Utila FAQs

Where is Utila and How Do I Travel to Utila?

Utila is a small tropical island community off the North coast of Honduras, in the Western Caribbean.  Generally, people arrive by airplane or ferry, though other options such as private boat, charter sailboat or airplane are available.

The access towns are on the mainland of Honduras, from San Pedro Sula, La Ceiba, or Roatan. Note that Sundays are not an ideal travel day if you are looking to connect with mainland flights, because there are no scheduled flights to or from Utila on that day (though you could hire a charter), the ferry from La Ceiba does run on the regular schedule on Sunday. For more information and details for getting to Utila go to the  “Travel to Utila” page.

What is Utila Like?

Utila is a relaxed, laid-back island that many describe as what the Caribbean “used to be”.  If you are looking for a high-end resort destination with high rise hotels, time-shares, hawkers, or a fast paced nightlife, Utila is definitely not it…But if you are looking for a low-key, small Caribbean island, known for its laid back life-style, off-beat character, easy access to great snorkeling and scuba diving, a quaint town where you can walk or bike to all amenities, a variety of local ethnic groups, then Utila will be a great fit for you and you’ll likely find yourself returning again and again.

Read more about Utila on our page, About Utila!

Should I Rent a Car?

One of the great things about Utila is that there is currently only ONE  car available to rent on the entire island-and that it is completely unnecessary. There are very few cars on the island overall (less than 5), as well as a handful of delivery and construction vehicles.

Bikes, scooters, motorcycles, 4-wheelers, golf carts and your owntwo feet are the standard modes transportation and all (except for feet), are easily rented.

There are a plethora (perhaps too many for most peoples taste), of 3-wheeler taxi (tuktuks), that have rapidly multiplied on Utila and are available at any time of the day to take you where you want to go if your feet can’t, as well as a few pick up trucks and vans that can assist you during your stay. 

A tuktuk from the airport to town is about $5.00 usd per person (100 lempira) and to some of the rental units outside of town centre about 60 lempira per person.

For more information on rentals please take a look at our Vehicles and Bikes page which includes links to golf cart, scooter, motorcycle and bike rentals.

Do I Need US Dollars or Lempira? Will  Credit Cards or ATM Cards Work?

Most of the businesses in Utila prefer cash, and indeed many are not equipped to take credit cards, though that is changing quickly with the dive shops.

Travelers cheques are not accepted ANYWHERE 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. This option is safer than using the ATM.

There is a Western Union outlet on Main Street 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.

Expect that you may have to pay a surcharge for using credit cards with Utila businesses.

There are now 2 ATMs on Utila, but it is still possible for both to go down at the same time, or even be out of cash during busy times of the year. There have been reports in the past (although not recently), of scams stemming from the ATMs so use with caution and check your bank statements.

A safer alternative to using the ATMs is to get a cash advance on your credit card at the bank or at a few locations around town such as Bush Supermarket. You’ll pay more at these non-bank locations, but they are welcome options as you avoid the sometimes very long lines at the bank and you are not restricted to banking hours.

Exchanging Money: You can use US dollars almost anywhere on Utila.  The bank exchanges at around 24.6 Lempiras to 1 USD dollar (October, 2019). You can also exchange dollars at Bush’s supermarket and Utila Power Company (UPCO) at a slightly lower rate but without the lines you will sometimes find in the bank. Bush’s is located in the center of town and almost anyone can direct you to UPCO.

Almost all of the businesses on Utila will accept USD dollars but may offer a reduced exchange rate so be sure to ask first and plan ahead.

Read more on our Money in Utila Page

Do All Hotels or Rental Homes Have Air-Conditioning and Is It Necessary?

Air-conditioning is available in most of the vacation rental homes, all of the resorts, and many of the hotels in Utila.  Sometimes it is an additional option available with your hotel or hostel room, and you can use it if you pay a surcharge for it. Just ask ahead of time.

Whether you need AC largely depends on the weather in Utila and your personal taste and comfort level. Many people find that in the winter months they really don’t need AC, but in the summer months in can be a very welcome if not necessary appliance.

If your room does not have AC there will almost certainly be a fan or fans which many people find is enough, especially during the winter and spring months.

What is the Crime Rate & How Are Travelers Treated on Utila?

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, though of course, you need to 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 in the morning and DO be sure to lock the doors and windows of your hotel room or rental home when you go out. You should also be sure to have a lock for your bicycle or a place to lock it indoors at night to be on the safe side.

Travelers are generally treated very well on Utila. There is a big mix different cultures here as well as travelers from all parts of the world. As a general rule of thumb is to treat people with respect and kindness and you too shall be treated the same way in return.

Are Outlets / Voltage the Same in Utila 110 volt? (The same as in the USA?)

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. Most of the vacation rental homes have all house surge protectors but ask in advance to be certain

I’ve Heard The Bugs Are Bad…Is That True?

While Utila does not have scary or dangerous creepy-crawlies, the mosquitoes and sand flies are a definite part of life on Utila as they are on most islands throughout the tropics. 

Mosquitoes are generally worse in the late hurricane season (fall months), and also during the rainy season, which can extend into January/February.

However, the sand flies seem to be more of a nuisance than mosquitoes-the upside being that they carry no diseases. Time of day and wind conditions play important factors in the prevalence and annoyance of sand flies, as they tend to be worse during the hour just before and after sunset and sunrise and most certainly when there is little to no wind. If the wind is blowing, the little biters are generally hiding. If its calm, just think ahead and be prepared:

1. Use bug repellent or at least carry it. Just keep a container in your bag, especially if you might not be back by sunset. Many have found that Deep Woods OFF (the green can) works the best. OFF in the orange has the next highest percentage of Deet concentrate.

If you don’t like chemicals, the locals recommend using baby oil with camphor which works, if you don’t mind being a little greasy. You can also try natural repellents but you’ll have to bring them from home as they are not sold here. If you travel with essential oils such as citronella and eucalyptus you can mix those with coconut oil (sold here), to make your own fairly effective repellant. 

2. Pack a pair of lightweight or “travel weight”  long sleeve clothing and pants, especially if going out to sunset/dinner time when the sand flies can be bad. Really, lightweight clothing is not too hot especially once the sun goes down and  you will be oh so much happier. Alternatively, carry a sarong or towel with you and use it to cover up when necessary.

3. Sleep with a strong fan directed on you or an overhead fan even if you have the windows closed and covered by screens, the sand flies can usually still get in through the screen. However, the wind from a fan is too strong for the sand flies to hover around you. You can also cover up with a light sheet.

4. Look into Vitamin B-1 and garlic. Folks have reported success in deterring the pesky sandflies if they load up on B-1 and garlic before their trip. Read up and ask your doctor to insure this method is suitable for you.

What is the Weather Like?

The answer to this question is entirely dependent on the season. Utila typically has two seasons: ‘Rainy’ and ‘Dry’. During the ‘dry’ season (typically from the beginning of March until the middle of October), temperatures get increasingly hotter through the summer months. The east wind blows strong and constant until the middle of September and the weather tends to be hot and humid from then until the rains begin, although each day is different.

‘Rainy’ season sees rain in varying amounts from the end of October until mid to late February most years. That means cooler temperatures and does not necessarily mean that there will be rain every day. Typically, it will rain once a day and then clear up or there could be a two to three day period where it will rain constantly, or there may be no rain at all. it is different each week.

See the information on the“Travel to Utila” page and also the “Weather” in Utila page to find out about the seasons and storm patterns for the island of Utila.

Can I Scuba Dive During Rainy Season ?

Yes, you can! Rain doesn’t stop the dive boats or the divers on Utila. Typically, the weather is wet underwater all year (ha)!

Visibility underwater may be reduced some during rainy season especially right after a storm that had strong wind, but it usually becomes clear again within a day of the storm passing.

Rarely do dive boats get cancelled due to weather. There has to be a serious storm with very strong winds for the Port Captain of Utila to prohibit boats to leave the harbor and if this happens once a year, it is rare.

Bring a light sweater and a rain jacket on the dive boat to stay warm between dives during rainy season if you’re the type that tends to get cold easily.

Will I See A Whale Shark?

Yes, it is possible you will see a whale shark if you spend the time to go looking for them specifically. You could get very lucky and see one the very first time you try, but for others, it might take a few tries to have their first encounter.

The dive boat captains will look for whale sharks between dives during surface intervals or after dives if they hear from other boat captains that the whale sharks have been spotted in the area. There are specific charter companies in Utila that take customers out looking for whale sharks that have fairly high success rates.

Ask around and stay updated on whale shark reports so you know when to jump on a boat at the last minute to go searching for the most amazing encounter with nature you may ever have.

Whale Sharks have been seen in the water around Utila all year round but it is easier to spot them when the seas are relatively calm.

See our Whale Shark Page for more information and the rules of conduct you should follow around the big fish.

Do I Need to Reserve My Hotel Room or PADI Course in Advance?

The answer to this question depends on the season. Typically, the island gets really busy during the Easter week (Semana Santa), the week between Christmas and New Years, During Carnival in July and Sun Jam (First week of August). If you plan to be in Utila during those periods, yes, book your hotel room in advance to avoid disappointment. See our page on Hotels in Utila for more information.

PADI Scuba Diving Courses typically start every day of the week at all the dive shops so you shouldn’t have to book those in advance HOWEVER, if you are short on time OR plan to do a PADI Professional Dive Course you should contact your dive shop of choice before hand to ensure secure your spot on the course.

I Want To Do Volunteer Work While Visiting Utila-Who Should I Contact?

There are a few opportunities for volunteer work on Utila depending on who you would like to volunteer with:

Children of Utila is an organization that started Utila’s first library for children and helps to pay for under privileged kids to go to school by helping out with school fees, uniforms and school supplies; the Federal School of Utila as well as the Methodist Bi-lingual school and Adventist School are always looking for tutors in English and math and certified teachers. Children of Utila can direct you to the schools or you can ask about how to find them when you arrive.

If you prefer to spend your time helping furry four legged creatures, Jasper’s Utila Animal Shelter could be the place for you.

If you are into conservation and research you could work with the Utila Iguana Station, Kanahua, BICA (Bay Islands Conservation Authority), or WSORC (Whale Shark and Oceanic Research Center).

Your Dive Shop or Hotel may have an affiliation with an organization on the island so ask them or they can put you in touch with one of the above organizations.

If you feel like you want to bring something with you to leave in Utila for people of need, kids books in English and Spanish are always appreciated at the schools as are basic school supplies.