How to get to Roatan?

Travelers arrive either by air or by sea. Let’s explore the various options for getting to Roatan and we’ll also gain a better understanding of domestic and international arrivals into our wonderful island.

Flights, Ferry, & Sailing to Roatan.

Getting to Roatan.

Roatan is well known for its beautiful and crystalline beaches, diving sites, water sports, and its diversity in marine fauna. There are three general ways to get here. 1) by Air, 2) via a Ferry, or 3) on a Cruise Ship. For the purposes of this article, we’ll ignore cruise ship arrivals as they are coordinated in advance by cruise ship operators. This articles is geared towards individuals traveling in alone or in small groups.

The following graphs will give you some insight into the travel choices made by others.

 

Arrivals

*Local Ferry Arrivals vs Flight Arrivals

Airlines

*International vs. Domestic arrivals

By Region

*Flights arriving from North America vs Latin America
 
 

Inter. Flights

*International Airlines coming to Roatan.
 

Airlines & Cities.

  • International Flights

  • Ferry tickets

  • Domestic flights

International Flights

Roatan Island has an international airport located in Coxen Hole and receives direct flights from North and Central America. It wont take you long to get to Roatan. There are flights from several cities in the US and Canada. There are also indirect flights with layovers in Mexico, San Pedro Sula, and Costa Rica.

Airlines flying to Roatan:

  • AirTransat

  • American Airlines

  • Avianca, Delta

  • Sunwing

  • United

  • WestJet

  • Tropic Air.

Departure Cities bound for Roatan:

  • Houston

  • Dallas

  • Atlanta

  • Miami

  • Montreal-Trudeau

  • Toronto Pearson

  • Quebec-Jean Lesage

  • Calgary

  • Bagotville

  • Belize City

  • San Salvador

  • Cayman Islands

 

Ferry Tickets

  • Getting to La Ceiba

  • Ferry Information

Getting to La Ceiba

If you want to travel to Roatan by Ferry, you must get to La Ceiba by road or by a domestic flight from Tegucigalpa or San Pedro Sula using CM or Sosa airlines. The Ferry is called Galaxy Wave, and when it arrives at Roatan, it docks at the Dixon Cove near Mahogany Bay.

Ferry Information

Taking the Ferry is the most affordable way to get to the island, and it can be more reliable since flights are canceled more easily during inclement weather. Galaxy Wave always travels with the crew it has and respects departure times.

The trip from La Ceiba to Roatán takes approximately 75 minutes. It will take a little longer, but you can enjoy a relaxed trip and appreciate a little marine nature. It is a safe transport, and it departs twice a day.

 

Domestic Flights

  • National Airlines

  • Pro Tip

National Airlines

If you are in Honduras, you can also find domestic flights from La Ceiba, San Pedro Sula, Utila, and Tegucigalpa.

Many international flights first land on San Pedro Sula, and from there, you can choose one of the national airlines to travel to Roatán. You can purchase flights from CM Airlines or SOSA Airlines.

PRO TIP: Purchasing a direct flight to San Pedro Sula from the USA or Canada can be cheaper than a direct trip to Roatan. Once in San Pedro Sula, you can get a ticket to Roatan with one of the domestic airlines; CM or SOSA.

 

Sailing to Roatan

  • Sailing Routes

  • Currents & Winds

  • Cruise Ship Terminals

Sailing Routes.

Undoubtedly, boats departing from Northern Florida may find it easier to navigate the outer Bahamas and Windward Passage to destinations in the Western Caribbean. But for those from Southern Florida may find this route more challenging. Both routes have their pros and cons.

Currents & Winds.

Cutting across the Gulf of Mexico through the Yucatan Channel is a popular route to take for sailors heading to the Bay Islands, Guatemala, or Belize. Still, while this route may be shorter, it is arguably more difficult to navigate, due to contrary currents. Knowing this, the roundabout route through the Bahamas and Windward Passage is longer, but enjoys favorable winds and currents - it also offers the possibility of several interesting stops along the way. Sometimes, the shortest way there is the longest way round.

Cruise Ship Terminals

There are two main Cruise Ship Port Terminals on Roatan: Mahogany Bay and Port of Roatan. We’ve taken a moment to review each of these terminals in depth. Please click the cruise ship Port of Call you are interested in learning more about we’ll break it down for you.

Mahogany Bay →

Port of Roatan →

Mahogany Bay