Honduras Questions
What people group will we be working with?
- We will be working with an indigenous people group in western Honduras called the Lenca.
What are the roads like in Honduras?
- Pretty! The entire trip from San Pedro Sula to Gracias is uphill through the mountains.
- The mission teams will be traveling on dirt roads from Gracias into the mountains.
- The roads are narrow with the occasional cow, horse, chicken, dog, and pedestrian.
- During the rainy season, the roads in the mountains can become muddy. During the dry season, the roads in the mountains are dusty.
What is the weather like in Honduras?
- There are two seasons in Honduras: the dry season and the rainy season.
- The average temperature in Gracias is between 75-85 degrees during the day. At night, the temperatures are in the mid 60’s.
What is the currency in Honduras?
- The currency is called Lempiras.
- The exchange rate varies each month.
- 24.5L for every $1> Be sure to ask what the current exchange rate is
What type of food will we eat in Honduras?
- Honduras offers a variety of foods.
- Most meals will consist of chicken, pork, or beef, and rice, beans, vegetables, and/or potatoes.
- Popular dishes include:
Comida Típica
- Típica is beans, eggs, fried plantains, avocado, mantequilla (a cross between sour cream and butter), and a white cheese.
Baleadeas
- Baleadeas are flour tortillas, beans, mantequilla, and cheese.
Gracias Questions
What is Gracias, Lempira like?
- Gracias is a safe, small city of about 25,000 people.
- It sits in a valley below the National Park called Celaque.
- Celaque means box of 7 rivers, which means all the rivers in Honduras begin at Celaque.
Is there running water in Gracias? Is the water safe to drink?
- There is running water in Gracias, however, water may be a little harder to come by during the dry season.
- We recommend that visitors don’t drink the water.
- It is easy and fairly cheap to buy disposable water bottles or a bag of water here.
- There are areas to refill a water bottle at the hotel. Please feel free to pack your own water bottle. It is not uncommon for people to carry their water bottle around, or take it into a restaurant.
What time zone is Gracias, Lempira in?
- Central Standard Time Zone
Is there electricity and Wi-Fi in Gracias? Should I get an international plan?
- Yes, there is electricity in Gracias. Power outages are not unheard of so be aware that at some point you might not have power.
- Your hotel will have WiFi, but it might be slower than what you are used to.
- You can also get WiFi in most coffee shops and some restaurants.
- You can call family while on Wi-Fi using Facebook messenger, Skype, Zoom, Whatsapp, or iMessage.
- We recommend you buy an international phone plan if you want to be able to access calling or cell data when not in the range of Wi-Fi.
Yes, you will have access to Wi-Fi in a couple places in Gracias.
It is not necessary to purchase an international phone plan.
Travel Questions
What airport do mission teams fly to?
- Ramón Villeda Morales International Airport in San Pedro Sula.
How far is Gracias, Lempira from San Pedro Sula?
- About 190 Kilometers or about 4 hours.
Where is the best place to spend the night in San Pedro Sula if we need to?
Should we let the US Embassy know we are in Honduras?
- the State Department has established a Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP).>
- For more information
Medical Questions
What type of medical care is available in Gracias?
- There is a public hospital and several private clinics in Gracias.
- If a medical emergency arises, please be assured that we will take you to the best nearest medical facility. We will also make sure that someone who speaks the language will be with you to help translate.
What if I get sick or need medicine?
- You can buy medicine in Gracias at any of the pharmacies.
- If needed, we have contacts that can help us obtain medicine that requires a prescription.
- We recommend that you pack current prescribed medication in its original bottle.
What vaccines do we need before coming to Honduras?
- Visit the CDC website to get the most up to date information on vaccines.
What Should I pack?
What clothes should I take?
- Be sure to bring loose, comfortable, conservative clothes.
- Pack the basics — socks, underwear, T-shirts, and pants.
- Temperatures can be a little chilly at dark so we recommend a long sleeve button down shirt or a pull over sweater.
- Pack comfortable shoes for hiking and walking.
- Bring a swimsuit for the hotel pool or hot springs
- We suggest you don’t pack expensive accessories.
- Dec-Jan: Bring a light Jacket
- Feb-Apr: It will be hot and dry
- May-Oct: It will be rainy
- Leggings
- Travel pants
- Jeans
- Capris
- Dress or skirts that are at least knee length
- ***We understand it is hot, but for the sake of respecting the culture, please wear something other than shorts.****
What season are you coming?
If you are a female, please don’t pack shorts. You can pack:
Should I bring medicine?
- Please bring all prescribed medication that you need.
- Some visitors to Honduras experience mild intestinal discomfort, so bring an over-the-counter anti-diarrheal, such as Pepto-Bismol or Immodium, or ask your personal physician for a recommendation.
- If you tend to have allergy issues, you might want to bring some over-the-counter medicine
- We recommend those prone to car sickness to bring Dramamine.
Please bring the following if you think you will have a problem once you are here.
What will I need for the hotel?
- The hotel will provide sheets, pillows, and towels.
- Please bring the following
- Shampoo, Conditioner, body wash, etc.
- Deodorant, tooth brushes, tooth paste, etc.
- Chargers for electronics. You will not need to bring a converter, because Honduras uses standard U.S. plugs. The hotel does have Wi-Fi
What would be smart to pack?
- Bug Spray
- Sun Screen
- Anti-bacterial Gels or Wipes
- Hat
- Water Bottle
- Females might want to pack some toilet paper for when they go up to the villages.
Additional items:
- Bible
- Journal
- Fun money
- Backpack, over the shoulder purse, or other bag
- Ear plugs if you are a light sleeper
Can We Give Gifts?
As a general rule, we ask that groups always talk with the missionaries before handing out any type of gift to the Lenca people. Small gifts such as candy, Bibles, and spiritual guides are almost always okay. Please know we are not against being generous to the Lenca people; however, with every gift, a precedent is set for mission teams that follow. Gifts such as money, clothes, and other material items should always be discussed with the missionaries before given.