The best mode of transportation in Honduras varies depending on what area of the country you are visiting. On much of the mainland, buses are the cheapest and most convenient form of transportation. Domestic airlines are a quicker alternative. Along the Mosquito Coast, however, boats and canoes through the waterways are the only feasible means of transportation. Daily ferries run from the mainland to the Bay Islands. Once on the islands, you may want to use a unique type of transportation in Honduras: the water taxi.

Honduras car rental is available in most major cities and on Roatan Island. Many American companies have rental places at Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula airports. Honduras car rental costs are lower if you rent from a company outside the airport (and away from airport tax zones). Costs for Honduras car rental generally range from about $30 to $60 a day, depending on the car size and insurance costs. A U.S. or European drivers license is valid in Honduras for up to 30 days.

Honduras has a fairly modern road system between major towns. Some of the backcountry roads leave a bit to be desired however. Gas is about twice the price or more than in the United States.

Honduras Map

The Honduras bus system is extensive and inexpensive. Buses run throughout the major cities and make regular journeys between towns. This is the most logical means of transportation in Honduras for most travelers. If you are traveling a long distance, purchasing a slightly more expensive Honduras bus ticket on a direct or executive service is well worth cost for comfort and travel times. A direct Honduras bus ride from San Pedro Sula to Tegucigalpa costs about $7 and takes four to five hours.

Domestic flights in Honduras are also relatively inexpensive. This is the best way to get to the Mosquito Coast or to Guanaja Island. Flights from San Pedro Sula and La Ceiba run regularly to Roatan, Utila, and Guanaja. Travelers to the Bay Islands may also want to consider the ferry from La Ceiba.

Some parts of the Honduras coastline and the Bay Islands are inaccessible by car or bus. (There are less than ten cars on the whole of Guanaja Island, for example.) A water taxi is the only means of transportation between Roatan and the other Bay Islands. Taking a water taxi Honduras to the beaches on the north coast of Roatan Island makes a great thing to do on a vacation here. The water taxi Honduras is also the only way to navigate the rivers of Rio Platano Biosphere Reserve and the Mosquito Coast.

Transportation in Honduras is generally fairly inexpensive, whether you travel by air, land, or sea. With so many things to do on a Honduras vacation, that's a good thing.