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You can get to the Bay islands by plane with international airlines, local airlines and ferry services. There are boat and airplane charters that can get you from the United States and the neighboring Central American countires to the islands. There are also cruise ships visiting Roatan, although people on cruise ships spend a short time on the island. There are several different ways of going around the islands. In Utila, you can rent a scooter and there are taxis. On roatan, you can hire a taxi, take a bus, rent a car, a 4WD, an all terrain vehicle or a scooter. Please note that during the rainy season, from October to early January, roads can get really bad under heavy rain. You will encounter potholes sometimes filled with water and dirt raods become very muddy and slippery. Select your vehicle accordingly. You may want to consider gas prices for your rental, as it is quite expensive. On The IslandsThere are several rental car agencies on the islands. Prices vary from one agency to the other and according to the season. Also check the amount of deposit required as well as the method for taking deposits. Some companies actually put the deposit through on your card instead of processing a temporary input. We have been told that it somtimes takes several weeks before getting a reimbursement for the deposit. Driving on the islands present different challenges and they are described in the Safe Driving Tips. Renting Scooters & All Terrain Vehicles The same precautions apply as for renting and driving cars. Please see our Safe Driving Tips for special tips on driving scooters. On Roatan, taxis circulate around the island on a continuous basis. Usually, they are Colectivos and will pick up as many passengers as they can and drop them off as they go along the way. These are very inexpensive. To catch one, just stand on the side of the road and hail them as they go by. If they are not privately hired and if they have room, they will stop. They may also honk when they see people standing on the side of the road to see if you want to get in. You can also hire private taxis, for instance when you are in a hurry and do not want to make stops until the car is full. The fares are then more expensive. You can also hire them for half a day, a full day or more. You can find taxis most of the time waiting at the airport and in West End. Buses on Roatan are small vans and work in a similar way to the collectivos but they work on a more "structured" schedule and they have fixed routes. They are cheaper than collectivos. The international airlines coming into Roatan are:
There are also domestic flights between the Bay Islands and the mainland that allow you to connect to international flights in San Pedro Sula or Tegucigalpa on weekdays. They are: Some companies offer charters between the Bay Islands and the mainland: Ferry Services are insured between Roatan and La Ceiba by Safeway Maritime transportation, with a high-speed ship named the Galaxy inaugurated in 2007. In Roatan, it departs from and arrives at the new ferry dock in Brick Bay. In La Ceiba, the dock is called Mueje de Cabotaje. The trip takes about 1.5 hours and costs about $25. There are 2 round-trips per day and the schedule is:
Ferry Services are insured between Utila and La Ceiba by the Utila Princess. The trip takes about 1 hour and costs about $16. There are 2 round-trips per day and the schedule is:
It is possible to charter boats to go from one island to the other, to the mainland and even to other Central American countries and the United States. Please see the Boat Charter & Ships Category for phone numbers. |
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