At a glance
- Project length
- From 1 week to 12 weeks
- Arrival airport
- La Ceiba (LCE)
- Accommodation
- Host Families
- Work schedule
- Monday to Friday 8 hours per day
- Requirements
- From Basic Spanish, US$100 donation a month
- Age
- Minimum 18yrs or older for solo travelers.
- Airlines
- Taca, Air Viva, Cayman Air
- Vaccinations
- Routine Vac, Hep-A and Typhoid wwwnc.cdc.gov
Honduras is high poverty developing country in Central America where more than 65% of the population live in poverty. Our A Broader View programs are based in the coastal city of La Ceiba. ABV partners with the regional hospital in La Ceiba, with the local Bomberos ambulance service and with several small clinics in around the city.
Global Health Volunteer Program: La Ceiba Honduras
Most of the local clinics, and even the newer, larger regional hospital in La Ceiba is critically understaffed & ill-equipped. As in many developing countries most patients have illnesses preventable by basic hygiene and healthy living practices. International medical volunteers fill a necessary life line in many cases. Over the last 10 years ABV has built a strong partnership and have sent thousands of volunteers to Honduras. ABV provides financial contributions to buy medical and ambulance equipment and asks volunteers to come with medical donations to support the program.
Clinical Activities/Health Education/Special Initiatives in La Ceiba, Honduras:
- Rounds with hospital staff
- Observing minor surgeries
- Assisting in the ER and triage areas
- Maternity, labor and delivery unit in the hospital
- Health and dental brigades on community outreach days
- Pharmacy and laboratory placements are available
Ophthalmology and Optometry Outreach & Surgery
In La Ceiba we welcome qualified Optometrists and Ophthalmologists to support the work of the local eye doctors. Optometrists can share their skills and knowledge, and provide surgical support and training to the local providers. For many in Honduras eye problems go unchecked due to lack of money. Most common ailments include cataracts and pterygium. Come join this program and be part of a self-sustaining, established network of local surgeons and health providers that will continue to grow and enhance the quality of care for a population in need on a global scale. Qualified optometrist or ophthalmologists must be fully licensed, trained and currently practicing optometrist or ophthalmologist. We have a waiting list of 250 patients with Cataracts & Pterigion that need of your help.
To maximize your contribution, ABV will tailor your experience based on current needs, your interests, Spanish levels, training, and amount of time that you spend with us on-site in La Ceiba Honduras.
We accept volunteers traveling individually as well as groups of various sizes. Spanish proficiency is recommended, but not required by ABV Volunteers. However, volunteers may find that any level of Spanish comprehension will enhance interactions with medical staff, patients, and community members. This program is suitable for physicians, physician assistants, licensed nurses, EMT trained volunteers.
18 years and over.
W/ parents if under
24/7 local staff
in country
Tax deductible and
fundraising options
Accommodations safe & friendliness
Spanish Lessons
available if needed
Work Schedule
4-8 hours a day
Airport Transfers
included abroad
Programs start
at any day
No Language
Requirements
Available for Special Groups
REQUIRED
Mandatory: 4 to 6 scrubs, comfortable shoes or sneakers and bring basic tools as: oximeter, stethoscope, strip thermometer, blood pressure cuff, gloves, mask, cleaning wipes, blue & red pens (to use and donate).
Country Info
Honduras Introduction
Are you ready to help people in need, immerse yourself in the sights, sounds and culture of a new country and have the experience of a lifetime? With poverty, disease and a lack of skilled providers putting a strain on important services such as health and childcare in developing countries across the globe, there are many corners of the world which rely on the help of volunteer travelers like yourself.
Volunteer in Honduras with A Broader View Volunteers a top rated non-profit charity organization, which works tirelessly to support our wonderful volunteers and serve the local communities where our volunteer programs are located. Placements in Honduras are based in the city of La Ceiba. Program placements are tailored to the volunteers different interests and skill sets, but still allow volunteers time to explore the Central America local culture and activities during their free time.
The type of programs in Honduras vary widely, offering everything from education to health care. Volunteers can choose between 9 options in La Ceiba. International volunteer help is not only appreciated by the local community, it is severely needed by the millions of Hondurans living below the poverty line. With thousands of children living and working on the streets, as is so often the case in developing countries like Honduras, our volunteer programs are designed to support the needs of local teens and children in desperate need of assistance.
Many of our volunteer abroad programs cater to underprivileged women and children’s care, education and health requirements. Our extensive range of social programs in La Ceiba, Honduras includes: medical, nursing, EMT and dental, Elderly care, woman support, internships, teaching in primary and secondary schools and volunteering in orphanages and day care centers and many more programs. To help you settle into your placement, we also provide the opportunity to combine all of our programs with Spanish Immersion Lessons during your time in Honduras.
Volunteering in Honduras is an incredibly rewarding experience. We welcome volunteers of all ages and from all backgrounds to join us. Whether you’re seeking volunteer abroad programs for college students or voluntary work for over 60s, as a trusted non-profit organization which prioritizes the safety of our volunteers, we are the go-to for volunteers across the globe. We also offer customized programs with flexible arrival dates to best suit the needs of the remarkable volunteers we depend on to help us make the world a better place.
If you’d like to volunteer, Honduras is just one of the countries we’ve taken under our wing, supplying a steady flow of volunteers and providing year-round financial support to local projects in La Ceiba. Wherever you decide to volunteer, A Broader View give you the opportunity to participate in meaningful community service work, learn a foreign language, make lifelong friends and discover that one person really can make a difference. Your search for the best volunteer abroad programs ends here – volunteer in Honduras with us and gain A Broader View of the world.
Coordinator
Welcome to Honduras (Bienvenido (a) a Honduras 🇭🇳 ). My name is Rafael and I am your ABV coordinator while you are staying in Honduras. Our country has one big city, Tegucigalpa. But you will be working in La Ceiba. I will be ready for support 24/7 in case you need to contact me urgently. I will introduce you to your volunteer location and staff.
You are most welcome to seek my assistance and don’t hesitate to ask me questions while in country.
Weather
Honduras is located in Central America, bordering the Caribbean Sea. The climate varies from tropical in the lowlands to temperate in the mountains. The central and southern regions are relatively hotter and less humid than the northern coast.
What's the best time to go to La Ceiba in Honduras? Here are some annual weather facts we collected from our historical climate data:
- On average, the temperatures are always high.
- A lot of rain (rainy season) falls in the months of: January, February, March, April, June, July, August, September, October, November and December.
- On average, the warmest month is May.
- On average, the coolest month is February.
- November is the wettest month. This month should be avoided if you don't like too much rain.
- May is the driest month.
City: La Ceiba | Population: 204000 | Languages: Spanish
Currency: Lempira (HNL) | Time zone: UTC−06:00
Reviews & Multimedia
Reviews
We were always provided with 3 meals a day. The majority of meals consisted of rice, beans, eggs and tortillas and were prepared by the maid. The house has a secure gate at the entry and we never felt unsafe. Rafael and his family were very accommodating.
Cameron
Nationality: Australia
Age: 26
I would not trade this month for the world. It has given me incredible into lives that are so far from my own. As cliche as it sounds, my life will never be the same and for that I am forever grateful.Absolutely amazing. Rafael and his entire family were warm, welcoming, and loving.
Hannah
Nationality: USA
Age: 21
Volunteering Honduras in the hospitals and walking through the neighborhoods vaccinating the community was one of the most unique and life changing experiences I’ve had. Our ABV Coordinator in Honduras helped us with everything we needed during our trip.
Allison
Nationality: USA
Age: 21
Photos Gallery
Videos
Extras
Tour and weekend trips
Once in country our local coordinator can help you find the most reliable and safe tour agencies for weekend trips, you can pay in cash or in most locations with a credit card. These tours are not part of the ABV fees.
Cayos Cochinos [Full Day]
Launching off by ferry from la Ceiba , a one hour trip to the virgin white beaches of Cayos Cochinos will leave you in awe as you look back at the mainland with the magnificent ‘Cordillera Gracias a Dios’ towering in the distance. Coral reefs and pristine sandy beaches make up this archipelago of 13 cays – a “must see” on the Honduran North Coast. You will enjoy a tour of the islands, and a time of snorkeling while taking in the incredible tranquility of this marine biology reserve. Don’t miss trying a typical Garifuna style dish at Chachahuate Cay: fresh fish, plantains and fried rice & beans prepared with coconut milk. 7:00 am – 3:00 pm.
Pico Bonito [Full Day]
Leaving from La Ceiba at 8:30 am by 4×4, with a 20 minute ride, the adventure begins: In the tropical forest of Pico Bonito, several trails trek deep into the lush vegetation – en route discovering butterflies, birds and many other species of wildlife. Following the Rio Zacate trail, we’ll have a beautiful view of the Caribbean Coast, reaching the magnificent Zacate Waterfall at 1:30pm. Hiking along the magnificent ‘Cordillera Gracias a Dios’, which has it’s highest peak in Pico Bonito will leave you breathless at the natural and sweeping beauty of a park that has made Honduras famous as a destination for eco-tours. 8:30 am – 2:00 pm.
River Rafting at Cangrejal [Full Day]
A 30 minute drive from La Ceiba will take us up-river through an imposing valley, which reinforces our sense of smallness. From the outset, intense paddling is interspersed with calm stretches – to rest and also to do some cliff jumping. Hedged in by the tropical forest of Pico Bonito, we’ll also hike the Bejuco trail up to a refreshing waterfall; and afterwards regain our strength with a lunch of tropical fruit, before tackling the last cluster of rapids. Rafting the grade 3/4 rapids of Rio Cangrejal will leave you with a feeling of accomplishment at its completion, as you wait for the adrenaline to subside! 8:30 am – 2:00 pm
Cuero y Salado [Full Day]
Home to the Caribbean Manatee, an endangered species that lives within the network of creeks, lagoons and coast line. There is a mixture both fresh and salt water, the reserve being right at the ocean’s edge. From La Union, we catch a ride on the old railway to reach this wildlife refuge, and then by boat or canoe we explore the mangrove lagoons.
Festivals and Festivities
Semana Santa
Literally translating to “Easter Week,” this festival is a multi-day celebration in March or April every year depending on the Christian calendar. The best place to witness it is undoubtedly in the Honduran mountain town of Santa Rose de Copan, which is close to the Mayan Copan ruins. Here there are six separate parades reenacting biblical events from the Easter story, and the effort and detail is a true spectacle.
Punta Gorda Festival
A uniquely Honduran festival celebrating the Garifuna community, Punta Gorda takes place annually on April 12. It commemorates the day in which 4,000 Garifuna people were placed on the island of Roatan, thus commencing their settlement of the islands and Caribbean coast. Punta Gorda has the biggest celebration, with many gathering here to take part in the festivities.
Feria de San Isidro
Held annually in the town of La Ceiba the week preceding the third Saturday in May, this festival sees over a quarter million Hondurans flocking to the town to take part in the celebration. It is a lively fun-filled event full of street pageantry similar to Mardi-Gras in New Orleans.
Feria Juniana
Held the last week of June in San Pedro Sula, this festival has a host of live musical performances, eating and drinking. The climax is a parade down the thoroughfare of Avenida Circunvalacion on June 29.
National Garifuna Festival
Held on the third weekend of July, this festival celebrates Garifuna culture and draws in communities from Belize and Guatemala, as well as Caribbean Honduras. It is held in the town of Bajamar, near Puerto Cortes, and is a huge party of drinking and dancing.
