Santa Ana to Copán Ruinas. This route comes from an adventurous traveller named Alex at atewasabi.com.
Update: since we first posted this route we have had several great comments by other travellers on their experience and how to do it with prices and details updated (2018). Check the comments below to find updated times and prices and to read others’ experiences.
#1 – to Metapan 0.9$ 9:28 to 10:40 bus 457 / 201A/ 235 (235 is the main bus, but the buses run every 20min – just take the first that reads: Metapan)
#2 – to Anguaiatu (the border) 0.65$, 10:57-11:30. The bus stops meters from the border. At 11:50 I was out of El Salvador at 11:55 entering Guatemala
#3 – shuttle to Chiquimula 20 GTQ, 12:52-14:25 (shuttle leaves when full). There is an option to get down before Chiquimula at Rio Dondo, where the road turns right and to the valley (this saves about 20km in total, and some trouble – the shuttle/bus gets full at the bus stop and many get off before this turn/stop)
#4 – leave to Florido. The bus leaves from the central station – can’t miss it with 20 people screaming “Florido/frontera” even before you get off the previous bus. Fixed price 30GTQ – takes you to many villages, goes round and round to pick up more people before heading to the border. 14:25 – 16:12
#5– at 16:20 I entered the GT border by foot, exit to Honduras at 16:35. Border fee: 3USD/70 Lempiras/40GTQ. If paid in USD, must pay 4USD. But you may not be able to pay in USD so best to have GTQ or Lempiras.
#6 – shuttle from right outside the Honduran border to Copan Ruinas. Leaves when full. 16:50-17:07, cost 15 Lempiras (about 10km).
Did Juayua to Copan today:
Mostly had great connections throughout, aside from two.
*Juayua – Santa Ana*
Bus #238
Was meant to depart at 06:00, but didn’t turn up until 06:30
$0.8
Arrived Santa Ana 07:45
*Santa Ana – Metapan*
Bus #235
We left from the same spot we were dropped off
Departed 07:48
Arrived 09:35
$0.8
*Metapan – Anguiatu*
Bus #211a
This bus seems to depart as and when the driver feels like it. We had time for a much needed toilet break and coffee, and joined the bus that others from the previous bus had boarded earlier.
Departed 10:02
Arrived 10:35
$0.56
Border crossing was fairly speedy. Toilets available on the El Salvador side. Money changers available offering $1 / 7Q
*Frontera Anguiatu – Vado Hondo*
Unlike others, there were no colectivos or buses on the Guatemalan side. Just lots of trucks. We walked from the border down the road before realising maybe we should just sit tight and wait.
Met a nice local guy here, practised my Spanish which passed the time.
Eventually a collectivo turned up and we were on our way to Vado Hondo.
Departed 11:55
Arrived 13:40
50Q
*Vado Hondo – Jocatan – Frontera Florido*
The next colectivo pulled up as we arrived, no waiting around at all. Standing room only on this very busy colectivo. Quick change of buses in Jocatan (no wait)
Depart 13:40
Arrive Jocatan 14:20
Depart Jocatan 14:20
Arrive Frontera Florido 15:10
20Q for both buses
Another fairly simple crossing. Toilets available. I had some spare Quetzales so changed 105 to 315 Lempiras (probably not a brilliant rate)
*Frontera Florido – Copan Ruinas*
Colectivo departed at 16:00, so we had enough time for a beer before setting off.
Depart Frontera Florido 16:00
Arrive Copan Ruinas 16:15
25L
All in all a fairly breezy day. Aside from waiting in the middle of nowhere for the first colectivo in Guatemala everything ran smoothly. Plenty of people around to help, especially in El Salvador. Friendly folk everywhere, no issues or hassle whatsoever.
We completed this route yesterday (21 April 2025) with no issues it worked so well and seamlessly.
A local drove us from Santa Ana to the Guatemala border, we arrived at about 9:30.
We exchanged USD to Q on the El Salvador side – $1.00 for 7Q
You need to check the days you are given on your stamp when you enter Guatemala (no exit stamp given for El Salvador), the immigration officer miss calculated the number of days I had left in the CA4 area and this can become a domino affect later down the line. Especially if you are traveling for a long time in Central America.
We boarded the bus in Guatemala at 9:50 and cost 30Q per person, it took just under 2 hours.
At 11:40 we got off at Aldea Vado Hondo and the next colectivo was already waiting. This colectivo took about 40 min and cost 30Q per person. This included the fee for the next bus which was from Jocotan to the Honduras border. You are given a slip of paper on this bus which is your ticket.
You are then dropped about 200 meters before the border and you can exchange Q to Lempira on the Guatemala side.
It costs $3 or 30Q to enter Honduras.
We then met another local who gave us a ride to Copan.