Published: July 30, 2026

This report is intended to supplement the U.S. Department of State Honduras Travel Advisory and Honduras International Travel Information Page.

Embassy & Consulate Contact Information

U.S. Embassy Tegucigalpa

Boulevard Los Próceres

Tegucigalpa M.D.C.

Honduras

+ (504) 2217-5000

Emergencies: + (504) 2217-5000. Hours. Monday - Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30p.m.  Friday, 8:00a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

OSAC Country Chapter(s)

The Honduras Country Chapter is active and generally meets monthly on a rotating basis in Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula.

Contact OSAC’s Americas team with any questions.

Honduras Travel Advisory

The current U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory at the date of this report’s publication assesses that travelers should reconsider travel to Honduras due to crime.

Do not travel to Gracias a Dios Department, Honduras's most eastern department, due to crime.

Review OSAC’s report, Understanding the Consular Travel Advisory System.

Crime

The U.S. Department of State has assessed Tegucigalpa as being a CRITICAL-threat location for crime directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests.

The U.S. Department of State has included a Crime “C” Indicator on the Travel Advisory for Honduras.  

The crime emergency line in Honduras is 911. Review the U.S. Department of State’s Crime Victims Assistance brochure.

Crime: General Threat

While the risk from crime in Honduras remains a concern, most travelers visiting or residing in Honduras are unaffected by violence, and visits for tourism or humanitarian aid work without incident. The U.S. Embassy estimates at least 31,000 U.S. citizens reside in Honduras.

For visitors to Tegucigalpa, neighborhoods to the east of the city center like Colonia Palmira and San Carlos, as well as the area around the Multiplaza Mall / Boulevard de Juan Pablo II offer lower risk areas for international visitors, but even these areas are known to see muggings. Villa Nueva, El Rincon, Kennedy, and Comayagüela represent some of the higher crime neighborhoods in the city. Those who choose to visit the historic center should do so with increased caution, and should depart before dark, as the risk of crime increases. Traffic in and out of the historic center can be particularly congested.

Efforts from the Honduran government have seen some progress in reducing homicide rates in recent years. Media reporting has suggested that 2025 closed with a national homicide rate of around 23.2 homicides per 100,000 residents. This is a decline from a rate of 25.3 in 2024, 34.4 in 2023, and 38.1 in 2022. Historically, major cities (e.g., Tegucigalpa, San Pedro Sula, La Ceiba) have had homicide rates higher than the national average. The three cities led in total homicides in 2025. However, Tegucigalpa, which makes up the majority of the Distrito Central municipality, and San Pedro Sula, saw homicide rates nearly cut in half from 2022 to 2024

The Honduran departments of Colon, Olancho, Islas de la Bahia, Yoro and Atlantida also tend to see higher rate of violent crime.

The two largest criminal groups in Honduras that continue to impact average citizens are the MS-13 (Mara Salvatrucha) and Barrio 18 street gangs. Their activity focuses on cities such as Tegucigalpa, Choloma, La Ceiba, Tela, and San Pedro Sula, but they have a presence throughout the country. Most crime victims are members of rival gangs, small business owners who resist gang extortion, passengers on public transportation, or those involved in land disputes. Gangs are not reluctant to use violence, and specialize in murder-for-hire, carjacking, extortion, and other violent street crime. Gangs control some of the taxi services, primarily in large cities.

Transnational criminal organizations are also involved in narcotics trafficking and other illicit commerce. Drug trafficking and gang activity are the main causes of violent crime in Honduras. Penalties for the possession, use, or trafficking of illegal narcotics are strict; convicted offenders can expect lengthy jail sentences and fines.

Traffickers exploit Honduran territory to transit cocaine destined for the United States and precursor chemicals used to produce illicit drugs. The northeastern Department of Gracias a Dios is particularly vulnerable to trafficking due to its remoteness, limited infrastructure, and minimal government presence.

In December 2022 the government of Honduras declared a State of Exception as a response to gang violence and high homicide rates in the country. The State of Exception expanded the powers of law enforcement to crack down on criminal gangs and was extended repeatedly in 45-day periods to eventually include most municipalities until its end in January 2026. The State of Exception did not seem to have had a large impact on crime, as new groups emerged and extortion of the transport industry expanded.

Violence linked to land disputes also occurs, particularly in the Bay Islands and the Bajo Aguan Valley in northern Honduras. Land disputes are sometimes tied to agricultural interests and against environmental defenders.

Armed robberies, burglaries, vandalization, home invasions, and extortions occur; closely guarded officials, businesspersons, and diplomats are not immune. There is street crime even in gated communities commonly referred to locally as Barrios Seguros, generally safer areas with heightened security measures.

Roatán and the Bay Islands are geographically separate from the mainland and experience lower crime rates even when compared with other Caribbean islands. However, visitors have reported being robbed while walking on isolated beaches. Thefts, break-ins, assaults, rapes, and murders do occur. Additionally, illegal drugs are for sale in many of the popular tourist areas during the evening hours.

Crime: Areas of Concern

The U.S. Embassy has identified these areas as high risk for crime:

Distrito Central: Colonia Villa Nueva, Nueva Suyapa, Flor de Campo, Los Pinos, Los Laureles, El Carrizal, Villa Cristina, La Travesia, Pueblo Nuevo, Barrio Concepcion, Villa Franca, La Laguna, San Ignacio, and Torocagua.

Department of Cortez: Lomas del Carmen, Barrio Medina, Brisas del Merendon, Col. La Pradera, Col. Rivera Hernandez, Brisas del Sauce, La Planeta, Col. 6 de Mayo, Cofradia, Col. Central, Col. Hector Sabillon Cruz, Barrio El Centro, Barrio Barandilla, Chamelecon, and Choloma.

Department of Choluteca: Marcovia

Department of Colon: Tocoa

Those planning travel to Gracias a Dios should consider postponing their travel as the U.S. Department of State lists this as a Level 4: Do Not Travel location. The U.S. Embassy has restricted U.S. government personnel travel to the Department of Gracias a Dios in eastern Honduras because of credible threat information against U.S citizens. Gracias a Dios is a remote location where narcotics trafficking is frequent, infrastructure is weak, government services are limited, and police/military presence is limited.

Review OSAC’s reports, All That You Should Leave Behind, Hotels: The Inns and Outs, Considerations for Hotel Security, Taking Credit, and Our Two Cents: Petty Crime Basics and How to Minimize the Risk.      

Kidnapping Threat

The U.S. Department of State has not included a Kidnapping “K” Indicator on the Travel Advisory for Honduras.

Kidnappings in Honduras are believed to be significantly underreported. Most that are reported occur in the Francisco Morazan Department (especially in the Distrito Central municipality) and Cortes Department. Reported kidnappings doubled in 2025 compared to previous years. According to official data, there were 24 reported kidnapping cases in 2025, 13 in 2024, and 8 in 2023. Eight kidnappings have been reported before June 28, 2026, across Cortes, Yoro and Comayagua. It is possible the dramatic increase may account for more accurate reporting, as true totals in 2024 and 2023 are thought to be much higher.

Victim’s family members often pay ransoms without reporting these crimes to police out of fear of retribution. Less than 3 out of 20 cases go to criminal proceedings, which could inhibit reporting if the public has no confidence that action will be taken.

There has been a rise in virtual kidnappings, a social engineering scam where a victim is falsely led to believe that they their family members is in imminent danger over a phone call. Media has also reported a number of cases where citizens fake their own kidnapping in an attempt to collect ransom money for themselves.

Reports of kidnappings of U.S. citizens are not common.

Review OSAC’s reports, Kidnapping: The Basics and Active Shooter and Kidnapping Response Tips.

Terrorism

The U.S. Department of State has assessed Tegucigalpa as being a MEDIUM-threat location for terrorism directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests.

The U.S. Department of State has not included a Terrorism “T” Indicator on the Travel Advisory for Honduras.

No legal cases involving instances of terrorism affecting U.S. citizens or facilities have been brought before the Honduran judicial system, and there are no reports of judicial developments that would have a negative impact on U.S. counterterrorism efforts.

The CA-4 agreement among El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras allows for the inspection-free movement of citizens among these countries, reducing overall inspection at land crossings. Limited inspections could facilitate movements of terrorists. The neighboring country of Nicaragua is not part of the CA-4 agreement.

In 2025, the U.S. Department of State designated eight Latin American transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) and Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs). This included the six Mexican groups, including the Cartel de Sinaloa and Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG), which have ties to Honduran criminal groups. The Central American street gang Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) was also designated as an FTO and is one of the predominant criminal gangs in Honduras. 

In relation to the FTO designations, U.S. organizations should be aware of criminal penalties associated with providing material support to FTOs. The primary criminal statutes OSAC members need to be aware of regarding FTOs include 18 U.S.C. § 2339 A-D. These statutes define material support as (tangible or intangible) property, monetary instruments, lodging, training, advice, equipment, transportation, and other goods or services. This can include paying extortion demands to criminal groups designated as FTOs. Compliance departments should ensure that an organization does not knowingly, or unknowingly, provide material support to any FTO or FTO-affiliated entity.

Political Violence and Civil Unrest

The U.S. Department of State has assessed Tegucigalpa as being a MEDIUM-threat location for political violence directed at or affecting official U.S. government interests.

The U.S. Department of State has not included a Civil Unrest “U” Indicator on the Travel Advisory for Honduras. Civil unrest can develop quickly without prior notice, often interrupting logistics and services. Avoid demonstration activity, as even those planned to remain peaceful have the potential to turn violent.

Elections/Political Stability

Honduras is a constitutional, multiparty republic. The most recent national and local elections were held in November 2025. Voters elected Nasry Asfura of the National Party as president for a four-year term. The announcement of Nasry Asfura’s election was delayed until mid-December due to protests of the election due to a thin margin between the two final candidates. Nasry Asfura eventually won with 40% of the vote.

The next general election will occur in 2029.  

Protests & Demonstrations

Civil unrest in Tegucigalpa and other parts of Honduras remains a constant challenge. Most demonstrations were concentrated in or around city centers, public buildings, and other public areas. However, protesters have also blocked key intercity transportation routes and intracity intersections with burning tires, rocks, and other debris, to include the roads leading to the international airports in Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula, and the CA-5 and CA-11 highways. While the majority of protests are relatively peaceful, they are to be avoided as they can escalate, with little or no notice, into violent confrontations resulting in destruction to public and private property. 

Tegucigalpa: Protests in the capital often occur in or near the Parque Central, along Boulevard Suyapa, near the National Congress, Presidential Palace, and other prominent government buildings.

San Pedro Sula: Protests also occur in San Pedro Sula’s Parque Central, near the city’s municipal building, along Boulevard Morazán, and occasionally at industrial parks when labor conflicts arise.

Review OSAC’s report, Surviving a Protest.

Anti-U.S./Anti-Western Sentiment

There is currently no significant anti-U.S. or anti-Western sentiment in Honduras.

Law Enforcement

The Honduran National Police (HNP) maintain internal security and reports to the Secretariat of Security. The force is organized into regional headquarters, municipal headquarters, headquarters of fixed or mobile stations, and police posts. There are at least 360 police centers throughout Honduras.

The National Interinstitutional Security Force (FUSINA) is an interagency command that coordinates the overlapping responsibilities of the national police, military police of public order, National Intelligence Directorate, and Public Ministry during interagency operations. It brings together elements of the Honduran military, national police, investigators, judges, intelligence, and other relevant offices across the Honduran government to better coordinate the “whole-of-government” operations against organized crime and insecurity in the country. Although FUSINA reports to the National Security and Defense Council, it plays a coordinating role and does not exercise broad command and control functions over other security forces except during interagency operations involving those forces. 

The armed forces, which report to the Defense Secretariat, are responsible for external security, but also exercise some domestic security responsibilities in a supporting role to the national police and other civilian authorities. The Military Police of Public Order (PMOP) report to military authorities but conduct operations sanctioned by civilian security officials as well as by military leaders.

The HNP is part of the National Emergency System. It is responsible for operating the “911 Center” and in charge of receiving all emergency calls nationwide. To activate the response of the HNP in cases of security-related emergencies, the individual must dial 911 from a landline or cell phone; calls to 911 are free and confidential. The 911 Center will then coordinate a response by the nearest HNP station (Posta).

Members of the public can file a criminal complaint (denuncia) through the División Anti Extorsión y Asociaciones Terroristas (DAET) by dialing 143 at any time of the day.

Police Response

The government lacks resources to investigate and prosecute cases; police often lack vehicles/fuel to respond to calls for assistance. Police may take hours to arrive at the scene of a violent crime or may not respond at all.

The government places specially trained police forces in areas tourists frequent (e.g., the Copan Mayan ruins and Roatán). The government is implementing similar programs for other locations and major hotels, while other tourist installations have increased private and police security.

The police, along with the PMOP, routinely establish checkpoints and review documentation (e.g., driver’s licenses, vehicle registration). The Honduran National Police wear blue uniforms, while the PMOP normally wear green camouflage. Uniforms and vehicles are all clearly marked.

Transportation Security

Road Safety

Driving in Honduras can be dangerous. According to official data, there were 1,929 traffic fatalities throughout the country. Due to the lack of traffic law enforcement, travelers should make an extraordinary effort to drive defensively. While the Honduran government is modernizing some of the main transportation road networks to four-lane highways, many major cities still connect via an inconsistently maintained, two-lane system of paved roads, with many unpaved secondary roads. Common traffic concerns include poorly marked and lighted roads, drivers not using their vehicle lights, drivers passing on blind corners, and obstacles (e.g., debris, animals and people) in the roadway. Additionally, a significant percentage of vehicles on the road are in disrepair, underpowered, beyond their lifecycle, and would not meet U.S. road safety standards. 

The U.S. Embassy prohibits employees from engaging in intercity car and bus travel after dark except between Tegucigalpa and Palmerola Airport (XPL). The Embassy recommends avoiding traveling at night and always driving with the doors locked and windows up to deter potential robberies at traffic lights and on congested downtown streets. Always carry a mobile phone in case of emergency and exercise extreme caution when driving on isolated stretches of road and passing other vehicles on mountainous curves.

Review OSAC’s reports, Road Safety Abroad, Driving Overseas: Best Practices, and Evasive Driving Techniques; and read the U.S. Department of State’s webpage on driving and road safety abroad.  

Public Transportation Safety

The public transportation sector is a regular target of extortion, and experiences higher levels of homicide than many other sectors. There have been multiple incidents of gang members destroying city buses and taxis, and reports that gang members rob, assault, rape, kidnap, or murder passengers. Passengers on public buses have been the victims of robbery at roadblocks and bus stops, during daytime and nighttime hours. Avoid using Colectivos (white sedan taxis with a sticker on the windshield denoting its established route), Ruleteros (private white sedan taxis with no established routes), and Rapiditos (small buses that pick up multiple riders). 

Most of the reported incidents on public transportation involved gang members demanding extortion payments. Some passengers opt to travel armed when using public transportation, which has resulted in armed confrontations where innocent bystanders are injured or killed in the crossfire. Some would-be muggers and gang members keep to a daily schedule, riding city buses from one stop to the next, committing criminal acts with impunity along the way.

Aviation Concerns

Palmerola International Airport or Comayagua International Airport (XPL) is the primary international airport that services the Honduran capital Tegucigalpa. The airport opened in 2021 and is Honduras’s new international airport for civil and commercial use. XPL is located between the capital city of Tegucigalpa and the industrial city of San Pedro Sula. When traveling between XPL and Tegucigalpa the trip is about 90 minutes one way, so travelers should plan accordingly.  

Tocontín International Airport (TGU), which also serves Tegucigalpa, has seen large reductions in service since XPL opened. It still serves for some domestic service and routes between nearby Central American countries. The airport is known to experience challenging weather conditions due to its location in a bowl-shaped valley surrounded on all sides by mountains. Situated in the capital’s outskirts—right along the steep walls of a mountain—the airport is surrounded by manmade obstacles like electric power lines and multi-story buildings. (In May 2018, a private jet crashed while landing, taking down some of the power lines, and leaving at least 50,000 nearby residents temporarily without electricity.) These issues combined with the short runway make flights into and out of TGU subject to a number of restrictions.

Review OSAC’s Report, Security in Transit: Airplanes, Public Transport, and Overnights.

Maritime Security

Honduras is a key transit country of U.S.-bound cocaine and precursor chemicals, which are also transported by sea. The United States maintains a bilateral agreement with Honduras to suppress illicit traffic by sea, which includes provisions for ship boarding, ship riders, pursuit, entry to investigate, and overflight.

Travelers with Special Considerations

For specific traveler concerns in Honduras, review the local laws and circumstances on the U.S. Department of State’s Country Information Page.

• Women Travelers
• Gay and Lesbian Travelers
• Accessibility Needs
• Studying Abroad
• Faith-Based Travel

Rule of Law, Arbitrary Detention, Official Harassment, Corruption, & Transparency

The U.S. Department of State has not included a Risk of Wrongful Detention “D” Indicator on the Travel Advisory for Honduras.

The law prohibits arbitrary arrest and detention and provides for the right of any person to challenge the lawfulness of his or her arrest or detention in court. Detained U.S. citizens should insist on speaking to U.S. Embassy representatives as soon as possible. The police generally treat detained foreigners well. Except in some very rural locations, police are aware of a U.S. citizen detainee's right to contact the Embassy. Travelers should be aware that the assistance the Embassy can provide is limited to making sure U.S. citizens are not treated differently from local detainees and providing them with a list of local attorneys. The Embassy cannot secure the release or act as legal representation for any U.S. citizen. Local law allows the police to detain someone for up to 24 hours for administrative processing. This is a common practice for most automobile accidents where personal injury occurs, and for cases in which someone is accused of a criminal act. Seek legal representation before admitting or signing any legal form that acknowledges culpability. If you or someone you know becomes the victim of a crime, contact the local police and U.S. Embassy Tegucigalpa.

Corruption remains a pervasive problem, especially at the local level given the strong presence of armed gangs who often target local officials for corruption. U.S. businesses and citizens report corruption in the public sector, and the judiciary is a significant constraint to investment in Honduras. Historically, corruption has been pervasive in government procurement, issuance of government permits, customs, real estate transactions (particularly land title transfers), performance requirements, and the regulatory system.

Independent media are active and express a wide variety of views without restriction. Some powerful business magnates with commercial, political, and family ties own most major news outlets. Media members reportedly self-censor due to fear of retaliation from organized crime or corrupt officials.

Health Concerns

The U.S. Department of State has not included a Health “H” Indicator on the Travel Advisory for Honduras. Review the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) country-specific Travel Health Notices for current health issues that impact traveler health, like disease outbreaks, special events or gatherings, and natural disasters.

Medical care in Honduras is limited. Emergency services, even in Tegucigalpa, generally are basic. There are few U.S.-educated physicians in Tegucigalpa. Some ambulance services do not have paramedics or emergency medical equipment and function solely as transport to hospitals. Dial 911 to contact ambulance services.

Find contact information for available medical services and available air ambulance services on the U.S. Embassy website. The U.S. Department of State strongly recommends purchasing international health insurance before traveling internationally. Review the U.S. Department of State’s webpage on health insurance overseas.

See OSAC’s Guide to U.S. Government-Assisted Evacuations; review OSAC’s reports, The Healthy Way, Shaken: The Don’ts of Alcohol Abroad, Health 101: How to Prepare for Travel, and Fire Safety Abroad; and visit the U.S. Department of State’s webpage on Your Health Abroad for more information.

Vaccinations

Honduras currently requires travelers arriving from Panama and every nation in South America to present proof of yellow fever vaccine. Suggested vaccines include: Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR), Rabies, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Typhoid, Chickenpox (Varicella), Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis, Flu (influenza), and Polio.

Review the CDC Travelers’ Health site for country-specific vaccine recommendations.

Issues Traveling with Medications

If traveling with prescription medication, check with the Embassy of Honduras in Washington, DC to ensure the medication is legal in Honduras. Always carry your prescription medication in original packaging with your doctor’s prescription. Always ensure you have enough medicine to cover your travel time, and research its availability in Honduras, or whether there is a viable replacement.

Review OSAC’s report, Traveling with Medication.  

Water Quality

Honduras lacks the infrastructure to maintain water purity and food safety. Diarrheal illness is very common even in large cities and luxury accommodations. Only sealed, commercial water bottles are safe to drink.

Review OSAC’s report, I’m Drinking What in My Water?

Natural Disasters

The U.S. Department of State has not included a Natural Disaster “N” Indicator on the Travel Advisory for Honduras.

Honduras’ primary natural disaster concerns stem from the rainy season, hurricanes and tropical storms, and earthquakes. The COPECO (Comisión Permanente de Contingencias), Honduras’ Ministry of Emergency Assistance, utilizes an alert system to prepare the public for natural disasters. Alerts may be:

• Green: Stay informed through COPECO bulletins and media.
• Yellow: Follow instructions and recommendations from COPECO.
• Red: Execute all necessary actions to save lives.

Alerts are released as bulletins and are accessible through COPECO’s website. The U.S. Embassy alerts page also shares natural disaster information and COPECO alerts.

The rainy season usually runs from May to November and may cause damage to infrastructure from rock or mudslides.

Hurricane season in the Atlantic generally starts in June and runs through November. The U.S. Embassy website generally sends out a yearly hurricane season alert with estimates of the number of storms that may be experienced that year according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Major hurricanes, Eta and Iota, occurred back-to-back during November 2020. Both caused widespread flooding and infrastructure damage, particularly in the Valle de Sula area. They caused multiple collapsed bridges, washed out roads and the closure to commercial flights of Ramón Villeda Morales International Airport (SAP) near San Pedro Sula for two months. 

COPECO also warns of earthquakes. Earthquakes may occur at any time in Honduras but are less frequently damaging than heavy rainfall and hurricanes and tropical storms.

Review OSAC’s report, Landslides: What Are They and How to Prepare.

Review OSAC’s report, Earthquake Preparedness Toolkit.

Cybersecurity

Extortion threats commonly originate through social engineering. Criminals sometimes obtain personal information through social media, the internet, or a victim’s family member. NGOs have reported anonymous attacks via social media, alleging that civil society actors are engaged in, or supportive of, criminal activity in Honduras.

Credit card skimming is common. Embassy employees and others have experienced skimming at well-known restaurants, hotels, and retailers. There is often a spike in skimming in December and June, when the working population receive Christmas and mid-year bonuses in the form of one extra month’s salary.

Review OSAC’s reports, Cybersecurity Basics, Best Practices for Maximizing Security on Public Wi-Fi, Traveling Abroad with Mobile Devices, and Guide for Overseas Satellite Phone Usage.

Counterintelligence Issues

The U.S. Embassy has no information on counterintelligence issues affecting the private sector community in Honduras. Standard personal security awareness and privacy measures continue to apply worldwide.

Import/Export Restrictions

The U.S. Embassy in Honduras is not aware of any specific security concerns regarding imports or exports, including of satellite phones.

A country-specific listing of items/goods prohibited from being exported to the country or that are otherwise restricted is available from the U.S. International Trade Agency website.

Additional resources and reports can be found in the OSAC Traveler Toolkit.