Honduras Travel Guide - Key Facts

Central America.

GMT - 6.

112,492 sq km (43,433 sq miles).

7.3 million (2006).

64.9 per sq km.

Tegucigalpa. Population: 1.2 million (2005).

Honduras shares borders in the southeast with Nicaragua, in the west with Guatemala, and in the southwest with El Salvador. To the north lies the Caribbean and to the south the Pacific Ocean. The interior of the country comprises a central mountain system running from east to west, cut by rivers flowing into both the Caribbean and Pacific. The lowlands in the south form a plain along the Pacific coast. The Gulf of Fonseca in the southwest contains many islands which have volcanic peaks. The large fertile valleys of the northern Caribbean lowlands are cultivated with banana plantations. However, large areas of land in Honduras are unsuitable for cultivation. The majority of the population lives in the western half of the country, while the second-largest concentration of people is in the Cortés area which extends northwards from Lake Yojoa towards the Caribbean.

Republic.

President Manuel Zelaya Rosales since 2006.

President Manuel Zelaya was sworn in on 28 January 2006. The previous president, communist Porfirio Lobo, led an offensive against Honduras' soaring crime rates. Despite his efforts, crime continued to rise with street gangs (known as maras) being blamed. Standing for the Liberal Party, President Manuel Zelaya has pledged to tackle the worsening crime problem by maintaining life sentences for the most serious offences and doubling police on the streets. He also vowed to tackle poverty in one of central America's poorest nations. Drug trafficking and gang violence are major problems in the country and the economy is struggling. Strikes and demonstrations are common.

The official language is Spanish. English is widely spoken by the West Indian settlers in the north and on the Bay Islands off the Caribbean coast. Amerindian dialects are also spoken.

Roman Catholic majority, Protestant minority.

110/220 volts AC, 60Hz.

There are strong Spanish influences, but the majority of the population is mestizo, mainly leading an agricultural way of life with a low standard of living. Many rural communities can still be found living a relatively unchanged, traditional lifestyle. Social courtesies should be observed. It is customary for a guest at dinner or someone’s home to send flowers to the hostess, either before or afterwards. Conservative casual wear is widely acceptable with dress tending to be less conservative in coastal areas. Beachwear and shorts should not be worn away from the beach or poolside. Men are required to wear dinner jackets for formal social occasions. Hotels, restaurants and shops include a 12% sales tax on all purchases.