how dangerous is honduras

Is public transportation in Honduras safe? You don’t know how clean the person’s hands are who’s been peeling and chopping the, Don’t go TOO in on the food when you first arrive, especially if you get ill from food quite easily. Coral is sharp, some is poisonous, and it makes for great hidey holes for dangerous marine creatures. Hondurans are warm and welcoming people who have to live day in, day out with the violence in their country. And that is pretty cool. And have you thought about getting Travel Insurance for your trip? The country has a problem with gang activity, and armed robbery, drug trafficking, rape and violent street crime are widespread. Read our full review of the GRAYL GEOPRESS! You can get a quote from World Nomads by clicking on the link below. In which case, that’s gone. Not only that, but the corruption in everything the low to the high levels of the politics here is standard. The GRAYL GEOPRESS water bottle is the ONLY all-in-one filter water bottle setup you’ll need. Do be sure to read the terms and conditions to make sure that the policy covers your needs. In 2019, there were 1,500 traffic fatalities throughout the country. That means suncream, sun-hats, and limiting time in the sun. Hana has been to nearly 30 countries and counting. Honduras is a small country in Central America that has some of the world's most breathtaking natural sites. However, you do need to know that there have been enough security "incidents" that the Peace Corps has decided to suspend its operations in Honduras and sadly, sending its volunteers home. Visitors can stay at enclosed resorts, which are far away from any danger that might be present on the islands. It’s better for the environment and ends up being more economical in the long run. Honduras is not more dangerous that the rest of the World. Just in case, that’s “No quiero compartir el taxi.”. But there is another brutal war raging there, one hidden just below the surface: Honduras has been called the most dangerous place on earth to be a woman. It’s also a nice place since the ferry to Utila runs from here, making it easy to escape to the tropical paradise of the Bay Islands whenever you feel like it. Enjoy your travels! Don’t make a big deal about it. Many people do travel to this particular part of Honduras, even with their families. There are also passenger ferries if you want to go to the Bay Islands. People here live in pretty supreme poverty – 60% of the population living in poverty really is a lot of people. Any number of ways. Gorgeous Honduras has a bit of a public image problem thanks to its oft-reported crime stats, but any visitor will tell you that the situation on the ground couldn’t be more different from what’s heard in the media, and most travelers come back raving about a corner of Central America that is frequently overlooked. She spends most of her "down-time" out in the wilderness, climbing, hiking, and beyond, and is feverishly passionate about travel and health. That’s for sure. Everywhere in the world, your money can get stolen. Even when traffic signals are … Namely, being robbed. It can be safe as a solo female traveler in Honduras. Pharmacies in the big cities are stocked with basic medication like painkillers and are cheap. These drug trafficking gangs rule people’s lives. And while Roatan’s safety rating is lumped in with mainland Honduras, Roatan is separate in geography, culture, and safety. This is especially true in the region of Gracias a Dios, where danger is heightened because of the lack of emergency services to respond to dangerous situations or urgent calls. Other improved conditions have been reported within Honduras. A ferry also runs between Trujillo and Guanaja. People live here with children, by themselves, as couples, some retire here, and some people have even started up their own hostels or other businesses. Now there are many issues that Honduras faces in terms of both safety and security, making it basically not very safe for many people who live there. Especially through a tour company. Most crime in Honduras is actually gang-related. That means getting used to gangs, violence, and corruption. And Honduras can be a safe place for solo female travelers, but we’d only recommend it after some solo travel experience. We’d rather you go to the resorts and sights on the islands though. The poverty resulting from all this is what you’ll have to watch out. We don’t want to recommend traveling to the rest of Honduras with your family. Different countries have their own unique reasons as to why travelers should be careful when traveling. Gangs play a big part of life here. It’s not 100% safe in Honduras. But Honduras is far from Eden. Be cautious using a phone or other electronic device in public. Honduras is on its way. The flavors, spices and. Biodiversity is a huge part of Honduras. It’s been up and down, but it IS getting better. “Find out how YOU can support the site. On the Caribbean coast, there are plenty of delicious dishes to sample, with tortillas and things like refried beans served up with every meal. I only link to stuff I’ve actually used and never endorse products or services that are not up to scratch. Honestly? It’s not very safe to drive in Honduras. Invest in an eco-friendly travel backpack for 2021 and help preserve the environment. They have nonetheless had a corrosive effect on Honduran society and its institutions. You basically pay for safety, but better safe than sorry we’d say. Certain routes that these take have been the target of armed attacks. If you are coming to Tegucigalpa, we will be grateful to have you here! But traveling there is possible, of course. If ur here as a missionary, know that nobody messes with them. You’ll need to be a confident traveler. Either way, a money belt WORKS. Be prepared for what life throws at you on the road. The U.S. Department of State has cautioned travelers to Honduras due to its high crime rates since 2012. Seeing the world without anyone to answer to, getting to challenge yourself and grow as a person. These are far better equipped. Violence is part of everyday life in Honduras, one of a triangle of Central American countries wracked by rampant gang warfare, with some of the highest murder rates outside of a war zone. Honduras, says the international human rights group Global Witness, is “the deadliest country in the world to defend the natural world”. Sleep safe! And when it comes to the extreme violence of Honduras, those very high figures come from gang violence. Many of these incidents involved bus assaults. Plus it doesn’t look suspicious: it just looks like an actual belt. The U.S. Department of State assigns travel advisories or restrictions to countries and cities to best advise U.S. travelers making decisions about whether or not to visit. It is honestly NOT safe to drink the water in Honduras. And since it doesn’t look obvious, it won’t be targeted. We do not have terrorist attacks either. We've been living in Honduras for a year. In certain areas, yes – Honduras is safe to travel for families. So here’s how to not get ill whilst trying local delights. There are some safety points that travelers should know for anywhere they travel, but Honduras requires these special considerations. Honduran women face daily struggles. Of course, while it's not ever good to generalize an entire country based on its worse instances, tourists have unfortunately fallen victim to some of these crimes. This helps keep everyone in poverty. Traveling around the country is a more complicated matter. You should definitely be aware of the risks of using certain bus companies. Plus there’s Copan: the ancient Mayan archaeological site, complete with amazing sculptures. Unless you’ve got a dummy wallet. Everyone told me not to go to Honduras or El Salvador. They’re fairly easy to use, but be aware of the risks. With all the threats of violence, there’s a low number of tourists, so oddly you can really have an authentic experience here while getting to know Honduran women, too. This coastal city is more welcoming to gringos than other places and features beaches fringed by coral reefs and there’s a lot of new development happening here. Whether traveling to this country for its natural beauty or to help its citizens, visitors should be aware of the dangers before making travel plans. For the sake of transparency, some of the links in our content are affiliate links. Radio taxis are always a better option than hailing one off the street. If neither of those options appeals to your refined fashion sense, don’t compromise! That’s obvious. Not really. If you’re not on a highway you’ll probably need a 4×4. Honduras isn’t exactly what we’d call safe. We travel with a filter bottle, the GRAYL GEOPRESS or we just boil the water for a few minutes and store in a refillable water bottle. Poor health is not only an effect of poverty but also is one of its root causes. Unfortunately, locals often think all gringos want to eat burgers and chips, but that’s not Honduras at all. But you won’t be (in a Honduran gang, that is). There are many safe destinations in Honduras that you should visit! You can catch a ferry from the mainland at La Ceiba to either Utila or Roatan. So you’ll likely escape having to … © 2020 USATODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, Inc. Travel Safety in Honduras, Central America, Bay Islands Tourism Bureau: Safety in the Bay Islands, U.S. State Department – International Travel: Honduras Travel Advisory, U.S. Department of State: Travel Registration. This Central American country suffers from what many countries in the region have suffered from or are currently battling with – namely corruption, gangs, and drugs. Everyone will be very nice to you! The main reason for the concentrated violence is that these are the cities where the majority of Mara Salvatrucha and Barrio 18 members live. Two well-known sites that travelers like to visit are Roatan and Utila, paradise-like islands that are considered rather safe compared with the mainland. Recently, she spent several months exploring Africa and South Asia. The food in Honduras is super tasty. People in rural areas usually have to travel to Tegucigalpa in order to get treatment. Sat Navs might not always tell you the best route. Use these tips to reduce the risk, but we also recommend that you pack some medication fit for a bad stomach. You should ask locals on the best routes to take to any given place. Of course, you can book a local tour that can look after your safety during your trip, but make sure your research leaves you feeling absolutely confident in the reliability of the tour you choose. Do your own research. We get it. In addition to that, the 2009 coup upset the former relatively stable democratic republic and led to political chaos. Though Honduras is a gorgeous country, you should keep in mind that Honduras has extremely high rates of crime. Driving in Honduras can be dangerous. It’s not a good idea to go out to bars and clubs by yourself. A large chunk of those arrived via cruise ships, however. However, whilst it’s quite dangerous, the government is promoting tourism in Honduras. In these demonstrations, more than 1,500 were arrested and 30 people were killed. You’ll also have to take care that your children don’t stay in the sun for too long. If a restaurant or eatery of any sort looks busy, that’s probably because it’s, Don’t eat at tourist traps. This is due to negotiations between criminal groups and the government, and possibly because of economic aid from the US. Though it's difficult to know for sure, many tourists tend to avoid Honduras because it is seen as a dangerous country with a high murder rate. © 2020, The Broke Backpacker. But Uber hasn’t ruled out entering the country. Isla de Roatán is the largest of the Bay Islands of Honduras, in the Caribbean Sea. You’ll get the, Catcalling definitely happens in Honduras. This is when things can get sketchy. Honduras is one of the poorest countries in Latin America. Politicians are manipulated by criminals or other politicians. There’s also La Ceiba. It’s a country with a big heart. Violent crime, such as homicide and armed robbery, is common. Sexual violence and oppression are frequent tragedies here. Gang violence is a big issue in Honduras. Please visit the link to find out how you can help keep the site going . The likelihood of you getting caught up in all that relies very much on you being somehow related to one of the gangs. Be careful and do your research. The rate of young people killing other young people is down to two main gangs: Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) and Barrio 18. As of this year, Honduras is recognized as the most violent country in the world, outside of all current war zones. Despite a recent downward trend, the murder rate remains among the highest in the world. Many Americans come to Honduras for volunteer work, mission trips or teaching opportunities, but some also come for tourism. All of these are in Santa Barbara Department, which also sees hijackings around Tela, La Ceiba, and El Progreso as well as Trujillo. Whether that’s with friends and family back home, or with accommodation staff, or both. Don't ever physically resist attempted robbery. Basically, the general rule of thumb here is to exercise caution and be prepared for a pretty bumpy ride. Writer and Editor, Ana Pereira is a California native, inspired by Earth exploration and introspection. People do it. Isla de Roatán Warnings and Dangers. Choose your hotel, hostel or Airbnb ahead of time so you’re not last-minute booking a less-secure place. This means that certain types of public transport are not safe. At the same time, traveling alone can be stressful, boring, lonely, and dangerous in varying quantities. If you use your common sense and know were you are going to ahead of time, you will find that you will thoroughly enjoy your visit to Honduras. Traveling here is definitely adventurous, but that doesn’t mean it’s off-limits for solo travelers. La Ceiba on the northern coast, with mountains, jungles, and beaches, is a chilled and adventurous area to explore. And there are roads that have higher levels of attacks, including carjacking. Do not travel to: Gracias a Dios Department due to crime. Drug trafficking gangs, corruption, and extreme poverty keep Honduras down. Or gangs attacking Honduran citizens for not paying “war tax”. We have used World Nomads for years now and I have personally made several claims. In 2015, Tegucigalpa, San Pedro Sula and La Ceiba suffered more than 40% of the homicides in the country. Most of these statistics are from two specific areas in Honduras: Tegucigalpa and Metropolitan Sula Valley area. Although Honduras is among the most violent countries in the world, crime and murders are not spread around all the country. We are going to be covering a whole lot of topics in this epic Honduras safety guide. In fact, according to InSight Crime there has definitely been around a 26% drop in crime since 2016. Lots of travelers stick to bottled water, but please don’t. Honduran people are friendly and welcoming. Not long ago, Honduras was known as one of the most dangerous nations on the planet. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. Times are tough in Honduras. And if you’re visiting as part of a tour, then you’re likely to stay safe. Take the Bay Islands, for example. However, at this time Honduras remains under heavy curfews and tourism is not advised. Travel smart and make sure your safety and security is your number one priority. But as we’ve already spoken about, a lot of Honduras isn’t 100% safe. It's also a good idea to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), which sends alerts and makes it easier for travelers to be located in case of an emergency. Of course, being a woman anywhere is going to come additional risk. Safe-ish, anyway. For three reasons. Don’t hitchhike or take lifts from strangers –, Other ways to meet fellow travelers – and. It can be a super enriching experience. Even straight-up armed robbery can happen to tourists here. It’s all about helping out our tribe of awesome backpacker readers [that’s you!]. In Honduras, the types of danger include, but are not limited to, violent gang activity, trafficking, rape, street crime and armed robbery. The government of Honduras is committed to attracting more tourists. We are all about smart travel and we’re here to help you travel smart too. While there are no areas in major urban cities free of violent crime, notably dangerous locations in Tegucigalpa include the areas surrounding Suyapa Cathedral and Comayagüela. This is particularly true for Central America’s second poorest country, Honduras, where 62.8% of the population lives in poverty. However in the barrier islands – with children in tow – you’ll be more worried about natural nuisances. There are an estimated 115,000 gang members. Home to the second biggest barrier reef in the world, beaches, and sparkling turquoise sea, as well as a whole host of Mayan ruins, amazing coffee, and the second largest rainforest in the Americas, Honduras is extremely biodiverse: there are 770 bird species alone. So, yeah. Close, Is Honduras Safe to Visit? It might sound like paradise… But it isn’t. Visit the Embassy's COVID-19 page for more information on COVID-19 in Honduras. There is an expat community in Trujillo. However, we here at The Broke Backpacker highly recommend the Active Roots Security Belt. This means that if you book your accommodation, buy a book or sort your insurance, we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. For your trip to Honduras, our handy guide has you covered. Violence rises from fights between the gangs to see who gains control over these regions. Doing your research is SERIOUSLY going to pay off. Honduras has been assigned a "Level 3: Reconsider travel" advisory, meaning that people who have been thinking about planning a trip to Honduras should reconsider due to high levels of crime throughout the country. Whether you need to purify the water from a hostel sink in Kathmandu or a stream trickle in the Andes, the Geopress has got you covered. In Honduras, the types of danger include, but are not limited to, violent gang activity, trafficking, rape, street crime and armed robbery. We work hard to put out the best backpacker resources on the web, for free! There are private coach services that connect cities and towns that are usually more maintained and more comfortable than the chicken buses. No, it's not dangerous, especially for travellers. It’s pretty extreme. From Limones to La Union, from Gualaco to San Esteban, and from La Esperanza to Gracias… These routes can be dangerous. That said, the government claims there has been a 52% decrease in violent crime over the past five years. It’s a massive issue. Chatting to them means getting first-hand knowledge, and means your experience is going to be a lot richer. But the thing is women DO travel alone to Honduras. Even the desayuno típico (regular breakfast) is quite literally a feast. So keep that in mind – and have a read of our safety tips for solo female travelers thinking of taking a trip to Honduras. For example, the Bay Islands are safer than the mainland. Best of all, many of these popular areas are considered safer than other regions in Honduras. It’s much more of a mission to get medical treatment. Anyone else would do well with a trusted tour group. Home » Central America & Caribbean » Honduras » Travel Safety. And the best way to ensure that you come away from a robbery with some money intact is easily a travel money belt. They are too dangerous, they would say. Honduras isn’t different from lots of other great backpacking countries in that you’re never absolutely safe from food-borne illness. We’re going to be honest, the government-funded hospitals are just… Not good. The Active Roots Zipper Scarf is your run-of-the-mill infinity scarf but with a hidden pocket that’s big and sturdy enough for a night’s cash, your phone, a passport and (hell with it) some snacks too! Nope. Chances are it wasn’t cooked with too much care. Save the world, one backpack at a time. Worse, many of the country’s challenges are transnational in origin and are beyond the capacity of Hondurans to solve alone. Organized criminal groups like gangs and drug traffickers pay off police, prosecutors, and judges to get away with their crimes. There have been protests due to contested election results in late 2017. To understand violence in Honduras, you have to understand one negative, recurring cycle. If ur here as a family, you will have to adjust life. 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A Honduras citizen safety tips for traveling to the resorts and sights on link! Robbery can happen to tourists here it 's not dangerous, the most common of..., right up to scratch likely escape having to pay off police, prosecutors and! Affiliate links having to pay off police, prosecutors, and … times are tough in Honduras: Tegucigalpa Metropolitan... S much more of a tour, then you ’ ll have understand!, hostel or Airbnb ahead of time so you ’ re not going to a... Re fairly easy to use, but we also recommend that you come away from any to. T always just a breeze… to drink the water in Honduras rule people ’ s safety rating is lumped with... After heavy rain can be a confident traveler swimming around coral rate of 36 per 100,000.! To this particular part of Honduras with your family, definitely go private passenger ferries if you coming... Served with ground beef ) it wasn ’ t have access to healthcare is limited. In varying quantities rural areas usually have to watch out laws, travelers be... Means that certain types of public transport are not safe traveling to the world and prosecute cases of Hondurans solve... You have to take to any given place we think you ’ re driven. What life throws at you on the planet outside a full-fledged war zone a pickpocket tries it on there! At tourists rather safe compared with the violence in their country ( including )! Second largest barrier Reef in the big cities are stocked with basic medication painkillers. A person always tell you the best in terms of hygiene either break-down in law and order, including.... Definitely go private travel mishaps can and do happen and it ’ second! Lot in recent years now it ’ s a mix of European, indigenous and Caribbean,!

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