Utila Iguana Station Releases Juveniles!

Watching the volunteers Mayra and Sarah prepare breakfast for the Iguanas with bright red hibiscus blossoms and papayas was a great way to start  the morning…   I was at the Utila Iguana Research and Breeding Station (IRBS), preparing to venture out for a day trip, with their Coordinator and Biologist Andrea Martinez, and two other volunteers, Sophie and Genevieve.   The focus of the day was the release of a batch of year-old  Spiny Tailed  Iguana (Ctenosaura bakeri), also known as “The Swamper”, or “WishiWilly”.  This iquana species is an endangered species that lives in the Mangrove forests of Utila. It is also is an endemic species to the island, meaning it is ONLY found on Utila.  We were off to “Iron Bound”, an area they refer to which is to the West of Pumpkin Hill and to the East of Rock Harbor- also an area that I had somehow never explored during my years here in Utila.   So when Angela Randazzo, the Director of the Iguana Station, made the offer to come join her team for the day, I jumped at it.   As we made the trek (about 1.5 hour from the station; 1 hour from the first turn off to Pumpkin Hill), I noted how good it felt to be out hiking in Utila.  Most of my free time is spent Read More

How’s the Weather on Utila?

Hows the Weather on Utila? We’ve just updated our Utila  Weather page on www.Utilaguide.com! You’ll find great tools, information, and links for weather forecasting, storm forecasting, satellite imagery and more!  Take a look at https://www.utilaguide.com/general/weather/

Utila Trash Festival 2010 This Week!

Utila Trash Festival 2010 is here and needs your support! Help  clean Utila and the Utila Cays!    Organized by the  Utila Iguana Station and the newly formed  Utila Chamber of Tourism, with organized Beach Cleanning and Underwater Cleaning. Your time is needed- We still have Thursday, Friday and Saturday!  See details on flier below or call the Iguana Station oat 425-3946. Give some love to Utila!!

Utila island featured in June ’10 Sport Diver Magazine!

Utila got a nice PR plug from Sport Diver Magazine (www.sportdiver.com) this month! Pick up an issue and take a look at page 22!  Featured Utila businesses include Deep Blue Resort, Utila Iguana Station, Cafe Mariposa, Laguna Beach Resort, Utopia Dive Village, Utila Lodge, Utila Dive Center, and Treetanic Bar!   You can link find this article online, but since some folks said it can be a bit tricky to find,  the folks at Utila Realty sent us this photo image they scanned, so you can view it easier: Thanks Sport Diver Magazine!

Lady Diver visits Utila SCUBA Dive shops!

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/

Follow Utila Guide on Twitter!

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!

Whale Sharks in Utila

Whale Sharks?   Yeah, we got ’em! (Tiburones Ballena? Sí, las tenemos!). Utila is now known as being the “Whale Shark Capital of the Caribbean”, and is famous for divers and snorkelers encountering the Whale Shark. The whale shark can  grow to over 40 feet (12 meters) and is commonly seen around Utila at sizes between 5m and 10m (18ft and 32ft), weighing around 15 – 20 tons.  Despite its large size, because the whale shark is a plankton eater /filter feeder, it poses absolutely no threat to humans. One of the reasons that Whale Sharks are such an draw on Utila is that its one of the few places in the world where a Whale Shark will frequently pass close to shore and can be seen year round.  To learn more about these magnificent creatures, click on on Whale Shark Viewing Page

Activities in Utila

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.

Connecting Flights to Utila

Yes, it is possible to fly all the way into Utila!  Here’s what you need to know for connecting flights to Utila: A) Flights connect from San Pedro Sula (SAP) to Utila, on Monday, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays with SOSA airlines at 2:30pm.  You can book these directly with SOSA airlines, but we suggest going through Frank at Morgan’s Travel or Alice at Worldwide Travel. B) Please note that there are NO connecting flights to Utila from San Pedro Sula on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays. On these days you can either stay in San Pedro Sula, or fly/bus/taxi to La Ceiba and stay the night there to catch the 9:30am Utila Princess ferry the next morning. C) From La Ceiba (LCE), you can you can catch the 10am or 4pm Utila Princess ferry to Utila. The other option is to arrange a charter flight (not as expensive as you think) through Guanaja Air or Celine. Both can be arranged through Frank at Morgan’s Travel or Alice at Worldwide Travel. Bottom Line:  Your best bet is to get an international flight that arrives into San Pedro Sula (SAP) before about 12noon on Mon, Wed, Fri, or Saturdays.  That will give you Read More

Float Tank on Utila? Yes!

We Welcome Float Utila!  Not familiar with floating? It is one of the best means to achieve extreme relaxation and physical well-being.  What is a Floatation Tank? Floating in a flotation tank is a way of achieving extreme well-being.  Essentially, you spend an hour or so lying quietly in the dark, suspended in a warm solution of Epsom salt about eleven inches (twenty-seven centimeters) deep and so dense that you float effortlessly.  Flotation tanks are also known as isolation tanks, salt water spas, sensory deprivation tanks, and REST chambers.Flotation REST, also known as floating, was developed in America. REST stands for Restricted Environmental Stimulation Therapy/Technique. You float in a salt water solution in a specially designed tank, which resembles a large, enclosed bathtub.  The tank is built so that all outside distractions such as sight, sound, tactile sensations, and gravity are eliminated. The water is warmed to 35.5 degrees centigrade With reasonable prices, and very friendly and informative hosts John and Amanda, Float Utila is a must do for your stay on Utila! For more on Float Utila, see their website at www.FloatUtila.com

Utila Classified Ads

Utila Classifeds are Ready to Go! This is a free service to the community- to buy/sell/trade items available on Utila or the Bay Islands or La Ceiba. We started this a few months back, but dusting it off and starting with all new posts along with the new format of UtilaGuide! Take a look at our page Utila Classified Ads to get started, and then contact us if you would like to post an item!

Gifts, Beachwear, Fishing Supplies, and Dive Gear

Need to get a pair of surf trunks, sunshirt, beach clothing, replace some snorkeling or scuba diving gear, pick up some souvenirs and gifts, or  grab some fly fishing or other fishing gear?  No problem!- Utila is host to a handful of shops that can help you find what you are looking for. Welcome new shops this past year include  Dive Shack Utila, Utila Dive Supplies,  Sand Beachwear, S&W Tackle, and then there are the long time stores of Bay Islands Originals, Di Gial Souvenirs, Gunters Driftwood Gallery among others. To see more about what these stores have to offer, take a look at our page under Gifts, Beach, and Dive Gear

Utila Princess Ferry; Ferry Between La Ceiba and Utila

Utila Princess Ferry Information to and from Utila: Utila Princess leaves 2 times a day from both La Ceiba and Utila Its quite easy to get to Utila from the mainland town of La Ceiba via the  Utila Princess Ferry. The Utila Princess is the only larger passenger ferry servicing Utila at this time, the route is Utila to La Ceiba and return. The cost is just over 400 lempiras, which is about $21 usd each way, and takes about 1 hour to travel the 18 miles by sea.    DAILY SCHEDULE: Depart Utila for La Ceiba: 6:20 am 2:00 pm Depart La Ceiba for Utila: 9:30 am 4:00 pm Reservations are not taken or necessary (unless you have a very large group) UtilaGuide.Com Tip: The ferry is extremely punctual- it really does leave on time!   Also, if its a busy holiday time like   For More Information on the Utila Princess Ferry, see our Utila Princess Ferry Page .

Getting From Roatan To Utila by Ferry

Its often asked, “Why is there  not a direct commercial ferry between Roatan and Utila”?  While we can’t answer that question directly,  the good news is there are indeed 2 routes that you can  choose for the Roatan to Utila ferry and Utila to Roatan ferry:  1) Coming on the scene last year to the happiness of many is Captain Vern– He makes daily runs between Utila and Roatan with his catamaran, Nina Elisabeth II. 2)  The second option is to do the “double ferry run”, taking the Utila Princess to La Ceiba, and connecting from La Ceiba to Roatan via the Roatan Galaxy Wave.  Full details for both of these routes can be found on our page Roatan Ferry   NOTICE: As of MAY 2010, Captain Vern is temporarily not making the Utila-Roatan-Utila run!  He hopes to get going again by mid June. Please contact him to confirm your plans!