How to get around in Honduras, from the cloud forests to the beaches

07.01.2024 - 00:27 / lonelyplanet.com

The second-largest country in Central America, Honduras is a sprawl of mountains, islands, coastal plains and tropical lowlands. But despite the distances involved and the varied topography, getting around is relatively straightforward.

The country is well covered by a network of flights and bus routes, with boats running to outlying islands and local variations on the taxi plugging any gaps.

However, travel can be weather-dependent – on top of occasional earthquakes, during the rainy season (June to October), you may be slowed down by landslides and mudslides, so give yourself extra travel time.

Weather patterns in Honduras are less predictable these days – canceled transportation during the September to November hurricane season is possible. Here’s everything you need to know about getting around Honduras by plane, bus, boat, bicycle and taxi.

You may prefer to avoid flying for environmental reasons, but for those on a tight schedule, Honduras’ largest airport in Tegucigalpa connects the capital with regional destinations such as San Pedro Sula, La Ceiba, Tela, Choluteca and Puerto Lempira. There are also airstrips on the three Bay Islands of Roatán, Utila and Guanaja.

Domestic flights are provided by Avianca, Aerolíneas Sosa, CM Airlines, Aerocaribe, Aviatsa and Lanhsa. Popular routes such as Tegucigalpa to Roatán, La Ceiba to Roatán, Guanaja and Puerto Lempira are served by multiple airlines. There are also daily flights to Utila with CM Airlines and Aerolíneas Sosa from San Pedro Sula. 

While ideal for international travel, Palmerola International Airport in Comayagua does offer some domestic flights as well.

Cycling around Honduras is an extremely eco-friendly way to get around; the main roads are paved and generally in good condition, and distances between towns are not so long that you’d need to worry about camping wild.

Be prepared for sweltering conditions in the lowlands, carry plenty of water and expect torrential deluges during the rainy season.

Traffic outside the main cities and towns is pretty light. Most main roads have hard shoulders and drivers are generally respectful of cyclists. While long-distance cycle touring is fairly unusual in Honduras, you’ll see many locals cycling in the countryside to get from A to B.

A touring bike with good tires is essential, as is a comprehensive repair kit, as you may find it difficult to source spare parts for anything other than mountain bikes and bicycle repair shops are few and far between.

Most local flights, some long-distance buses and the La Ceiba to Roatán ferry will stow bicycles in the luggage compartments at extra cost.

The island of Utila, the closest Bay Island to the mainland, can be reached from La Ceiba via the small and rather basic Utila