Pumpkin Hill is the highest point in Utila and the first visible part of the island when approaching by sea from any direction. The best way to get there is to rent an ATV. They have started developing some real estate around Pumpkin Hill, so the roads may improve over time. You can drive up halfway with your ATV, and then hike the trail up to the very top of the mountain. This was probably one of the highlights of our trip, one of the best things to do in Honduras, and our favorite thing to do in Utila… after scuba diving!
Visting the cays around Utila is an amazing day trip! Around Utila, there are tiny little islands or cays. Some are inhabited, while others are not. Especially if you go to Water Cay. Make sure you bring sunscreen, a book, a hammock the company we went with provided these for us , food snacks, a lunch, anything , drinks, a cooler.
The best way to get to the cays is by hiring a boat. A lot of places offer to take you there as part of a group, but you have to wait until there are at least 4 people booked to go. We signed up early with one boat company but they never had room for us. Instead, we ended up going with our scuba school, EcoMarine Utila, which ended up being cheaper than what the other company quoted. Your best bet is to ask around the island for the best price, and if you can, try to find a group of people so you can fill the boat up.
Also, make sure you ask the company what they will be provided in the cost you pay. Our school allowed us to use their cooler, gave us snorkeling gear, and provided hammocks for us to lounge in. This island is inhabited mainly by fishermen and their families. The boat driver knew a family there, so everyone got a freshly caught fish to bring home… well, except us vegetarians!
However, any way you can support these local families is good. Jewel Cay was really cool to visit. You get to see how locals live on these tiny cays, and best of all, this cay was full of cats, so that was tons of fun for us!
Unlike in Roatan, animal tourism in Utila seems to be a lot more regulated. There are a few shelters and research centers you can visit or volunteer at when you come to Utila. Here are the main ones we saw:. You can also go to the cliffs and admire the sheer force and beauty of the waters and rocks. The best way to do this is to rent an ATV or Quad.
We took it for an afternoon and negotiated the price, probably more easily because it was low season. Utila is known for its party scene. Especially since there are a ton of 2-for-1 specials around! So get ready to party! Some of the best places to party in Utila are:. This may be one of the best things to do in Honduras if you read our Copan blog , you know how much we love chocolate! This small family-run business is located outside the main town, about a minute tuk-tuk ride from the main strip.
Best of all, in the end, you get to taste the 17 different flavors of chocolate they have. They also sell desserts, different drinks, and crafts, all well worth a try in their cafe. The cafe is beautifully set up.
Plus, the staff is very friendly and helpful. If you want to be in the heart of it all, we recommend finding accommodations in Utila that are on the main street, or around it.
You will have a ton of hotels, apartments and more to choose from, something for every budget. And like we mentioned, if you come to do your scuba diving certification here, you may get free accommodations on the days you dive. Make sure you ask about this before booking. We chose to stay at Apartments Chez Milady.
Located just off the main road, about a minute walk from the main intersection. It was an excellent stay. Milady took us in like we were her family. The rooms were comfy, and the bathrooms are super cool, made out of recycled glass bottles. There are some amazing places to eat in Utila. Here is a quick list of the restaurants we loved in Utila:. If you plan on scuba diving, and you want to sightsee, we would recommend spending five to seven days here.
The best way to get from mainland Honduras to Utila or from Roatan to Utila or the other way around is to take the ferry. The main operator is the Utila Dream that offers daily rides to these locations. You can check out their schedule here. The arrival port in Utila is right in the middle of the main road. There are 2 daily departures for the ferry from La Ceiba to Utila, at 9 am and pm.
If you tend to get sea-sick, we highly recommend you take some meds for that beforehand. If not, the ferry is very clean and the process to board is simple. You buy your tickets at the Utila Dream offices at the port of La Ceiba. Just a little note here, that you will need to pay duties to leave mainland Honduras to get onto the islands.
There is a little ticket office just outside the main Utila Dream ticket office. Pay your tax before getting your ticket for the ferry from La Ceiba to Utila. And there was no need to buy tickets in advance when we were there in May. We bought them an hour before departure and the ferry was not even close to being half-full at this time of the year.
The ferry from Roatan to Utila runs once a day, in the afternoon. This will give you enough time to get settled into your hotel, unwind and get ready for supper. But there is a dry season and a wet season in Utila and the Bay Islands.
Because the cold weather hits Europe and North America starting in December, this is when the high season starts. Expect to pay more for accommodations during this season. We spent a week in Utila in early May. The weather was nice and hot and sunny. Utila is quite a budget-friendly place. The main currency is Lempira, but they do accept USD for most transactions.
So if you need to pull out money, do it in the morning, as it happened a few times that the machine was out of money! If you want to know more about Utila and Honduras, and the different things to look out for, make sure you read our article here about the 21 things to know before visiting Honduras. As always, we want to be sure everyone practices sustainable travel in Honduras , and all over the world.
Ecotourism is so important because it helps lower our carbon footprint, it helps travel become less of a burden on the environment, and it helps preserve our beautiful planet, so future generations can explore the beauty of the world. As we mentioned, there is quite a bit to do here in Utila. Here are the 12 best things to do in Utila in May. But one of the most important things is to chill out and enjoy the island vibes!
We loved our time in Utila. In fact, if we could have spent more time here, we would have… but we wanted to explore more of Honduras. The scuba diving we did here was amazing. The people we met were super nice, and the food we had was delicious.
We highly recommend you come to Utila during your Honduras vacation! We love hearing from you! Is there anything else you want to know about Utila?
We put a lot of time and effort into the content we create. Please like, comment and share, every action on your part helps us out tremendously and is very much appreciated. Your email address will not be published. Submit Comment. We left our old routines behind to discover all the wonders our planet has to offer. Spotting one is like winning the ocean jackpot. Jump to: Table of contents. These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout Utila.
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