Car rental Honduras - Travel Safety and Road Conditions

Book car rentals in Honduras now!

Travel Safety and Road Conditions

TRAVEL SAFETY AND ROAD CONDITIONS: While in a foreign country, U.S. citizens may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States. The information below concerning Honduras is provided for general reference only, and it may not be totally accurate in a particular location or circumstances.

Safety of Public Transportation: Poor
Urban Road Conditions/Maintenance: Fair
Rural Road Conditions/Maintenance: Poor
Availability of Roadside Assistance: Poor

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. This stretch of road is also referred to by locals as the “Corridor of Death” because of frequent incidents of highway robbery.

Route 39 through northern Olancho Department between Gualaco and San Esteban is highly dangerous and should be avoided.

Route 43 in northwest Olancho Department from Talanga to Olanchito via Yoro route 23 will become a primary route to the north coast when the remaining 60% of the highway is paved circa 1/05.

The only recommended safe route to the north coast from the south is CA-5 to route 21 to CA-13 via Tela to La Ceiba and Trujillo.

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 http://www.nicb.org/, private insurance carriers, and our web site information on “Commercial Vehicle Hijackings” at http://www.usmission.hn/english/mission/security.htm for more information.

For additional general information about road safety, please see the Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs, home page at http://travel.state.gov/road-safety.html . For specific information concerning Honduran driving permits, vehicle inspection, road tax and mandatory insurance, please contact the Honduran National Tourist Organization offices in New York via the Internet at www.hondurastips.honduras.com.