There are no direct international flights to Utila. To get to Utila, most people fly into Honduras via San Pedro Sula (SAP) or Roatan (RTB) and there are flights from both cities to Utila on a local flight via CM Airlines or a private shuttle. Or you can take the Bus from SAP to La Ceiba and then take one of the daily ferries to Utila. The Utila Dream Ferry makes the trip from Utila and La Ceiba in both directions in less than an hour in a large comfortable catamaran yacht. The Utila Dream Ferry also makes the trip between Utila and Roatan daily in the afternoon.
YES! To come to Utila, you will be entering the country of Honduras, and to enter Honduras, you must have a valid passport. USA and Canadian Citizens should ensure their passport is valid for at least 6 months longer from the date of entry into Honduras. A visa is not required for USA or Canadian Citizens.
No. There are very few cars on the island overall. Bikes, scooters, motorcycles, 4-wheelers, golf carts are the standard modes transportation and all are easily rented. There are a plethora of 3-wheeler taxi (tuk tuks) and are available at any time of the day to take you where you want to go.
In Utila (as with most of Honduras) U.S. Dollar banknotes can be used in place of the Lempira, with the local stores and businesses usually giving exchange rates at the same (or sometimes better) than the local Honduran banks, and without charging exchange commissions. Most of the businesses in Utila prefer cash. An increasing number of Utila businesses accept credits cards, VISA being the most widely accepted, followed by MasterCard. Travelers cheques are not accepted in Honduras. You can get a cash advance on your credit card with your passport and your credit card which must have your name on it, inside of the bank (Banco Atlantida), in the centre of town. There are now 2 ATMs on Utila and they pay out in the local currency of lempiras. There is a Western Union outlet in the Brussard Plaza at the main intersection as well as MoneyGram inside the bank if you need to send or receive money. You need your passport to do either of these transactions.
We have the same style of outlets and voltage that is used in the USA; and no adapters are needed if your plugs have USA adapters. You should consider bringing a surge protector for laptops and other valuable electronics, as power surges are fairly common.
We don’t have exact statistics on crime on Utila, but the instance of crime here is very low. It is a small island, and the violent crime prevalent the bigger cities of mainland Honduras just does not occur here. It is generally safe to walk around the main areas of Utila at night, just be smart about it. Petty theft is always a possibility wherever you go, so be vigilant and think ahead: don’t bring valuable jewelry; don’t flash large wads of cash; don’t bring your entire wallet to the bar; don’t walk around by yourself at 2 a.m.
Travelers are generally treated very well on Utila. There is a big mix of different cultures here, as well as travelers from all parts of the world. Treat people with respect and kindness and you shall be treated the same way in return.
Many of the locals use Whatsapp, which relies on wireless (widely available on the island and at Hibiscus House) for phone calls and texting. We have been able to get by with our U.S. cell phones without purchasing an expensive international plan by using Whatsapp and email for communication.
Because of the 300-year British influence on the Bay Islands, Utila is a different world from mainland Honduras. The island is mostly uninhabited, except for the small fishing village of East Harbour (Utila Town) with a population of 4,000. The main languages on the island are English and Spanish, whereas in mainland Honduras the main language is Spanish. Historically, Utila was largely a fishing and agrarian community. Its claim to fame is that Henry Morgan’s treasure is buried somewhere on the Island.
For more information, please visit UtilaGuide.com
Copyright © 2024 Hibiscus House Utila - All Rights Reserved.
Your dream vacation is waiting for you!
Welcome! Sign up for our email list to get travel tips and discounts delivered right to your inbox.
We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.