Moving Guide

Absolutely. Spend 2–4 weeks visiting Roatán and/or Tegucigalpa before committing. The internet descriptions don't capture the reality of infrastructure challenges, safety considerations, or the daily experience. Most expats who leave quickly didn't do a proper scouting trip.

Most expats recommend bringing only personal essentials (electronics, important documents, specialty items) and buying furniture and household goods locally. Customs duties of 15–40% on imported goods often make shipping uneconomical. Exception: Pensionado visa holders get a one-time duty-free import.

Plan for 2–4 weeks to establish your base - housing, utilities, internet, banking, and healthcare. Having a local contact or expat mentor dramatically speeds up the process. Many tasks require in-person visits during business hours, which limits how much you can accomplish per day.

You can import a vehicle, but duties are 30–40% of the car's value, which is often prohibitive. It's usually cheaper to buy a used vehicle locally. Pensionado visa holders can import one vehicle duty-free. Note: roads in Honduras are challenging, and a 4x4 or SUV is recommended.

Laptop and essential electronics (cheaper/better selection in your home country), specialty medications (3–6 month supply), important documents (apostilled copies), comfortable shoes, rain gear, reef-safe sunscreen, and any brand-specific personal items you can't live without. Everything else is available locally.