Stuck in Honduras | Honduras - Lonely Planet Forum

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Fri, 21 Oct 2011 19:03:12 +0000

Im an Australian who was on a Tucan Travel tour that was touring Central America. We entered Honduras a few days ago seeing the Copan ruins before heading to the island of Roatan for 3 nights.

It was in Roatan where disaster stuck, i was on a fishing trip on a 34 foot boat with a 5 of my fellow tour members when we were caught in a storm that pushed the boat into the reef about 100m off shore. It was here that believe it or not but the boat started taking on water and actually sank, it was very intense and scary having to scramble to shore in a very small life raft. Fortunately everyone made it to land safely with only a few cuts and bruises

Unfortunately for myself i was silly enough to think my passport would be safer on board the boat with me than back in the hotel room. As you can probably guess my passport (camera and a lot of other stuff that really isn’t that important) went down with the ship. I was the only one from my tour to take my passport on board.

The rest of the group had to continue the tour today so i am currently stuck in the captial Tegucigalpa for at least the next week until i can organise papers so i can leave the country.

I was wondering if there were anyone on here that could give me general advice or is anyone currently here in Tegucigalpa that speaks English that would be willing to meet up somewhere in a public park or wherever they feel safe. I’m going to be bored out of my mind being stuck in the hotel with no one to talk to and not wanting to venture to far outside not knowing much Spanish and hearing how dangerous Tegucigalpa can be.

Thank you all

Nick

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Fri, 21 Oct 2011 22:38:03 +0000

I'm not close enough to help but wanted to say I'm sorry to hear about your misadventure but relieved to hear you're alive to tell the tale! Good luck with your paperwork!

My photos w/ blog & travelogue links on the main page of each collection: http://www.flickr.com/photos/staceyholeman/collections

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Fri, 21 Oct 2011 22:50:06 +0000

Oh man, that is insane! At least you'll have a story to tell.

It looks like there's no Aussie embassy, have you called the Honduras embassy in Austalia? (Embassy of Honduras, Sydney, Australia +61 (0)2 9247 1730).

No matter what you'll have to wait out the weekend. Just stay in a nicer hotel if you can and try to enjoy the city – not like you have to worry about getting your passport stolen :D

Hopefully Rutikart may be able to offer you some advice, if he doesn't show up you might want to PM him.

Be sure to update and check some past threads for tips on Tegus...

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Sat, 22 Oct 2011 02:56:42 +0000

Wow, thats wild, glad everyone was okay, and they had a lifeboat. I wish I could help you but cant, hang in there, Maybe go to Bay Islands for a few days, can family western union you some money?

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Sat, 22 Oct 2011 03:03:33 +0000

Another spot that might be better to chill at than Tegus

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comayagua

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Sat, 22 Oct 2011 11:22:50 +0000

Tim, his handle is viper 646. Arent you going to do anything?

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Sat, 22 Oct 2011 13:39:44 +0000

I am too scared.....

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Sat, 22 Oct 2011 13:54:19 +0000

Contrary to popular opinion Tegucigalpa is not the end of the world.

Most of the time it is better to keep your passport with you instead of at a hostel or hotel room unless it is locked in a safe. Keep it on your person though, next to your skin as they say in a waterproof pouch.

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Sat, 22 Oct 2011 22:32:10 +0000

It's easy enough to do that, but after awhile the passport gets so funky you feel guilty handing it to anybody-- and if the pouch is waterproof and near your crotch it wont be comfortable, not in the tropics....

Usually your money is sought after, not the passport; a photocopy of one on your person will be enough and essential if you are to get a replacement passport..

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Sun, 23 Oct 2011 02:37:25 +0000

Wow, glad everybody is OK. Don't feel like you are 'stuck' in Tegucigalpa. There is plenty to see and do for a week and much longer. I really like the city and it can be a lot of fun and lots of nearby attractions also. Go see some museums and historical buildings. Walk up the hill from the central park to parque La Leona. For great views over the city go to the top of El Picacho where the giant statue of Christ is. I can wonder around the markets of Comayaguela just across the river from downtown for hours, it's jam packed and chaotic but great fun. Go have dinner at El Patio then hit some discos or nightclubs (know the difference). It's a huge city, the possibilities are endless. If you want to get out of the city for awhile, take a hike through La Tigra national park. It's really a great park and very close. Spend the day in Valle de Angeles, very worthwhile. Or Santa Lucia or Ojojona. All are close by and an easy bus ride. A little farther but still an easy day trip or better yet spend the night is Yuscaran. A very very cool little town that I've never been able to figure out why it isn't crawling with tourist. You won't be bored if you get out and explore a little. I have been there quite a few times over the last 18 years and have had very few problems. Yes, there have been some incidents. But like your boat sinking things like getting ripped off or arrested will later be a great story and it's not like I'm scarred for life. Have fun and enjoy your extra time in Honduras.

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