How to get to Utila, Honduras from Livingston (Rio Dulce), Guatemala

I was staying in Rio Dulce, Guatemala and wanted to make my way to Honduras to enjoy some diving in Utila. However all the information I found online was either outdated or suggested taking private shuttles. This is a guide on getting to Honduras from Guatemala in one day taking only public transportation. It is doable - don't let others tell you otherwise!

You will need to stay in Livingston, an hour and half boat ride away from Rio Dulce, for the night. The public boats from Rio Dulce to Livingston leave every day at 9:30am and 2:30pm for 125 Quetzales. You can also hire a private boat but I'm sure the cost will be exorbitant.

Catch a boat at 5:30am from Livingston to Puerto Barrios for 35Q. I've read other blogs that stated they caught the 7:30am boat and still made it to La Ceiba in time for the last boat to Utila. However keep in mind that there is a lot of traffic in Honduras and that if you miss the boat you will have to stay overnight in La Ceiba. I caught the 5:30am boat and only made it 40 mins before the last boat departed for Utila. I have posted the schedule from Livingston to Puerto Barrios below.

When you leave the dock in Puerto Barrios walk straight down the street opposite from the ferry building until you reach the main street, 6A Avenida and wait at the corner. A collectivo, shared van, will pass by shouting Frontera (border) or Honduras. It will cost 50Q and will drive around trying to get more passengers before heading to the border. 

I reached the border around 7:30am. Crossing the border here is easy. There is a bank located at the border but unfortunately it isn't opened early in the morning. You will need Honduran lempira in order to continue your journey. There are a lot of money exchangers sitting near the bus stop on the right hand side of the road once you exit the police barrier. This collectivo costs 70HNL and is heading to Puerto Cortes. Let the fare collector know you are heading to San Pedro Sula and they will flag down the collectivo for you. The collectivo to San Pedro Sula costs 52HNL. Get off at the last stop which is the huge bus terminal building. 

Once inside the bus terminal there are several companies that have routes to La Ceiba. Above the food court are the fancier bus companies with actual offices while the collectivo ticket companies are just ticket windows lined up in a row. I went with the collectivo. Try to find the one leaving the earliest and you can also bargain for the prices here. I went with Juda and they had initially said 115HNL but when I made a face they lowered it to 100HNL. They have a bus leaving at 11am which was a 30 minute wait. 

Let the fare collector know you are trying to head to Utila and they will stop somewhere on the main street for you to catch a taxi to bring you to the dock. There doesn't seem to be a public bus that goes to the dock as locals were taking the taxi too. It will cost 50HNL. The Utila Dream is the only ferry that goes to Utila and costs $24USD or 575HNL. You can pay with a credit card and there is no extra charge. Highly recommend doing this as there is only one ATM on Utila and it has a very low max withdrawal amount. I also recommend getting money from the ATM at the San Pedro Sula Bus Terminal as there is a variety of them with higher withdrawal amounts which you will need if you plan to dive in Utila.

TIP: In La Ceiba there doesn't seem to be a main bus terminal instead when departing from the ferry dock you have to let them know which bus company you are going with and they will drop you off there. It seems as if every bus company is in a different location. I went with Mirna, cost 121L to SPS, which another passenger in the car recommended to me when I stated that I had to go to San Pedro Sula. I'm not sure where the collectivos gather but if you have better Spanish skills than me I'm sure you can catch a collectivo to SPS for cheaper.