What to Take

Everyone has their own style of packing, depending on taste and what sort of traveling might be on the agenda. Packing light is always a good idea, especially if you’re planning a lot of bus transport, but it’s not such a big deal if you’re planning on staying in one place or have a rental car. In terms of clothing, shorts, T-shirts, and lightweight shoes or sandals are standard equipment for the hotter lowlands and coast, along with a couple of loose-fitting, long-sleeved pants and shirts, both to fend off mosquitoes and to look presentable.

In the higher elevations, pants and a sweater or light jacket for evenings are useful. Honduran dress code is fairly relaxed, but as with anywhere in Latin America, looking clean will get you a long way with officialdom and the like. Shorts are fine on the coast, but long pants are more common in most inland parts of the country, and women wearing short shorts will likely attract unwanted attention if worn anywhere other than on the beach.

Recreation Equipment

All scuba diving equipment is easily rented in any Bay Islands [1] dive shop, but veteran divers will want to bring their own properly fitting masks and fins, and other specialty gear like prescription masks or your favorite gauge.

For any hiking or boating excursion in Honduras [2], mosquito repellent, sunscreen, and a hat are musts. Rain can hit at any time in most of the country, so bring some type of light waterproof shell. Hiking trips require the requisite camping gear, most commonly a tent and lightweight sleeping bag. Hammocks (with fitted mosquito nets) can also be convenient, especially in hilly forests where it can be difficult to pitch a tent. If you’re planning a hike, expect lots of mud.

Day hikes can often be done with sneakers, but boots are essential for multiday expeditions. Locals use cheap rubber Wellington-style boots, which are an option, though surely not orthopedically ideal. Campers will also want to bring some way to purify water, and plastic bags to keep things dry in the pack. Quality photographic supplies are expensive and rare in Honduras, so it’s best to come with all you need.