Ride Day 31: El Cuco, El Salvador to Tegucigalpa, Honduras by Motorbike

Getting from El Salvador to Tegucigalpa, Honduras was supposed to be a nice mild sort of day. This border crossing is a very busy one for truckers with miles of trucks waiting to be processed. Getting out of El Salvador was quite easy, but again I had a mass of helpers trying to tell me it is a lot more difficult. The border crossing occurred in November 2016 on a KTM 1290 Super Adventure Motorbike. I headed for the El Amatillo, El Salvador border crossing at first light. On arrival, I was greeted by about 10 “helpers” who were pushing and shoving to get my attention.

The Honduras side is little harder, as it only took me about 30 minutes to exit El Salvador, but 2 hours in the heat on the Honduras side, it seemed like it was going to take me forever to get to Tegucigalpa. I was trying to keep my head in the right place as I had a few quick border crossings over the next few days on my quest to get to the Stahlratte and Panama City by the 21st of November for my 23rd of November trip.

Leaving El Salvador

• About 1/2 mile from the actual border you will get stopped by a border official. Stop there.
• He will take your import permit and a copy of that permit (you should have done this beforehand – if not there is a copy place next door for about 10 cents a copy). He will then place a stamp on import permit and you need to make 4 copies (two for each side of borders) of the canceled permit next door with stamp/sticker type thing. Cost $1 USD
• Then you need to ride up to Immigration. It is a larger building. You get your passport stamped out.
• I was then given a small piece of paper to hand in at the bridge. Total time (30 minutes)
• Now you have to head to Honduras Immigration. You go towards bridge

Entering Honduras

1. As you cross the bridge into Honduras, hand in 2 copies of your canceled El Salvador Import permit. They will more than likely check other paperwork as well and then direct you to immigration. You will see a big building after the bridge. I parked my bike around the far side (as directed by immigration) and then went around to immigration.
2. You will need copies of Passport, Title, Registration, License to enter.
3. Go to immigration first, get stamped into Honduras, then go around (they will direct you) to the other side of the building to get your import permit at Aduana and get in line to be processed.
4. Hand over copies of documents and they will check over your bike (VIN etc)
5. He then went somewhere for over an hour and told me to wait by my bike, I waited about 30 minutes
6. After that, the guy came out with a form that I needed to make copies of (copy machine right near you) and then handed it back. I also paid the $40 USD for taxes. I made 3 copies of my stamped passport and import form. I returned these to the guy and got a bunch of papers back. I was now getting confused. He told me to go???
7. I got on my bike and he pointed me into Honduras. Still confused I kept riding and then came to a booth, handed papers over (including 2 copies from El Salvador side, was given some papers back, checked over them, put them in my satchel and was off!
8. Total time was 2 hours on Honduras side and $40 USD. Now to get to Tegucigalpa!

Onto Tegucigalpa Honduras

It was now just past midday and I had two and a half hours to get to my hotel the Hyatt Place Tegucigalpa, which was a new hotel. I was only staying one night. It is a nice hotel, a little sterile, but has a bar, and mini restaurant. Not the most ideal motorcycle hotel, had to park bike downstairs and unload gear and found I had to take two different lifts. It does have secure parking.

Tegucigalpa, Honduras

Tegucigalpa is the capital of Honduras. Set in a central valley surrounded by mountains, it’s known for its well-preserved Spanish colonial architecture. Central Morazán Plaza is dominated by the Cathedral of St. Michael the Archangel with its baroque interior. The Museum of National Identity traces the country’s history. It includes a virtual tour of the Copán Mayan ruins of western Honduras.