From: owner-travel-advisories Subject: NEW TRAVEL INFO -- Honduras Newsgroups: wstd.travel.advisories Date: Mon, 4 May 1998 15:11:40 GMT Organization: The World @ Software Tool & Die Xref: world wstd.travel.advisories:1714 Path: world!bzs Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Message-ID: <199805041114_MC2-3BD8-8126@compuserve.com> Content-Disposition: inline Precedence: bulk Sender: "U.S. Department of State" <76702.1202@compuserve.com> Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Mime-Version: 1.0 Distribution: wstd Approved: usenet@world.std.com X-List-Info: LN=travel-advisories WHOM=76702.1202@compuserve.com Lines: 181 STATE DEPARTMENT TRAVEL INFORMATION - Honduras ============================================================ Honduras - Consular Information Sheet February 20, 1998 Country Description: Honduras has a developing economy. The capital city is Tegucigalpa. Tourist facilities are generally adequate, but vary in quality. Entry Requirements: A passport is required for travel to Honduras. For additional information concerning entry and customs requirements, travelers can contact the Embassy of Honduras at 3007 Tilden Street N.W., Washington, D.C. 20008, telephone (202) 966-7702; or the Honduran consulate in Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, or San Francisco. Overseas, inquiries should be made at the nearest Honduran consulate. Areas of Instability: Although an international mine-clearing effort headed by the Organization of American States (OAS) is currently underway, the presence of extensive minefields on both sides of the border with Nicaragua, particularly along the Rio Coco and in the remote Atlantic Coast region, still presents a danger to anyone venturing close to the border at other than El Espino (La Fraternidad), Las Manos, and Guasaule border crossings. Security: A number of small explosive devices have been detonated in public places in Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula over the past several years. However, no such incidents have occurred since November 1997, and their frequency seems to be declining. Most of these explosions occurred at night, but at least one incident took place during business hours and resulted in loss of life. Most of the attacks were directed at Honduran government buildings and installations. Although in one instance grenades were thrown at several U.S.-franchised restaurants, U.S. citizens have not been targeted, and no motivation for or perpetrators of the bombings have been conclusively identified. The Honduran National Police force is in the early steps of converting from a paramilitary to a civilian organization. All Honduran law enforcement entities' ability to respond to and investigate criminal incidents remains seriously circumscribed by a chronic lack of materiel, financial resources and trained manpower. Crime Information: Personal security in Honduras requires a high degree of caution. Throughout Honduras, street crime is the principal concern, with thefts in urban and coastal recreational areas, which include purse snatching, pickpocketing and armed robberies. Displaying jewelry or large amounts of money increases the risk of robbery. Armed highway robberies and carjackings have been a particular problem, and there have also been incidents of home and yacht burglaries, and even murders. Tourists have been targeted by criminals in areas of San Pedro Sula, Tela, Trujillo and Tegucigalpa. U.S. citizens should exercise particular caution in and around sparsely-inhabited coastal areas, and they should avoid walking on isolated beaches, especially at night. In 1997, a number of U.S. citizens and others were assaulted, raped and/or robbed by armed criminals on beaches in and around the popular north coast resort towns of Tela and Trujillo. A pattern has also emerged of armed hold-ups of U.S. citizens and other travelers, occurring after the victims arrive at San Pedro Sula Airport and continue overland by road to other destinations in northern Honduras. These highway robberies, which take place mostly on the main coast road passing through El Progreso-Tela-La Ceiba, are believed to be the work of several organized bands of armed robbers preying on luggage-laden travelers arriving on international flights at San Pedro Sula Airport. The bandits are believed to use airport spotters and cellular phones or radios to coordinate the assaults. Although not a primary tourist destination, the Department of Olancho has a reputation for being one of the most violent areas in Honduras. Armed assaults of buses and private cars, sometimes involving rapes and killings, have been on the upswing on the stretch of unpaved road between Limones and La Union, Olancho. Useful information on guarding valuables and protecting personal security while traveling abroad is provided in the Department of State pamphlet, "A Safe Trip Abroad." This publication, as well as others such as "Tips for Travelers to Central and South America," is available from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402. The loss or theft abroad of a U.S. passport should be reported immediately to the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate and the local police. Medical Facilities: Medical care varies in quality. Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate cash payment for health services. U.S. medical insurance is not always valid outside the United States. In some cases, supplemental medical insurance with specific overseas coverage, including medical evacuation, has proven useful. For additional health information, travelers may contact the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's international travelers hotline at (404) 332-4559, or via the Internet at http://www.cdc.gov. Drug Penalties: U.S. citizens are subject to the laws of the country in which they are traveling. Penalties in Honduras for possession, use and trafficking in illegal drugs are strict, and convicted offenders can expect lengthy jail sentences and fines. Lengthy judicial delays can also be expected. In 1996, a U.S. citizen was convicted of drug trafficking and sentenced to 18 years in prison. He was held for five years before being convicted, and is now serving his sentence. Purchasing Property: U.S. citizens contemplating investment in real estate in Honduras should exercise caution, particularly concerning coastal areas and the bay islands. The Honduran constitution contains provisions restricting or prohibiting land ownership by foreigners in coastal and border areas, notwithstanding subsequent passage by the Honduran Congress of laws authorizing such ownership in certain areas and with particular restrictions. In general, the enforcement of laws pertaining to property titles in Honduras is inconsistent. Squatters have also laid claim to a number of properties owned by U.S. citizens. It is recommended that potential investors engage competent local legal representation before making any commitments. Investors or their attorneys should thoroughly check property titles with the following: the Property Registry Office, the municipality having jurisdiction in the area in which the property is located (being especially observant of marginal notations on the deed and that the property is located within the area covered by the original title), the National Agrarian Institute (INA) and the National Forestry Administration (COHDEFOR). Further information and guidance on purchasing real property in Honduras may be obtained by writing, calling or faxing the American Embassy Consular Section at the following address: American Embassy Tegucigalpa, Consular Section, Attention: Property Unit, Unit 2909, APO AA 34022, telephone 011-504-385114 or 011-504-369-320, fax 011-504-371-792. Currency Regulations: It is difficult to cash personal checks in Honduras, but major credit cards are accepted. Aviation Oversight: As a result of its May 1993 assessment, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) found the government of Honduras' civil aviation authority not to be in compliance with international aviation safety standards for oversight of Honduran air carrier operations. Flights to the U.S. by Honduran air carriers are not permitted unless they arrange to have their flights conducted by an air carrier from a country meeting international aviation safety standards. For further information, travelers may contact the U.S. Department of Transportation within the United States at telephone 1-(800)-322-7873, or visit the FAA's home page at http://www.faa.gov/faahome.htm. The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) does not permit its personnel to use carriers from Honduras for official business, except in extenuating circumstances. Questions regarding the DOD policy may be directed to the Pentagon at telephone 1-(703)-697-7288. Road Conditions: Most roads in Honduras are unpaved. Major cities are connected by a poorly-maintained, two-lane system of paved roads. During the rainy season, even major highways are often closed due to rock slides and flooding. Driving at night is not recommended, due to a general lack of lighting and inadequately marked highways. Additionally, vehicles often are driven at night without adequate illumination, and animals and people wander onto the roads at all hours. Registration/Embassy Location: U.S. citizens are encouraged to register at the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Tegucigalpa, and to obtain updated information on travel and security within Honduras. The U.S. Embassy in Honduras is located at Avenida la Paz in Tegucigalpa; telephone (504) 2-369-320 or (504) 2-385-114. No. 98-16 This replaces the Consular Information Sheet dated September 5, 1997, to update information on areas of instability, security, and crime, highlighting a new pattern of armed highway robberies on the north coast. ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- The "travel-advisories@stolaf.edu" mailing list is the official Internet and BITNET distribution point for the U.S. State Department Travel Warnings and Consular Information Sheets. To unsubscribe, send a message containing the word "unsubscribe" to: travel-advisories-request@stolaf.edu Archives of past "travel-advisories" postings are available at the URL: "http://www.stolaf.edu/network/travel-advisories.html" or via Gopher: gopher.stolaf.edu, Internet Resources/US-State-Department-Travel-Advisories