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U.S. State Department Maintains Level 3 Travel Advisory for Honduras: Reconsider Travel Due to Crime and Terrorism

🇺🇸 United StatesTravel Advisories1 recorded versionLast change 26 Aug 2026
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Current rules

The U.S. State Department advises U.S. citizens to reconsider travel to Honduras due to crime and terrorism, designating it a Level 3 advisory. Specific restrictions apply to U.S. government employees in Honduras, prohibiting travel to Gracias a Dios department, visits to adult clubs and casinos, inter-city travel after dark (with an exception for Palmerola International Airport/Soto Cano Airbase to Tegucigalpa), and driving through or to designated high-crime zones without Regional Security Office approval. High-crime zones include specific areas in Distrito Central (Francisco Morazan) and Cortes departments, as well as the entire department of Colon. The advisory highlights common violent crimes, widespread gang activity (including foreign terrorist organisations), and the Government of Honduras's 'State of Exception' which suspends constitutional rights in 226 municipalities.

Overview

The U.S. Department of State has issued a Level 3 Travel Advisory for Honduras, urging individuals to reconsider travel due to elevated risks of crime and terrorism. This advisory specifies 'Do Not Travel' zones, including Gracias a Dios department, and places restrictions on U.S. government employees' movements and activities to mitigate security risks. The advisory highlights the ongoing 'State of Exception' in Honduras, which allows for the suspension of constitutional rights in numerous municipalities.

Who is affected by the latest change

  • U.S. citizens planning travel to Honduras
  • U.S. citizens already in Honduras
  • U.S. travellers considering tourism, business or other temporary visits
  • U.S. citizens travelling within Honduras, particularly to higher-risk areas
  • Travellers who use U.S. government security assessments when deciding whether to visit Honduras

What changed in the latest version

Before

Before, Honduras was at Level 3 — Reconsider Travel. This was because of crime. The previous advisory came out on 10 December 2024. At that time, the State Department changed Honduras to Level 3 because of crime.

After

The U.S. State Department advises U.S. citizens to think again about travelling to Honduras. This is because of crime and terrorism. It is a Level 3 advisory. Specific rules apply to U.S. government employees in Honduras. They must not travel to the Gracias a Dios department. They must not visit adult clubs and casinos. They must not travel between cities after dark. The only exception is travel from Palmerola International Airport/Soto Cano Airbase to Tegucigalpa. They must also not drive through or to certain high-crime zones. They need approval from the Regional Security Office first. High-crime zones include specific areas in the Distrito Central (Francisco Morazan) and Cortes departments. The entire department of Colon is also a high-crime zone. The advisory highlights common violent crimes. It mentions widespread gang activity, including foreign terrorist organisations. It also notes the Government of Honduras's 'State of Exception'. This suspends constitutional rights in 226 towns.

This advisory means U.S. citizens planning to travel to Honduras must carefully check the risks. They need to consider violent crime, terrorism, and political unrest. They may need to change their travel plans. For U.S. government employees in Honduras, this introduces clear and compulsory travel rules. They must follow strict limits on where they can go and what they can do. This includes avoiding certain departments, businesses, and travel after dark. Organisations with staff in Honduras must update their safety plans. They must make sure employees know and follow these detailed rules. Not following these rules could put people at higher risk of serious harm. This includes murder, armed robbery, kidnapping, or carjacking. This is especially true in the named high-crime zones.

Explained simply

Imagine your parents telling you that a certain friend's house is known for having a lot of fights and maybe some dodgy people hanging around, so they tell you it's best not to go there, or at least be super careful if you do. That's a bit like what the U.S. government is saying about Honduras. They're telling people to 'reconsider' going there because there's a lot of crime, like robberies and kidnappings, and even a risk of gang-related violence. They're also saying that some parts are especially dangerous, like the 'Gracias a Dios' area, and you definitely shouldn't go there. Even their own staff working there have strict rules about where they can go, like not going out between cities at night or visiting certain types of places because of the risks.

Frequently asked

Version history

  1. v69Effective 25 Aug 2026PublishedHigh impact
    U.S. State Department Maintains Level 3 Travel Advisory for Honduras: Reconsider Travel Due to Crime and Terrorism

    The U.S. State Department has put a Level 3 Travel Advisory on Honduras. This means U.S. citizens should think again about travelling there. There are serious risks from crime and terrorism. The advisory sets out specific rules for U.S. government employees. They must not travel to the Gracias a Dios department. They must not visit adult clubs or casinos. They must not travel between cities after dark. The only exception is travel between Palmerola International Airport/Soto Cano Airbase and Tegucigalpa. Employees must also not drive through or to certain high-crime areas without getting permission first. These areas include many specific zones in the Distrito Central and Cortes departments. The entire Colon department is also named as high-risk. The advisory mentions widespread violent crime and gang activity. It also notes the Government of Honduras's 'State of Exception'. This suspends constitutional rights in many towns.

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