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, terrorism.
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. Reconsider travel to Honduras due to crime and terrorism, with some areas having an increased risk. U.S. government employees are restricted from traveling to Gracias a Dios department due to safety risks.
Key concerns cited in the advisory:
- crime
- terrorism
The overall security situation has been worsening recently. Contributing factors: Reconsider travel to Honduras due to crime and terrorism, with some areas having an increased risk., U.S. government employees are restricted from traveling to Gracias a Dios department due to safety risks..
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 significant risks from violent street crime, particularly in high-crime areas like Distrito Central and Cortes, where armed robbery and gang activity are prevalent.
Business travelers may encounter operational disruptions due to crime and security concerns, particularly in high-risk areas, but can generally find reliable accommodations and services in major cities.
Families with children should be cautious due to limited healthcare access outside urban areas and the risk of violent crime, especially in designated high-crime zones.
Remote workers may find decent connectivity in urban areas but should avoid high-crime zones and be cautious about safety after dark.
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 to this area due to crime.
▶Level 3 — Reconsider Travel3 regions
▶Cortes
Designated high crime zone with widespread gang activity.
▶Department of Colon
Violent crime is common, including murder and armed robbery.
▶Distrito Central (Francisco Morazan)
Designated high crime zone with widespread gang activity.
Honduras has 4 distinct regions with varying advisory levels. Risk conditions differ significantly by area.
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▶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 5.0/10, 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.
Vaccinations
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.