Honduras: Overland Honduras and the Border Crossing from Guatemala

Border Crossing from Guatemala to Honduras: Copan Ruins Crossing

It is all reasonably simple, well should be, but with a series of computer malfunctions in both camps, morning tea break, lunch break etc etc time just wafted on.

Be there early in the day, our transaction took 3 1/2 hours

Morning tea is 11.15 to 11.45am

Lunch is 12.50 to 1.15pm


  1. 1.Arrive and the gates are down. The officers will open the gate and park up on the right.

  2. 2.Money changers are everywhere.

  3. 3.Go to the cream building, slightly up the hill, a little left of the gate.







  1. 4.Most trucks have well armed security guards and this is normal because of bandits in the area that attach trucks.









  1. 5.First to immigration - MIGRACION SALIDA - Blue and White building ( 2nd build on left)

  2. 6.Passport is stamped US$3 or Q10/person

  3. 7.If you do not have copies of passports -1 copy, SAT form - 3 copies, Registration  -1 copy then visit yellow building just before gate and pay US$1/copy.





  1. 8.The SAT guy will then check the VIN number, registration, and inside the vehicle.

  2. 9.Hand paperwork to the guy at the border gate where you came in.


  1. 10.Drive to the Immigration Control Honduras  a new building on the left and park outside - OFICINA de MIGRACION HONDURAS.

  2. 11.US$3 for Non-Central American Foreigner

  3. 12.Go to  AREA ADMINISTRATIVA for the vehicles for vehicle inspection.



  1. 13.need $36 for Temporary Import Permit, 2 x copies Passport, 2 x Drivers Licence, 2 x Registration papers, 2 x SAT CA4 paperwork.

  2. 14.Passport is stamped with vehicle details.


Travel in Honduras:

There is a good two lane highway from San Pedro to the capital Tegucigalpa. Other roads in the country vary considerably. Sharp dangerous potholes are a constant threat. Road conditions varied from great two lane roads, to old broken and deep pot holed black top that occasionally just stops and becomes a back country dirt road. These are still pot holed .


Surprisingly there are very few street signs or directional signs and one must rely on all navigation devices and  back it up with asking directions from the locals.

We found that Garmin and Nuvi maps were ‘ordinary’ and we could not rely on one GPS alone.

As we headed south we found Honduras not as interesting as Mexico, Belize, and Guatemala  partly because there does not seem to be any indigenous people left.


There are some Police and Military check points however we were not always pulled over. When we were, we showed our passports and occasionally they checked inside, very easy.


Camping:

More than often we paid camping fees at attractions, normally around US$3/person, other times we asked the police and they showed us a sports ground, or a place where they regularly patrol and we felt safe.

In Antigua we were able to camp in the Tourist Police Compound. It was a Large walled area with a couple of toilets and a couple of cold showers.  It was free to camp the night but we left them a donation of paper towel, matches and bug spray!!



Food:

On the road side, fresh fruit stalls, and local honey....and the honey is very good.(L60/750mls - US/A$3)


Supermarkets we found difficult to find. We shopped in local markets for fruit and vegetables  and the Carneceria for meat.  US$5/Kg for beef and  $4/Kg for mince.

In Danli was one very good Supermarket , the Supermarket La Colonia,  on the north side  of town coming in from the main road. Great variety  of food including  meats.

Road side meals around US$6 each


Fuel:


Currency is the Lampira and about L20 to the US$. Fuel was not a problem and Diesel prices were from L22-23/Lt (US$1.10/1.15) or L87/Gal (US$4.35)


Water:

I do not have notes, but we must have found without difficulty.




Internet:

The internet was fairly easy to find.


For more informations see: http://www.drivetheamericas.com/honduras


For our actual Travel Diary through Honduras see: 2012 GoannaTracks - Across Honduras




Notes on El Salvador:

We reached the border of Guatemala and El Salvador and the customs officer asked “would we be coming back to Guatemala?”  No! We said.

Our paperwork done, we drove across the bridge into El Salvador.   

Shock, Horror.......you can't come in here, your steering wheel  is on the wrong side!!!!!

No amount of negotiating on my part did any good. They even called for an English speaking officer to explain to us we could not enter !!!!

But we want to enjoy your country.......NO sorry.

OK then we won't come in!  

We turned around and re entered Guatemala. :(


True story - I have heard that only Viet Nam will not allow right hand drive vehicles to entry. It must be an old communist thing !


For more informations see: http://www.drivetheamericas.com/el-salvador


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