Once upon my travels, I decided to visit Honduras. Yes, same Honduras that is in top 10 most dangerous countries in Americas. Weird category to be a winner at.
Taking it’s reputation into acount, I’ve aimed to reached Utila in one day. I was aware that it’s over 600km between Rio Dulce and La Ceiba with a border crossing which usually slows back the journey dramatically. But with a little research and a fortune in my pocket I was hopeing to bring a plan into reality and be on a last ferry to Utila at 4PM.
There are touristy option to pay $60 and get to ferry on time. Or do it yourself by hasstleing around hundred buses, chasing luck and cutting this cost more then tripple.
‘- Guys, you know it’s going to be one of those days when we will hate each other and be super sensitive. Lets keep it together, even with a 5am start…’
So here is my travel log.
Rio Dulce- Morales 15Q ($2) bug bus
Morales- Puerto Bario hitchhike
Puerto Barrio- border 25Q ($3.5) colectivo
Border- Puerto Cortes L55 ($2.5) chicken bus
Puerto Cortes- San Pedro Sula L52 ($2.5) aircon
San Pedro Sula- La Ceiba L110 ($5) big bus
Just to mention, Corinto border crossing was really easy, quickly got stamp out of Guatemala and ‘entrada’ for Honduras. No costs for exiting Guatemala but had to pay 30Q for entering Honduras. Not sure if it’s corruption scam or legally enforced law but was issued a receipt with a welcoming smile as a bonus. Wasn’t in a mood for questioning them, as 5am rise sucked most of my energy out plus I might not stand up for myself this time, their trophy as a murder pros freaks me out:)
Conclusion is, I’ve lost against time (missed the last ferry) but won in costs. And most importantly had an unforgettable experience. And here is corrections how I could’ve won:
Don’t go to Puerto Bario, hop off at the junction pointing Frontera on the right. Will save you at least 30min. Only reason we went to Puerto Barios, I’ve read a few bloggers mentioning they’ve got offered half price deal for unsold seats straight to La Ceiba cuting it to 250Q per journey. We just wished it’s gonna happen to us as well. Didn’t even see tourist vans… So lost time.
P.S. there was 3of us taking up the challenge, so it gets cheeper with taxi costs, harder to get place on cheap buses.
Instead of taking chicken bus from the border to Puerto Cortes take taxi, will buy you over an hour with no stops and aircon, plus costs L250/3= $4pp, which is $1.5 more then chicken bus. Taxi driver will take you to express colectivo and so on following my later plan. In which case you will make it in time for 12.30 bus from San Pedro to La Ceba and arrive to the port around 3:40pm in time to catch the last ferry.
Note: this is just my calculations, do not entirely rely on them. Trafficks might happen, buses can break.
All in all journey to the ferry added up to $15.50 instead of $60. Even tho, it was a tireing journey, bus changes were very smooth, always people around looking for passengers and so far, it seems that everything is going smooth (knock wood).
Bienvienidos a Honduras!
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