Travel from San Pedro Sula to La Ceiba

I hate it when I get the wrong advice. But I hate it even more when I offer the wrong advice! Let me face, it, I would never intentionally give bad advice. But sometimes you realize soon enough that you gave the wrong advice. The whole concept of this blog is to provide good advice, and therefore, I will explain myself. This week I had two guests traveling to our bed and breakfast in the Cangrejal River, La Villa de Soledad. They were to stay here one night, possibly two, and then continue to Roatan. They flew into the San Pedro Sula international airport, that has recently opened its doors after some severe floods shut it down. My guests were thus looking for the best way to travel from San Pedro Sula to La Ceiba.

In the old days, it was a straightforward, easy process. You would clear immigration and customs, walk to the Hedman Alas bus office at the airport and buy a ticket to La Ceiba. After a short wait, off you were directly from the airport to La Ceiba in a first-class bus with air conditioning. You could even book a full reclining seat for a few extra bucks and travel like a king. Unfortunately, this service is not available. It was to restart last March, but the Covid-19 Pandemic caused a total shutdown in Honduras. I do hope the restart the service soon. By far, this is the best way to travel from San Pedro Sula to La Ceiba.

Travel from San Pedro Sula to La Ceiba Tips

Thus, my guests were to land in the San Pedro Sula airport and take a cab to the bus terminal. From there, they would take a bus to La Ceiba. I realized that Sosa Airlines, one of the local carriers in Honduras just restarted their service between San Pedro Sula to La Ceiba. Thus, I reached out to our guests and suggested that they check out the flight and consider it. Well, it turns out that they did, and were happy to find that there was space available on the flight that was to leave in less that two hours. They booked their ticket and let me know they were flying from San Pedro Sula to La Ceiba! So far, my advice was right on the dot!

Then everything fell apart. First there was a delay. Finally, past 5 pm my guests were told that the flight was cancelled! All this time I got confusing information. At the La Ceiba International Airport, the airline staff were telling me the flight was not going to operate as early as 4 pm. However, they were telling my guests in San Pedro Sula that the flight would leave at 5. Finally, as dusk was falling, they were told that the flight was cancelled. They were offered a flight first thing the next morning, at 7 am. My guests agreed to it and we made a change in their reservation to accommodate them.

Second Attempt!

The next morning, my guests were at the San Pedro Sula airport at 6:35. Rather late for a flight to depart at 7 am. Their first surprise: the airport was still not open! They had to wait outside until 7 am for the doors to the airport to open. This of course, meant that there was no way the flight would depart at 7! After checking in, with boarding pass in hand, they  got to their departure gate. They were there at 7:25 am. The flight was to depart at 8 now. The time came and past. No news from anyone. After almost an hour, they were told the flight was to depart at 9. To make the story brief, at 10 am they got fed up, went back to the front desk. After some negotiating, they got a refund! Their attempt to fly between San Pedro Sula to La Ceiba with Aerolineas Sosa was unsuccesful!

The good news is that I told them the night before that their best bet was to go straight to Roatan. CM Airlines offers regular service from San Pedro Sula to Roatan. So, they took my advice for a second time! They bought a ticket with this airline and soon after they were happily in Roatan. I was just as frustrated as they were. We lost a booking when we desperately need guests. My advice for anyone flying in from San Pedro Sula and looking to travel to La Ceiba is that you hire one of the airport vans and have them bring you. Do barter the price, you should pay no more than 120 USA dollars for the trip. If there are two or more in your party, it is good deal! I do hope that Hedman Alas resumes its service to La Ceiba soon. Without doubt, that is the BEST option to travel from San Pedro Sula to La Ceiba!