Global Road Warrior

Honduras

Transportation

Air Travel

Local airlines, with Isleña Airlines and Líneas Aéreas Nacionales being the primary operations, offer daily services linking Tegucigalpa and other major towns. Isleña also provides services to Utila, the most economical Bay Island (along the Caribbean coast).

The main airports are Tegucigalpa, Dr. Ramón Villeda Morales Airport, 17 km (11 miles) from the middle of San Pedro Sula, and La Ceiba's airfield. There are also more than 30 smaller airfields that can handle both commercial aviation and light aircraft. A hospital and airport tax of 2.5 percent is included in the airfare for domestic flights.

Airport

Toncontin Airport
Transportation to City Center
The airport lies just three miles (five km) southeast of the center of town, making transportation relatively fast and easy. Taxis are available in front of the terminal, with fares running about US$5. If you walk about 100 yards down to the street and flag a cab yourself, it will run about US$3. Colectivo (shared) taxis cost less. Public buses are available to the city, but do not carry baggage. The #1 and 11 "Loarque" buses stop right outside the main entrance to the airport and operate frequently from 5:30a.m. to 9p.m. Fares are US$0.05. Some of the nicer hotels provide their own shuttle service, but arrangements must be made in advance.

Car Rental
Driving is Tegucigalpa is not pleasant for newcomers, but doable if needed. You'll need to reserve a car at least three days in advance of your arrival.

Avis	[504] 233-9548
Budget	[504] 233-5161
Hertz	[504] 234-3784
Molinari	[504] 233-1307
Toyota	[504] 234-3183

Airport Amenities
The airport offers a restaurant, bar, a Hondutel office, two banks, and several currency exchange shops, a snack bar, a souvenir shop, and a post office in the terminal. The banks have erratic hours, but official moneychangers also walk around the terminal. Beware of self-styled "porters" who will try to grab and carry your bags for you, then require a tip to give them back. There has been talk for years of a long-awaited renovation to this rather shabby airport.

The departure tax on international flights is US$10.

Airline Numbers

Note: The country code is [504] when dialing from outside Honduras.

Aeroservicios	233-1296
American Airlines	233-9680, 9685
Aviateca	231-2469
Caribbean Air	233-1906
Continental Airlines	233-7676, 233-4697
Iberia	231-5223, 231-5247
Isle ña Airlines	233-1130, 233-1894
La Costea	234-6628, 234-6632
LACSA/TACA	231-2472, 233-5756

Taxi

Fares are not metered and should be negotiated before departing for your destination. In most towns, however, there is a basic flat rate in effect. You may want to begin your negotiations by letting the driver know you are aware of the flat rate. Many drivers will pick up extra passengers along the way. One can also rent a cab by the hour or even by the day. Make sure you have good directions or a map before departing as drivers are not always well informed--or pretend as much.

Visitors should pick taxis carefully, and note the driver's name and license number. They should instruct the driver not to pick up other passengers, agree on the fare before they depart, and have small bills available for payment, because taxi drivers often do not make change.

Auto

Road Conditions
Because of crime and poor road conditions, driving can be very dangerous, and travelers may want to carry a cellular phone in case of an emergency. Travelers should exercise extreme caution while driving on isolated stretches of road and passing on mountainous curves. Rockslides are common, especially in the rainy season (June through December). Traffic signs, even on major highways, are often inadequate, and streets in the major cities are often unmarked. Travelers should drive with doors locked and windows rolled up.

Major highways have been rebuilt following the destruction caused by Hurricane Mitch in 1998, though many stretches are still under repair. Major cities are connected by an inconsistently maintained, two-lane system of paved roads, and many secondary roads in Honduras are unpaved. During the rainy season, even major highways are often closed due to rockslides and flooding. Hurricane Mitch washed out many bridges throughout the country, and temporary repairs are vulnerable to heavy rains.

Some of the most dangerous stretches for road travel include: Tegucigalpa to Choluteca, because of dangerous mountain curves; El Progreso to La Ceiba , because of animal crossings and the poor condition of bridges from flooding; and Limones to La Union , Olancho (route 41) via Salama and northward to Saba , because of frequent incidents of highway robbery. The detour to San Pedro Sula north of La Guama (CA-5) via Santa Cruz de Yojoa is mandatory for heavy trucks and is a congested, difficult drive. Former Route 1 North via Aqua Azul to CA-5 is generally a safer route for cars.

Honduran roads also suffer from a general lack of lighting and poorly marked highways. Vehicles are often driven at night without adequate illumination, and animals and people wander onto the roads at all hours. For these reasons, and because of the high incidence of crime, the U.S. Embassy strongly discourages car and bus travel after dark.

Hijackings of private and commercial vehicles from the United States to Honduras have occurred. Honduras and the United States have signed a stolen vehicle treaty, which is pending ratification by each nation's legislature. Moreover, since Honduran law protects good faith buyers, even of stolen vehicles, it is difficult to recover stolen vehicles. Vehicle insurance may mitigate loss; please check with the National Insurance Crime Bureau at www.nicb.org , private insurance carriers, and our web site information on "Commercial Vehicle Hijackings" at www.usmission.hn for more information.

Auto Rental
Rental cars (and motorbikes) are available in most Honduran cities. They are expensive by any standard. A credit card and valid driver's license are required. Local insurance may be required. While main highways are well paved, most Honduran roads are substandard. Unless you are on an extended visit, rental cars are not a good idea for business travelers. Driving alone in rural areas also presents a security risk. Hired cars with drivers (or taxis) are sufficient for most needs.

Auto Rental Numbers
Avis
Tel: [504] 553-0088, 552-2872, 552-0088
Web: www.avis.com

Budget
Airport
Tel: [504] 233-6927
Blvd. Comunidad Economica, Europea Comayaguela D.C.
Tel: [504] 233-5171
Fax: [504] 233-5170, 233-5161

Hertz
Villa Real Main Downtown
Tel: [504] 239-0772
Fax: [504] 232-0870
Web: www.hertz.com
There is also a Hertz desk at the airport.

Train

Trains are strictly a last resort to be used only for reaching certain remote areas. The trains are slow, primitive, and quite cheap. Services are not reliable, so check to see if things are actually running just before you are set to embark.

There are three railways in the north coast region, used mainly for hauling cargo between banana plantations. Passenger train services in the north run only between San Pedro, Puerto Cortés, and Tela.

A single passenger line runs in the southern part of Honduras on an erratic schedule. Make all inquiries and bookings locally.

Subway

There is no metro system in Honduras.

Bus

Numerous bus lines serve locals in Honduran cities as well as providing intercity service. Local buses usually run from 5a.m. until 9p.m. and prices are cheap. Conditions may prove crowded and uncomfortable during peak hours. Intercity lines usually run from 6a.m. with a last bus in the afternoon so that the final destination is reached before dark to avoid crime problems. Intercity fares are cheap but business travelers may find them too uncomfortable to forego a hired car service. The U.S. Embassy strongly urges its citizens to avoid bus travel after dark.

Water Travel

Ferries sail out of ports on the Caribbean, Atlantic, and Pacific coastlines. Several times weekly, there are crossings from Puerto Cortés and La Ceiba to the Bay Islands. For necessary details, contact the local port authorities. Most businesspeople use the reasonably priced commuter air services for these same routes to save time.

Travel Assistance

Instituto Hondureño de Turismo
P.O. Box 3261
Edificio Europa, 5to Piso
Colonia San Carlos, Avenida Ramon Cruz,
Tegucigalpa, Honduras
Tel: [504] 222-2124 or 1-800-222-8687 (toll-free within Honduras only)
Tel/fax: [504] 222-6621
Web: www.hondurasinfo.hn
Email: ihturism@hondutel.hn