Time

Honduras is six hours behind Greenwich mean time and equal to central standard time in the United States. Daylight saving time is not practiced in Honduras.

Electricity

Almost all outlets in the country operate on 110 volts and are designed to fit two parallel flat blades. Sometimes a two-pronged round plug is required. A few outlets are 220 volts, but these are extremely rare. If in doubt, ask first.

Power outages and brownouts are frequent in Honduras, especially in the dry season when the El Cajón dam water level is low.

Measurements

Honduras has adopted a confusing mix of metric and nonmetric measurements. Old colonial libras (pounds) are more frequently used than kilograms as a unit of weight. Twenty-five libras equal one arroba, and four arrobas equal one quintal. One quintal equals 46 kilograms. Gas is sold by the gallon, but milk by the liter. Distance is measured in kilometers and meters.

Land sizes are often quoted in varas, equal to 838 square meters, or manzanas, equal to 0.7 hectare.

© Chris Humphrey and Amy E. Robertson from Moon Honduras, 5th Edition