Is It Safe to Travel to Honduras in 2026?
Honduras - Level 3: Reconsider Travel
Last updated: · Source: U.S. Department of State
⚠ Reconsider Travel
The U.S. State Department recommends reconsidering travel to Honduras due to elevated risks. Key factors: crime.
Honduras, officially the Republic of Honduras, is a country in Central America. It is bordered to the west by Guatemala, to the southwest by El Salvador, to the southeast by Nicaragua, to the south by the Pacific Ocean at the Gulf of Fonseca, and to the north by the Gulf of Honduras, a large inlet of the Caribbean Sea.
Is It Safe to Travel to Honduras in 2026?
Honduras is currently rated Level 3 — Reconsider Travel by the U.S. Department of State. Violent crime, including homicide, armed robbery, and kidnapping, is common in Honduras. Demonstrations occur regularly and can turn violent, leading to road closures without notice. A national emergency has been declared due to an increase in dengue cases.
Key concerns cited in the advisory:
- crime
The overall security situation has been worsening recently. Contributing factors: A national emergency has been declared due to an increase in dengue cases., Demonstrations occur regularly and can turn violent, leading to road closures without notice., The Government of Honduras declared a 'State of Exception' in response to high levels of extortion and other crimes..
Note: A state of emergency is currently declared in Honduras or parts of Honduras. Check the latest reports before finalizing travel plans.
Traveler Impact
Solo travelers face a heightened risk of violent crime, particularly in urban areas where gang activity is prevalent, making it crucial to avoid certain neighborhoods after dark.
Business travelers may encounter disruptions due to civil unrest and crime, particularly in areas outside major cities where infrastructure is less reliable and safety is a concern.
Families with children should be cautious due to the high rates of violent crime and limited access to pediatric healthcare outside major urban centers, posing significant safety risks.
Remote workers may find decent connectivity in urban areas but should be wary of safety issues and health risks like dengue fever, which can impact their stay.
Data on this page comes from the U.S. Department of State, the CDC, the World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators, and Freedom House. All sources are updated regularly and cross-referenced to provide a composite safety picture for Honduras.
Regional Safety Breakdown
Do Not Travel Zones
The U.S. State Department advises against all travel to the following areas due to extreme risk:
- Gracias a Dios Department
▶Level 4 — Do Not Travel1 region
▶Gracias a Dios Department
Do Not Travel due to high levels of criminal activity.
Honduras has 1 distinct regions with varying advisory levels. Risk conditions differ significantly by area.
▶Safety and Stability Ratings
Threat Severity (0-10 scale)
Honduras has an overall threat severity of 7.5 out of 10. Crime risk is rated 9.0/10, terrorism risk 0.0/10, and kidnapping risk 5.0/10.
Governance Indicators (World Bank, percentile)
Political Stability▶
Measures the likelihood that the government will be destabilized or overthrown by unconstitutional or violent means, including politically-motivated violence and terrorism. Higher percentile means greater stability.
Rule of Law▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which agents have confidence in and abide by the rules of society, including the quality of contract enforcement, property rights, the police, and the courts, as well as the likelihood of crime and violence.
Control of Corruption▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which public power is exercised for private gain, including both petty and grand forms of corruption, as well as capture of the state by elites and private interests.
Government Effectiveness▶
Captures perceptions of the quality of public services, the quality of the civil service and the degree of its independence from political pressures, the quality of policy formulation and implementation, and the credibility of the government's commitment to such policies.
Regulatory Quality▶
Captures perceptions of the ability of the government to formulate and implement sound policies and regulations that permit and promote private sector development.
Voice & Accountability▶
Captures perceptions of the extent to which a country's citizens are able to participate in selecting their government, as well as freedom of expression, freedom of association, and a free media.
Data from World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators (2023).
Freedom Status: Partly Free — scored 48/100 by Freedom House (2024). View full freedom profile →
▶Entry Requirements and Health
Entry Information
Visa
Check embassy for details
Currency
Lempira (HNL)
Language
Spanish
Notable restrictions:
- drug possession illegal including medical marijuana
- e-cigarettes prohibited
Vaccinations
Required:
- Yellow Fever: Vaccine is not recommended for direct travel from the United States. Vaccine is required for travelers 1–60 years old traveling from countries with risk for YF virus transmission, including >12-hour airport transits or layovers in those countries.
Recommended:
⚠ Malaria Risk: moderate
Recommended medications: Atovaquone-proguanil, chloroquine, doxycycline, mefloquine, tafenoquine
Active health notices:
- watchGlobal Measles: Measles cases are rising in many countries around the world. All international travelers should be fully vaccinated against measles with the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, according to CDC's measles vaccination recommendations for international travel.
Vaccination data sourced from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Consult a travel health professional before your trip.
Common Questions About Traveling to Honduras
▶What is the current travel advisory level for Honduras?
▶Is it safe to travel to Honduras right now?
▶Do I need a visa to visit Honduras?
▶What vaccines do I need for Honduras?
▶Is Honduras safe for solo travelers?
▶How bad is crime in Honduras?
More Honduras Data
Partly Free — 48/100 on the Freedom House index.
Governance indicators including rule of law, corruption control, and regulatory quality.
View all 195 countries color-coded by advisory level.
Read the full advisory on travel.state.gov.
Access this data programmatically. Free tier available.
On-demand country risk PDFs from 6 government sources.