RE/MAX Beach in Utila is pleased to announce: HGTV (Home and Garden Television), will be featuring Utila once again in a new episode of Caribbean Life that will air this Sunday, January 8 at 8:30pm Central time. The Episode is called ‘Homegrown Living on Utila’. Check out the episode description on the HGTV website and tune in on Sunday to watch a lovely family search for the Caribbean island home of their dreams!
The dates have been set and the show will go on! Utila Carnaval 2016 is scheduled to begin on Thursday the 21st of July and will have events throughout the days and nights until Saturday the 23rd of July. The culminating parade and street party will begin the afternoon of the 23rd through the Main Street of Utila. Get your float ready, dust off your beads and prepare to party-Carnaval style!
The Home and Garden Television Network loved Utila so much that they came back to film an episode of the popular program: House Hunter’s International which will be viewed around the world! RE/MAX Beach (Formerly known as Utila Realty), and other local businesses hosted the film crew while they worked on getting footage for the show. Tune in on Wednesday, May 20 at 9:30 pm Central time (Utila), or 10:30 pm Eastern time zone to get a glimpse of Utila from the prospective of a couple who decides to purchase property here after retiring early in Canada. There will be a repeat of the program again on the 21st of May at 12:30 am Central time (Utila), or 1:30 am Eastern Time Zone.
Ring in the New Year in Tropical Paradise! The Funtime Society will be presenting a three day party to bid-farewell to 2014 and to welcome in 2015 in true party style. Bando Beach and Paradise Regained will be the venues for the three days of send-off and ushering in! December 30th at Bando Beach, December 31st at Paradise Regained (Past Bando Beach, follow the road around the bend and you will come to a property on the right with a long drive-way toward the sea and a house with a blue roof), and January 1, 2015 at Bando Beach once again! Venus are all within walking distance from town and taxi tuk-tuks are available all night long. The DJs lined up for this international event are: LOUD NEIGHBOR (US/AR); Alex Pastor (ES); Andrea Rivera (HN); Balto (HN); Edgar 8A (HN); Ed Cordoba (HN); Fernando Campollo (GT); Gabriel Gutierrez (NI); Gonzo Gonzo (GT); Hector Moran (ES); Klaus Ahlers (NI); Luis Maier (HN); Manny Soto (HN); Marcus Perigo (UK); Memo Baca (NI); Nahum Ortiz (HN); Nina Garay (HN); Ossy Games (HN); Ramon Pineda (HN); Xpansul (SP) Prices: TODAY ONLY (December 29th) LAST DAY FOR PRE-SALE: Buy Pre-Sale Tickets at Parrots Dive Center Read More
Utila On International TV The Home and Garden Television Channel (HGTV) has made the official announcement: The new program: “Half Price Paradise”, will be premiering HGTV on January 1st 2015 at 1pm Local Time! Tune-in to see some of your favourite Utila scenes, establishments and people and watch as new residents go through the decision making process of leaving their lives behind in the USA and purchasing a home in and relocating to beautiful Utila! This episode was filmed in Utila in August 2014. The half-an-hour Episode all about Utila, will be shown on New Year’s Day at various venues around the island such as the Mango Inn Bar and Grill –ask around and reserve your seat!
Reducing and Eliminating the Use of Plastic in Utila On Wednesday, December 10th The Utila Municipality held the first meeting for the campaign to enforce a Honduran law which prohibits the use of plastic bags in the Bay Islands. This campaign will hopefully start to be implemented at the beginning of March 2015. Implementation and enforcement of the law is going to be a long process but it is certainly a project that will positively benefit Utila for years to come. Roatan is now in compliance with the law but It took their recycling committee approximately 2 years before it could be fully implemented. However, on the 6th of June, 2014 Roatan accomplished what they wanted: the use of plastic bags has now been banned on the Island of Roatan, and the island has limited the use of plastic soda bottles. Businesses, residents dive operators and the government of Roatan got involved in the process which is proving to be a success. Everyone needs to get involved in order to change outdated and detrimental habits. In Utila, implementation probably won’t take quite as long as it did in Read More
Utila, Live! The first music festival of its kind to be held in Utila at Bando Beach on Saturday 13th from 3pm until the early hours of the morning. Deemed a ‘new concept for Live Music on the island’ by the organizers, due to the variety of different live performances from artists descending from different genres. The acts range from Classic Rock to Rap and Heavy Metal to Blues. There will also be a DJ spinning Rock, Indie, Punk, Metal, Hip Hop and Funk on vinyl to keep energy levels high and the dance floor buzzing late into the night. Line-up of Musicians: RONNIE HARRIS (Blues and Metal) NAUSEA (Hip Hop / Rap) ALEX RENAUD (Indie) THE BAREFOOT BAND (Classic Rock) SANTI (DJ) 18.000 WATTS PEAVEY SOUND + PSYCHO LASER SHOW with Laser Master RUDY When asked about why they decided to organize a festival of this kind on Utila, one of the event organizers, Ryan Rother (owner of Skid Row Bar and Restaurant), replied: “We did this out of a need for diversity in music. The late night parties almost always Read More
Between August 18th and August 23rd 2014, the eighth annual Miss Honduras Universe contest will be hosted in Utila at the New Convention Centre across from the football stadium. This is the first time in History that a contest of this type and scale has been hosted in the Bay Islands. Utilas event representative Dra. Ana Muñoz explained that the island was chosen for the venue for the Miss Honduras Universe contest first and foremost because “the organizers of the pageant were really impressed by the Utila Organization ‘Fight Like A Girl’, and wanted to support it. They also visited Utila and immediately fell in love with the beauty of the island, the bohemian style and feel of the island and of course they liked the fact that it is safe”. There are 18 contestants in the pageant, one woman who is the representative for each of the 18 departments of Honduras. The actual pageant will be held just one evening on August 23rd, however, the contestants will be on the island for the week prior to the big night, lodging at the Laguna Beach Resort and participating in many of the different activities that Utila has to offer Read More
Sunjam 2014 is upon us and the warm up parties have been in full swing around the island of Utila with another party set to begin later today and going until tomorrow morning at Bando Beach. Sunjam is an annual techno music beach party held at Water Cay off of the South western tip of the main island of Utila. This year the 18th edition of Sunjam will held from dusk until well past dawn on August 2. Reserving the first weekend in August since 1996 Sunjam has become one of the most popular techno venues in Central America. Warm up parties are held at various locations around the main island of Utila and begin one week before the all-night party is scheduled to commence on Water Cay. Sunjam Beach Party Water Cay is an uninhabited and serene, privately owned 3 acre island, accessible by boat only. Complete with waving coconut and palm trees, whispering pine trees and home to many thousands of hermit crabs and a large sand bar. During the day, snorkeling, swimming and sunbathing are wonderful and relaxing activities to partake in at Water Cay. However, for one 24 hour period a year, this tranquil piece of Read More
Teaching a trade is an excellent way to give back to the youth and community of Utila in the Bay Islands, Honduras. Utila Bay Islands Trade School is providing that opportunity for instructors and students and creating a path to the future.
By Jennifer Orrange of Utila Guide In an effort to create positive information aimed at tourists arriving in Utila, a collaboration of Conservation organizations resulted in the creation of informative posters that were distributed to places of business throughout the island during the first week of June. The project, funded by the UCF (The Utila Conservation Fund) ,which is a partnership between the Utila Municipality, Coral Reef Alliance, BICA (Bay Islands Conservation Association), the Iguana Station and the WSORC (Whale Shark Oceanic and Research Center), was to design and distribute a method for providing positive advice on responsible tourism practices. The Utila project was inspired by the banners which greet visitors to the island of Roatan which inform people that they are entering a unique and special place and that they need to be aware of and responsible for their actions and their impact on the surrounding environment. The collaborative group (UCF), hopes that the Utila poster campaign will also generate a perception of ownership and create a sense of empowerment within the local community- by encouraging locals and residents to identify themselves as belonging to and coming from a protected area and instilling a passion to protect what Read More
By Jennifer Orrange On June 15, 2014 a Second Annual outdoor music event will take place at Neptune’s Restaurant at Coral Beach Village on Utila’s South Shore. Following the success of last year’s event, organizers have put together this year’s festival called “Footstock”, to celebrate the music of local talent as well as the music of the ‘Cayman’s Cowboy’ Andy Martin, and fellow Caymanian ‘Barefoot Man’.Last year’s charity event was a big success according to coordinator Nick Nowak, President and CEO of Coral Beach Village, Utila. “Last year (2013) was our first time doing this event and it was very well received. We were also able to raise almost $2,000 to benefit BICA (Bay Islands Conservation Association). We hope to increase the number of guests this year in order to raise even more money to help benefit BICA”. After costs all profits from the sale of tickets to Foot Stock are going directly to the conservation association.Approximately 450 people attended the South Shore concerts last year Read More
Underwater Vision in Utila Honduras is now a PADI 5 Star IDC Resort! This means they offer full Instructor Development courses (IDCs) as well as their full Divemaster Internship program which precedes the IDC, and of course all their regular open water and up training. If you are looking to get your scuba training, Utila is a great place to do it, and now with Underwater Vision you can go all the through to Instructor. Instructor Development Courses with PADI Silver-Rated Course Director Diego Frank (who we love!) are offered monthly. Contact Information: e-mail: uwv_utila@hotmail.com Web Address: www.utilascubadiving.com Facebook page and their Facebook page for Instructor Development Courses (IDCs) A little more from the folks at Underater Vision: About: Underwater Vision PADI 5 Star IDC Resort in Utila, Honduras is an award-wining, friendly, family-owned and operated dive centre. We offer accommodation to fit every budget and world-class diving instruction! History: The Cooper Family has been running Hotel Trudy since the early 1970’s and their ancestors were among the original European settlers on the island of Utila. You are sure to become an extended member of the family as soon as you put your bag down and will learn a lot about the history of Read More
Parrots Dive Center has updated their webpage: www.parrotsdivecenter.com Offering fun dive packages, PADI Instruction from Open Water through Divemaster , and an affordable waterfront hotel! Check them out and get infected!
Utila Carnival 2012 – July 16-22! Utila Carnival 2012 Utila Carnival (Carnaval de Utila) 2012 will take place July 16-22, 2012. The Carnival is a multiday event, starting with the election of the Carnival Queen and then continuing with beach and street parties throughout the island of Utila, including areas of Chepes Beach, Sandy Bay, The Point, and Cola Mico. Final grand celebration is Saturday, with the parade through town in the morning and big party on the beach in the evening. Make your plans now for a fun filled celebration week in Utila! ______________________________ Pre-Events Sunday June 17: Fundraiser and Election of Carnival Queen, Chepes Beach Sunday June 24: Utila Carnaval Fundraiser on Chepe’s Beach! Bring the family for a day at the beach. We will have bike, kayak, and three-legged Races, sand castle building contest, and more. There will be prices for 1st, 2nd and 3rd places. And lot of foods and drinks [important]Sunday July 1st, 2012: Carnaval Fundraiser at the Big Football Game at the Concord Baseball field. Starts at 9:00 AM. Come bring the family out for fun day and help support the football game! The Carnaval will be selling food and drinks for the Read More
Sandy Cay, Utila in the Bay Island of Honduras is featured in the Chicago Tribune Dec 3, 2010! Watch out- the secret is getting out! Utila has been in the press quite a bit this year, and following in that, the Chicago Tribune recently had a nice long article on Sandy Cay, Utila!
We are lucky to have Lady Diver Magazine with us on Utila for a while! Follow this fun blog documenting Lady Diver’s experiences with the different SCUBA dive shops of Utila. Featured so far are Parrots Dive Shop and Deep Blue Resort-. More to come! https://ladydivermagazine.com/2010/05/28/fun-times-in-the-bay-islands/
-PUBLIC NOTICE- UTILA VISIT OF AEROMEDICAL SERVICES HELICOPTER Everybody is welcome to inspect the Aeromedical Services S.A. Sikorsky S62A helicopter and talk with its crew during its goodwill visit to Utila and Cays on Wednesday 2nd June 2010. Aeromedical Services (AMS) is a medical air ambulance service available exclusively to AMS members residing in the Bay Islands. AMS is not a helicopter or aircraft charter service. Come along and learn how membership in AMS can provide a safety net in times of medical emergency. Estimated Time of Arrivals – There will be 3 Stops: Utila Cays at 09:30 South Shore-Coral beach at 13:00 Airport at 15:30 For more information, email aeromedservices.s.a@westnet.com.au (but please come to landing and we will answer all questions)
UtilaGuide.com is now tweeting! Follow us at at https://twitter.com/UtilaGuide or click on the Twitter image to get updated information on the Utila, new articles, photos, and more! We are new to Twitter, so certainly welcome any feedback too!
By now you probably know that Utila, Honduras has great diving and snorkeling and very affordable rates. But is there anything else to do on the island? You bet! Utila has a host of other activities, including kayaking, kite-surfing, windsurfing, swimming, horse-back riding, hiking, cave exploring, float in a float tank, visit with the locals, go to the Cays, and much more! Take some time and explore the rest of Utila- see our page on the Utila Guide called “Activities” or copy and past this URL : https://www.utilaguide.com/Utila_Guide_Announcements/activities/activities/ Feel free to contact us if you need more details on any of the activities.