Planning a Trip

Getting There

By Plane -- Two small airlines make the 20-minute trip between Utila and La Ceiba, with connections to Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula. Aerolineas Sosa (tel. 504/443-2519) makes the trip twice a day Monday to Saturday and three times on Sundays. Atlantic Airlines (tel. 504/425-3364; www.atlanticairlinesint.com) has flights to/from La Ceiba on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday. Occasionally they have flights on Saturdays direct to Roatán. Taxis, which cost L40 to L60 ($2-$3/£1-£1.50 per person) await flights for the 10-minute trip to town.

By Ferry -- The Utila Princess II (tel. 504/425-3390) makes the hour-long trip back and forth between the Municipal pier Utila and the Muelle de Cabotaje dock in La Ceiba. The ferry departs Utila daily at 6:20am and 2pm, and returns to La Ceiba at 9:30am and 4pm. Ticket booths are located on both piers. The price is L373 ($20/£10) each way.

Orientation & Getting Around

The crescent-shaped East Harbour on the eastern end of Utila is where 90% of the population of the island lives. The Municipal Pier marks the center of town; Main Street, the main road on the island, runs perpendicular about 1km (1/2 mile) in each direction. To the left is Sandy Bay and to the right is a small peninsula that ends at the bridge that connects to Bando Beach. With a few exceptions, almost all hotels and tourist amenities can be found within 1km (1/2 mile) of the pier. Another road, Cola de Mico or Monkey Tail Road, branches off Main Street up over Pumpkin Hill, eventually leading to the airport and the north side of the island.

There are just a few cars on Utila, let alone taxis. Considering almost everywhere is within walking distance or reached over water, the only time you will really need a taxi or a car is to get back and forth from the airport.

Visitor Information

Head to the Bay Island Conservation Society (tel. 504/425-3260) for info and maps on Utila and the Bay Islands. It's open Monday to Friday from 7am to 7pm.

Fast Facts

There are two banks in East Harbour, both conveniently within a hummingbird's flight of the pier. Banco BGA (tel. 504/425-4117) and Banco Atlantida (tel. 504/425-3374) exchange traveler's checks and have an ATM. Mango Tree House, on Main Street just to the left from the pier, is the island's most reliable Internet cafe and can also make international phone calls. Hondutel, beside the Bay Island College of Diving, also makes international calls.