How to get around in Honduras

Basic parando buses are the backbone of local transport in Honduras © urf / Getty Images
Save money by using the bus to get around Honduras

It’s very easy to get around Honduras by bus. Long-distance services are divided into three categories: servicio a escala or parando (local buses that make many stops and are packed to the brim with people and assorted luggage); servicio directo (faster, pricier and more comfortable services) and servicio de lujo (air-conditioned European- and Brazilian-made buses with reclining seats).

Directo or lujo buses are best for comfort and safety; reputable bus companies include Viana Transportes and Hedman Alas. Many buses tend to depart early in the day; it’s best to avoid overnight journeys as they are more prone to accidents and occasional holdups by robbers.

It can be quicker to reach your destination aboard a local minibus, but they tend to drive at breakneck speeds compared to the more sedate journeys on full-sized buses. 

Rent a car for the greatest flexibility while exploring Honduras

Hiring a car or bringing your own motorbike gives you the most flexibility when it comes to getting around Honduras, but it’s unlikely to save you money.

You’ll need a license from your home country to rent a car; international car rental companies have offices at airports in Tegucigalpa, San Pedro Sula, La Ceiba and on Roatán. Starting rental costs tend to be around US$45 per day, or up to US$90 if you’re looking to rent a 4WD.

There’s usually a mandatory Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) that can more than double your daily car hire costs. Main highways, including the Panamericana, are paved and in reasonably good condition, and tolls apply on some roads.

Elsewhere, roads may be unsurfaced and road conditions can vary wildly, depending on recent rainfall; a 4WD is an asset.

There’s no Uber in Honduras, but taxis are inexpensive

Global rideshare companies don’t operate in Honduras, but taxis in larger cities and towns are ubiquitous and inexpensive. They come in two types: cooperativas and independientes. The cooperativas operate along fixed routes, indicated by a sticker or sign on the windshield and fares are non-negotiable.

You can hail independientes on any street and they will take you wherever you want to go; prices depend on your bargaining skills. In rural towns, taxis are almost invariably of the three-wheeled variety, known either as “mototaxis” or “tuk-tuks.”

Regular ferries can zip you to the beaches of Roatán and the other Bay Islands © Antonio Busiello / Getty Images
Why I adore boat travel in Honduras

No two boat journeys are ever the same in Honduras. Sometimes it’s a smooth ride, with the sea breeze whipping through your hair as the catamaran glides through calm, cerulean waters.

Other times, you’re looking up at the stormy skies and thinking that maybe the shortish crossing to Utila won’t be so bad, only to find yourself clutching the wooden bench you’re sitting on for dear life and wishing you had a barf bag handy as the boat bounces on house-sized waves.

Then there are the river-boat rides through the jungle in the La Moskitia region that drift sedately between Honduras’ remotest settlements. Smooth or rough, boat travel here is never ever boring!

Accessible travel in Honduras 

Honduras doesn’t provide much support for travelers with disabilities, other than in upscale hotels and resorts. Wheelchair users will find it difficult to get around because of poor-quality sidewalks and cobblestones.

Public transportation is not geared to less-able travelers, though the ferries to Roatán do offer wheelchair access. For more information on accessible travel, see Lonely Planet’s Accessible Travel Resources.

This article was first published Aug 14, 2022 and updated Jan 6, 2024.

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Publish date : 2022-08-14 03:00:00

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