Are you traveling to Honduras and looking for the best way to stay connected? Don't get stuck with high roaming charges! This is a complete guide for finding the best sim card for your trip to Honduras.
Find out everything you need to know about buying a prepaid sim card in Honduras, the best e-sim cards for Honduras in 2024, up to date prices as per June 2024, the best 4G/5G network in Honduras, my recommendation, info about international and sim cards for Honduras and more.
Honduras is a developing country and their mobile internet is NOT the best. Don’t have high expectations when it comes to fast 4G internet. 5G in Honduras? May be in 2024!
Related: 24 Best Places to Visit in Honduras!
Being a huge fan of traveling in Central America I have been to Honduras several times. On my last trip I did an epic 3 week road trip and saw all the cool tourist destinations and enjoyed the most beautiful places to visit in Honduras.
At the end of this blog I will talk about my experience buying a prepaid sim card for tourists in Honduras and what it was like to be connected... uh disconnected!
If you are traveling onwards to other Central American countries then check out my sim card guides from: Costa Rica, Panama, Guatemala, El Salvador, Mexico, Panama.
On Traveltomtom you can find more than 200 sim card guides from all over the world: Brazil, Argentina, Peru, South Africa, Colombia, Kenya, Egypt, Europe, Spain, Madrid, Barcelona, Turkey, Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia, Dubai and many more.
So next time you are planning your adventure abroad come check out Traveltomtom for the latest prepaid and e-sim card advice for your next holiday destination. Bookmark me!
My recommendation
Traveltomtom recommends a Claro sim card for Honduras in 2024. Claro has great prepaid sim card deals for tourists and they also have a reliable mobile data network.
Honestly saying the difference between Claro and Tigo are very minimalistic and a Tigo prepaid sim card would also do a great job for traveling in Honduras in 2024.
What about e-sim cards? Well, they are more expensive than the local prepaid sim cards you buy on arrival in Honduras, but they are super convenient.
Traveltomtom recommends ordering an e-sim card for traveling to Honduras via either Airalo, SimOptions or Nomad.
Another great alternative to stay connected are global travel sim cards with data. These traveler sim cards have many benefits and they are valid in multiple countries. Check out my comparison about the best prepaid international sim cards with data in 2024 and pick the one that suits your trip to Central America.
Best e-sim cards for Honduras
No more swapping a physical sim card or visiting a phone store on arrival in Honduras. The easiest way to stay connected when traveling to Honduras in 2024 is an e-sim card.
You order an e-sim card for Honduras on the internet, you receive a QR code, scan it, follow the simple steps and within less than 2 minutes you have a Honduras e-sim card installed on your phone.
Upon arrival in Honduras it automatically connects you to an available network and you enjoy data on your phone pretty much when the plane lands.
Airalo
Airalo is a trusted e-sim provider that sells e-sim cards for almost every country in the world. Have a look at the Airalo e-sim card plans for Honduras in 2024:
- 1 GB data for 7 days = $7 USD
- 2 GB data for 15 days = $13 USD
- 3 GB data for 30 days = $18 USD
- 5 GB data for 30 days = $27.5 USD
Click here for more info or to order an e-sim card for Honduras via Airalo.
The above Honnet e-sim cards are data-only and incoming and outgoing calls are not supported. The Honnet e-sim cards from Airalo operate on the Tigo 4G/LTE network.
SimOptions
Traveltomtom has used SimOptions e-sim cards and international prepaid sim cards for traveling the world now for more than 5 years. Here are the SimOptions e-sim card deals for Honduras:
- 1 GB data for 7 days = $19.90 USD
- 3 GB data for 15 days = $36.90 USD
- 6 GB data for 15 days = $39.90 USD
Click here for more info or to order an e-sim card for Honduras via SimOptions.
Nomad
Nomad is another trusted e-sim provider that offers e-sim card plans for Honduras:
- 1 GB data for 7 days = $25 USD
- 3 GB data for 30 days = $40 USD
- 5 GB data for 30 days = $45 USD
Click here for more info or to order an e-sim card for Honduras via Nomad.
Before ordering an e-sim card for traveling to Honduras in 2024 make sure your phone is e-sim compatible.
Mobile internet operators in Honduras
Just like in Guatemala and most other countries in Central America there are only 2 mobile internet providers in Honduras: Tigo and Claro.
Both mobile internet operators sell prepaid sim cards for tourists. There are only physical prepaid sim cards available, on arrival in Honduras you can not buy an e-sim cards for tourists.
In my Guatemala sim card article I explained that Claro Guatemala offers a prepaid sim card that is valid from Canada to Argentina, all over the Americas. So if you are traveling to multiple countries in Central America then always check with the provider. But from my own experiences I can tell you that it doesn't work that smooth and Traveltomtom recommends buying a prepaid sim card in every country separate or order a sim card for Central America on the internet.
Where to buy Honduras sim card
You can buy a Tigo and Claro sim card in the bigger convenience stores as well as in bigger gas stations. However I would not recommend you doing so as they don’t offer any service.
If you go to one of the official Tigo or Claro stores they will activate your Honduras sim card on the spot and you will be connected as soon as you walk out of the store.
Sim card Tegucigalpa Airport
Unfortunately there is NO Tigo or Claro shop at Tegucigalpa Airport to buy a Honduras sim card on arrival. There is a convenience store that sells sim cards though. They offer a Claro sim card for 150 Lempira ($6). You will have to top up yourself, they don't offer any service and English was not spoken well.
Sim card San Pedro Sula Airport
When flying to San Pedro Sula Airport I have to disappoint you when it comes to buying a Honduras sim card. I went to the airport to check it out for you, but unfortunately there were no resellers, nor a Claro or Tigo kiosk. This could have been caused because of the Corona pandemic.
When buying a Honduras prepaid sim card bring your passport as you need it for the registration.
Online
The easiest place to buy a sim card for traveling to Honduras ion 2024 is on the internet. There are multiple e-sim providers that sell e-sim cards for Honduras. Traveltomtom recommends ordering an e-sim card for traveling to Honduras via either Airalo, SimOptions or Nomad.
If your phone is not e-sim compatible then you can order a physical prepaid sim card for Honduras via SimOptions. This international travel sim card will be delivered to your home address before your trip and it is plug and play on arrival.
Prices prepaid Honduras sim cards in 2024
Info and prices are updated as per June 2024 and prices are in Honduran Lempira: $1 USD = 24.7 HNL and 100 HNL = $4.05 USD.
Keep in mind that on arrival in Honduras you can only get physical prepaid sim cards. Tigo and Claro do not offer e-sim cards for tourists in their stores or online.
Tigo Honduras
A Tigo sim card costs 50 Lempira ($2 USD) and comes with nothing, but you can top up with the following ‘super recarga packages’:
- 25 Lempira ($1 USD) = 1.2 GB for 1 day
- 50 Lempira ($2 USD) = 4.5 GB for 3 day
- 100 Lempira ($4 USD) = 8.5 GB for 7 day
Some Tigo stores would sell the following data packages as well, but those were very rare:
- 150 Lempira ($6 USD) = 13 GB for 7 day
- 220 Lempira ($9 USD) = 20 GB for 7 day
Calling and texting to Tigo numbers in Honduras is included, unlimited WhatsApp.
Also for 30 days you can buy the very expensive package of 6GB + unlimited callas/text to USA/Canada for 650 Lempira ($27 USD). For more info have a look at the Tigo Honduras website.
Claro Honduras
A Claro sim card cost 50 Lempira ($2) and comes with 200 MB data and 75 minutes/sms, valid for 30 days.
You can easily top-up with the following package:
- 100 Lempira ($4 USD) = 10 GB data for 7 days.
- 150 Lempira ($6 USD) = Unlimited data + calling (to Claro) for 5 days.
On the Claro Honduras website they offer a couple more different packages that include unlimited social media. See below.
Best 4G/5G mobile data network in Honduras
Let's compare the mobile data network coverage of Tigo and Claro and find the best 4G/5G network coverage. Below you can find the Honduras network coverage maps for 2024.
Is there 5G in Honduras?
No, as of 2024 there is still no 5G in Honduras. In the past even finding a good 4G/LTE signal was challenging, but things have slowly changed and most tourist destinations in Honduras are now covered with a good 4G/LTE signal.
Claro 4G/5G network coverage map
Tigo 4G/5G network coverage map
Although the above mobile data network coverage maps are updated for 2024 they are not 100% accurate. However, they are a great reference to compare the 4G/5G networks of the mobile internet providers in Honduras in 2024.
Claro always used to have a much smaller mobile data network in Honduras, but the tables have turned. Claro invested heavily and for 2024 there is not much difference between the mobile data network coverage of Claro and Tigo. In some areas there is a better Claro signal in some areas there is a better Tigo signal. It really depends where you are visting.
Looking some travel inspiration and some cool things to do in Honduras then read my guide with the best places to visit in Honduras in 2024 with 24 epic tourist attractions around the country.
Best sim card for Honduras in 2024
As mentioned before it is really hard to favor Tigo or Claro for traveling in Honduras. Finding the best sim card for Honduras in 2024 Traveltomtom came to the conclusion that the Claro and Tigo prepaid sim cards for tourists are pretty much equal.
When comparing the mobile data network coverage for Tigo and Claro Traveltomtom did not see so much difference either. In the past Traveltomtom always recommended Tigo sim cards for traveling in Honduras so this year I am giving Claro the benefit of the doubt.
Must say on my last trip to Roatan and Utila I was using a Honduras e-sim card from Airalo and was very satisfied.
Traveltomtom recommends ordering an e-sim card for traveling to Honduras via either Airalo, SimOptions or Nomad. However, the Airalo has the best e-sim card plans for traveling to Honduras in 2024.
If you are traveling to more countries in Central America on the same trip then check out my article about the best global sim cards in 2024 for travelers.
Buying a prepaid sim card for Honduras online
If your phone is not e-sim compatible but you would like to order a sim card for traveling to Honduras online before your trip then check out the following.
Arrive prepared in Honduras with an international prepaid sim card. You order them online and a physical prepaid sim card will be delivered to your home address. You put this sim card in your phone and it automatically connects to an available network upon arrival in Honduras, basically when the plane lands you are instantly online.
SimOptions is the only sim card provider that sells physical prepaid sim cards for Honduras:
- 5 GB data valid for 14 days = $49.90 USD
Click here for more info or to order an international physical prepaid sim card for Honduras via SimOptions.
Also a last reminder that if your phone is e-sim compatible you can order an e-sim card for Honduras directly online. It takes you just a couple minutes to set up everything.
Traveltomtom recommends ordering an e-sim card for traveling to Honduras via either Airalo, SimOptions or Nomad.
My experience buying a sim card in Honduras
In 2021 with special permission from the Ministry of Tourism in Honduras I was the first tourist traveling in Honduras after the global pandemic lockdown. The borders were officially still closed but through my contacts I managed to cross the border from Guatemala into Copan Ruins.
In Copan Ruins I bought a Tigo sim card for Honduras, simply because I already did the research and knew that Tigo had the better mobile data network. Especially back then.
I paid 150 Lempira in the official Tigo store: 50 for the sim card and 100 for the 8.5 GB for 7 days. Within 3 minutes I was connected to the internet. Easy!
In 3 weeks I drove more than 3,000 kilometers across the country on one epic Honduras road trip. Safety? Not a single time I felt uncomfortable or was there an issue. The worst thing about traveling in Honduras was their mobile data network coverage. Back then it was a nightmare to stay connected and find signal. Unless you were traveling on one of the 2 major highways, data service was very unreliable!
Even though I had signal and my phone would say I was connected to 4G, it hardly responded and internet was not working. Honduras is a beautiful country, but mobile internet in Honduras was back then sadly one of the worst in the world I have experienced!
Luckily things have changed and on my recent trip I was pleasantly surprised with the major improvements. Pretty much all the time I was connected to 4G/LTE. I must say I didn't go off the beaten path that much and I only stayed 5 days in Honduras.
I ordered an Airalo e-sim card for Honduras and it worked smooth. As soon as I landed I was already enjoying data on my phone. The Airalo e-sim card operated on the Tigo network and the data speed was pretty good, even on the road.
I am sure some of the above tips for finding the best sim card for traveling to Honduras in 2024 were helpful for your upcoming trip. If you have any questions please leave me a comment below.
Curious what it looks like trying to visit every country in the world? Go check out my Instagram account @traveltomtom and follow along. As of June 2024 I have visited more than 155 countries, so still a long way to go.
Enjoy your trip to Honduras!