Currency: The Honduran lempira (HNL) is the national currency. US dollars are widely accepted in tourist areas and on the Bay Islands. ATMs are available in all major cities; use them inside banks or hotels rather than on the street, and be aware of your surroundings when withdrawing cash.
Visas: Most nationalities including US, EU, Canadian, UK, and Australian citizens can enter visa-free for up to 90 days. Honduras is part of the CA-4 agreement with Guatemala, El Salvador, and Nicaragua — the 90-day allowance applies across all four countries, not per country. A departure tax of around US$48 is normally included in international airfares.
Language: Spanish is the official language. English is spoken widely in the Bay Islands and in some tourist-oriented businesses on the mainland. Garifuna communities along the Caribbean coast speak their own language as well as Spanish.
Safety: Exercise caution throughout Honduras, and a high degree of caution in San Pedro Sula and Tegucigalpa. Violent crime, particularly in urban areas, is a genuine concern. Practical measures: take radio-dispatched taxis rather than flagging cabs on the street; don't display valuables; avoid local buses in the cities; travel between cities only during daylight. Most travelers on the standard tourist circuit — Copán, the north coast, the Bay Islands — visit without incident, but complacency is unwise.
Health: Tap water is not safe to drink in most areas; stick to bottled or filtered water. Mosquito-borne illnesses including dengue fever are present, particularly on the coast and at lower elevations. Use repellent, especially in the evenings. No vaccinations are required for entry unless arriving from a yellow fever zone, but check current recommendations before travel.
Communications: Mobile coverage is decent in cities and the main tourist areas but patchy in rural regions and La Mosquitia. SIM cards from Tigo or Claro are inexpensive and widely available.
Electricity: 110V, 60Hz, the same as the US and Canada. Type A and B plugs (the standard US flat-pin type).
Time zone: UTC-6, no daylight saving.