Backpacking Diplomacy by Andy A blog dedicated to sharing world culture and travel tips.
After our experiences in crossing the Mexico and Belize borders, we had a lot of questions about how the Guatemala Honduras Border crossing compared. The vast majority of tourists traveling to Honduras never pass through the mainland, while we were traveling exclusively from the Rio Dulce area in Guatemala to Copán Ruinas. In Honduras, Roatán and Útila are far more common destinations, but the ruins of Copán are one of the largest attractions on the mainland. That being said, a relatively small number of travelers opt for one of the three land borders shared by Guatemala and Honduras.
In our recent trip, we decided to travel to from Guatemala to Honduras via the ‘El Florido‘ border crossing. Before making this trip, it seemed a bit daunting given that it was so remote. In our research prior to taking this trip, we found an older blog post by Endless Distances; however it was written in 2024 and some of the information was no longer relevant. Therefore, we want to share an update about what it is like to cross the border from Guatemala to Honduras, particularly on the way to Copán Ruinas.
I love to travel by public transport such as local buses and colectivos. After traveling around eastern Guatemala, I wanted to get from Rio Dulce to Copán. It’s very doable but also not the most obvious route. Since Rio Dulce is not a very large city, organized trips do not frequently leave heading to Honduras. If you have time and want to really see places that far fewer tourists visit, then public transport could be a great option for you.
The border crossing was easily, friendly and quick. It was much better than our negative experience crossing from Mexico into Belize. In the next few sections we will give you an overview of what to expect.
TLDR
- Getting to Copán from Guatemala is relatively easy. Colectivos and public buses run frequently.
- You will need time as there is no quick route.
- The border crossing between Guatemala and Honduras was seamless. Ideally travel early in the day to ensure you have transit once you cross.
- Bathroom breaks are not a guarantee, limit your fluid intake if you can.
- Snacks will not be provided; however, there will be many people approaching your bus or colectivo to sell things. If you need a snack along the way, then you can likely get one.
- Have cash handy, to make any quick purchases that you need. That includes colectivo fares and your border fee in Honduras.
- Speaking Spanish is extremely helpful for navigating the routes, though you can get by with some basic phrases. It may be a good idea to write some notes before if you do not speak Spanish so you can ask a driver if needed.
El Florido Border
The El Florido border is the central border crossing between Guatemala and Honduras. Regardless of whether you are traveling to Honduras or from Honduras, the process for crossing is pretty similar and straightforward.
What to expect
Administration
The administration responsibilities at this border are shared. Each side has a line of cars awaiting inspection by officials.
There is an office, shared by both countries, which reviews your documents and provides entry and exit stamps. There you will exit one country and enter the next.
Documents
You need a valid passport with at least 6 months left before the expiration date. You’ll need to confirm your passport’s eligibility for traveling in these countries.
Unlike the other blogs we read, we were not asked to complete the “Prechequeo Migratorio” or Honduran Customs Declaration Form. I specifically asked the woman at the Honduran counter and she said that it was not necessary or important. That being said, when we were leaving the country via the Ramón Villeda Morales International Airport in San Pedro Sula, we did have to complete the form. I asked the guy working the counter there and he told me he was not sure why we didn’t have to complete it when entering the country. That being said, it wasn’t a problem either way. Be prepared to complete the form online if asked. That could require WiFi or data.
If you want to try and complete the form ahead of time, then the website is here.
Keep in mind, we tried to complete the form 4 times and the website never worked. It gave us an error message each time.
Vaccination Requirements
Supposedly, Honduras requires travelers traveling to or arriving from Panama as well as every nation in South America to present proof of yellow fever vaccine. We were not traveling through in this way, so we are unsure if they are checking this requirements.
Further, travelers are no longer required to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination nor negative test results for a PCR, Antingen, or ELISA test prior to entry in to Honduras.
According to the US State Department, “Airlines may still require additional documentation prior to boarding. Suggested: measles, rubella, rabies, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, typhoid.” Though it seems unlikely that this is enforced.
In summary, be prepared to show your yellow fever vaccination card in case you are traveling within the listed countries.
Entry/Exit Taxes
Assuming you are on your way to the Copán Ruinas, then you will need to pay the Honduran entry tax of $3 USD. They also accept Guatemalan Quetzales and Honduran Lempira, just whatever you have on you the equivalent will be basically $3 USD. And no more.
You know it is a legitimate tax because you receive an actual receipt that looks like the image below.
Public transit at the border
There is no official public transportation from the border to the Copan ruins. We traveled across the border at sunset. There were no taxis. There were no colectivos. No buses. We ended up hitchhiking from the border to Copán. The walk would take over 2 hours and is not recommended.
If you can, travel early during the day so that you do not run into this problem.
Border corruption
Corruption was not a problem, nor a concern. In fact, we were quite pleased to see a very large anti-corruption sign displayed in the administrative office.
The border seems very official and professional.
Reporting corruption: How to report border corruption
If for some reason you experience an issue, then please do report it. This contact information is specific to Guatemala.
- By email:
- denuncialacorrupción@sat.gov.gt
- By phone:
- +502-236-27-000
- In person:
- Here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/DoQTvScyJGenXEn8A
Safety concerns
Despite the negative associations with safety and security, we felt incredibly safe at the border crossing on both sides. Our interactions with officials was professional. Even the family that picked us up when hitchhiking was extremely friendly, hospitable, innocent and kind.
Honduras gets a bad rap for safety, but it is still full of great people.
Other Border Crossings
Guatemala and Honduras share three official land border crossings. After the El Florido crossing to the Copan Ruins, there is one called Aguas Calientes farther south and one called El Corinto in the north. Additionally, it is theoretically possible to get to some northern cities by boat, although it isn’t as common.
Aguas Calientes Border
The Aguas Calientes border between Guatemala and Honduras is a sleepy southern border best for heading towards El Salvador or farther south on your route towards Nicaragua.
El Corinto
The El Corinto border is closest to the Guatemalan town of Puerto Barrios and would be best for traveling to Puerto Cortés, San Pedro Sula or even La Ceiba in order to get to the islands (Útila and Roatán).
Water Borders
Although it is possible to arrive to Honduras by boat from Guatemala. There are not commercially available options to get you to and from. In theory, you could potentially find a boat captain but there are no officially known routes.
Alternatively, there is a boat serve called the Pride of Belize that leaves from Mango Creek (Placencia) in Belize and travels to Puerto Cortés. The dates and times are not consistent but they do have an active Facebook page here.
Enjoy Copán
Visiting the ruins of Copán as well as some of the surrounding areas was a highlight of our trip. Copán is a beautiful little town and very relaxing for spending a few days on the road. If you need some further travel inspiration, check out our list of recommendations for things to do in Copán.
Further, if traveling to or from San Pedro Sula, this article may be helpful for you.
Share your experience
We crossed the border in April of 2026. We will try to keep this article up to date as much as possible. If you travel to or from these countries at any of these borders in the future, then please let us know in the comments below. Your input and help will continue to keep this article relevant for future travelers.
We would greatly appreciate any experiences that you share.
FAQ
We did not experience any corruption on the border. In fact, we found that they were aggressively anti-corruption. There was a sign stating all the expectations and that you can report corruption to the proper agency.
As of the time of writing this, Guatemala does not have an entry or exit tax. Honduras, does have an entry tax of $3. It would be ideal if you have cash on hand for that.
It took less than 5 minutes for us to cross the border. It was quick and professional.
It depends. It depends on your luck. It depends on the time of day. We traveled across the boerder in the early evening. There were no public transit options. Make sure you plan accordingly.
It took us about 8 hours in total using public transit.
