Top 6 Travel Tips to Utila & The Bay Islands
UPDATED July 24, 2023
Happy Day to all and safe traveling! This blog post is to help travelers coming to Honduras, and to give a little advice to North Americans about what to expect for their trip home. These posts started during the Covid-19 pandemic and as countries are lifting their restrictions, we may not need these posts anymore!
This is what you’ll find in this post:
-
- * Covid Restrictions to Honduras have been lifted.
- * Honduras pre-check form is back online and required for entry from March 23, 2023. Download the App.
- * Honduras adds online customs form for travel requirements.
- U.S.A. Removes Test Requirements for Nationals. Non-nationals require vaccination. Lifts China, Hong Kong, Macao restrictions. Updated March 10, 2023.
- Canada Removes Vaccination & Quarantine Entry Requirements. Lifts China, Hong Kong, Macao restrictions ( Last updated by Canada March 17, 2023)
- Updated airline schedules July 1, 2023 – Canadian Flights, CM Airlines, International
Please note that I obtain our information from several resources, and normally they all coincide within a few days. However, as of today, immigration is stating that the Pre-Check form is required, and the International Transport Aviation Association page is saying it is not required for “Covid” (which is likely why airlines are not asking for it). However, like most countries nowadays, they are likely requiring a pre-check form to speed up the Immigration entry process to Honduras. It is up to you what you do with this information. I recommend taking the time to fill out the Pre-Check form. Isn’t it better to be prepared?
We do everything we can to stay updated on the Covid-19 entry requirements, travel to Honduras, and the requirements for your travel/return to the USA or Canada. Covid-19 has made international travel more difficult & the entry requirements for immigration are always changing, not only here in Honduras but in the USA, Canada & other parts of the world. So we’ve created a series of Honduras Travel Tips & Posts to help in planning your voyage so you can safely arrive in Honduras, and to your ultimate destination in the Bay Islands, whether it may be to Utila, Roatan, or Guanaja.
1. Honduras Covid-19 Entry Requirements Lifted
All the Covid-19 restrictions have been lifted as of March 22, 2023.
2. Honduras Pre-Check Required
- Immigration Pre-Check Form is required
- Download the Pre-Check App
- Online Customs Form
- Valid passport for 6 months is required
Pre-Check Form/App: The Pre-Check form is back online and is still required.
Please download the Pre-Check App which functions better than the form. The icon should look like this, and this is the name you’re searching for: PRECHEQUEO MIGRATORIO
So we just arrived from Spain at 4:15am this morning. Before departing Madrid, Spain, Air Europa asked us for our pre-check form (which I forgot to fill out!!!). They would not allow us to check in without it. Some flyers have reported that they were not asked for the pre-check form, so I imagine it depends on your port of departure.
3. New Online Customs Form
And here’s the link to the online customs form.
FYI, while in the air, we were given custom forms that we filled out. Yet when we arrived to San Pedro Sula airport, we cleared immigration & there was a bottleneck to exit the immigration section. They would NOT accept the paper form and we needed to fill it out online. Luckily there are QR codes in the immigration line to scan and it takes you to the online form, so I figured I would fill it out online additionally.
Please note that there was a lady in front of us who did not have a phone and the official told her she needed to fill it out online. I offered to do that for her as she was really distraught, but the customs guy finally said that he was making an exception for her “this one time only”. Really, what happens if someone doesn’t have a phone???
And just remember that your passport to enter Honduras must be valid for the next six months, so check your expiry date! We had to leave our daughter in Honduras because I forgot about this! I write these posts, and I forgot three of the most important items in just this section!!!
4. Covid-19 Travel Restrictions for the U.S.A.
Effective March 10, 2023, proof of negative tests will no longer be required for U.S. nationals when returning to the USA.
The current travel requirements to the USA, as of February 14, 2023 are categorized into 4 groups:
American Citizens & Nationals, residents, immigrants – No tests required
Visitors
For visitors, with a Covid-19 vaccine with all doses completed 15 days prior to travel to the U.S.A., you may enter the USA and you no longer require a negative Covid-19 test.
If you are a visitor to the USA, and you are not vaccinated, you may not transit through the USA. For more information click this link to the CDC Traveller’s Page.
Category 3 & 4 – Embarking from China, Seoul Incheon, Toronto or Vancouver
Effective March 10, 2023, all restrictions have been removed.
5. Canada Lifts All Covid-19 Restrictions
6. Airline Schedules – NEW CM Airlines Flights!
The latest flight itineraries & schedules thanks to the Bay Islands Tourism Bureau (updated July 1, 2023)
CM Airlines Flights To/From Utila
CM Airlines commenced flights between Tegucigalpa (TGU – the nation’s capital), Roatan (RTB), Utila(UII) & San Pedro Sula (SAP). However, since COVID they have reduced their flight schedule, so PLEASE use these flights wherever possible so CM Airlines continues this schedule.
Remember, the ferry leaves here at 10:20am and arrives around 11:20am in Roatan. You’ll need to grab your luggage and get a taxi to the airport. If your flight leaves at 12:40 pm, it’s cutting it close. The airport in Roatan can be extremely busy which may cause a delay at check-in, and subsequent screening through airport security.
We hope that this information will aid you in making your trip planning easier so you can visit us and this beautiful island of Utila, Honduras!