If you want to travel from Guatemala to Honduras, come find out exactly how to get from Antigua to Copan Ruinas, from the tourist shuttle or Hedman Alas bus to the chicken buses and taxis!
Once you have finished exploring Guatemala it is time to continue your adventures through Central America. Why not choose Copan Ruinas as your perfect introduction to Honduras?
It’s a quaint town with plenty to do for a couple of days, and it makes sense as your first stop, as it is relatively easy to travel from Antigua to Copan Ruinas.
Luckily, it is pretty easy to travel to Copan Ruinas, though I made some mistakes, which I will help you avoid. Also, there is no option to fly between these two locations, so going overland is your only choice.
The most popular way to travel at the moment is definitely by tourist shuttle, which takes around 6 hours and costs $46.00. Just keep in mind many shuttles, unfortunately, leave crazy early in the morning as the driver will continue on to Nicaragua that same day.
So let’s get into the best and easiest way possible, whether that is by tourist shuttle, bus, chicken bus, or private taxi.
This includes what you need to know about entry requirements and border crossings, the costs of different transport methods, how to book, and more!
| Time | Cost | Highlight | |
| Tourist Shuttle | 6 hours | from $46 | Direct Journey |
| Chicken Bus | 10+ hours | from $12.00 | Adventurous and fun |
| Hedman Alas Bus | 7 hours | from $50 | Comfortable and spacious |
| Taxi | 6 hours | from $300+ | Easy and stress-free |
Antigua To Copan Ruinas: Tips, Costs & My Experience Crossing From Guatemala To Honduras
🚗 How I Book Cheap Transport In Guatemala: GuateGo
How Far Is The Journey?
The journey between Antigua and Copan Ruinas is 174 kilometers long.
Honestly, in a lot of other places, this distance would take a couple of hours or so max. Here, it is at least double or triple that. Yes, seriously.
If you decide to take a private taxi or tourist shuttle, they will use the main roads.
If you book with a bus company, they will stop in Guatemala City, where you will transfer to the main bus and have a check-in process.
How Long Does It Take To Travel To Copan Ruinas
Okay, so no matter what you decide to book, it will be a rather long journey. This is even more so if you decide to use some sort of public transport as Copan Ruinas is often not the final destination.
Therefore, buses generally set off very early to arrive at places such as San Pedro Sula on time.
Nevertheless, depending on which method you use will affect how long it takes:
Tourist Shuttle: This is more of a direct route and typically takes 7 hours.
Hedman Alas Bus: This journey took 10 hours for us, including check-in at Guatemala City and the time for everyone to cross the border.
Taxi: Enjoy a quick and direct journey in a taxi that takes around 5 hours. However, you will need to change taxis at the border, and depending on your negotiating skills, this may end up quite pricey.
Chicken Bus: This is the slowest method and involves multiple transfers, taking around 10 hours.
Entry Requirements For Honduras
As you will find out below, I am not the most organized traveler. However, do as I say, not as I do!
Okay, so I screwed up by not looking into the entry requirements prior to beginning to journey from Antigua, and I easily could have been denied. Luckily everything worked out, though preparation is key.
Here are what the Honduras entry requirements are and what you need to know:
Six Month Passport Validity: As with the majority of countries, you will need at least six months from your passport expiry date and at least two empty passport pages.
Days remaining on CA-4 visa: Since you have just been in Guatemala, you need to be aware of the number of days left on your CA-4 Visa. With this, you have a 90-day stay across Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Nicaragua.
As the underprepared traveler that I am, I, of course, had no idea this existed until I was literally about to board my bus.
The company made us submit it and screenshot everything in case it hadn’t been approved by the time we arrived at the border. Luckily, we received confirmation an hour before arriving.
Direct Journey With A Tourist Shuttle *RECOMMENDED*
If you are looking for a convenient and comfortable way to get to Copan Ruinas, definitely check out the tourist shuttles.
These shuttles are a common way to travel around Central America. If you have been traveling through Guatemala, you have no doubt already taken quite a few of these.
Using a tourist shuttle, all the hard work is done for you. There is no need to worry about transfers in different cities. Also, there will be a shorter wait at the border crossing as you only need to wait for 8 or so other passengers, not an entire bus load.
One thing to be aware of is that your driver may only speak a little bit of English or literally none at all. Don’t worry, as generally, at least one person onboard will know enough Spanish to translate for everyone else.
As this is a longer journey, you will make at least one bathroom stop before reaching the border. It is also best to bring some food onboard, as it will be an early start.
Typically, it will take around 7 hours. However, be aware that blockades are pretty common in Guatemala and completely random.
Also, if it is quite busy at the border, you may find yourself waiting around. Luckily, it is not too much further from the border to Copan Ruinas.
How To Book Tickets
Luckily, these tourist shuttles are crazy easy to book! You have two different options: either book online in advance or through your accommodation once you arrive in Antigua.
Please be aware that it is best to book your tickets at least 72 hours in advance, as these shuttles do get booked out.
| Bus Company | Departure Time Antigua | Arrival In Copan Ruinas | Days Of The Week | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Berakah Shuttle | 3 am | 8:30 am | Monday to Sunday | $49.00 |
| Gekko Trails Explorer | 3:30 am | 10:30 am | Monday to Sunday | $50.00 |
I actually booked my transport directly through my hostel in Antigua and thought it would be a tourist shuttle. I was surprised to be transferred onto a bus in Guatemala City. More on this experience is below.
Where Does The Shuttle Drop You Off In Copan Ruinas
Now, it’s worth noting the majority of shuttles won’t drop you off at your accommodation in Copan Ruinas. I know it would be nice if they did, especially after such a long day of traveling.
In all honesty, I would much rather be dropped off in a central location than drive around for an extra hour, taking everyone else to their accommodation.
Luckily, the driver will drop you off in a pretty central location at the main square. Most hostels are about a 5 or 10 minute walk away from here. If you don’t feel like walking, there are plenty of tuk-tuks around.
You will also be able to find a few different ATMs around the main square where you can withdraw lempira and begin your adventures around Honduras!
🚗 How I Book Cheap Transport In Guatemala: GuateGo
Splurge On A Taxi
Now, taking a taxi isn’t too common on this route. The distance from Antigua to the border is approximately 260 kilometers.
Once here, you will go through immigration and jump into another taxi for the remainder of the journey to Copan Ruinas. However, when I crossed this border around 1 p.m., I didn’t see any taxis waiting to give people rides.
It is easy to see why this isn’t a common choice. It is expensive and quite complicated with different vehicles. Plus, getting the bus or booking a tourist shuttle is easy and affordable.
Travel With A Private Bus Company: Hedman Alas Bus
Unfortunately, the Hedman Alas Bus is temporarily shut down due to extortion – welcome to Honduras. I will update you once it has started operating again.
This is different from taking a chicken bus or tourist shuttle and is great if you want direct transport at a relatively affordable price. Locals and travelers alike choose to book with a private bus company.
How To Book Tickets
Now, I actually booked my tickets through my hostel in Antigua called Maya Papaya. Though, they don’t sell their tours and transport to guests who aren’t staying there.
You can also wait until you are on the ground and talk to a few travel agencies, as there are plenty around. I ended up paying 450Q / $57.0,0 which is a bit more than the standard tourist shuttle, though you do have more facilities onboard.
There are two different seat types available with the Hedman Alas bus. The first is Ejecutivo / Executive, and this is basically your standard seat. The other option is Plus, which is lazy boy style seats with plenty of legroom, though it is about double the price.
Where Do You Get Off In Copan Ruinas
Hedsman Alas does have quite a nice and fancy office here in Copan Ruinas. Once they have crossed over to Honduras, they use this as their first bathroom/rest break.
It is a short walk out of the main center and is a safe area. However, the township is up a steep hill. It isn’t massive in size, but it is crazy steep, especially up some streets.
Therefore you may want to take a tuk-tuk to your accommodation. Don’t worry, there will be plenty around!
My Experience Taking The Hedman Alas Bus
My hostel had a booklet with all transport and tours they offered, and to Copan Ruinas, it stated air conditioning, bathroom, and semi-reclining seats with a 3 am departure time costing 450Q / $57.00.
Now, this is a bit pricey, though honestly, shuttles in Central America are more on the expensive side, so I didn’t think twice.
On the day, it was a 2.30 am wake-up, scrabbling to pack our bags under our phone torch so as not to wake others in the dorm.
I wait just inside the door to my hostel until a small car eventfully rolls up and stops. I confirm this is my ride, and this certainly isn’t a shuttle or has a bathroom onboard as I expected, but oh well, it is pretty comfortable, and there are only 3 of us.
Driving into the night, I go in and out of sleep, but we are soon in Guatemala City, at a bus station with signage of Hedman Alas. I guess we will be jumping on a proper bus. We grab our bags and head inside, where there is a large queue of people checking in.
Joining in the back of this queue, the staff checked our documents and confirmed we had submitted everything, which we, of course, had not. Luckily, we were able to do it at their offices, and the staff double-checked everything.
Once everyone was sorted, which did take approximately an hour or so, we lined up where our bags were chucked through an x-ray machine. Finally, we are onboard just in time to watch the sunrise, and I try to sleep even though the air conditioning is blasting.
Drifting in and out, we slowly make our way to the border. There is only one rest stop made for snacks since there is a toilet onboard.
Eventually, we finally make it to the border, where I jump off in excitement to some warm air.
First, we all head inside to the Guatemala immigration to exit the country. This is super easy, and there is also a lady who speaks both Spanish and English working for the bus company telling you where to go.
Next up, we head over to the neighboring building, which is the Honduras immigration. Again, this is a super easy process, and the last-minute forms I submitted must have worked.
We were actually in the front portion of passengers, so once we had, we had to wait another 40 minutes or so for everyone else.
Also, because this was a border crossing, we couldn’t jump back onboard until we were all together, as a dog would sniff everyone’s luggage. Finally, this happens with no drama, and we all get back on the bus.
Luckily, from immigration, it is a super easy drive through to Copan Ruinas, only taking around 30 minutes. Just as we are getting comfortable again, it is time to jump back off, grab our luggage, and get to our accommodation.
Hop On A Chicken Bus *CHEAPEST*
Honestly, the chicken bus can be a bit of a questionable option. Essentially, locals don’t want tourists to take them due to safety concerns, and being a foreigner, you can easily be a target.
However, many travelers think this mindset is outdated and not realistic. Basically, if you use common sense, you will be fine.
You know best as to whether or not this suits you. However, it will be an adventure for those looking to get off the beaten track.
Now, to the actual chicken buses. If you have traveled Guatemala, you have seen plenty of these colorful buses around. They are former American School buses that have been imported here.
No doubt, this is the epitome of transport in Guatemala, so if you are looking for a true experience, you know what you need to do.
However, what you need to know is that there are no direct chicken buses from Antigua to Copan Ruinas.
How Exactly To Take The Chicken Bus
The total journey will come out around Q80 – 120 / $10.00 – $15.00, and it will take you around 10 hours. Just be aware that this can increase depending on how long it takes to fill the bus.
The first bus is from Antigua to Chiquimula. You can find chicken buses at the main bus terminal in Antigua or along the road outside the city. The fare is about $1.00 – $2.00, and the journey takes about 3 hours.
The second bus is from Chiquimula to El Florido on the border. Again, this will cost you around $1.00 – $2.00 and take 2 hours or so.
At El Florido, you will need to cross the border into Honduras. Make sure you have your passport and some cash to pay the exit fee in Guatemala and the entry fee in Honduras.
Be aware that the border crossing can take up to an hour, depending on how busy it is.
The third and final bus is from El Florido to Copan Ruinas. You will need to take a taxi to the main bus terminal in El Florido and also get some cash out so you can pay in Lemperia. Copan Ruinas is quite close to the border, so it is only an hour’s drive and will cost you a dollar.
All in all, you need to get chicken buses between:
- Antigua to Chiquimula
- Chiquimula to El Florido
- El Florido to Copan Ruinas
FAQs About Traveling To Copan Ruinas From Antigua
How many days to spend in Copan Ruinas?
Copan Ruinas is a quaint town that can be smashed out in a day or two. Nevertheless, we ended up staying 3 nights simply due to set shuttle days for our next journey from Copan Ruinas to La Cieba in Honduras.
If you are wanting to travel slowly and relax a bit then stay 3 nights, otherwise 2 nights are perfect.
How far in advance do I need to book tickets?
You should book tickets at least a few days in advance to ensure you can travel with a reputable, clean, and safe company.
Where To Stay In Copan Ruinas
Copan Ruinas is a super lovely spot and a great introduction to Honduras. However, its severely underrated.
Honestly, I think of it being because travelers have two options to take, either El Salvador or Honduras, and because of safety concerns, they tend to choose the other option.
One thing to be aware of is Copan Ruinas does lack hostel options, though this doesn’t mean you won’t find other backpackers. This is a super popular spot with budget travelers, and you will find plenty of affordable guesthouses.
Personally, I stayed at Hostel Iguana Azul, which is the only hostel option with a dorm room, but I did book in the private rooms, which are equally as affordable. We had a shared bathroom, and facilities were on the basic side, but for the price point, this was an excellent choice.
My favorite choice for an affordable option. Dorm rooms start from $12.00 per night and private $22.00 per night. BOOK NOW |
Another affordable choice close to the town center. Private rooms start from $21.00 per night with a shared bathroom. BOOK NOW |
La Casa de Cafe Bed And Breakfast This is the fancy sister property of Iguana Azul. It’s super nice and rooms start from $70.00 per night. BOOK NOW |
A centrally located b&b with excellent views to the nearby park. Rooms start from $27.00 per night. BOOK NOW |
🚗 How I Book Cheap Transport In Guatemala: GuateGo
Things To Do In Copan Ruinas
For such a small place, there are plenty of awesome things here, such as the famous ancient Mayan ruins of Copan. But there is plenty more to explore as well.
Here are some of the best things to do in Copan Ruinas:
Marvel At The Copan Ruins: One of the highlights in Honduras is the Copan Ruins, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You can explore the impressive temples, plazas, altars, and sculptures showcasing the history, culture, and art.
Explore Macaw Mountain: If you are a bird lover like myself or simply enjoy wildlife, this is a must-visit. The park is a nature reserve that rescues and rehabilitates macaws, toucans, parrots, and other exotic birds.
Visit the Copan Sculpture Museum: Here you can find the impressive art and architecture of the Mayan civilization from Copan.
Relax at the Luna Jaguar Spa Hot Springs: This is a natural spa with thermal pools, massages, mud baths, and sauna. Just be aware this is a little bit of a drive away, but there are plenty of tours on offer that you can book.
Shop for souvenirs and explore the town: Copan Ruinas has a charming colonial atmosphere with cobblestone streets, colorful houses, and friendly locals. It’s a great place to shop for handicrafts, jewelry, textiles, and pottery.
Wrap Up: How To Travel From Antigua To Copan Ruinas
Whether you are traveling on a budget, or a happy to slurge on a comfortable journey you should have been able to determine which transport method is best for you.
However, if by chance you are still unsure, definitely just book the tourist shuttle. These are your safest and best straightforward option when you are traveling all throughout Central America.
It may be a bit pricey at $50.00 per person, however expensive shuttles are surprisingly normal in Honduras. So I hate to say it, but prepare yourself! Though thankfully the majority of other things are pretty cheap here.
LIKE IT? PIN IT!
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Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. So, if you click on it and purchase something, I get a small percentage at no extra cost to you. As always, all opinions are my own, and your support is much appreciated.
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Hello! I read that this is no longer needed for foreigners visiting Honduras:
Honduras pre-check form. That apparendly changed in January. I’m just wanting clarification as I’m going there the end of September 2024. I’m looking forward to relaxing and exploring there for several days!!
Sorry about the delayed reply! That is correct, and I updated this post to reflect that. Hope you had a great trip.
How do you go from Copán to La Ceiba? And how much cost? And do you come back to guatelama from La Ceiba?
You can easily book a shuttle from Copan to La Ceiba once you arrive. We decided to fly from La Ceiba back to Belize. However, a lot of travelers head to spend a couple of nights in Lago de Yojoa to break up the long journey to get to Nicaragua.
If you want to get back to Antigua from La Ceiba, I would spend 1 night in Copan Ruinas on the way back to break up the long travel day.
Sooooo…. how to you get back to Guatemala City from Copan?
Hey Myles, I continued my travels further into Honduras from Copan, but if you want to travel back to Guatemala City after you can do any of the above methods reversed. Personally if I was doing that journey I would book the Hedman Alas bus as the whole thing was easy, comfortable and straightforward. They have an office in Copan on the main road, about 10 minutes walk from the town. In my experience the bus doesn’t full up so you should be fine booking tickets once you arrive.