Honduras Film & Photography Production Services & Camera Crews
Are you a media company, brand, ad agency or production company looking for film / photography production support or shooting crew in Honduras? Contact us for trusted fixers, producers, directors, DoPs, videographers, photographers, and full shooting crews tailored for the specific needs of your project.
Filming in Honduras
For an introduction to shooting in Honduras see below notes on film locations, permits, when to shoot, unique local stories, costs, tax incentives, crews, talent, equipment, communications, art department, studios, post facilities, visas and work permits for filming, transport, film-friendly accommodation, and safety advice.
Honduras Film Locations
Honduras is a Central American country with a Caribbean and Pacific coastline. The interior is mountainous. Film locations include Spanish colonial architecture, Mayan ruins, forests, mountains, rivers, lakes, waterfalls, caves, beaches, and islands.
Agricultural film locations include farms that produce bananas, coffee, sugarcane, corn, tobacco, beef cattle, lobster, and shrimp. Honduran factories produce apparel. The country mines zinc, silver, gold, lead, iron ore, antimony, mercury, and copper. Energy locations include thermal fired power plants, and hydroelectric dams.
Honduras has hosted visiting productions including A Place in the Caribbean (2017), Inside the World’s Toughest Prisons (2016), and Temptation Island (2006).
Film locations can be divided into the following regions:
Highlands
The Highlands region includes the departments of Copán, Ocotepeque, Santa Bárbara, Lempira, Intibucá, Yoro, Comayagua, La Paz, Francisco Morazán, Olancho, and El Paraíso.
Tegucigalpa is the capital, the largest city, and main production service centre where crew and equipment are based. It’s known for its well-preserved Spanish colonial architecture such as the Basilica de Nuestra, Cathedral of Tegucigalpa, Museo Para La Identidad, Iglesia Santa María de los Dolores, and the Old Presidential Residence and Historical Museum of the Republic of Honduras.
Penitentiary Danli is one of the world’s toughest prisons.
The city of Comayagua also has a wealth of Spanish colonial architecture including the Immaculate Conception Cathedral.
Mayan ruins of note include the Copán Ruins Archeological Site, and El Puente ruins.
La Tigra National Park is known for its cloud forests that are home to ocelots, pumas, peccaries, white tailed deer, armadillos, and opossums.
Celaque National Park is home to the country’s highest peak, Pico Celaque. Wildlife of note includes pumas, ocelots, and the rare Celaque climbing salamander.
Lake Yojoa, the country’s largest freshwater lake, is also home to hundreds of bird species. Cerro Azul Meámbar National Park, and Santa Bárbara National Park surround the lake.
Montaña de Comayagua National Park is home to many waterfalls.
La Muralla National Park is famous for its diversity of orchids.
Other Highland national parks of note include Cerro Azul de Copán National Park, Montañade Yoro National Park, Montecristo Trifinio National Park, Patuca National Park, Pico Pijol National Park, and Sierra de Agalta National Park.
Pulhapanzak Waterfall is a beautiful film location.
The Lluvia de peces, located in Yoro, is an unusual natural phenomenon in which fish are said to fall from the sky.
Caribbean
The Caribbean region includes the departments of Atlántida, Colón, Cortés, Gracias a Dios, and Islas de la Bahía.
San Pedro Sula is the country’s second largest city. Film locations include San Pedro Sula Cathedral, Municipal Palace, and Ramón Villeda Morales International Airport which is the largest airport in Honduras.
Río Plátano Biosphere Reserve is located in the La Moskitia region. The landscape includes tropical cloud forests, waterfalls, rivers, swamps and mangroves. Wildlife includes 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. Other islands of note include include Guanaja, Útila, Little French Key, and the Cochinos Cays. Bonacca is a unique densely populated island. The Bay Islands are generally considered to be the safest part of the country to film in. The islands are an English speaking region of Honduras.
The uninhabited Islas Santanilla (Swan Islands) are located 153 km (95 mi) off the Honduran coast.
Pico Bonito National Park has a landscape of tropical hardwood forest, cloud forest, deep canyons, rivers, and waterfalls. Wildlife includes jaguars, mountain lions, ocelots, armadillos, howler monkeys, spider monkeys, and a diversity of birdlife.
Jeannette Kawas National Park has a landscape of beaches, tropical forests, inundated forests, mangrove forests, lagoons, and rivers. Wildlife includes the West Indian manatee, common dolphin, sea turtle, white-headed capuchin, howler monkey, green iguana, and a diversity of birdlife such as the resplendent quetzal.
Cusuco National Park has a landscape of semi-arid pine forest, moist pine forest, moist broadleaf forest, dwarf forest, and waterfalls. The park is rich in birdlife including parrots, toucans, and quetzals.
Other national parks in the Caribbean region include Capiro Calentura National Park, and Punta Izopo National Park.
Lancetilla Botanical Garden is home to hummingbirds, toucans, bamboo tunnels, palm trees, and orchids.
Cuyamel Caves are a Mesoamerican archaeological site.
The Fortaleza de San Fernando is a colonial-era Spanish fortress in Omoa.
El Cajón Dam is located in Cortés.
Pacific
The small Pacific region includes the departments of Valle, and Choluteca.
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 they are few in number, far apart, have black volcanic sand, and no surf.
Honduras Film Location Permits
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.
When To Shoot?
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.
Events of interest to filmmakers and photographers include:
• Semana Santa takes place in March / April in Santa Rose de Copan.
• Punta Gorda Festival takes place in Roatan in April.
• Sawdust Alfombras of Comayagua take place in April.
• Feria de San Isidro takes place in La Ceiba in May.
Honduras is a predominately Christian country, so those holidays are observed.
Public holidays may affect timing, availability and costs. See here for public holiday dates in Honduras.
Unique Local Stories
Brands are looking for local stories that match their brand narrative. Our local teams are a great lead for sourcing those unique stories and characters.
If you are looking for stories for your next shoot, send us your brief and we will pitch you ideas.
If you have a unique story you would like to pitch to a brand anywhere in the world, pitch us your idea. We have well-established processes to ensure that your ideas are properly seen and protected.
Costs & Tax Incentives
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.
Film Crew & Talent
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.
Spanish is the official language. English is also widely spoken. A number of indigenous languages are spoken in some small communities.
Honduras offers mainly Mestizo looks. There is also a local population of Amerindian people (Lenca, Miskito, Ch’orti’, Tolupan, Pech, and Mayangna) as well as Afro-Caribbean (Garifuna and Creole), and Caucasian people. Honduras also has a small local Arab community. All other talent looks are best cast abroad.
Honduras Film Equipment
Equipment. 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.
Communications. Communication is key. Our agility and global experience allows us to customise the right communications systems for every shoot.
Web posted casting, scouting, and videoconferencing.
For clients that are unable to attend set we offer a virtual video village solution. This dedicated and secure high-resolution video streaming platform allows clients from one or multiple timezones to view setups without compromise and to participate in real-time with the team on set. Separate systems can be set up for the discrete conversations that are required to make a job run right. Working remotely with our local teams reduces your content production costs, turnaround times, carbon footprint, and risks associated with unpredictable global events.
Art Department, Studios, Backlots, & Post Production
Studios and backlots. None exist at present.
Post Production. Post abroad.
Visas & Work Permits
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.
Transport & Accommodation
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.
Accommodation. Recommended film friendly hotels in Honduras include:
InterContinental Real San Pedro Sula
InterContinental Real Tegucigalpa
Barefoot Cay
Marriott Tegucigalpa
Please contact us for corporate rates.
For longer stays we can also organize serviced apartments.
Final Notes
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.
Down Time. Take a deep sea submarine to 2000ft below sea level. Enjoy local dishes such as baleadas, casabe, canecho soup, mondongo, jocoto en miel, pollo chucho,
Projects. For an example of TV commercials, stills campaigns, online content, corporate videos, virtual reality 360 content, feature films, TV series and documentaries shot in Honduras, please see below:
Hire Honduras Production Support & Shooting Crew
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.
We are able to provide you with answers, references and bids quickly.
