the world, have some travel experience under your belt, are well-researched and understand the potential dangers, I think you can have a safe and very enjoyable time in Honduras like we did.
This country surprised us in so many ways, and it was truly one of our favourite places in Central America.
But I will never sugarcoat it and say it’s definitively safe. Terrible things happen here every day, and you have to be willing to accept this risk.
Your safety is your responsibility, so go with your gut and do what’s right for you.
The Comments
linda
where is your favorite place in mexico or central america please
Sally Rodrick
lindaHi Linda, my goodness that is an incredibly tough question!! It totally depends what type of trip you’re looking for – a tropical beach holiday? Nature and wildlife? Colonial cities and culture? Mexico overall would have to be my favourite country because it offers such great diversity in one place. Baja California Sur holds a special place in my heart in Mexico, but you can craft the perfect itinerary no matter what type of trip you’re chasing. Caye Caulker in Belize was a tropical paradise and one of my favourite islands. Honduras is underrated and less busy, with amazing tropical islands and an interesting nature and culture on the mainland. Costa Rica is the best place in the region for rainforest and wildlife, we loved the waterfalls, cloud forests and national parks. Guatemala and Nicaragua have beautiful colonial cities and opportunities for volcano hiking, but less tropics/beaches (except Corn Islands in Nicaragua). Sorry, that probably doesn’t help but it totally depends what type of experiences you want to have! Sally
Anne-Laure
Thank you so much for this very informative and well balanced post. Researching to plan an itinerary for my trip this winter,
your blog is a big help
Sally Rodrick
Anne-LaureI’m so glad it’s been helpful Anne-Laure. It would be irresponsible to say Honduras is totally safe, but with precautions and awareness I think you can have a safe and fantastic trip! Enjoy it, Sally.
ReaderX
I laughed at the teetotalling judgy admonishment “making the bad choice to take drugs”. What a hoot! Some of the best times I had in the Bay Islands were getting high as a kite with incredibly awesome open-minded heroes of humanity. These experiences greatly enhanced the time spent in Honduras, and also enriched my life by making more than one long-term friend.
Overall, I enjoyed your detailed post.
Sally Rodrick
ReaderXIf you think that your choice to take drugs had no other impact than your ‘life enrichment’ and ‘life long friends’ you are seriously naive. Didn’t you take a minute to consider where those drugs came from? And the terrible impact that those gangs and narcos are having on Hondurans? Most people won’t even consider Honduras as a destination due to safety concerns, and most of that largely stems from involvement in the drug trade between South America and Mexico. Your innocent fun impacts Honduran families and fuels the crime, corruption and violence that are rife throughout the country. If you want to use drugs in your own country, be my guest, but if you want to use them in someone else’s, especially one that with a situation as tragic as Honduras, please take a minute to think further than just your own instant gratification and high.
Charlotte
Very informative, thank you. What are your thoughts about renting a car to travel in Honduras?
Sally Rodrick
CharlotteHi Charlotte, I think it’s a feasible option and many people do it. You just need to read up about driving around the cities and make sure you’re across any no-go areas and safety concerns. We didn’t do it ourselves so I can’t give you any personal experience, but I’d say it’s no more or less safe than taking public transport. All the best! Sally