Travel Tips
- Location
- Time Zone
- Language
- Weather
- Scheduling Flights to Honduras
- Baggage
- Currency, Credit Cards and Travelers Checks
- Passports
- Immigration/Departure Taxes
- Tipping
- Food and Water
- Why would I want to paddle in Honduras verses any other country in Central or South America?
- How strenuous and dangerous are the river trips?
- Okay, sounds good, but what if I don't whitewater kayak or Canoe?
- What are the accommodations like on these trips?
- What is there to worry about in regards to health problems in Honduras?
- What is the government like in Honduras these days?
- Looking at these trips the days look all planned out, do we get any free time?
Location
Approximately 1,000 miles southwest of Miami, U.S.A. in Central America.Click Here to view our interactive travel maps.
Return to Top
Time Zone
Honduras is in the Central standard time zone and does not observe daylight-savings time.Return to Top
Language
Spanish is the official language. English is spoken in all the tourist areas.Return to Top
Weather
There are two seasons: dry and rainy. The dry season is from March - June and August - September. The rainy season is from October - February and June - July.
Current Weather in La Ceiba.
Current Weather in Roatan.
Current Weather in Copan.
Return to Top
Scheduling Flights to Honduras
We can help you with your flight arrangements by calling one of our travel agencies. Please refer to the "Flight Information Form" prior to making any arrangements.If your travel agent is unable to book seats for you with a local carrier to your final destination, please contact us and we'll be happy to provide you with schedules and make the reservations. Call us at: 970-471-1466 or email us at: office@rioshonduras.com
Direct flights between Honduras and cities in the North and Central America are provided by:
- Honduras Air Tours
- TACA
- LACSA
- American Airlines
- Continental Airlines
- Air Costa Rica
Domestic air service is provided by Caribbean Air, SOSA, and Isleña
For our trips based out of La Ceiba, we reccommend traveling to San Pedro Sula (SAP) and pick up a connecting domestic flight to La Ceiba (LCE).
Return to Top
Baggage
Be sure to mark all your luggage clearly. Have your tags show both the hotel which you are going to and your home address on the other side. Your name should be on both addresses. The hotel information can be found at Places We Stay. We suggest two tags on each piece of luggage, one secured on the outside and one on the inside. This identifies the bag as yours in the event the outside tag is missing. Less baggage is best, and we reccommend bags that have straps or handles that can be secured or stowed away while in transport. The ability to lock is a good idea, but be sure to have a spare key.Baggage Handlers: At all airports in Honduras you'll be approached by several baggage handlers. You must be assertive if you do not wish to be helped. They are accustomed to being refused though they may insist like they're just being kind. NO is the same in English and Spanish, you can be firm. If you choose to have them help you tip them about 5-10 lempiras per bag (10 if it is heavy and you are going a ways). Remember, the price is the same for 10 ft. or for 100 yds. A representative of either the hotel or our staff will greet you at the final destination to help you with your things.
Return to Top
Currency, Credit Cards and Travelers Checks
The offical currency is the lempira. The rate versus the US dollar fluctuates, as of February 2002 the rate was $1.00=15.7. On the Bay Islands, U.S. dollars are widely accepted forms of payment, however, you will get a better exchange rate if you convert your dollars to "lemps" to pay for your purchases.U.S. dollars, traveler's checks, Visa, MasterCard and American Express are also accepted forms of payment. On the mainland, Lempiras are preferred, otherwise you may get a poor exchange rate with a local vendor. When you enter the country we reccommend exchanging money at one of the airport exchange banks, for tipping, airport taxes, and taxi cabs. Hotels exchange money, however, at a poor exchange rate. Banks will exchange dollars and American Express Travelers checks. Banks are not open on Sundays and Holidays. Crediomatics will withdraw cash on your major credit cards. Be careful paying by credit card as there are high fees added.
Return to Top
Passports
Passports are required to travel to Honduras and the Bay Islands. While on the plane you will fill out a Tourist Visa and this is good for 30-days. Be sure to make two photocopies of your passport ID page. Leave one copy with someone at your home and carry a copy separate from your passport.Return to Top
Immigration and Departure Taxes
When leaving Honduras, foreign travelers over the age of 12 must pay $25.00 U.S. Please note that credit cards are not accepted payment for departure taxes, only traveler's checks, U.S. dollars or Lempiras. On domestic flights, there is a also a departure tax of 20 lempiras or $2 U.S.Return to Top
Tipping
A 10% tip in restaurants is customary and some restaurants add it to your bill. Be certain to check your bill before tipping.Return to Top
Food and Water
The food here is delicious but like anywhere there are a few rules to live by. All our hotels and restaurants we visit serve fresh, clean, sanitized fruit, vegetables, and water. While traveling about, whether on your own or in the streets during a trip, be sure to buy bottled water. Make sure all vegetables are cooked, if not don't bother. Fruit is okay if it is the fleshy inside. The skin on the outside, like apples, needs to be sanitized. Remember that when you travel, regardless of where, a slight change in diet will cause intestinal abnormalities. Immodium is key to help this. If it persists more than a few days, seek help.Return to Top
Medications
Always consult your physician. They in turn will consult the recommendations set by the CDC which will suggest everything. Anti-Malarial drugs are not a bad idea if you are participating on the Sico segment of our trips. Tetanus is a must even living in the States. If you have any personal medication please be sure to fill the prescription before coming.Return to Top
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Why would I want to paddle in Honduras verses any other country in Central or South America?
There are dozens of reasons why one would want to visit Honduras. Paddlers are attracted by the warm tropical (75°F) waters that spill through steep canyons. Be sure to leave your dry top at home. Most of the rivers are easily accessible leaving more time in your boat and less in the car. Many come for the spectacular Mayan Ruins which are some of the oldest in all Central America. While others are attracted by the world class SCUBA diving along the Bay Islands. This place has got it all.
Return to Top
2. How strenuous and dangerous are the river trips?
It is always important to remember that this is an adventure activity and rivers need to be respected. We make sure that each of our participants are safe during our trips by implementing a few tactics. For kayakers and canoeists we require a river resume to be filled out so that we can match participants ability with the river trips and sections. Not only are we there as safety personnel but we also teach our guests proper safety techniques so that they can feel even more comfortable with the river.
Return to Top
3. Okay, sounds good, but what if I don't whitewater kayak or Canoe?
Not a problem. We have great trips (Caribbean Safari, Surf + Turf, and Mayan Safari) for those who have no experience at all and want to join a friend or loved one who might be a paddler. Our professional guides will instruct you in the proper techniques of paddle rafting before we depart. No one should be left behind and besides these trips are great for the whole family.
Return to Top
4. What are the accommodations like on these trips?
Well it depends. Most of our guests stay at our lodge (4-star rated) in La Ceiba or at our exclusive river house located on the Rio Cangrejal. If you are taking part in a trip that mentions the term multi-day then camping is a part of it but not like you may think. The wilderness can only be fully enjoyed this way. Our four day three night trip on the Rio Sico has camping but all the equipment is carried by support rafts, kind of like car camping. Our guides set up camp with dining & kitchen tarps so no matter what the weather is like you can be out of the rain or sun. Our guides are chefs in the backcountry and prepare each delicious meal. Filet Mignon, Enchilada bakes and Dutch-oven cakes are just a few samples of the menu. We have all the necessary equipment like tents, sleeping pads and ultra-lightweight sleeping bags so you do not need to spend a fortune preparing for this trip.
Visit our lodging page to see photos and read descriptions about the places we stay.
Return to Top
5. What is there to worry about in regards to health problems in Honduras?
Well from region to region it changes but for the areas in which we visit the risks are low but you should always check with either Atlanta CDC and your doctor. Consult with your doctor about taking medications such as Tetanus (be sure to stay current), chloroquine (a malarial suppressant) and a yellow fever vaccination. All are fairly simple and safe. Whether you elect to take any special precautions is up to you and your doctor. We're exceptionally careful with food and water handling and most folks have no intestinal problems at all. We are just minutes from a top notch hospital (D'Antoni) for any injuries incurred on a trip or otherwise. For divers we are just minutes from a de-compression chamber on the island where we conduct our diving trips.
Return to Top
6. What is the government like in Honduras these days?
The government is a constitutional democracy with three tiers like in the U.S.. Since 1989 the government has been working towards ridding corruption and increase the living standards of those who live below the poverty level. The locals (Hondureños) are friendly to visitors and the Pech Indians which we encounter along the Rio Sico tend to be curious and playful.
Return to Top
7. Looking at these trips the days look all planned out, do we get any free time?
Sure you do. This is your vacation isn't it? Each day even on the multi-day trip we have plenty of time for you to explore and or just relax. Our guides take care of all the duties around camp so that you can enjoy yourself. During our trips that go to the islands we loosely structure the day so that you can choose what it is that you want to do and when you want to do it. We even encourage a day off on our 9-day clinic trips so that you can explore this wonderful place and have at least one day out of your boat if you choose.
Return to Top
Home | Lodging | Interactive Maps | Photo Gallery | Site Map | Company Info
Questions? Email or Call us: 970-471-1466