You're listening to the BBC World Service. I am Louis Fajardo reporting from Honduras.

Over the next half hour, I'll be exploring how the idea of private or charter cities is gaining popularity in this small and dangerous Central American country.

Picture a country with one of the world's highest murder rates,

widespread poverty and chronic political instability.

It's a country that every year sees thousands of people living in hope of reaching the United States. This is Honduras, a small country. of which in hopes will attract foreign capital and jump-start its economy.

The idea is to create special zones, new cities, with foreign laws and foreign judges.

But how would that work? And what are the implications for the country?

Isn't that sacrificing part of your sovereign?

What kind of nation is willing to sacrifice control of part of its institutions, giving it to foreigners.

You would think they must be desperate.

You would be right.

Many Hondulans feel that their country offers no future for them.

Every year, tens of thousands of its citizens try entering illegally into the U.S.

Many begin their journey in San Pedro-Sula, a city now notorious for having held for years the highest homicide

rate in the planet.

I am at the city's vast sprawling bus station. A crowd is waiting for a bus that goes north towards America.

So many people are trying to leave tonight that the bus actually ran out of seats.

Juan Francisco Ayala is one of many waiting to board the bus.

He is spending the last few minutes in his hometown before starting the biggest

journey of his life.

My plans for today are to begin my journey towards a new life.

First to Guatemala, then to Mexico and from Mexico to the United States.

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