TACA, Delta, American and United all service Honduras. [url=http://air-viva.com]air viva[/url] offers bookings for domestic flights from La Ceiba, Roatan, San Pedro Sula and Tegucigalpa. However, it is slightly cheaper to book directly through [url=http://www.aerolineasosahn.com/]Honduras SOSA[/url] the actual carrier (though this must be done in Spanish).
From either [wiki=99d7639e9187bf465f6fc50cb20ff6d1]Roatan[/wiki] or [wiki=6dce4c777134cded4d0a1014ff1bc7de]San Pedro Sula[/wiki] a simple Honduran airline flight (with SOSA or Charter) gets you to Utila. Or you can fly with [url=http://guanajaair.com]Island Air[/url] which services all Bay Islands (Roatan, Utila, Guanaja) and connects all international departing and arriving flights from San Pedro Sula, La Ceiba and Roatan. Note that the planes are very small (
Take a bus to [wiki=d5a809bd2c4090402dc0cfe88032e290]La Ceiba[/wiki] (L94-L375, 3-5hrs from San Pedro Sula) where you can catch a ferry over. There are also buses to La Ceiba from other major towns and cities in Honduras, and a shuttle service from Leon in Nicaragua. The ferry is about an hour ride and may be uncomfortable, depending on the sea conditions. Take sea sickness medication beforehand if you get seasick. The ferry runs twice daily, supposedly at 9:30am and 4pm, but doesn't always leave on time. Also, if it is too windy it may not run at all, so be prepared to spend a night (or two) in La Ceiba. The fare as of August 2015 is L600 or US$28 from La Ceiba to Utila but L518 or $26 back to the mainland (see The Utila Princess [url=http://aboututila.com/TravelInfo/Utila-Princess/Index.htm]]or [http://utilaguide.com/utilatravel/utilaprincess/[/url] for current fares and schedules - incorrect fares on website as of October 2014, probably due to the fluctuation in value of the Lempira).
There is an infrequent boat service between Utila and Roatan, costing US$50, but don't count on it being available in low season, or on the specific date you want in high season. Usually to get between the islands without flying you need to take a morning boat from Roatan to La Ceiba, then another boat in the afternoon between La Ceiba and Utila.
Utila is consistently ranked among the best diving destinations in the Caribbean. Utila certifies more new divers than any other location in the Caribbean and arguably around the world. Historically, diving on Utila has been startlingly inexpensive, hence its reputation as a backpacker resort. Nevertheless, the diving remains spectacular and the holy grail of diving: the Whale Shark, is reliably found in Utila.
Moreover, Utila is legendary for its macro creatures (seahorses, nudibranchs, pipefish, etc). Utila rewards the diver that perfects their buoyancy and is willing to slow down and spend time to find the hidden little creatures of the reef.
While Utila is not known for its beaches, there is some excellent snorkeling available right offshore- especially towards the Blue Bayou area. It is possible to snorkel either right off the few small beaches, or with most of the dive boats. Snorkel equipment rental ranges from $5-$15 USD
Utila also has fantastic waters for kayaking and stand up paddleboarding. The island is split east/west by a canal that you can kayak through; kayaks can be rented from Coral View Hotel near the southern canal entrance or from several dive shops. Guided kayaking trips (see Kayak Utila [http://www.kayakutila.com]) to the North Shore through the Mangrove Channel and down to the Cays are a great option to safely explore these waters as well.
Sightings of Spotted Eagle Rays, morays, and various species of fish can happen at just about any dock and many bars have docks where you can sit and watch the water.
There are a variety of things to see that you can make a day of hiking to (ask around for directions). A crashed drug runner airplane in the jungle north of the airport is an interesting sight. Freshwater caves on the eastern shore can make for good swimming or exploring, but be very careful if you plan to go deep into them as people have gotten lost and died inside (take 2 waterproof flashlights). Pumpkin Hill, Útila's highest point at 74m, offers a panoramic view of the island. There are two ways to get to the top - either take the overgrown trail from near the airport, or first walk to Pumpkin Hill beach & scramble up through the jungle to the antenna and follow the path from there to the viewpoint. To get to Pumpkin Hill beach (a small plastic-ridden strip of sand pounded by huge waves), walk from town towards the airport until you see a signpost for "Chez Milady" - turn left here and follow the track (which will be very muddy in wet season). Similarly panoramic is the view from the top of the water tower.
[url=http://www.dive-utila.com]Bay Islands College of Diving[/url] - Founded in 1995, The College is one of the few Career Development Centers on Utila and provides classes from PADI Open Water Diver all the way up to professional instructor training. Courses are available in English, French, Spanish, Dutch and German. The Bay Islands College of Diving also takes pride in its impressive safety record. Courses come with free accommodation and if you’re quick to book, even small apartments with kitchen, and free kayak rental . The big dock provides lots of space for studying, snorkeling in the dock aquarium or just relaxing in the sun with fellow travelers. On the premises you will also find the Whale Shark & Oceanic Research Center and the Utila Hyperbaric Chamber which are open for visitors. Green travelers should know that Bay Islands College of Diving is also the first 100% AWARE shop on Utila, which means that for every course you take, $10 will go to the Project Aware foundation, protecting the world’s wonderful oceans!
info@dive-utila.com tel +504-2425-3291
*[url=http://www.ecomarineutila.com/]Ecomarine-Gunter's Dive Shop[/url] - Ecomarine has been training SCUBA divers on Utila for almost 30 years. Today we are famous for the friendly, professional and personalized service we provide to all our customers. Fundivers can expect resort quality service from our staff and our dive students will enjoy are small class sizes and the benefit of our quality instruction and equipment. When the whalesharks are around we find them. Our Captain Jose is top rated. Not only will you enjoy his personality on the boat, you will be amazed what he can find. Many of our guests have had the opportunity to swim with whaleshark, dolphin and pilot whales. With Ecomarine your chances couldn’t be better. Ecomarine not only offers quality SCUBA services, we go further. Ecomarine is the only Dive Center in Central America offering Freediving Certifications and Training. Courses are available from Apnea Total and IADA International. Just imagine, within two days you could be Freediving as deep as 20 meters and in one week of you could be diving as deep as 40 meters (131’) on a single breath.
email utilaeastwind@outlook.com Tel 011 504 2425 3350
*Alton's Dive Shop - Alton’s Dive Center is a family run operation which started from small roots which still run deeply through the dive center today. We aim to provide quality customer service by meeting and routinely exceeding our customers’ expectations. Alton’s prides itself on offering resort level diving and customer service with qualified and experienced instructors and divemasters to every one of our customers. The dive center is owned by a German & Canadian couple who together with the rest of the management team have approximately 50 years dive industry experience between them.
*Utila Dive Centre - The Utila Dive Centre is one of the words leading PADI Career Development Centers and in both 2011 and 2010 was awarded #1 rating by PADI Americas and Sport Diver magazine for Instructor development. You'll find all levels of instruction available, as the school was founded by backpackers for backpackers, and their commitment to professionalism but in a safe and fun manner makes them a well rounded choice for either learning to dive, or becoming a dive professional. They are associated with the luxury Mango Inn hotel, complete with onsite pool, and include accommodation there with the PADI courses. They probably have the longest serving team of Instructors on the island, which is always a good sign. They have 4 comfortable boats and run daily northside dive trips, and have a great record for finding whalesharks and dolphins, so good that GoPro cameras have even made several of their videos their choice of the day, and sponsored them as well, just ask about bow mounting your cameras on their boats as you ride out! Make sure you check them out when you visit Utila, their website [url=http://www.utiladivecenter.com/],]+50424253326 or info@utiladivecenter.com.
*[url=http://www.utilascubadiving.com/]Underwater Vision Dive Resort[/url[/url] - Underwater Vision is a PADI 5 Star Instructor Development Resort owned and operated by the Coopers, a local family since 1991. The Coopers have been living on Utila for many generations and have been taking tourists beneath the waves since the mid-1970s. Offering PADI SCUBA diving courses from the beginner through to the PADI Professional level (IDC and beyond), the multi-lingual, international staff of dive professionals are highly trained, experienced and enthusiastic about sharing their passion for diving. Dive and Accommodation packages are available and accommodation is free for divers for the duration of their courses while enrolled in the PADI Open Water, Advanced Open Water and Rescue Diver. It is easy to go from hotel room to classroom to dive boat all within steps of each other! The stunning beach front property is conducive to relaxation with abundant hammocks strung between a grove of trees, deck chairs and lounge chairs available at the water’s edge, or just laying a towel down in the sand. The bar and restaurant are open daily from 6am to 10 pm serving all meals and a variety of refreshing beverages. A Beach volleyball court sees action daily just before the sunset steals the show! The dive boats are professionally maintained and fast, taking fun divers, divers on courses and snorkelers to the multitude of dive sites around the island, three times a day. The experienced boat captains have incredible accuracy when it comes to sighting whalesharks and dolphins. Monthly dive for debris and beach clean-ups are initiated at Underwater Vision heeding their commitment to maintaining Utila and it’s reef for generations to come. 50424253103, uwv_utila@hotmail.com
*Paddling -Utila's waters are fabulous for paddling- both kayaking and new this year, Stand up Paddleboarding For kayaking, you can either rent a kayak at various spots or hook up with a marine naturalist guided tour with Kayak Utila.[url=http://www.kayakutila.com]] Stand up Paddleboards (SUPs) are available through Paddle Utila [http://www.PaddleUtila.com[/url].
*Partying - There is a very strong nightlife on Utila with a party happening somewhere almost every night, especially during high season. There is an unofficial understanding between the major bars of the island as to where people will go each night. Generally after 1AM only one bar is still going, and it typically stays open until 4 or 5AM. Ask around and you should have no trouble finding out where the place to be is that night. Or just follow the music.
*SunJam[url=http://www.sunjamutila.com]]- Early in August every year Utila hosts the largest electronic music party in Central America. DJs are flown in from all around the world, and the event draws a crowd of over a thousand from all over Central America. The entire week leading up to SunJam there are pre-parties and the island is crowded and buzzing with excitement. Note that it can be very hard to find a place to stay during this week. For more information about SunJam visit Parrots Dive Centre[http://diveparrotsutila.com[/url], whose owner is one of the main organizers.