HONDURAS AND BELIZE TRAVEL CONNECTION UPDATES FOR 2009

Lans Sluder traveling in Belize
A PRIMER ON TRAVEL BETWEEN BELIZE AND HONDURAS
By LAN SLUDER
www.belizefirst.com

Many travelers would like to divide their time between Belize and Honduras. Others want to take advantage of cheap flights into San Pedro Sula and then move on to Belize. While Belize and Honduras are geographically not far apart, the problem for a long time has been that travel between the two countries is difficult and time-consuming.

Belize-Honduras travel connections are improving, but they remain less than ideal.

BY WEEKLY FERRY
There are two weekly boats between Belize and Puerto Cortes, Honduras: D- Express leaves from Placencia on Friday morning (check in at 9 a.m.) and the Nesymein Neydy from Dangriga on Saturday morning (check in at 8:30 a.m.) D-Express returns from Puerto Cortes Monday morning and Nesymein Neydy on Tuesday morning. Cost is US$55 each way. To confirm times, etc. for D-Express check with the BTIA office in Placencia -- email BTIA@placencia.com or call 501-202-4506. For NN try 501-522-0063 in Dangriga. You could also check with Mundo Maya Travel in the Marine Terminal in Belize City, 501-223-0457 or email mundomayatravels@yahoo.com, as they'll make reservations and sell you a ticket.

There are other options.

BY WATER TAXI FROM PUNTA GORDA TO GUATEMALA
You can bus or fly to Punta Gorda and take one of the three daily water taxis from Punta Gorda to Puerto Barrios, Guatemala (three different outfits – Requena's, Pichillingo and Marisol -- with departures at 9:30, 2 and 4 respectively, around US$20--$22), and then from there make your way by shuttle to the border and bus to San Pedro Sula. This is your cheapest option.

FLY MAYA ISLAND AIR
Another option is to fly from Savannah (across the lagoon from Placencia, with connections from other points) on Maya Island Air nonstop to San Pedro Sula. Fare is US$163 -- not sure if Maya does their cash discount on this flight or not. The web site suggests the flight is daily, but it's not -- email or call Maya for the current days they fly (www.mayaislandair.com ).

FLY ATLANTIC AIR
I believe, but haven't checked recently, that Atlantic Air is still flying three times a week -- Monday, Wednesday and Friday -- from Belize City (BZE) to San Pedro Sula. Fare is in the US$150 range.

WEEKLY SHUTTLE BELIZE CITY—SAN PEDRO SULA
Another, fairly recent option is a weekly shuttle van/bus from Belize City to San Pedro Sula. It leaves Belize City at 6 a.m. Saturday from the Marine Terminal and is supposed to get to San Pedro Sula at 6 p.m. that same day. Cost is US$60 one-way. Check with Mundo Maya Travel for tickets. Email mundomayatravels@yahoo.com or call 501-223-0457.

PUBLIC BUSES
The other option is to take public buses from Belize's western border at Benque Viejo through Guatemala to Honduras.

EXIT TAXES
Note that the above prices don't include exit taxes and fees. The exit tax by boat from Belize is US$3.75, by land US$18.75 and by air up to almost US$40 if flying out of the international airport. Guatemala and Honduras also have exit taxes.