Just landed - wondering what gives the better rate in Honduras: ATM withdrawal or airport exchange counter?
Use ATMs as your main source of cash in Honduras. Budget L 1,000-1,500 daily depending on tours and meals. Withdraw from trusted bank ATMs like Banco Atlántida inside shopping centers for safety. Exchange just enough at the airport for immediate transport. Always decline conversion to USD at ATMs and choose to be charged in lempiras. Airport exchange counters are a backup, not your main option.
Honduras airport exchange counters were overpriced. I swapped $100, and later realized ATMs gave me nearly 10% more lempiras. That’s enough to pay for meals for two days. It frustrated me since I was trying to stretch a budget of L 1,500 per day, and losing money upfront made it harder. ATMs in Tegucigalpa and Roatán worked much better, even with fees. Airport counters should be avoided if possible.
I exchanged $20 at San Pedro Sula Airport for a taxi, then later used a BAC ATM in town. The ATM gave me far more lempiras for my money. Meals cost around L 200-300, and diving trips in Roatán set me back $80-100, so withdrawing with a fairer rate mattered. My budget was about L 1,200 per day, and the airport counter felt like wasted money compared to ATMs.
In Honduras, ATMs generally provide better exchange rates than airport counters, though fees can add up. Machines from Banco Atlántida or BAC Credomatic give rates close to market, while airport kiosks take larger cuts. If you’re budgeting L 1,000-1,500 daily for meals, taxis, and activities like Roatán diving or Copán Ruins, use ATMs for the bulk of your cash. Exchange only a little at the airport if you need cash right away.