The majestic tropical island of Utila is one of Honduras’ famous Bay Islands. Situated in the Caribbean Sea, the island is about 18 miles from the mainland city of La Ceiba. Compared to the Bay group islands, Utila is the most economical, making it one of the best Caribbean destinations for budget travelers and backpackers. The majority of the island’s population lives on Eastern Harbor and its neighborhoods. This is the area where you can find most of the hotels, bars, restaurants and shops. The main street of Eastern Harbor leads to the Chepes Beach.
Despite being the tiniest island in the Bay Islands group, Utila is not short of natural resources. The island is blessed with coral reef formations and abundant sea life. In fact, it borders the Mesoamerican reef system, the second largest of its kind in the world. The island is also near cave systems and large ship wrecks like the Halliburton. All of these make Utila one of the premier places for scuba diving not only in the Caribbean but in the entire world. The water off Utila is home to a huge whale shark population. If you’re feeling a little adventurous and would like to see these magnificent creatures up close, you can join a snorkeling trip conducted by the Whale Shark and Oceanic Research Center.
Some of the most interesting locations near Utila are the Cays, which are located on the southwest end section of the island. They are a group of small islands, which are only 100 feet long and 1 or 2 feet above sea level. Some Cays are privately owned but a number of them are open to the public. One of the most popular Cays is the Water Cay, which is highly revered for its excellent snorkeling conditions as well as its complete seclusion. It is also the annual host to the Sun Jam, a two day music and dancing festival. Suc-Suc or Pigeon and Jewel Cay are historical sites as they were inhabited by the original settlers. Most Cays today are populated by local fishermen, and you can reach them by hiring a water taxi from Utila.
Although Utila does not have world renowned white sand beaches; its beaches are still highly suitable for activities like snorkeling, sailing, kite boarding and paddle boarding. The canal which splits the islands east and west region is perfect sport to explore by kayaking.
One unique characteristic about Utila is that it doesn’t have any international chains of hotels and restaurants. All business establishments are operated by local families. This is probably the reason why the general costs of visiting here is relatively cheaper compared to other island destinations in the Caribbean. However, there are still a wide range of accommodation options on the island. Some of them cater to families and luxury travelers. Some of the Cays can be rented privately. Thus, if you have the means, you can enjoy an entire private island all to yourself.
To access Utila from the mainland port of La Ceiba, you can ride the Utila Princes, a passenger ferry, which runs twice a day. The main dock of the island is located in the center of town, also called “El Centro”. There is a small local airport on the island that facilitates Aerolineas SOSA flights and other on demand charter flights.
