Most travellers tend to leave Belize and go through Guatemala to get into Honduras. But for us, having already spent 2 months in Guatemala, we were not keen to spend the time or money backtracking through Guatemala. Surely there had to be a way we could get from Belize to Honduras by ferry instead?
We could find minimal online information about the journey from Belize to Honduras. Whatever companies people were recommending seemed to change in every other article, making it far more difficult than it needed to be.
Once we found the name of the legitimate boat company and its schedule, it was a pretty straightforward route to figure out from there.
If you’re short on time, we would recommend this route over going back through Guatemala. However, it is a rough journey, and we wouldn’t recommend doing this as a solo traveller.
Belize City to Placencia
Firstly, you will need to get yourself to Placencia, Belize’s Caribbean coast. This is pretty straightforward, as there are regular buses from the Belize city bus station to Danringa, where you can then get a bus to Placencia.
We took the bus from Hopkins, taking us straight to Placencia.
The best option is to ask the locals about the bus schedules, to figure out the exact timing of your trip.
Also, be aware! Most buses don’t run on a Sunday.
Belize to Honduras Ferry
1. Belize to Honduras: Placencia to Puerto Cortes
Once we were in Placencia, we struggled to find much information online about a ferry going from Belize to Honduras.
We were staying at Anda Di Hows Hostel and ended up asking them for any information they had about the ferries leaving Placencia to Puerto Cortes.
The reception confirmed that one ferry did exist, and we got their WhatsApp number through Facebook.
Anda Di Hows Hostel was one of our favourites, and we recommend staying here if you’re in Placencia! It was affordable, the perfect location (right on the beach!) and included a communal kitchen. It’s not on Hostel World, but you can flick them a message to book.
The ferry company is called The Pride of Belize, and it leaves from behind the Uno station, where the Hokey Pokey ferry also leaves.
Importantly, there is only ONE ferry from Placencia to Puerto Cortes every week. It leaves on a Friday morning around 9 am, arriving in Puerto Cortes around 1 pm that afternoon.
You should really be at the dock by 8 am at the latest to avoid any issues!
If you want to return, the ferry leaves from Puerto Cortes on Monday, arriving in Placencia.
The WhatsApp number for the Pride of Belize is +501 624 6509, but make sure to message beforehand and confirm that they are still leaving, especially in the low season.
This is their facebook page where they also post schedule updates. It costs 155bz for the boat trip, but make sure you have an extra 7.5bz for the immigration fee (you’ll pay both fees at the first stop in Independence once you leave Placencia).
When you get on the boat they will put your bags under the deck so make sure you take your valuables with you and anything else you think you might need (sea sickness tablets, cash, passport etc.).
The ferry’s first stop is at Independence, where you pay the 155bz to the ferry company and more people will get on the boat. Then you wait a few more minutes for immigration to arrive where you pay them 7.5bz and they give you the exit stamp.
We ended up leaving Independence at 9:30 am.
Once you leave, a person will come around the boat and you are able to give them any Belize dollars you have left to convert into Honduran lempira.
For us, the boat trip was pretty smooth and uneventful. However, we also had very good weather.
2. Belize to Honduras: Arrive in Honduras Puerto Cortes and Immigration
We arrived in Puerto Cortes at 12:30 in the afternoon, and as soon as we got off the boat they collected everyone’s passports in a rubbish bag.
Hold your questions until after we’ve explained….lol.
Everyone then lined up in the middle of a fish market where they invited one or two people at a time into the immigration office. If you can, get off the boat quickly so you’re one of the first in line. This will make a big difference in how long you’re waiting around for.
We finished with immigration at 1:30 pm. There were no issues here, it was just a lengthy process. During the interview, they asked all the usual questions. Like where we were going in Honduras and what our plans were etc.
While you are waiting in line there are taxi drivers and others that can exchange your money.
We ended up paying 150 honduran lempiras (or 50 per peron) for the taxi driver to take us to the bus stop, where we would then catch the bus to San Pedro Sula. Double-check they are not quoting you in USD! The price is very different otherwise.
It should only be a 5-minute drive to the bus stop.
3. Belize to Honduras: Puerto Cortes to San Pedro Sula
Our taxi driver was kind enough to point us in the right direction of the bus we had to take to San Pedro Sula. It was a small, empty minivan. We paid for an extra seat for our bags, as there were three of us and not a lot of room. It costs 65 Honduran Lempira per seat.
The drive took around 2.5 hours, as the traffic was really bad and the bus was picking up and dropping off people the whole way.
The bus from Puerto Cortes will drop you off at a large mall (Terminal Metropolitana de Buses) where all the buses leave for all destinations in Honduras. We arrived at 4:20 pm and felt safe enough in the mall.
There is also a big supermarket and lots of fast food stalls if you need to stock up!
4. San Pedro Sula to La Cieba
Don’t stay in San Pedro Sula if you can avoid it. For us it felt pretty unsafe outside of the mall, so we don’t recommend it, especially as a solo traveller. And if you have to go into the city, we advise against taxis and suggest you take an Uber instead.
If you are heading to La Ceiba from San Pedro Sula, you need to walk into the mall and up the stairs. Here, there are many different bus companies to choose from.
We went with a company called Transportes Cristina which we were told is one of the safest companies to travel with. This bus left at 5 pm and cost 180 Honduran Lempira each.
During the trip, we had a 20-minute stop in Tela for the bathroom and snacks. It was nighttime during the trip, so it was dark and the driver was a bit crazy with his driving, but thankfully we arrived in one piece.
The bus ended up arriving at 10:50 pm In La Ceiba.
You will be dropped off at the Transportes Cristina bus stop in La Ceiba. We would not recommend walking late at night with all your bags, so we took a taxi to the hostel which cost 50 Honduran Lempira each.
San Pedro Sula to other destinations in Honduras
San Pedro bus station is the perfect place to be if you need to go anywhere in Honduras. There are two areas in the mall where the buses leave. The top floor had a lot of the bigger bus companies, which is where we got our bus to La Ceiba.
Once on the ground floor, keep walking and you’ll see lots of ticket counters that have the destinations printed on the window. Here you can buy a ticket to almost anywhere in Honduras. These tend to be smaller minivans or chicken buses. We took one of these to Copan Ruins.
Be aware that the platform number on the ticket may not be correct, so make sure to ask someone who looks like they know what’s going on.
Final tips for Belize to Honduras Ferry
Before you head off, take note that this is a long journey.
We left our hostel at 8 am and didn’t arrive at our hostel in La Ceiba till 11 pm, so bring lots of water (it gets hot and sweaty in those buses) and snacks to keep you going.
If you’re vegan or plant-based like us, bring plenty of food as there are almost no vegan options until you arrive at San Pedro Sula, where you can stock up at the supermarket.
We would also suggest bringing enough cash as we didn’t have access to an ATM until we arrived in San Pedro Sula, and you have to pay for most things (tickets, use of bathrooms, food etc.) in Cash.
Where to stay in La Ceiba
There are only two hostel options in La Ceiba, and we stayed in both during our trip.
The first one is Hostel Guacamayos Back Packer. This is in the centre of La Ceiba and is a good option if you’re turning up late at night, as their reception is open late in the evening. We arrived at 11 pm and it was no problem.
It’s an old run-down hotel that has been converted into a hostel, and we would rate it 5/10; Fine for one night and safe enough, but we wouldn’t be staying any longer than that.
The Jungle Hostel is another option and is about a 45-minute taxi drive from La Ceiba to the hostel. Which, surprise surprise, is in the middle of the jungle.
There’s no communal kitchen, but there is a restaurant. However, the food is basic and a bit pricy. This hostel has amazing views over the river, and pools you can swim in.
After two days we found our clothes were damp due to the humidity.
You can also do white water rafting here! This was one of our favourite things that we’ve done on our trip so far and is a pretty good price at 35 USD.
Alright, that should be all the information you need to make it from Belize to Honduras, without having to go through Guatemala! We wish you the best of luck and ask you to keep your wits about you along the journey.
If you find yourself in Guatemala and are interested in hiking, or are curious as to what the best restaurants are in the area, check out our other posts!
Best Vegan Restaurants in Caye Caulker
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