How to Take the Ferry from Placencia, Belize to Puerto Cortés, Honduras (2025 Guide)

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If you’re planning to travel from Belize to Honduras overland (or oversea, in this case), you’ve probably discovered that there’s very little clear information about the ferry route between Placencia and Puerto Cortés. Trust me—I’ve been there!

I’m currently traveling full time through Central America and instead of going from Belize to Guatemala which a lot of people do, I decided to head to Honduras instead. I ended my time in Belize in the beachtown Placencia, hoping I could figure out a way to cross directly into Honduras. I had seen old mentions of a ferry route online, but most of the information was pre-COVID, vague, or conflicting. Worst-case scenario, I figured I’d backtrack through Guatemala. But good news, it’s absolutely possible to take a ferry from Placencia to Puerto Cortés!

Since I had so much trouble finding information about this I thought I might as well write a seperate blogpost about it! So here is a step by step guide on how to get from Belize to Honduras or from Honduras to Belize.

Can you take a ferry from Belize to Honduras?

Yes! You can take a ferry from Placencia, Belize to Puerto Cortés, Honduras, but it’s not exactly a one-stop booking. It involves two boats, a small water taxi, and a larger international ferry, operated by two different companies working together.

Who operates the ferry from Placencia to Puerto Cortés?

The journey is made possible thanks to a partnership between two companies:

Hokey Pokey Water Taxi. They will take you from Placencia to Independence, innland in Belize
Pride of Belize Ferry. They will take you from Independence in Belize to Puerto Cortés, in Honduras

You’ll board a small boat in Placencia with Hokey Pokey, which will take you to the mainland town of Independence. From there, you’ll switch to the larger Pride of Belize ferry for the international journey to Honduras. All this is arranged by the same company so there is no need to worry about catching the connecting boat.

Where does the ferry leave from in Placencia?

The Hokey Pokey Water Taxi terminal is located near the MNM Hardware Store on the Placencia waterfront, not far from the village center. It’s an easy walk from most accommodations.

I had a hard time understanding where it actually went from so I visited the dock a few days in advance to check that I was in the correct spot. I would’ve never guessed that it was a boat terminal if I didn’t ask them myself. I also confirmed the schedule. The staff was very helpful and gave us peace of mind before the big travel day.

How much does the ferry cost?

Total ferry cost: 155 BZD per person (about $77.50 USD)
Belize exit fee: 7.50 BZD per person (in cash)

You’ll pay the ferry fare in cash when you check in at the second boat in Independence. The exit fee for Belize immigration is also cash-only, so make sure to bring enough Belizean dollars with you on the day of travel.

What day and time does the ferry leave?

The ferry from Placencia to Puerto Cortés only runs once a week, so planning is essential!

Departure day: Friday mornings
Departure time: 8:30 AM from Placencia

Arrive at the Hokey Pokey dock by 8:00 AM to check in and get settled.

What is the ferry ride like?

Here’s a breakdown of what to expect on the day of travel:

First boat: Placencia → Independence (15 minutes)

This leg is short and scenic. The boat is small, but they told us it never fills up, so you don’t need to worry about getting a seat. Your luggage is transferred automatically to the second boat.

Customs & immigration

Once you arrive in Independence, you’ll disembark and go through a very informal check-in process, basically a folding table in a parking lot. You’ll register, pay for your ticket, and then wait for the Belizean immigration officials to arrive.

You’ll hand over your passport, pay your 7.50 BZD exit fee, and get your stamp out of Belize.

Second boat: Independence → Puerto Cortés, Honduras (2.5 hours)

This is the longer and bumpier ride! The Pride of Belize ferry is bigger, but still not huge, and the ocean can get choppy. We were told the ride would take about one hour, but ours took 2.5 hours, so plan accordingly.

Try to get a seat under the roof and near the back of the boat. It’s more stable, but still allows some fresh air to come in. A few people on our ride got seasick from the waves and I definitely felt it myself.

Arriving in Puerto Cortés, Honduras

You’ll arrive at what looks like a working fish market, where immigration is set up on the dock. There might be a short wait, but the process is straightforward. Once you’re stamped in, you’re officially in Honduras!

Getting from Puerto Cortés to your next destination

From Puerto Cortés, you have a few options:

Taxi to San Pedro Sula (about 1.5 hours)
Taxi to a nearby hotel if you’re staying the night
Shuttle to La Ceiba for the ferry to Roatan or Utila

We stayed overnight in Puerto Cortés at a simple hotel with a pool and restaurant, it was a nice break after the bumpy ferry ride. The next morning, we caught our pre-booked shuttle to La Ceiba, so we could continue on to Roatan. If you decide to stay overnight in Puerto Cortez I can recommend the Hotel we stayed at. It felt very safe and was one of the only decent Hotels I could find in the area.

I hope you found this post helpful for your travel plans in Belize and Honduras. If you have any further questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to me on social media. I would love to connect and help you out!