Jowheels

Hi there,
We are two women traveling from Roatan to Copan, trying to figure out the most efficient, safest way to get there.

We are considering taking a ferry ride to La Ceiba, and then a bus to Copan. We would also like to try and make a pit stop in San Pedro Sula -- not staying too long (we haven't read the best things about it ), but enough to be able to say we've been there So we are thinking about bussing it to SPS on the way back to Roatan and flying out of there.

We saw some bus options that made pit stops, and are curious about incorporating hiking at Pico Bonito in this trip.

We are not familiar at all with the area, so if anyone has a suggestion on the safest, but still an affordable place to stay, that would be so helpful.

We are still college students, and really trying to get the most out of this trip, without having to call home for some back up cash We are open to thoughts, suggestions, and stories of what others have done. Any tips on how to keep safe would be greatly appreciated, as well!

Thank you so much!!

NoFlyZone

There used to be a small airline which ran a trip or two daily between Roatan and Copan. Don't know if they are still around as those companies come and go with the wind (pun intended!).

We flew into SAP last year and rented a car which ended up avoiding having to go into San Pedro to catch a bus, having to go at the limited bus times, and most important was overall about the same cost as bus and local taxi rates.

Jeff_Costa_Rica

Copan has a small airstrip, but no scheduled air service.

The ferry crossing between La Ceiba and Roatan is notoriously choppy. Take something for motion sickness.

Hedman Alas provides very comfortable coach service between SPS and La Ceiba and between SPS and Copan. It's more expensive than the regular buses, but not terribly so. Hedman is a lot more comfortable. They are express buses, so you wouldn't be able to stop along the way.

www.hedmanalas.com

However you choose to get to Copan from SPS, make sure you take the bus going to COPAN RUINAS. Don't get on a bus going to SANTA ROSA DE COPAN. That's a different place entirely, although it's a nice town.

Jowheels

@NoFlyZone,
Haha, I will ask around about the flights directly into Copan, thank you! And, if renting a car is roughly the same price, that sounds like a great deal. Thank you so much!

Jowheels

@Jeff_Costa_Rica,
Thanks for the heads up about the motion sickness. Will have to pick up some dramamine. Thanks! And great to know about Hedman. I did read a bit about their buses, which sounds nice. I will remember COPAN RUINAS. Thanks so much for all the info, it is very helpful!

travelguru69

I recently had a trip to Copan Ruinas with the company of Fernando from www.elsalvadorcustomtours.com . I stayed at Casa Dona Elena, its a B&B with excellent breakfast included. Total cost per night was only $22 . We visited the park, the Museo de Esculturas, Museo Regional de Arqueologia, we asked permission to have a look at the old pictures of Copan donated by Harvard and the Carnegie Inst. We also visited the secondary site called Las Sepulturas. I spent 2 nights here, I would have loved to stay one extra night to visit the Macaw Mountain Park and the hot springs... highly recommend Fernando, he is a bilingual anthropologist that also works as a tourguide, contact him if you want to LEARN and understand Copan

good luck!

B