Roatan » Traveling to Copan

Copan is a town in the northwestern corner of Honduras where there once was a thriving Mayan culture along the Copan River. It is a great place to visit featuring hot springs, a wonderful bird sanctuary, and of course, the Mayan Ruins. In addition, the charming village itself is not to be missed. You can stroll the cobblestone streets for shopping and dining or just relax with a book in the beautiful plaza in the center of town.

There are two ways to get from Roatan to the mainland. You can fly or take the ferry. This article will focus on the ferry as it is the most economical. The ferry (Galaxy Wave) makes two roundtrips daily. Roatan departures are at 7:00 am and 2:00 pm. It is recommend that you check-in one hour before departure to check luggage and purchase tickets. The ferry crossing takes about 70-75 minutes. One way fare from Roatan to La Ceiba is L 524 (about US $30) or you can get a First Class ticket for five or six dollars more (L 624). Roundtrip tickets are available but cost the same.

First class means you get to sit inside instead of outside on the deck. Deck seating is covered and comfortable so unless it is raining, there is no need to pay extra for 'first class.' Advance reservations are not necessary so you can decide whether to sit inside or out at your time of departure. Taking the morning ferry will result in the best options for further travel once you reach the mainland. If you take the afternoon ferry, you will have to spend the night in La Ceiba or San Pedro Sula before continuing on the Copan. The ocean ferry crossing can be rough depending on the weather but most people will tell you a bumpy ride is more likely on the afternoon trip.

Once you arrive in La Ceiba and disembark at the ferry terminal, you can grab a taxi to the bus terminal for about L 30 ($1.60) per person. There are several bus options available. The two most economical are Catipsa Tupsa and Diana Express. These are comparable services featuring buses that are much like old Greyhound buses in the USA and the fare is approximately L100 (about $5) from La Ceiba to San Pedro Sula. Executive first class is available from Hedman Atlas (air conditioned buses, bathrooms on board, service attendants, movies, etc) but is much more expensive. For schedules and prices check their website RoatanFerry.com

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