Sap

[LynnB]

We will be flying from Roatan back to SAP to catch our flight on our way back from vacation. (Although I hate to think about that now since I am so excited about going.) We will have about a 4 hour lay over on SAP. Is there anything to do or see that we could do in a few hours. I know we will have to check in early etc. but don't really want to sit in the airport any longer than we have to.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Lynn

 

[bluedog67]

We have the same issue next Saturday. We leave Utila @ 6 am and leave SAP @ 1pm. That leaves 5 hours in the airport, and I have heard there isnt' much there. So our plan (hopefully after finding a locker or re-checking bags) is to catch a cab into town to the Park Central and cathedral, where there are supposedly restaurants. There is also a craft market, so a little shopping and cab it back in. Would love to see the plantations, but the bird's eye view will have to do. Can't risk missing a plane b/c of a tour bus!

 

[Qnape]

My daughter and I returned from Utila on April 11. We had a 6:00 a.m. jumper flight to SAP and a 12:45 Continental flight to Newark from SAP. Our jumper flight did not take off until around 7, and unbeknownst to us in advance stopped in La Ceiba, where we all got off, had to go through security (they took every battery out of everyone's carryon, including those installed in underwater flashlights, which took some time) pay an airport tax, then wait an hour or so and load everyone back on the same plane, with the same crew and passengers. Then off to SAP, retrieve luggage, and check in. Check in was very slow at SAP, despite the airport not being very crowded. We had time for lunch, and about a 2 hour wait during which they played musical gates with the plane (gate 3, no gate 1, no gate 3... we left from gate 5). Great stuff - handwritten boarding pass and all! We would not have had time for sightseeing, and the lines for check in and security got longer as time passed.

A few words of advice: plan for the exit tax - it's $34 per person US, cash only!! I screwed up and found myself $10 short for the two of us; I had settled up in cash the night before so I would not be carrying cash around and miscalculated. The airport tax in La Ceiba and a trinket my daughter bought left us in a mess. It was Semana Santa so all banks were closed and the atm was not working. I wound up buying lunch for some missionaries from Georgia at the Wendy's in the airport in exchange for their cash to get my daughter and I out of the country!

Also, plan for the mosquitos at the airstrip in Utila. The circled in squadrons of 20 or more above the heads of certain travelers on the tarmac! Once warned, these folks would move about, only to be followed by their personal attack squadrons.

Utila was great, but is not the easiest place to travel to, or from. If you are interested, please see my trip report on Utopia Dive Village.

 

[bluedog67]

Thanks, that is very helpful. I had the impression that it would be much easier than that getting to SAP. It is said to be a 45 min flight, but I guess that 5 hours goes by quickly with all the chaos.

We are also going to Utopia, so I really appreciated your trip report, too!

 

[LynnB]

Thanks for the reposnses. I guess we will just play it by ear and see what happens. Dosen't sound like planning anything would be a good idea. I guess if we get in with several hours to spare we could take a taxi to the market place.
Bluedog if you could let me know how this works for you on your return that would be great. You can PM me if need be...
Have a great time and thanks again...
How old is your daughter. We will be taking our two college kids with us... i am sure they will have a great time. We are doing Roatan...
Lynn

 

[Qnape]

Playing things by ears sounds like the way to go. Bear in mind that I visited Utila during Semana Santa, which put pressure on all forms of transportation and causes problems that may not be prevelant during other times. In addition, there were two planes flying from Utila to SAP; one stopped at La Ceiba and one went directly to SAP. The folks on the direct flight (noone knew who was on which plane until they were being loaded) got in to SAP more than an hour earlier, which would have left at least some time to look around.

My daughter is 15; she and I took up diving early last year and Utila was our second dive trip. The first was to Cozumel in February (that one with my wife, a non-diver). We are returning to Cozumel next February as everyone loved it so much! I'm sure your sons will enjoy Roatan. Enjoy!

 

[bluedog67]

Just back - here is the run down about how it went. We had the same experience with the stop in la Ceiba. However, we did not retrieve our bags - they were "checked" through to SAP. (Sort of like a gate check in the states). We arrived in SAP by 8:15. However, the continental desk did not open until 9. We were near the front of the line, so were checked in by 9:15. We did not need to be back until 11:45, even being cautious, so decided to go into town. Here is the key part: our resort arranged a hired driver, so it made things efficient and predictable. It was $30 to town round trip for both of us. We left about 9:30, got to the market by 10:00. We left there a bit before 11:00, stopped by Central Park for a few pictures and an espresso, and were back at the airport by 11:30. The line to pay the tax was quite long, but it moved really quickly. The line for security was fairly short and we had no trouble getting through. We were at our gate by 11:45, and then of course had to wait.

The city of San Pedro Sula is not great for sight seeing, but I am really glad we went. It is impoverished, and typical of the area, crowded, dirty and industrial. The park was lovely, and surprisingly clean. The market is stall after stall of crafts, and an area of flowers and produce. There weren't really gifts/crafts on Utila, so was good shopping. Coca Cola sign in the hills is a hoot.

Bottom line, we are pretty brave travelers, so were comfortable being away from the airport. If you don't have an arranged driver, I would be less comfortable. Ours didn't speak english, but waited for us at each stop, and minded our bags, so we knew we could get back quickly. Ask at your resort.

Note: there was NO RUM in duty free shop (except bacardi, ha ha), so if you want to bring some CA rum home, buy it on the bay islands, put it in plastic in your checked bag and cross your fingers!

 

[LynnB]

Thanks for the information... We will have about 4 hours at the airport.. do you think if we hire a driver that will give us enough time to go to the market place and get back in time to go through customs and all?

 

[RTBDiver]

Lynn,
One thing to consider is thast you only think you will have 4 hours but there is no way of knowing until travel day. Yor talking Honduras, Flights can be delayed or rerouted, Customs people may be late, baggage may be an issue, and just checking in can be a bit of time. Its good to try to line up some options and if all went perfect then sure, 4 hours is enough time for a quick jaunt but so far I have to see little go perfect when it was needed. You wont want to commit to anything until you know for sure. It wasnt long ago three hours was the minimum time reccomended even when leaving the US.