Is it better to pay taxis in Honduras with cash, or do drivers accept cards or payment apps?
Honduras is definitely a cash country when it comes to taxis. I didn’t once see a card reader, and payment apps aren’t part of the culture there. Drivers prefer lempiras, though some tourists manage with US dollars. Personally, I found carrying local currency easier because the exchange rate drivers offered for dollars was poor. If you’re planning on taking taxis regularly, make sure you’ve got cash with you. That’s really the only reliable way to pay for rides.
From what I saw in Honduras, taxis work only with cash. It doesn’t matter if you’re in a big city or a coastal tourist spot-the drivers will expect lempiras. Some were fine with US dollars, but always at a rounded rate that meant paying more. I was glad I had cash on hand because it saved a lot of stress. If you’re traveling there, prepare to use cash for every ride. Card payments aren’t something you’ll find in taxis.
I used taxis in Roatán and La Ceiba, and every driver I came across wanted cash. Local lempiras were preferred, although some accepted US dollars if you didn’t have change. The issue is, drivers often set their own exchange rate when you pay in dollars, which works against you. I’d strongly advise getting lempiras and paying that way. No driver I met offered a card option, and there’s no ride-hailing app culture there. Cash is essential.
Taxis in Honduras are almost always cash-only. In Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula, I didn’t see a single taxi equipped with a card machine. Drivers expect lempiras, and while some in tourist areas might take US dollars, it’s not always at a good rate. Cash is the way to go. If you’re uncomfortable with carrying too much, withdraw in smaller amounts and keep notes spread out. Don’t count on apps or card terminals-they just aren’t part of the system there.