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[jhsax]

Hi all,

Next week on Thursday the 27th August, I will be leaving Utila on the morning boat and getting to La Ceiba around 8:30 am. Then making my way up to San Pedro Sula. Now I need to get to Puerto Barrios well before 2:00pm for the boat to Belize, on Friday the 28th August.

I've been reading a few posts and most of the info shows that their are buses etc that leave from Copan to Puerto Barrios. I have already done the ruins and so have no real interest on going back there. The other option being to go to Guatemala City, but that also takes up more time and I have no desire to return to there either. So does anyone know of a direct bus, times and price.

Many thanks for reading

Jh

[mmbcross]

You had best take the direct route via Corinto to Puerto Barrios. It's a bit convoluted, but if you leave early (7:00 am) from San Pedro Sula, you should make Puerto Barrios by noon.

First take a minibus to Puerto Cortes, which run every 15 minutes (30 mins). From there, another minibus will take you to the Honduran border post at Corinto (about 3 hours), which leaves regurlaly every hour, or when all the seats are taken. There is a 17 kilometre stretch from the Honduran border post to the Guatemalan side which is also covered by regular minibuses constantly. Once in Guatemala there are minibuses that run every half hour that take you directly to Puerto Barrios (1 hour). It sounds horrifying, but in fact it is all done pretty seamlessly, and the distances are not great meaning the fares are inexpensive and the travelling time considerably less that going via Copan. Can I guarantee that you will arrive in time for the ferry? No, because this is Central America, and anything can happen. Nevertheless if all goes as planned, you should make the ferry easily.

As a matter of fact, I know of no direct bus service from Copan to Pto. Barrios. You would have to go from San Pedro Sula to Copan, then Copan to Rio Hondo on the Guatemalan Atlantic Highway, and from there to Puerto Barrios. This route is considerably longer and will certainly take you all day.

Alternative? Travel from La Ceiba all the way to Puerto Barrios on Thursday. You'll miss nothing by zipping through San Pedro Sula. Then you can lie in on Friday, and still be one of the first on the ferry.

[jhsax]

Hi Mmbcross,

Many thanks for the info. Just a few quick questions:

1) Are there no buses from SPS to Corinto or must you go via Puerto Cortes
2) Provided there are no drama´s/problems is it possible to get from la ceiba to puerto barrios in 1 day.

Thanks for helping.

jh

[mmbcross]

Hello JH,

The latest information I have indicates that there is no direct bus from SPS to Corinto, but things change quickly in Central America. You will have to check this when you are in SPS. You have to go through Puerto Cortes anyway.

From La Ceiba to Puerto Barrios in a day? By all means. Unless, as you say, there is a disaster on the route.

La Ceiba - SPS is 3 hours
SPS to Pto Cortes = 30 mins
Pto Cortes to Corinto = 3 hours 15 minutes
Corinto to Entre Rios = 15 mins
Entre Rios to Pto Barrios = 1 hour
Total 8 hours.
Lets Calculate about 3 hours of connecting times
Estimated Total 11 hours

If you leave La Ceiba at 7:00 am, all being well, you should be in Puerto Barrios by 6:00 pm or earlier.