Roatan Island is a few miles off mainland Honduras and is accessible by air, bus, or ferry. Tourists can easily choose several transportation options to get to the island.
How Far Is Roatan Island From Mainland Honduras?
The beautiful island of Roatan is 35 miles (56 km) off the mainland of Honduras and is located in the Bay Islands. The island’s main town and port, Coxen Hole, is located on the island’s west side. Travelers can easily find resorts, restaurants, and activities here and on the other side of the island.
How to Get to Roatan From Honduras
There are two ways to get to Roatan from Honduras’ mainland: air or ferry.
The easiest way to get to Roatan is by air. The Juan Manuel Galvez International Airport (RTB) is located on the island’s eastern side. It offers daily flights from Tegucigalpa, San Pedro Sula, and La Ceiba. The quickest flights are from Goloson International Airport in La Ceiba, which is 34 minutes.
Tegucigalpa’s Toncontin International Airport is a little further away and takes about 40 minutes to fly to Roatan.
Tourists who don’t have enough time to spare can also fly into Roatan from the mainland via San Pedro Sula, which takes around an hour.
If travelers are looking for a more scenic route, they can take the ferry from La Ceiba or Utila to Roatan.
Ferries from La Ceiba take around an hour and a half to reach Roatan and depart twice a day from the port. The ferry from Utila is a bit longer and takes about 50 minutes to make the crossing. It departs four days a week; Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday.
If you’re coming from the capital of Tegucigalpa, some buses go to La Ceiba. The trip is about 10 hours long, and there are several buses a day. From there, you can catch the ferry to Roatan. Tourists in San Pedro Sula can also take a bus to La Ceiba. There are buses that depart every hour, and the trip is about five hours long.
Once on the island of Roatan, there are plenty of taxis to get around. Tourists can also rent cars or motorcycles during their stay.
Can You Take a Ferry or Boat to Roatan?
There are ferries and boats that go to Roatan from the mainland of Honduras.
Safe Way Maritime is a company that offers ferry service from La Ceiba to Roatan. This is the only ferry service that goes directly to Roatan from the mainland. The ferry departs at La Ceiba at 9:30 am and 4:30 pm. A round trip, regular class ticket starts at $33.
The Utila Dream Ferry goes to Roatan Island four days a week if you’re coming from Utila. The first ferry leaves at 10:15 am and the last at 2:00 pm. The trip is about 50 minutes long, and a round-way ticket starts at $31.
How to Get to Roatan From San Pedro Sula
If you’re the type of tourist who values convenience and speed, flying into Roatan from San Pedro Sula Airport is the best option. There are two flights per day from San Pedro Sula, and the trip takes about two hours and a half.
Some buses go from San Pedro Sula to La Ceiba for those who want to enjoy the ride. The trip is about 10 hours long, and there are several buses a day. Once in La Ceiba, tourists can catch the Safe Way Maritime ferry to Roatan.
How Far Is SAP From Roatan?
San Pedro Sula Airport is approximately 178 km (111 miles) from the island of Roatan. The airport is located in San Pedro Sula, which is the second-largest city in Honduras. Travel time from San Pedro Sula to Roatan by air is about two hours and a half.
Is There a Ferry From San Pedro Sula to Roatan?
There is no direct ferry from San Pedro Sula to Roatan, but tourists can take a bus from the city to La Ceiba and then catch the ferry to the island. For adventurous travelers, this might be the more exciting option. You can expect to see beautiful scenery along the way.
How Far Is Roatan From La Ceiba?
The distance between La Ceiba is about 68 km (42 miles) from the island of Roatan. Travelers can either fly directly to Roatan or get on a ferry from La Ceiba, departing twice a day.
How Long Is the Ferry From La Ceiba to Roatan?
Tourists can expect to take about an hour and a half to get from La Ceiba to Roatan. Expect turbulent waters going to the island of Roatan since the ship normally battles the strong waves that come from the Caribbean Sea.
How to Get From Utila to Roatan
Like Roatan, Utila is a small island away from the mainland. There are two ways to get from Utila to Roatan.
The first is to take the Utila Dream Ferry, which goes to Roatan Island four days a week. If you want to arrive on the island much faster, CM Airlines offers a quick flight that takes just 15 minutes.
Once on the island of Roatan, there are plenty of taxis to get around. Tourists can also rent cars or motorcycles during their stay.
How Long Is the Utila–Roatan Ferry?
The Utila-Roatan Ferry is 50 minutes long, and the distance between the island is 50 km (31 miles). This option might be the better choice if you come from Utila since it is cheaper than flying. However, if you really want to get to Roatan quickly, the CM Airlines flight is your best bet.
