Tela is a very popular beach destination for both local and foreign tourists in Honduras who desire to taka advantage of Caribbean beaches away from the maddening crowd. Fortunately for first-time vacationers, getting to and around Tela are a breeze!
Traveling To Tela
It must be emphasized that only road transportation going to Tela is available at present. The railroad system that formed the backbone of Tela in the 1900s have ceased to operate, the decline of which can be traced back from the transfer of headquarters made by the Tela Railroad Company from Tela to La Lima.
If you come from San Pedro Sula, you have three choices. First, you can take the public buses that travel direct non-stop to La Ceiba. Ask the conductor to stop at the entrance to Tela and then either take a taxi going into the city or just walk the one-mile distance. There will be no indication that a city is beyond the dirt road so it pays to ask for directions.
Second, you can take one of the buses that go directly to Tela. However, these travel infrequently so it’s often best to just take the La Ceiba-bound bus. Travel time can extend to 2 hours.
Third, you can get on a bus to El Progreso and then change to a Tela-bound bus. It will take a longer time but you ought to get to Tela without having to take a taxi on a dirt road.
Whatever bus you decide to ride on, however, you must always the conductor when he goes around asking for fares. As much as possible, you must pay in exact change to avoid inconvenience later on.
If you come from the capital city of Tegucigalpa, you can take the buses that ply direct routes to La Ceiba, which will take 5-6 hours of travel time. Of course, you have to then take the buses going to Tela. Or if you are not one for public transportation despite the slices of Honduran life it offers, you can always travel to Tela by private car! It is faster since you don’t have to stop for passengers getting on and off through various places in the countryside, not to mention more comfortable, too.
Traveling Around Tela
Once in Tela, getting around is very easy. Since the town itself is small, going by foot is highly recommended to absorb
the sights and sounds of a small Honduran resort town that has retained its charm despite its national and international clientele. Or you can take the bicycle for faster arrival at your destinations. Since this is the preferred form of transportation, you ought to feel like a local out on an excursion to the town center to buy some food items.
And since the road pattern is a very simple east/west north/south outline, getting lost is not an option especially with helpful locals pointing you towards the right direction. Even the streets are appropriately named with the main shopping street called the Calle de Comercio and the beachfront street as the Bulevar!
With such easy ways to get into and get around in Tela, it’s about time that you do, too!
