Utila Honduras
With a population of 4,000 residents, Utila is a tiny island located about 40 km off the coast of Honduras. The island is 5km wide and 13 km long and the Utila Town is the main settlement here. This laid-back island is well known for its entertainment options and nightlife and is one of the best scuba diving destinations in the Caribbean and one of the cheapest destinations in the world to obtain a PADI scuba diving certification. There are dozens of hotels, bars, and restaurants on the island, as well as two picturesque beaches.
Flights to Utila
If you are traveling to Honduras from abroad you will either arrive in San Pedro Sula or Roatan. From San Pedro Sula and Roatan you can catch a local flight to Utila, but keep in mind that the schedules are limited. There are also private charter flights available and a daily ferry from both La Ceiba and Roatan to Utila.
Diving in Utila
There are more than eighty excellent diving sites around the island, so it comes as no surprise that Utila is very popular with scuba divers. Besides a variety of marine life, Utila is also home to the famous whale sharks that are known to be up to 6m long. Spotting a whale shark in the ocean is not easy, but who knows, maybe you’ll get lucky and see one. There are dozens of PADI dive shops in Utila to choose from including Paradise Divers, Utila Dive Center, Deep Blue Divers, the Bay Islands College of Diving, and many others.
Things to do in Utila
Besides exploring the surrounding reefs by scuba diving and snorkeling, there are dozens of other cool activities on the island to keep you entertained. You can go on a boat ride to Water Cay, a secluded tropical paradise or go for long walks along the shoreline in the evening. If you are in the party mode, there are a couple of great nightclubs and bars on the island. Utila is also famous for its annual Sunjam festival, the largest music event in the country. The event attracts some of the best names from the International Dj scene.
Getting Around Utila
Getting around Utila is quite easy as there is only one main street that runs along the south side of the island. There are not that many cars on the island and most of the residents rely on golf carts, scooters, and bicycles to reach different places on Utila. The good news is that renting a bicycle or a scooter on the island is quite cheap.
