Valle de Angeles: The safest town in Honduras

It is human nature to want to live in a secure environment. "Secure environments" are places where there is no urban crime. People may lose confidence if they do not reside in a stable and comfortable environment. Not having a stable and secure place to live can severely affect a person's development. For young people, this can harm their future and growth. A lack of a safe place can negatively impact your mental health. Honduras is considered one of the world's five most dangerous countries, so it is not a place where you can find a safe place. There is, however, a small, pretty town called Valle de Angeles, which is about 32 km (20 miles) away from the capital and is often referred to as the quietest and safest place in Honduras.

Corruption has transformed Honduras into a dangerous country. For a long time, Honduras has been regarded as a violent country in the world. The criminal justice system has been corrupted because organized crime groups such as gangs and drug traffickers buy off police, prosecutors, and judges to get away with their crimes. Because there is no functioning justice system, criminals and murderers have impunity; they are not held accountable. Consequently, Honduras has become an extremely violent country. USAID (U.S. Agency for International Development) is a U.S. agency for international development that drives human progress worldwide. As part of U.S. foreign policy, USAID fosters goodwill abroad and creates markets and trade partners for the United States. Among the countries where they operate is Honduras, and they believe that drug trafficking and gang activities have made Honduras a dangerous country. "Drug trafficking and gang activity, which includes local micro-trafficking of narcotics and extortion, are the main causes of violent crime in Honduras" (USAID). Affirming what was previously said, Honduras has become dangerous because of drug trafficking and gang activity. Still, other studies have shown that these aren't the only causes of violence in Honduras.

Inequality, assaults, and robbery have been minor causes of the violence in Honduras. According to World Bank statistics, Honduras is the most unequal country in Latin America and the sixth most unequal in the world. The poverty rate in Honduras is currently 64.5 percent, with 42.6% living in extreme poverty. Increasing the amount of violence people use to gather the basics for survival. USAID can oversee these activities while assisting the country. "Risk factors, such as deep social inequalities, lack of opportunities, and lack of access to quality services, as well as, the lack of protective factors at multiple levels in society contribute to the prevalence of violence in Honduran society" (USAID). The prevalence of violence in Honduras is a result of inequalities in all areas of human life. In addition to inequalities, crime also plays a major role. A study conducted by "Knoema", a global data and analytics platform that provides decision-makers with the most comprehensive global data, found that robbery rates in Honduras were 127.3 incidents per 100,000 citizens. GOV.UK is a reliable website for finding government services and information for the UK. In one of their travel guides, they discussed the risk of armed robbery and sexual assault in Honduras. "Most serious crime does not affect tourists, but attacks on foreigners, including armed robbery and sexual assault, do sometimes occur. These attacks can take place anywhere and at any time of the day "(GOV.UK). Therefore, everyone visiting Honduras is at a significant risk of encountering violence. A "secure environment" is no longer an option in Honduras because of drug trafficking, gang activity, inequality, and assaults. Nevertheless, there is one area categorized by tourists, residents, and governments as the safest and quietest place in Honduras.

There is no town in Honduras as beloved as Valle de Angeles. Valle de Ángeles is a municipality in the Honduran department of Francisco Morazán. The town is located 22 kilometers northeast of the capital city, Tegucigalpa. It is located in a valley with the same name as the town, between the mountains of Los Lagos, El Carrizal, Palo Hueco, and Chinacla. The town is a popular tourist destination for its colonial architecture, crafts, scenic surroundings, and nearby ecotourism. Local crafts include pottery, wood carvings, and contemporary art. John Dupuis is a travel blogger who specializes in Honduras. In his post titled "Valle de Angeles," Dupuis describes how Valle de Angeles is one of Honduras' most visited towns. He describes how charming and lovely the town is. "This lovely town, who's translated name would be Valley of Angels, has a lot of charm" (Dupuis). He also highlights the peace that exists there. "During the week it is a pleasant quiet and quaint town" (Dupuis). Dupuis discusses why Valle de Angeles has been considered an area of safety where you can experience calm and quaintness. In the opinion of a travel blogger, Valle de Angeles is a very peaceful and relaxing destination. And, as someone born in Valle de Angeles, I would like to share how this unique environment influenced my life.

Honduras receives hope of peace through Valle de Angeles. This town has been my home since 2002. In contrast to other areas of Honduras, Valle de Angeles provides a sense of tranquility for the soul. In Valle de Angeles, the government has put a lot of effort into protecting the town since it is renowned as a tourist destination. Due to the town's distance from the capital, most government disturbances, such as protests, do not reach there, keeping residents calm. It is not uncommon to hear of assaults in the town. Occasionally, some cases will occur, but they usually occur outside of Valle de Angeles' geographic area. In Valle de Angeles, robbery is rarely mentioned because most of the products are handmade crafts, which are not very expensive. Therefore, there are almost no thieves. My life in general has been positively impacted by the peace of Valle de Angeles. Despite the violence that everyone else in Honduras experienced, my mental health was well preserved. Those who visit Valle de Angeles, whether they are native or foreign, consider it to be the safest place in Honduras. Despite Honduras' reputation as a dangerous country, there still exists a place where its people can experience peace.

Although its country has a bad reputation, Valle de Angeles maintains a favorable reputation as a safe place. From hearing about a country where drug trafficking and gang activities have corrupted the justice system, we also heard about how inequalities, lack of opportunities, and a lack of access to quality services have caused society to rely on violence to survive. To a town where people can live peacefully knowing that there is no violence in their town. Valle de Angeles is a place that everyone should visit once in their life. The town of Valle de Angeles gave me a healthy mindset and also provided me with a place to escape violence. Valle de Angeles is the town that gives honor to its name, Valley of Angels.