The smallest of the three major Bay Islands, Utila lies closest to the Honduran Mainland and is by far the flattest of the islands.

Utila is located approximately 18 miles from the coast and can be easily reached from La Ceiba either by sea or air. The Galaxy II Ferry operates daily, leaving from La Ceiba's municipal dock located east of La Ceiba. The trip takes one hour on this fast motor vessel. Arrival in Utila is at the municipal dock, conveniently located in the central area of east harbor. Air service is available daily via Sosa Airlines, Isleña Airlines and Atlantic Airlines.

Sunday schedules are limited, so it is best to plan on arriving and departing during the week. There are some charter air services available from both La Ceiba and Roatan that can help you get in or out of Utila.

The main town in Utila is known as East Harbour or simply Utila, and is located on the eastern side of the Island, between the Upper Lagoon and the Lower Lagoon. The Upper Lagoons entrance is between the old airstrip and town, precisely where the only bridge in the road between the airport and town is located.

On the other side of the Lagoon you will find one of the most exclusive resorts in Utila: The Laguna Beach Resort. It is located on a narrow strip of land, with the Caribbean Sea on one side and the Lower Lagoon on the other. Shore diving from the resort is outstanding, as the reef is only a few feet from the beach. You require a motor launch to reach this resort.

The new Airport, is located on the northern side of the island, about 4 kilometers from town, and is a little too far to walk, however there is good taxi service available that will cost you about 1 ½ dollars per person to your resort in town. It is basically impossible to get lost in Utila. There is one main road following the coastline along the harbor.

This road is a pedestrian road, although you do have to watch out for the four or five cars on the island, as well as for the occasional motorcyclist and the many bicycles. Bicycles are the main means of transportation and there are several outfits that rent these if you wish an alternative to walking.

Although Utila is world famous for its diving, which is not only excellent, but also very affordable, this does not mean that Utila is necessarily a "cheap" resort. Accommodations and food are much less expensive than at the other islands, but Utila also has some world-class diving resorts, such as the Laguna Beach Resort.

Utila's electric current is supplied by a generator on the island, and under normal circumstances, there is only electricity from 5:00 a.m. till midnight. Most of the better hotels in the island have their own generators, which means that you will not be left without electric power as the rest of town is.

There is talk about a new modern and ecofriendly power company to invest in Utila, however for the time being service is still be provided by the national power company and it is not very reliable on the island.

A new addition to Utila is the Spanish Language School for tourists. The Central American School for language is now operating successfully on the island, offering quality courses which will help you spruce up your Spanish and communicate better on the Honduran Mainland as well as at the different Central American countries that you plan to visit during your trip.

There are two banks in Utila, Banco BGA, which is located across the street from the Municipal dock, and Banco Atlantida, located half a block away from BGA.. The bank hours are 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 8:00 - 11:30 a.m. on Saturdays. Both, Bancahsa and Banco Atlantida will exchange your dollars, travelers checks and offers cash withdrawals on your Visa Card.

The only mountain on the island is Pumpkin Hill, from where you can get a view of the whole island, as well as of Roatan, further east. There is a trail that leads you to Pumpkin Hill, which is located three miles from town. If you decide to follow the trail, remember to be back before nightfall, or else take a good flashlight with you. There are caves around Pumpkin Hill, where according to legend pirates hid their treasures. The new Utila airport is now operating almost next to Pumkin Hill. A new road has been made to access the area, and the 5,000 ft runway will open the island up to larger aircraft, making it prime for development as a tourist destination as well as for real estate needs. Although Utila does not have many beaches, there are several small keys within reach by boat that boast a good beach and a lot of privacy.

The largest of these keys are actually populated, such as Pigeons and Suc Suc Keys. Eating on the keys is limited, however there are a few restaurants: Susan's restaurant is probably your best bet. She is open for lunch and dinner and offers inexpensive meals well as soft drinks and beer. Another alternative is Maggies Restaurant. The keys offer a totally different view of Utila and if your stay on Utila leaves time, a visit is definitely recommended.

Without question, the biggest attraction that Utila offers to its many tourists is its fantastic reefs combined with some of the least expensive dive courses in the World



Source: Content with permission from the Honduran Institute of Tourism - www.letsgohonduras.com