Tegucigalpa, Honduras Report of what it's like to live there - 10/27/19
Personal Experiences from Tegucigalpa, Honduras
Background:
1. Was this post your first expatriate experience? If not, what other cities have you lived in as an expat?
Several posts, including Africa, Europe, and Middle East.
2. What is your home city/country? How long is the trip to post from there, with what connections? How easy/difficult is it to travel to this city/country?
Flights to Washington include one stop-over (Miami, Houston, or Atlanta) and usually consist of roughly two 2.5-3.0 hour flights with 1.5 hours for stopover.
3. How long have you lived here?
Three years.
4. What brought you to this city (e.g. diplomatic mission, business, NGO, military, teaching, retirement, etc.)?
Diplomatic posting.
Housing, Groceries & Food:
1. What is your housing like? What are typical housing sizes, locations, and commute times for expatriates?
Housing is quite nice. Most people live in stand-alone houses with small yards. Compared to many posts, the houses are modern and well-constructed. The location of housing is very good- in pleasant neighborhoods and close to work (15-20 minute commute). Some people even walk to work.
2. How would you describe the availability and cost of groceries and household supplies relative to your home country?
Grocery shopping is a breeze! We live within half a mile of a Pricesmart (identical to the Costco you find in the U.S.) and half a mile to two other full-sized, completely stocked grocery stores. Walmart is also here, but we only go once a year because we find everything we need in the other stores. The cost of groceries is about 15% more than in the U.S. for imported items and equal or less for local items.
3. What household or grocery items do you wish you had shipped to post?
In terms of grocery and household items, you can find it all here. I would try to buy clothes and electronics before you come; they are certainly here, but the selection and price is better in the U.S.
4. What typical restaurants, food delivery services, and/or takeout options are popular among expatriates?
Almost all US fast food chains are here. Other U.S. chains include TGI Fridays, Ruby Tuesdays, and Denny's. There are some very good restaurants (La Hacienda, La Cumbre, NiFu NiFa, some good Sushi places too) that tend to be a little on the expensive side. There are also dozens of middle-range restaurants.
5. Are there any unusual problems with insects or other infestations in housing?
Always good to take precautions against mosquitos, particularly outside at dusk. It is actually less of a problem than in the U.S. in the summer.
Daily Life:
1. How do you send and receive your letters and package mail? Are local postal facilities adequate?
DPO is very nice. Packages typically take an average of two weeks, but can range between 8 to 21 days.
2. What is the availability and cost of household help, and what types of help are typically employed by expatriates?
We have someone come twice a week for cleaning and pay her about $20 a day for 6 hours of work.
3. What kinds of gyms or other sports/workout facilities are available? Are they expensive?
There is a decent gym at USAID and one at the U.S. Embassy. There are a couple of good private gyms (CYBEX and AJ Fitness) which are a little expensive. Lots of other private gyms available. My kids do swimming classes multiple times a week at Cybex, and we've been thrilled with them. The Villa Olimpica has a large track that is free of charge.
4. Are credit cards widely accepted and safe to use locally? Are ATMs common and do you recommend using them? Are they safe to use?
Credit cards are widely accepted and are safe to use. If travelling to smaller towns, it is advisable to bring cash just in case. ATMs are very common in Tegucigalpa and other major cities.
5. How much of the local language do you need for daily living? Are local language classes/tutors available and affordable?
For everyday life, Spanish is pretty important. One could survive with no Spanish, but it would be quite hard. It is a great place to learn Spanish, and I would say everyone who arrives with no Spanish leaves with at least basic Spanish. Tutors are available. We pay an excellent tutor for our kids at a rate of US$7 per hour (two hours per week).
6. Would someone with physical disabilities have difficulties living in this city?
Yes, but not as bad as some other posts.
Transportation:
1. Are local buses, trams, trains or taxis safe and affordable?
We are not allowed to use public transport or street taxis. We use a private taxi service that is reliable, quick, and reasonably priced (between $5-10 for anywhere in the city).
2. What kind of car do you recommend bringing to post, given the terrain, availability of parts, burglary/carjacking risks, etc.? What kind of car do you advise not to bring?
We are very happy we have an SUV with good clearance and good tires. There are a lot of tough speed bumps in the city and when travelling through Honduras, there are always unexpected potholes. Most people have tinted windows, and I would recommend it. There are some good mechanics, but also some bad ones. I recommend taking your car to the dealer for repairs- it is more expensive, but worth it for the peace of mind.
Phone & Internet:
1. Is high-speed home Internet access available? How long does it typically take to install it after arrival?
Most neighborhoods where Embassy families live have fiberoptic cable. We pay about $60 per month for 30 mbps per second (with unlimited usage). Connection took less than a week.
2. Do you have any recommendations regarding mobile phones? Did you keep your home-country plan or use a local provider?
If you bring an unlocked phone, it should work here. Most people use TIGO and they have a variety of packages.
Pets:
1. Are qualified veterinarians and/or good kennel services available? Do animals need to be quarantined upon entry to the country? Are there other considerations regarding pets that are particular to this country?
Yes, there is a big choice in terms of vets. There are good kennels, but you should make a reservation at least two months ahead of time for the really popular holidays (Christmas or Easter week).
Health & Safety:
1. Are there personal security concerns to be aware of at this post? Please describe.
The security situation has improved tremendously over the past three-four years. Most Embassy families live in safe neighborhoods where you will find many people walking/jogging. I have walked extensively over the past 3 years and have never had a problem. There are many gang-controlled neighborhoods in and around Tegucigalpa which you absolutely need to avoid. However, every store you would go to and every person's house you would be invited to are not in those neighborhoods, so as long as you are careful not to get completely lost, you should be fine. We have travelled all over the country and never had any incident.
2. Are there any particular health concerns? What is the quality of available medical care? What medical conditions typically require medical evacuation?
We have found it to be a very healthy post and when we have needed medical care, it has been very good. The Honduran Medical Center has some top-notch doctors.
3. What is the air quality like at post (good/moderate/bad)? Are there seasonal air quality issues? Does the air quality have an impact on health?
Compared to most posts, the air quality is actually very good. Tegucigalpa is a medium-sized city with a lot of newer cars, so compared to African or Asian posts or larger Latin American cities, it is much less polluted. The one tough period is the three to four weeks before the rains arrive in April. Smoke from nearby forest fires does sometimes enter the city (depending on which way the wind is blowing).
4. What do people who suffer from environmental or food allergies need to know?
If you have a severe food allergy, be very careful eating at any restaurant (servers/cooks often make mistakes when mentioning ingredients).
5. Are there any particular mental health issues that tend to crop up at post, such as Seasonal Affective Disorder (winter blues)?
No. If someone doesn't know Spanish, living here could feel a little isolated.
6. What is the overall climate: is it extremely hot or cold, wet or dry, at any time of year, for example?
Weather is perfect here. It is pleasant and in the 70s-80s for most of the year. There are a couple of months were it might break 90 degrees and a couple of months where you might need a jacket at night. There is a lot of sun and very pleasant evening breezes. Even during the rainy season, the rain often comes at night or in one to two hour bursts during the day.
Schools & Children:
1. What is the availability of international schools? What has been your general experience with them, if any?
There are several choices for school and two main schools that Americans use are: American School and Discovery School. Our high school-aged kids have been going to Discovery School and they have been very happy! They work hard, learn a lot, and feel part of a close-knit community. Some of the teachers are truly world class, and luckily, they tend to stay there for many, many years. The one downside for high school is that the size of the school is a little limiting in terms of the numbers/diversity of kids they meet (only 19 ninth-graders). There are after school activities, but not too many.
2. Are local sports classes and/or activities available for kids?
At Discovery School, there are some options (our kids do swimming lessons, there is also basketball, volleyball, soccer, etc.). The Villa Olimpica has lots of classes for children (gymnastics, tennis, volleyball, martial arts, racketball, etc.); it is a little disorganized and difficult to find information on the classes, but once you figure it out, it is quite convenient and very reasonably priced. Horse-back riding is available at La Herradura for about $25 per hour-long class. AJ Fitness and CIBEX offer excellent swimming classes for kids.
Expat Life:
1. What is the relative size of the expatriate community? How would you describe overall morale among expatriates?
Expat community is medium-sized. Morale is quite good. People really love their work, kids like their schools, and there are great travel opportunities. The weather is good, traffic is better than almost any other post, and shopping is super convenient. Spouses who do not work can find rewarding volunteer opportunities.
2. Is this a good city for single people? For couples? For families? Why or why not?
It could be good for all, especially, if you bring the right attitude. The key is to find activities that you enjoy and people you want to be with. There is great hiking within half an hour of the city, there are plays and concerts to go to (but you have to be actively checking their schedules), there are sports activities (at Villa Olympic, AJ Fitness, or CYBEX), there are dozens of good restaurants to explore, and incredible travel opportunities.
3. What have been the highlights of your time in this country? Best trips or experiences?
We have travelled all over Honduras and loved every part. Diving and snorkeling at Roatan and Utila is great. White water rafting near La Ceiba was a definite highlight. Western Honduras has Mayan ruins, canopy ziplines, hiking and many waterfalls. We took full advantage of being in Central America and travelled to Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Costa Rica, and Panama, and even drove up through Mexico to Cancun while here.
4. What are some interesting/fun things to do in the area? Can you recommend any “hidden gems"?
Part of the key to enjoying Tegucigalpa is to find fun activities you look forward to doing on a weekly basis (i.e. swimming, horseback riding, racketball, walking, get-togethers, kid's play dates, doggy fun days, etc.). For birdwatchers, there are great options here. For short day trips, there is a park overlooking the city called Picacho (which has a small zoo), hiking in La Tigra cloud forest, and then visiting small quaint towns such as Valle de Angeles, Santa Lucia, and Ojojona.
5. Is this a "shopping post"? Are there interesting handicrafts, artwork, antiques, or other items that people typically buy there?
There is quite a selection of handicrafts at the nearby town of Valle de Angeles (ceramics, wood carving, leather work, etc.).
6. What are the particular advantages of living in this city?
Amazing weather, relatively good traffic (and short commutes), friendly and sociable people, great travel opportunities, and all the conveniences of living in U.S. (pricesmart, walmart, fiber-optic internet, etc.). Also, it is only a short trip to visit family in the U.S.
Words of Wisdom:
1. What do you wish you had known about this particular city/country before moving there?
If you have kids, there are many school options. Although all families seem to be happy with their choices, I think it is important to take the time to explore/consider the differences between them.
2. Knowing what you know now, would you still move to this city?
Definitely!
3. If you move here, you can leave behind your:
Fear of living here. Tegucigalpa has a bad reputation because of the historically high levels of crime/violence. However, tremendous progress has been made over the past three years. Just as in the U.S., most of the violence/murders occur in very specific areas. As long as you avoid those areas, it is a safe country. We have felt very safe living, walking, and travelling here.
4. But don't forget your:
Sense of adventure. People who search out activities, friends, places to visit, etc. will have a fabulous time here. You cannot expect to have these things just drop in your lap; you need to actively ask and search them out.
