Nearly 3 million people visited Honduras in 2024 to take in the country’s pristine rainforests, glittering beaches and unique historical and archaeological sites. Most of the country’s tourists who arrive by air come from the United States — and 31,000 American expats have made Honduras their home.
If you’re planning a trip soon, whether it’s a long-term stay or a short-term visit, you’ll need to know how much money to bring to Honduras. Learn the basics of money in Honduras so you can plan how you’ll manage your finances when you’re there.
Key takeaways
- How much money you bring to Honduras depends on your travel style, the number of people in your group, and how long you’ll be staying.
- Plan to use cash for many of your purchases, as it’s the most common method of payment in Honduras.
- You can withdraw Honduran lempiras (HNL) from local ATMs to access cash at a more favorable exchange rate than you’ll find at airports and hotels.
Honduras money basics
Here are a few important money basics for Honduras, including how much you can bring from the US, paying in the local currency, and whether you can use a credit card there.
How much money should I bring to Honduras?
Honduras allows visitors to bring up to $10,000 USD without declaring it. You can bring more than that if you like, but you’ll need to fill out a declaration form for customs. Note that the $10,000 limit applies to families as a group when traveling together.
If you’re caught bringing more than $10,000 without declaring it, Honduras police or anti-drug-trafficking officials will notify customs, which will issue you a fine amounting to one-third of the assets you did not declare.
How much money can I bring from Honduras to the USA?
When you return to the US from Honduras, you can bring up to $10,000 USD without declaring it to US customs officials. Amounts over $10,000 will need to be declared on FinCEN Form 105 (online or in person when you arrive). If you don’t, you could lose all the money you’re bringing, plus face a $500,000 penalty and up to 10 years in prison.
Do you need lempiras in Honduras?
Honduran lempiras (HNL) are the official currency in Honduras, and you’ll need them to make purchases, especially when you’re away from tourist areas. In tourist spots, US dollars are often accepted — but you’ll want to make sure your bills are crisp and fresh.
There are ATMs throughout Honduras, and you’ll be able to access lempiras when withdrawing cash. However, you may want to carry backup cash in case of system difficulties.
When deciding how much money to bring to Honduras, also think about the exchange rate, or how many lempiras you can exchange for a dollar. You can get an idea of the current USD to HNL exchange rate to see how far your money will go.
Can I use a credit card in Honduras?
You may be able to use a credit card in Honduras, but don’t rely on it. Not all vendors accept cards, and those that do typically tack on hefty fees. If you do use a card (at the airport or your hotel, for example), Visa and Mastercard are the card issuers with widest acceptance here.
Still, cash is the most common payment method, so if you’re trying to figure out how much money to bring to Honduras, keep that in mind. Instead of trying to pay with plastic (and being charged your card issuer’s foreign transaction fees), it’s wiser to use a mixture of cash and cards, with a focus on cash. Don’t forget to notify your bank that you’ll be traveling, so your card isn’t flagged for fraud.
Factors to consider when deciding how much money to bring to Honduras
There are three main factors that will affect how much money you should bring to Honduras:
- The duration of your stay
- The number of people traveling with you
- Your daily travel budget
1. The duration of your stay
The length of your trip will have a big effect on how much money you need for food and other expenses. The longer you plan to stay in Honduras, the more money you will want to bring.
Don’t forget to plan for unforeseen expenses, too. Souvenirs, tips, sightseeing tours, and other unexpected costs can add up, and you’ll want to have enough cash on hand to cover them.
2. The number of people traveling with you
Consider how many people you’ll be bringing with you. The more people in your group, the more money you’ll need for meals and accommodations. It could also affect transportation expenses or tour guide costs if you’re traveling in a large group.
To make sure everyone is comfortable and can enjoy themselves, make sure to budget an amount of spending money for each person you’re traveling with.
3. A daily travel budget
How much money you bring to Honduras will depend on the type of travel you enjoy. Budget-friendly options will cost less, but there might be a tradeoff in privacy, quality or comfort.
Staying in a hostel, eating street food and taking chicken buses to get around could let you see Honduras for $30-$65 per day. Mid-scale hotels and restaurants with the occasional private driver could cost $115–$225 per day. Luxury hotels, fine dining
Regardless of your travel style, you should always budget extra cash for unplanned expenses.
Understanding exchange rates
As you’re planning your trip, make sure to familiarize yourself with the exchange rate in Honduras. Exchange rates tell you the value of one currency compared to another — lempiras to US dollars, for example. Exchange rates fluctuate frequently, depending on economic factors, geopolitical conditions, and even where you’re exchanging the currency.
Banks and financial institutions usually offer better exchange rates than airports, hotels, and other tourist areas. If you monitor exchange rates before you travel, you’ll be better able to spot favorable rates.
In addition to unfavorable exchange rates, watch out for hidden fees and charges, which can make exchanging your money even more expensive. Fees tend to be higher near tourist areas.
Western Union: Your travel partner
Western Union can help you transfer money and manage your finances whenever you travel abroad. Send money to Honduras and pick it up in cash as needed. Use our money transfer app to calculate transfer costs or visit our currency converter to see the lates USD to HNL rates.
Arrange a pickup or start a transfer at a Western Union location near you.
FAQs
Plan to bring enough money to cover your travel, food, and accommodations for the duration of your stay. Also, budget extra money for unexpected expenses, tips, souvenirs, and other costs that could spring up.
You could stretch $100 pretty far in Honduras. It all depends on how you spend it. That amount could buy several fine-dining restaurant meals, or about 100 baleadas from street vendors. It could get you two or three nights at a mid-range hotel, or a week’s accommodation at a budget hostel.
The best way to exchange money in Honduras is to withdraw lempiras from local ATMs. When using the machine, select the option to receive your funds in HNL, not USD, to get the best exchange rate.
You can bring any amount you like — but if you carry more than $10,000, you’ll need to declare it to Honduras customs as well as notify US customs and border protection.
You don’t need to stock up on lempiras before you travel to Honduras. You’ll typically get a better exchange rate by withdrawing lempiras from a local ATM while you’re there.
