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| Destinations >> Honduras >> Honduras Facts |
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Land: Over 80% of the land is mountainous; ranges extend from east to west at altitudes of 5,000 to 9,000 ft (1,520–2,740 m) and limit heavy rainfall to the north.
Independence: 15 September 1821 (from Spain) Legal System: rooted in Roman and Spanish civil law with increasing influence of English common law; recent judicial reforms include abandoning Napoleonic legal codes in favor of the oral adversarial system; accepts ICJ jurisdiction with reservations Population: 7,639,327
Ethnic groups: mestizo (mixed Amerindian and European) 90%, Amerindian 7%, black 2%, white 1% Religions: Roman Catholic 97%, Protestant 3%
Language: Spanish, Amerindian dialects
Time Zone: CST
Telephone Codes: 504
Internet Country Codes: .hn
Climate: subtropical in lowlands, temperate in mountains Custom/Visa: Entry/Exit Requirements: A U.S. passport valid for at least three months from the date of entry is required to enter Honduras. Though not required by law, some travelers have reported difficulty departing Honduras using a passport with less than three months of validity beyond the date of departure. A visa is not required, but tourists must provide evidence of return or onward travel. Parents should not rely on birth certificates for their children’s travel; rather, prior to travel they should obtain U.S. passports for infants and minors born in the United States. U.S. citizens are encouraged to carry a photocopy of their U.S. passports with them at all times, so that if questioned by local officials proof of identity and U.S. citizenship are readily available. Currency: lempiras Exchange: lempiras (HNL) per US dollar - 18.983 Health/Water: Water supply and sanitation coverage in Honduras has increased significantly in the last decades. However, the sector is still characterized by poor service quality and poor efficiency in many places. Coverage gaps still remain, particularly in rural areas. In 2003, a new Framework Law for water supply and sanitation was passed. It includes service decentralization from the national utility SANAA to the municipalities. It also creates a policy council and a regulatory agency. Nevertheless, the new institutions remain weak and the process of decentralization has been slow. Furthermore, there is no policy of sector financing. Electricity: 110 Volts, 60Hz Popular Beers: salvavida Food Specialties: Hondurans have a variety of traditional dishes: The baleada is one of the most representative dishes of the Honduran gastronomy. It is basically made up of a flour tortilla which is folded and refilled with refried beans, quesillo or Parmesan cheese and sour cream. Many people however add to the baleadas roast meat or scrambled eggs to the taste. In addition to the baleadas, the following are also popular: The meat roasted with chismol carne asada, chicken with rice and corn, fried fish with pickled onions and jalapeños. In the coastal areas and in the Bay Islands, seafood and some meats are prepared in many ways, some of which include coconut milk.
Among the soups the Hondurans enjoy are: Bean soup, Mondongo Soup, or soup of intestine, Seafood soups, Beef Soups, all of which are mixed with plaintains, yucca, cabbage among other things, and complemented with corn tortillas. Other typical dishes are the montucas or corn tamale, stuffed tortillas, tamales wrapped up with banana leaves, among other types of food. It is also part of the Honduran typical dishes an abundant selection of tropical fruits such as: Papaya, pineapple, plums, zapotes, passion fruits, and bananas which are prepared in many ways while they are still green. All of which makes of the Honduran cuisine something different and especial. Soft drinks or beer are often drunk with lunch or dinner. |
Location: Honduras, located at the widest part of the isthmus of Central America, is the second largest Central American republic. The triangular-shaped country has a total area of about 112,000 square kilometers. The 735-kilometer northern boundary is the Caribbean coast extending from the mouth of the RÃo Motagua on the west to the mouth of the RÃo Coco on the east, at Cabo Gracias a Dios. The 922-kilometer southeastern side of the triangle is the land border with Nicaragua; it follows the RÃo Coco near the Caribbean Sea and then extends southwestward through mountainous terrain to the Golfo de Fonseca on the Pacific Ocean. The southern apex of the triangle is a 153- kilometer coastline at the Golfo de Fonseca, which opens onto the Pacific Ocean. The western land boundary consists of the 342-kilometer border with El Salvador and the 256-kilometer border with Guatemala.
