Full Country Name: Republic of Honduras
Capital: Tegucigalpa
Area: 112,492 km2
Population: Approximately 5 million people
Major Industry: Sugar, coffee, textiles, clothing, wood products, bananas, citrus, meat and shrimp.

LOCATION
Located approximately 1000 miles Southwest of Miami, Florida (USA) in the Central American Isthmus, Honduras has a border to the west with Guatemala, to the Southwest with El Salvador and to the East with Nicaragua. To the North lies the Caribbean Sea and to the South the Pacific Ocean.

CLIMATE
There are two main seasons in Honduras: Summer is actually the dry season, and it is roughly from December thru May, and winter which is the rainy season is from June through November.

GOVERNMENT

Honduras is a Democratic republic, with elections every four years. The country is divided into 18 provinces, each with its own president and governor.

CURRENCY
The official currency is the Lempira, but the exchange rate in relation to the US dollar fluctuates constantly.

GDP
US$ 6.375 thousand millions, with an annual growth of 2.5% approx.

BANKS
Honduras banking system has four state banks, 2 specialized credit Banks and 21 commercial Banks 2 of which are of foreign property. Banks offer the following services: Savings accounts in local and foreign currency, checking accounts, debit and credit cards, e-banking, ATM, international services, and foreign currency exchange.

LANGUAGES
Spanish is the official language, however, English and native dialects are also spoken.

RELIGION
90% Catholics, 10% Christians

SHOPPING
Shopping in Honduras has many rewards. Local markets in all the major cities sell a variety of handmade items such as jewelry, woodcarvings, leather bags, clothes, and straw baskets. However, shopping is not all about native crafts. Modern shopping malls around San Pedro Sula often sell clothes and other modern merchandise at prices far below those in Europe or the United States.

RESTAURANT
There are many locations to eat in Honduras’ major cities and they are increasing all the time. Honduran, European, and Latin American cuisine can be found in Tegucigalpa, San Pedro Sula, Copán and the Bay Islands. Traditional cuisine can be found in “comedores”, smaller restaurants serving set lunches and dinners, consisting of the usual mix of beans, rice, tortillas and meat.

ENTERTAINMENT
There are many cinemas, discos, casinos, bars, cafes and clubs all over Honduras. Tegucigalpa and tourist resorts have some of the most popular clubs in the country.

IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS

Information: 192
International Long Distance: 197
Fire Department: 198
Police: 199

SCHOOLS
The primary university in Honduras is the UNAH (Universidad Nacional Autónoma de Honduras) or The National Autonomous University of Honduras.  It is located in Tegucigalpa and has approximately 30,000 students with universities in San Pedro Sula and La Ceiba.

There are also bilingual schools that can be found such as:
American School of Tegucigalpa: www.amschool.org
Escuela Internacional Sampedrana in San Pedro Sula: www.seishn.org.

IMMIGRATION PROCESS

General Requirements for all Residencies:
1. Present request at the Secretary of State office in the Government and Justice Building
2. Have an address and telephone number of the place you will be staying during your time in the country.
3. Notarized power of attorney
4. Each applicant and every family member must have a recent 3”x2” picture of themselves facing forward with their name on the back.
5. Original Certificate of relocation
6. Authenticated Criminal record from original country and/or last country of residence
7. Full Medical Exam
8. Authenticated Photocopy of Passport

Important Immigration Links:
· American Consulate: www.honduras.usembassy.gov
· The Honduran American Chamber of Commerce: www.amchamhonduras.org

HOUSING

The price of a monthly rent depends of the area and the size of the house. Prices range from $1,700 for a three bedroom apartment to $2,175 for a 5 bedroom house.

This enterprising Central American Country has been making a concerted effort to modernize its economy, luring potential investors and entrepreneurs with a score of economic incentives. Traditionally, the land has been Honduras´ prime resource. Coffee and banana plantations are their main agricultural products. This is a nation of timeless landscapes and straightforward simplicity, a land still under the spell of its own beauty.

HOLIDAYS
New Years Day: Jan, 1st
Holy Friday: March/April
Day of the Americas: April, 14th
Labors Day: May, 1st
Independence Day: September, 15th
Francisco´s Morazán Day: October, 3rd
Christopher Columbus Day: October, 12th
Army´s Day: October, 21st
Christmas Day: December, 25th

TECHNICAL INFORMATION
VOLTAGE: Most of the country operates on 110 A.C. volts. Some wall outlets are 220 A.C. volts.
PLUGS: Standard American plugs
TELEVISION SYSTEMS: There are 5 channels and TV Cable service.
TRANSPORTATION: Honduras has four international airports (Tegucigalpa, La Ceiba, San Pedro Sula and Roatan).
TELECOMUNICATIONS: The major cities of Honduras are linked to the rest of the world via direct dialing systems. Domestic and international long-distance operators, internet services and world-wide telex services are also available.