Officially dubbed as the Republic of Honduras, Honduras is a nation in Central America that is bordered by Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, the Gulf of Fonseca and the Gulf of Honduras. The country possesses a very diverse landscape that includes mountains, forests, rivers, fertile valleys, and tropical beaches, and is known for its rich Mesoamerican history, especially the ancient Maya city of Copán, as well as for its blended culture of Indigenous, African, and Spanish influences, and agriculture such as bananas, coffee, and cocoa. Tegucigalpa is Honduras' capital, located in a mountainous region in the southern part of the country. The city is the political and administrative centre of the country, having a mix of colonial architecture and modern development, and serving as Honduras' main hub for government, education, and business. Together, with its neighbouring city Comayagüela, Tegucigalpa forms the largest metropolitan area in Honduras.
Devastating hurricanes, tropical storms, floods, and landslides, plus droughts, earthquakes, and volcanic activity.
For driving and traffic offences;
Traffic police issue fines on the spot, where payment is typically done directly at municipal offices or online if allowed. In some cases, your vehicle may be impounded until the fine is paid.
Other violations include:
The official language of Honduras is Spanish, but English, Garifuna and several others are also spoken.
Vehicles drive on the right-hand side in Honduras. The minimum driving age is 18, but it is 21 to rent a car, and that the driver must also have held their licence for at least two years. In addition, many rental companies would charge extra to drivers under 25. UK drivers generally need an International Driving Permit (IDP), as it's important for local police and rental companies. Roads vary from well‑paved highways to rough rural tracks. Expect uneven surfaces, poor lighting, and inadequate signage on roads outside major cities, and avoid driving at night on rural roads as potholes and animals crossing are common.
Regular gasoline (~87 RON), premium (~91 - 95 RON) and diesel are the most common in Honduran fuel stations, where EV charging is scarce with chargers only in major cities or private locations. Almost all stations in Honduras are full-service, with cash is widely accepted. Card is usually accepted at major brand stations, but machines can sometimes be offline or not accepting foreign cards. Also, when you drive into a station, always stand near your car and watch the pump reset to zero before fuelling, keep the car's doors locked and turn off your engine while refuelling.
Major cities like Tegucigalpa, San Pedro Sula, La Ceiba and Puerto Cortés have plenty of petrol stations, and they’re distributed along main highways too, but in rural/mountainous areas, fuel stations are rare to come by, so it’s wise to fill up before long drives outside towns, and to top-up when the opportunity rises.
BAC limit: 0.07% for all drivers.
Compulsory for all occupants.
Children under 12 years or 135cm should not sit in the front seat, and must use appropriate child restraints.
Check out more of our Country Guides: