Travel Guide: Belize To Honduras

There are several ways to get to Honduras from Belize, including bus, taxi, ferry, car, or plane. The ferry route goes from Puerto Cortes in Honduras to Placencia in Belize, and takes a few hours. The bus route goes from San Pedro Sula in Honduras to San Salvador, and then on to Belize City, and takes around 22 hours. The quickest way to travel between the two countries is to drive, which takes around 12 and a half hours. Alternatively, you can fly between San Pedro Sula and Belize City – a nonstop flight takes around an hour.

Ferry from Puerto Cortes to Placencia

To get from Belize to Honduras, you can take a ferry from Placencia, Belize, to Puerto Cortes in Honduras. This is a direct ferry route that covers a distance of 62 miles and usually takes around 5 hours.

D-Express (Pride of Belize) Ferry

The D-Express (Pride of Belize) ferry operates a once-weekly service from Placencia to Puerto Cortes, departing every Friday morning at 9 am. The cost of the ticket is $65 per person, payable in USD, Belize Dollars, or Honduran Lempiras. The boat leaves from the Shell Gas Dock in Placencia at 9:30 am and arrives in Puerto Cortes around 2:30 pm.

Booking and Ticketing

You can book the D-Express ferry online in advance, although it is not necessary. Tickets can also be purchased on the day of travel directly from the crew. However, it is important to arrive early as the boat may fill up quickly, especially during busy seasons.

Belize Departure Procedures

The immigration process for exiting Belize is conducted on the boat. Passengers are required to fill out the necessary forms, and there is also a departure fee of 7.5 Belize Dollars (approximately 3.75 USD) payable in cash. This fee applies to non-Belizean citizens leaving the country and is classified as a Conservation Fee.

Onboard Experience

The boat journey can be fast and rocky, and there is no bar or food available for purchase. Passengers are advised to bring their own food and drinks if needed.

Arrival in Puerto Cortes

Upon arrival in Puerto Cortes, passengers will go through immigration, which can take some time. During this process, it is recommended to change money and organise onward transport. The official currency in Honduras is the Honduran Lempira, and it is advisable to exchange money here, as it tends to be cheaper than in bigger cities like San Pedro Sula, La Ceiba, or Tegucigalpa.

Onward Travel from Puerto Cortes

From Puerto Cortes, you can continue your journey to other parts of Honduras, such as San Pedro Sula, La Ceiba, or Tegucigalpa. You can travel by bus or taxi to these destinations, with taxi drivers readily available at the port.

Bus from Placencia to Belize City

If you're travelling from Placencia to Belize City, you can take a bus from Placencia to the Belize City Bus Terminal. The bus leaves daily at 3:30 pm, stopping briefly in Belmopan and Dangriga en route to Belize City. The journey takes around five hours and costs around $15.

Alternatively, you can take a bus to Independence Village, then a taxi to Mango Creek, and the Hokey Pokey Water Taxi across the Placencia Lagoon to Belize City.

If you're travelling from Honduras to Belize, you can take a ferry from Puerto Cortes to Placencia, and then a bus to Belize City.

Fly from San Pedro Sula to Belize City

Flying is a popular option for travelling from San Pedro Sula to Belize City. The flight route is served by a number of airlines, including Tropic Air, Copa, Hahn Air Systems, CM Airlines, and TAG Airlines. The average price of a one-way ticket is $238, while a round trip starts from $647. The flight duration is 1 hour.

There is a maximum of one non-stop flight per day from San Pedro Sula to Belize City, with the most common departure time being 8:00 am. The airport you will be flying out of is San Pedro Sula Ramon Villeda, and you will be landing at Belize City Philip S.W.Goldson.

If you are looking for the cheapest month to fly, consider September, when tickets cost $160 on average. The most expensive months to fly are May and December, with average ticket prices of $430 and $415, respectively.

Bus from Tegucigalpa to San Salvador, then bus to Belize City

To get from Tegucigalpa to San Salvador by bus, you can take a direct bus from Tegucigalpa to San Salvador. This bus is operated by Tica Bus and departs from Tegucigalpa station three times a week (on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays). The journey takes approximately 6 hours and costs $25-$35.

From San Salvador, you can then take a bus to Belize City. This bus is operated by Mundo Maya Travels (MayanOz) and departs from San Salvador station. The journey takes approximately 15 hours and costs $110-$160. This bus runs hourly and on a daily basis.

Please note that these travel plans may be affected by COVID-19 travel restrictions. It is recommended that you check for the latest travel advice before you depart.

Driving from Tegucigalpa to Belize City

• Start in Tegucigalpa.
• Drive for about 3.5 hours, then stop in San Pedro Sula and stay for about 1 hour.
• Next, drive for another 2.5 hours, then stop at Livingston. Stay overnight.
• The next day, drive for about 4 hours, then stop in San Ignacio and stay for about 1 hour.
• Finally, drive for about 1.5 hours and arrive in Belize City.

This trip will take approximately 11.5 hours on the road with one overnight stay.

Please note that there may be COVID-19 travel restrictions in place for Honduras and Belize, so be sure to check the official pages for both countries before your trip.

Frequently asked questions