San Pedro & La Ceiba Travel Info
Most Volunteers that visit Helping Honduras Kids fly into San Pedro Sula Airport and then catch an airplane to La Ceiba or take a bus on the 190km trip. Plan to land in San Pedro Sula at mid-day even if your flight will cost a little more. If you must overnight somewhere, it will be much easier to schedule yourself to do that in the U.S. or from your native country rather than arriving after dark in San Pedro Sula. You cannot stay overnight in the airport.
San Pedro Sula
Located in the northern part of the country, San Pedro has always played a major role in Honduran history. Don Pedro de Alvarado founded the city the 27th of June, 1536. The Spanish conqueror founded it with the name of "Villa de San Pedro de Puerto Caballos" and within the next 5 years it was known as San Pedro Sula, with the name Sula deriving from the local dialect Usula, meaning "valley of birds".
Getting there
The main airport serving the area is the San Pedro Sula International Airport (SAP). Serviced regularly by TACA, American, United, Delta and Aero Honduras, San Pedro Sula is easily reached from the following North American gateways: Miami, Houston, New Orleans, New York, Atlanta, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. In addition, there are excellent connections via the Central American Airlines through San Jose, Costa Rica; San Salvador, El Salvador and Guatemala City, Guatemala. There is also daily air service by Isleña airlines, Aerolinas Sosa and Atlantic Arilines to San Pedro from La Ceiba, Roatan and Tegucigalpa. In addition, there is a first class bus service between Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula, named Hedman Alas. The highway connecting both cities is one of the best in Central America and it will take you around 3 hours to travel by land between both cities. Hedman Alas offers first class non-stop executive service. (For more information, check the listing of bus schedules). http://www.hedmanalas.com/
Hostel and Hotel information in San Pedro Sula :
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotels-g292025-San_Pedro_Sula_Cortes_Department-Hotels.html
La Ceiba
By landing in San Pedro Sula at mid-day, you can easily connect at the airport to the local airlines or buses that will take you to La Ceiba by late afternoon. It is difficult to have someone available to meet you if you arrive in Ceiba after dark.
La Ceiba is a port city on the north coast of Honduras. It is located on the south edge of the Caribbean Sea. La Ceiba has a population of over 170,000 living in approximately 170 residential areas (called colonias or barrios). It is the third largest city. La Ceiba is190km east along the coast from San Pedro Sula. La Ceiba was officially founded on August 23, 1877. The city is named for giant ceiba trees which grew near the old dock, which finally fell into the sea in late 2007. The city has been officially proclaimed the "Eco-Tourism Capital of Honduras" as well as the "Entertainment Capital of Honduras". Every year, on the third or fourth Saturday of May, the city holds its famous carnival. During this time, the city is host to over 200,000 tourists. (Wikepedia).
La Ceiba Hotels and Information:
Best hotels in La Ceiba
La Quinta (in-house restaurant, pool, adjacent to Dunkin Donuts, Popeyes Chicken, Burger King, & convenience store, close to mall) http://www.hotellaquintaonline.com/
Hotel La Aurora (modern, in-house restaurant, pool, close to mall) http://hlaaurora.com/
La Quinta Real (pricier but on the beach, pool, restaurant) http://www.quintarealhotel.com/
The Jungle River Lodge (near the Jungle School) http://www.jungleriverlodge.com/
Apart Hotel Pico Bonito (near the Hogar de Amor and airport - inexpensive) http://aparthotelpicobonito.com/
Grand Hotel Paris (downtown, near Pizza Hut) http://www.granhotelparisonline.com/
Villa Helen's Hotel & Restaurant (in Sambo Creek, outside of La Ceiba) http://www.villahelens.com/
Palma Real Beach Resort & Villas (on the beach) http://www.grupopalmareal.com/
