Utila, Honduras

The smallest of the three major Bay Islands, Utila is also the closest to the Honduran mainland. It is accessible by small aircraft from Roatan and the mainland. The Utila Princess, a one-hour passenger ferry, runs twice a day from La Ceiba.

Utila has gained a reputation in scuba diving circles as a great place for beginners. It offers the least expensive dive certification courses in the world, and has become a Mecca for low-budget travelers. Competition between dive shops has brought prices for an open water certification course or an advanced open watercourse down to between $125 - $150.

Most of the hotels on the island likewise cater to the budget traveler, though you can find high-end alternatives as well, including the Colibri Hill Resort, Sea Eye Resort and Coral View.Real Estate in Utila has also become a popular investment.

Utila is also one of the best places in the world to see whale sharks, the world's largest fish. Don’t worry, despite their name, the whale shark is harmless. March, April and May are the best months to see these giants. You can also dive and swim with dolphins.

But there is much more to this island than diving.
Fishing - Deep-sea fishing and bone fishing have become popular. A number of professional fishing outfitters offer packages for everyone from the avid sports fisherman to occasional enthusiast. The Utila Lodge was originally set up as a fishing lodge, but now offers diving and whale shark watching as well.
Beaches - Utila, Honduras, has many beautiful, unspoiled beaches. Jack Neil Beach, southwest of Utila town, is probably the island's longest stretch of sand. More secluded beaches can be found on the north shore by walking an hour across the island to Pumpkin Hill beach. Water Key, just off of Pigeon Key, is perhaps the most popular beach. This coconut-lined beach surrounded by turquoise-blue waters is a perfect place to string a hammock and let the day go by.
Pumpkin Hill – One of only two hills on the island, Pumpkin Hill (270 ft. high) makes a nice getaway from town. An hour's walk out Monkey Tail road or a fun 15-minute bike ride will bring you to this rounded hill perforated by caves. One of the caves is sizeable, the Brandon Hill Cave, where pirate treasure is said to have been buried.
Cross Island Canal - A man-made canal crosses the island at its narrowest point, providing a convenient way to get to the north side of Utila. You can hire a small boat to take you through the mangrove-lined canal, emerging on the north shore, then west along the beach to Turtle Harbor, which protects another secluded beach. Continue west along the coast to the West End, where you will pass Ragged Key, a protected bird-nesting site. Then you can come back along the south side of the island past the Utila Keys, a collection of 10 small keys off Utila's southwest corner.

Utila also features two popular festivals. The Utila Carnival, which takes place in the third week of July, celebrates island culture. The first week of August, Water Key hosts the Utila Sunjam, a massive, all-night tecnomusic party.

Roatan Realty offers you a complete package of Utila real estate sales, travel, lodging, vacation planning and tours of the finest real estate available on Utila and the Honduras Bay Islands. We also offer a superb vacation rental service for property owners who would like an immediate return on their investment.

Search our Utila property listings or contact us for more information.