Transfer to Utila: easiest and fastest

[Yaki]

Looking for advice: what is the easiest way to land in Roatan and then transfer to Utila?
Same the other way?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Kenderson]

I've been looking for the same thing, the only way I've seen lately is the ferry. I've not seen any flights anywhere, even on the CM, I think that's who it was, website. I've not been able to find any flights from either the mainland or Roatan.

 

[therookie]

There are SB members who may have much more up to date or accurate information than I do, but a picture of Utila's runway from a Honduran newspaper, as of July, is probably worth a thousand words. Commercial flights stopped landing there several months ago due to the deplorable state of the runway.


Work on a complete reconstruction and widening of the runway was supposed to begin last month; I have no idea if it has actually started or not.

Ferry is probably your best bet. The schedule doesn't coordinate well with flights though.

 

[Satrekker]

I'm headed to Roatan September 14-21 and am also interested in Utila. The ferry appears to be the best way imo. It's only 1 hour direct or 3.5 hrs indirect with a layover at La Ceiba. Here's the link:

Nuestros horarios y precios

DREAM FERRIES dispone de rutas directas desde Roatán hacia La Ceiba, en horarios de 6:30 a.m. y 11:00 a.m., con dos salidas de La Ceiba hacia Roatán, a las 8:30 a.m. y 1:30 p.m.

hondurasferry.com

 

[laurenceh]

The ferry leaves Roatan at 2pm each day, so you need to land by 12.30pm. The ferry dock is a 10 min taxi ride from Roatan airport. The ferry going back to Roatan leaves Utila at 10.20am, so your international flight home should leave after 12.50pm. The ferry takes 50 mins and costs around $29 each way.
You can charter a flight easily enough, there are several pilots who do the trip and they'll schedule themselves around your international flights. We just took one last month (yes the runway is a bit bumpy), however it costs about $400 each way for a 3-4 seater plane, its a 10 min flight.

 

[therookie]

The ferry leaves Roatan at 2pm each day, so you need to land by 12.30pm. The ferry dock is a 10 min taxi ride from Roatan airport. The ferry going back to Roatan leaves Utila at 10.20am, so your international flight home should leave after 12.50pm. The ferry takes 50 mins and costs around $29 each way.
You can charter a flight easily enough, we just took one last month (yes the runway is a bit bumpy), however it costs about $400 each way for a 3-4 seater plane, its a 10 min flight.

True - sorry, I forgot to specify that private flights were still landing there...

 

[Kinglake]

When leaving RTB for your return trip, I'd get there at least 3 hours early. For reasons I can't make sense of, they have started a new departure security process in which they look at your passport, take your picture and take fingerprints BEFORE you get to the actual security checkpoint. 2 weeks ago it took almost 2 hours to get through the horrid process. We actually arrived in time to get through the mess and board on time, but we sat on the plane over an hour as it was over half empty due to people stuck in the mess.

 

[OMyMyOHellYes]

When leaving RTB for your return trip, I'd get there at least 3 hours early. For reasons I can't make sense of, they have started a new departure security process in which they look at your passport, take your picture and take fingerprints BEFORE you get to the actual security checkpoint. 2 weeks ago it took almost 2 hours to get through the horrid process. We actually arrived in time to get through the mess and board on time, but we sat on the plane over an hour as it was over half empty due to people stuck in the mess.

The security/immigration process at RTB appears to me geared towards a make-work, full-employment program for locals. Including the K9 contingent.

 

[Cara_NC]

I just booked flights for next March! My flight is supposed to land at RTB at 12:23. Based on general history of, well, airlines in general, my guess is that I should in NO way expect to make the ferry same day, and book a night on Roatan.
For coming back: my flight departs at 1:50. I was thinking I'd be fine to do this same morning I fly out, does that seem reasonable? Not sure how long getting off the ferry etc would take, and then a 15 min ride to the airport, etc. I'd love to make the absolute most of my time but also not be too risky on getting out haha.

 

[laurenceh]

I just booked flights for next March! My flight is supposed to land at RTB at 12:23. Based on general history of, well, airlines in general, my guess is that I should in NO way expect to make the ferry same day, and book a night on Roatan.
For coming back: my flight departs at 1:50. I was thinking I'd be fine to do this same morning I fly out, does that seem reasonable? Not sure how long getting off the ferry etc would take, and then a 15 min ride to the airport, etc. I'd love to make the absolute most of my time but also not be too risky on getting out haha.

You have plenty of time on the way back, you'll be at Roatan airport by 11.30am. We land between 12.25pm - 12.35pm on AA, 3-4 times a year (for many years) and have only missed the ferry once.