Safest cities in Honduras
8 cities with 100k+ population · data updated 2026-09-04
What official travel advice warns about
Terrorism
- Terrorism in HondurasAlthough there’s no recent history of terrorism in Honduras, attacks cannot be ruled out.
Political situation
- Protests can happen anywhere in Honduras. Although normally peaceful, these can rapidly turn violent with a general breakdown in law and order, including looting. The police have frequently responded with tear gas and there have been deaths and injuries.
Crime
- Protecting yourself and your belongingsPetty theft is a problem in cities and tourist areas, including the Bay Islands (Roatán, Utila, and Guanaja). Avoid walking around Tegucigalpa, San Pedro Sula, and other main towns and cities in mainland Honduras. Be particularly careful at bus stations, airports, isolated beaches, tourist sites and on public transport. Keep your valuables locked…
- ATM crimeATMs are available in the major towns. Check with your hotel which ATMs to use, especially in Roatán. It is safer to withdraw money from ATMs in shopping centres and to change money in hotels or banks. Check ATMs for evidence of tampering, although affected machines may not be easy to spot. Do not withdraw a lot of money at one time and avoid…
- Violent attacks against vehiclesThere have been violent attacks on people in cars and buses. Using a reputable tour company for longer journeys may reduce the risks, consider alternatives to public transport (buses). For shorter distances, use radio-dispatched taxis or hotel taxis. It is generally safer to travel on main roads between major cities and tourist destinations.
- ScamsScammers often target foreign visitors and residents. The scams come in many forms and can cause great financial loss. Warn your friends and family to be sceptical if they’re asked to transfer funds to you in Honduras. Tell them to contact you to check that you’ve made this request.
Laws and cultural differences
- Personal ID and travel documentsAlways carry photo ID. Carry a copy of the photo and visa pages of your passport with you. Leave the original in a safe place.
- Illegal drugs and prison sentencesThere are severe penalties for drug trafficking (15 to 20 years in prison and a very large fine) and drug use (from 3 to 9 months in a rehabilitation centre). Honduran prisons are overcrowded and violent.
- LGBT+ travellersSame-sex sexual activity is not illegal. There are no laws guaranteeing freedom from discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation. There is no recognition of same-sex marriage. People in the capital, Tegucigalpa, are largely tolerant of individuals’ personal lifestyles and accept small signs of affection between same-sex couples. There is a…
- MoneyUS dollars are widely accepted for exchange and payment. It is difficult to exchange British pounds in Honduras.
Outdoor activities and adventure tourism
- Scuba diving accidentsThere is a hyperbaric (recompression) chamber on Roatán and there are recompression facilities on the Bay Island of Utila. However, emergency medical facilities on the Bay Islands are extremely limited.
Transport risks
- Road travelIf you are planning to drive in Honduras, see information on driving abroad.
- Driving conditionsDriving standards in Honduras are generally poor. Avoid road travel at night. Many vehicles travel without lights, and animals often wander across roads causing accidents. You may need a 4-wheel drive vehicle if you are not travelling on main roads.
- Air travelAirlines in Honduras can change their schedules at short notice. Before you travel, check with your airline or travel agent.
Extreme weather and natural disasters
- HurricanesThe hurricane season in Honduras normally runs from May to November. Landslides and flooding can affect roads throughout the country. Monitor local weather reports and check the warnings from the US National Hurricane Center. Follow the advice of local authorities, including any evacuation orders. See the Honduran national civil protection website…
- EarthquakesEarthquakes are a risk in Honduras. The US Federal Emergency Management Agency website has advice about what to do before, during and after an earthquake and tsunami.
Headings and opening lines from the UK FCDO “Safety and security” travel advice for Honduras, updated 2026-07-29 (Open Government Licence v3.0). Read the full advice on gov.uk →
Country figures
- Homicide rate
- 23.92 /100k2024
- Income inequality
- Gini 45.72024
- Human development
- HDI 0.6452023
- Income
- $7,270/yrGNI per capita PPP
- Road deaths
- 16.1 /100kWHO, 2019
- Political stability
- 56/100WGI, 2024 · higher = more stable
- Rule of law
- 37/100WGI, 2024
- Corruption perceptions
- 22/100Transparency Intl, 2025 · higher = cleaner
- Natural-hazard risk
- 5.8/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Women, Peace & Security
- 0.56GIWPS, 2025 · 0-1, higher = better
- Air quality
- 30.7 µg/m³PM2.5, 2023 · WHO guideline is 5
- Safe drinking water
- 66%of population, 2024 · WHO/UNICEF JMP
- Healthcare capacity
- 0.5 doctors /1k0.5 hospital beds per 1,000
- Malaria
- 0 /1k at riskWHO, 2024 · endemic countries only
Natural hazards
- Earthquake
- 8.1/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Tsunami
- 6.4/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Flood
- 5.4/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Drought
- 4.9/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
- Cyclone
- 4.6/10EU INFORM, 2026 · higher = riskier
Hazard types scoring under 1 out of 10 are not listed.
Same-sex sexual activity is legal in Honduras (as of 2025).
How Honduras compares
| Measure | Honduras | World median | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homicide rate | 24 /100k | 2.4 /100k | +22 /100k — better for World median |
| Income inequality (Gini) | 45.7 | 35.2 | +10.5 — better for World median |
| Human development (HDI) | 0.645 | 0.763 | −0.118 — better for World median |
| Road deaths | 16.1 /100k | 15.4 /100k | +0.7 /100k — better for World median |
| Rule of law | 37/100 | 52/100 | −15/100 — better for World median |
| Corruption perceptions | 22/100 | 39/100 | −17/100 — better for World median |
| Air quality (PM2.5) | 30.7 µg/m³ | 19.7 µg/m³ | +11.0 µg/m³ — better for World median |
| Natural-hazard risk | 5.8/10 | 3.8/10 | +2.0/10 — better for World median |
| Measure | Honduras | North America median | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homicide rate | 24 /100k | 15 /100k | +8.7 /100k — better for North America median |
| Income inequality (Gini) | 45.7 | 41.1 | +4.6 — better for North America median |
| Human development (HDI) | 0.645 | 0.789 | −0.144 — better for North America median |
| Road deaths | 16.1 /100k | 13.9 /100k | +2.2 /100k — better for North America median |
| Rule of law | 37/100 | 53/100 | −16/100 — better for North America median |
| Corruption perceptions | 22/100 | 40/100 | −18/100 — better for North America median |
| Air quality (PM2.5) | 30.7 µg/m³ | 14.4 µg/m³ | +16.3 µg/m³ — better for North America median |
| Natural-hazard risk | 5.8/10 | 4.0/10 | +1.8/10 — better for North America median |
Medians, not means, so one extreme country cannot drag the reference value. Each row compares only the countries that have a published figure for that measure, and differences are plain arithmetic between stored values.
All 8 cities, safest first
- La Ceiba46.7 · #5426 worldwide
- Tegucigalpa39.8 · #5829 worldwide
- San Pedro Sula38.8 · #5878 worldwide
- El Progreso38.8 · #5879 worldwide
- Villanueva38.8 · #5880 worldwide
- Cofradía38.8 · #5881 worldwide
- Choluteca37.8 · #5904 worldwide
- Comayagua37.7 · #5907 worldwide