Practical travel information on Health in San Pedro Sula

Health & safety

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Dangers & annoyances
While you're there

Dangers & annoyances

San Pedro Sula has great restaurants, nightlife, shopping and sights. It also has a serious crime and gang problem. It’s perfectly possible to enjoy and avoid the latter, provided you use some basic common sense. The tips are familiar by now: leave expensive jewelry and watches at home, and be discreet when you pull out your money or camera. Be discreet in how you dress and act too – shorts, sandals and loud conversations in English are a good way to attract attention you may not want. Use taxis! They’re cheap, safe and plentiful, and a must late at night (especially when you’ve been drinking or are by yourself) and a good idea any time you’ve got all your bags or luggage. And speaking of drinking: it’s worth passing on that last round, if it means having your wits about you in the club and, more importantly, on the way home. The parque central gets a little sketchy after 10pm or so, as does the area east and south of it (where the budget hotels are, unfortunately). The fact is, the vast majority of crime in San Pedro Sula is gang related, and is committed by and upon rival gang members; tourists rarely end up in those circles. If you get stuck up, however, the safest thing to do is cooperate and not resist.

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