Are you a media company, brand, ad agency or production company looking for film / photography production support or shooting crew in Honduras? We have fully vetted, locally based fixers, service producers, directors, DP's, videographers, cameramen, photographers, sound operators, production drivers, and a range of other film crew. Contact us for referrals, questions, cost estimates and references.
Want to know more about shooting in Honduras? See below for an introduction to Honduras locations, permits, when to shoot, costs, talent, crews, equipment, art department, studios, post facilities, visas and work permits, film friendly hotels, transport, communications and safety advice.
Honduras is predominately mountainous jungle with beaches on both the Caribbean and Pacific coasts. It has many dry forests, pine forests, as well as banana, coffee and tobacco plantations.
Honduras has hosted visiting productions including Temptation Island and Inside the World's Toughest Prisons.
Tegucigalpa is the capital and main production service center where crew and equipment are based. It's known for its well-preserved Spanish colonial architecture such as the Cathedral of St. Michael.
The city of Comayagua also has a wealth of Spanish Colonial architecture.
National Parks of note in the Highlands region include La Tigra National Park, Celaque National Park, Cerro Azul Meámbar National Park, and Santa Bárbara National Park. It's here you can photograph pumas, ocelots, peccaries, monkeys, and hundreds of bird species including the illusive quetzal. In this region you can also find Lake Yojoa, the country's largest freshwater lake, which is also home to hundreds of bird species.
Copán Ruins Archeological Site is known for its Mayan ruins.
The La Moskitia region has tropical cloud forests, waterfalls, rivers, swamps and mangroves. It's here you can find Río Plátano Biosphere Reserve, home to a wealth of biodiversity including jaguars, pumas, scarlet macaws, howler monkeys, giant anteaters and manatees.
The Islas de las Bahia (Bay Islands) are famous for their Caribbean white sand beaches and coral reefs. Roatán is the largest and most developed of the Bay Islands. More low-key paradise islands of note include Útila island, Little French Key, Cayos Cochinos, and Cayo Cochino Menor. Bonacca is a densely populated island if that's what your production is looking for. The islands are an English speaking region of Honduras.
The uninhabited Islas Santanilla (Swan Islands) are located 153 kilometres (95 mi) off the Honduran coast.
National parks of note in this region include Pico Bonito National Park, Parque Nacional Jeanette Kawas, Punta Izopo National Park, and Cusuco National Park.
Cuyamel Caves is a Mesoamerican archaeological site.
Refugio de Vida Silvestre Bahia de Chismuyo is one of the best preserved areas of mangrove forest in the world.
Beaches in this region are rarely visited given that they are few in number, located far apart, have black volcanic sand, and no surf.
Honduras film location permits are a quick and easy process. Negotiations and donations often need to be done in person, so it's essential to hire a capable and well connected fixer. Permits for Mayan ruins usually take about two weeks to process, which is a much better alternative to the restrictive laws of filming Mayan ruins in Mexico. Permits for national parks take about 10 days. Please contact us for more location specific information.
Honduras has a tropical climate. The Caribbean coast is hot and humid, the central highlands are mild, the Pacific coast is hot and dry, and the Bay Islands are hot and humid. In the interior and the highlands, the rainy season runs from May to November, whereas along the Caribbean coast and the Bay Islands, the rainy season comes between September and January. The dry season runs from December to April. Generally speaking, this is the best time to film for weather. For monthly weather statistics please see here.
Semana Santa takes place in March / April in Santa Rose de Copan. Punta Gorda Festival takes place in Roatan in April. Feria de San Isidro takes place in La Ceiba in May.
Public holidays may affect timing, availability and costs. See here for public holiday dates in Honduras.
Costs. Honduran locations, local talent and support crew are inexpensive. Costs on the islands are slightly higher than the mainland. Key crew and specialized equipment may need to be brought in from abroad. Our Honduran fixer / service producer will negotiate local deals and provide the appropriate level of production support to match every budget.
Tax Incentives. At present there are no tax incentives for foreign commercials or films shooting in Honduras.
Crews. Honduras has a very small pool of local directors, videographers and stills photographers. Honduras also has a limited selection of good, freelance local crew. The most experienced crew are often already full-time employees at TV companies. It is best to bring in specialized crew from abroad. It is common to add extra local crew members to ensure the shoot runs quickly.
Contact us if you are looking for a director, DP, photographer, videographer (cameraman / camera operator), camera assistant (focus puller), sound operator, grip, gaffer, stylist, hair and makeup, PA / runner, production driver, or any other film crew for your shoot in Honduras.
Talent day rates and buyouts are negotiable. Casting facilities are undeveloped in Honduras but our fixer can arrange in-house casting. Honduras offers mostly Mestizo looks. All other talent looks need to be brought in from abroad.
Honduras some some standard camera, grip and lighting equipment available locally such as the Canon 5D, Blackmagic 4K, RED Scarlet, and Arri Alexa. Specialized equipment needs to be brought in from abroad. Miami is the closest major production center, a short 2 hour flight away. Honduras is not an ATA carnet country however bringing in gear is a fast, easy and inexpensive process. Please send us your gear list so we can advise accordingly on the best approach for your project.
Entry is subject to regulations from country of origin. US, EU and other Western passport holders can enter visa-free for stays of up to 90 days. Projects that require crews to stay longer will need to apply for visas. Contact your local Honduran embassy / representative for more information.
Transportation. Main cities are linked by paved roads. Otherwise, the road system is quite undeveloped. Travel is slower going during the rainy season when even major roads may be affected by floods and rockslides. Best to avoid travelling by night. Our local Honduran film fixer organizes safe and reliable 4WD transportation. Several international airlines service flights to Honduras.
Safety. See here for up to date travel advice. Theft can be an issue on the mainland, so our fixer always arranges an armed guard to patrol the set. The Bay Islands are much safer and do not require an armed guard on set.
If you are looking for a film or photographic production service company, line producer or fixer for your shoot in Honduras, please contact us.
If you are looking for a shooting crew for your shoot in Honduras, such as a director, DoP, photographer, videographer (cameraman / camera operator), camera assistant (focus puller), sound operator, grip, gaffer, stylist, hair and makeup, PA / runner, production driver, please contact us.