? on buses from SPS to Copan

The flight we're looking at taking (in April) has us landing in San Pedro Sula at 3:20 pm. We are not checking any luggage, so customs shouldn't take long. Will we have any difficulty in catching a bus to Copan at that time? I have heard of a 5 pm Hedman Alas departure, but it's not listed on their website. Anyone have any recent experience with this? Will we at least be able to catch a chicken bus, and is it at possible that we might make Copan before dark? Thanks for any help!

I see a 5:30 departure on the Hedman Alas site. You won't make it by dark, even with a private shuttle. It's a 3 hour trip and it gets dark between 5:30 and 6:00.

Thanks, Hopefulist. I was looking at a different part of their site that doesn't mention that departure. Do you think we'd be better off waiting for that one or just hopping on whatever bus we can find that leaves sooner?

Yeah, I'd be inclined to wait for that bus. By the time you get out of the airport (even with carry-ons only) and taxi to the station it will likely be pushing 4:30 if not later. If you take a non-express bus it might take an extra hour along the road dropping off and picking up riders so, in the end, it might not get you to Copán any earlier. Others may have a different opinion.

Whatever you decide, I hope you enjoy Copán as much as I have. Lots of photos with travelogues and a blog linked below.

Thanks, we are really looking forward to it! I've read so much about it and it sounds like a fantastic place. We're looking forward to all of Honduras, actually! Can't wait to eat some delicious baleadas! :)

I have contacted Hedman regarding a trip I have coming up in a couple of weeks. They are no longer offering the 5:30 bus to Copan. I believe the last departure is at 2:30 or 3pm. (some schedules are changed due to some major construction project)

We are going to use private transport which has been quoted by various tour companies as $120 - 150 for a private van which will pick us up at the airport.

Good information to have, cdamion - thanks. You could contact Miguel Martel 504-962-00372 (dial 011 first if calling from the US). He is a very personable, knowledgeable, and bilingual driver. I hired him to drive our group of 12 from Copán to SAP last August and we were very pleased. I think we paid either $150 or $180 for the large group.

That is great to know, thanks cdamion. Looks like our trip has to be pushed back anyway due to scheduling conflicts, so hopefully we can find an earlier flight; if not, we may just rearrange our trip and stay at Casa el Meson for a night or 2 and do some day trips out of SPS, or possibly head down to Lago de Yojoa. There will only be 2 of us (maybe 3), so I don't think we'll want to pay up for private transport. Thanks again.

Here's another approach to the problem of getting to Copan Ruinas early:

We flew into Guatemala on 2/14/09 at about 1:30 pm and spent the night in Antigua 1 hour from the airport (a charming small touristy colonial town), then got a 4 AM shuttle that got us to Copan Ruinas in about 6 hours (with a stop for breakfast half-way). We got lempiras at the GT / HO border, from money changer guys.

We flew out of San Pedro Sula. It was actually cheaper that way! (on American).

I don't konw the name of the shuttle company, it was arranged by someone, who also arranged the shutttle from the airport in Guatemala, but even Hedman Alas does that route, so there are probably many transport options.

I hope this helps.