Travelling to Utila, Honduras is a great way to soak up a bit of Carribean sun for a fraction of the price of other islands. If I’m being honest, when I arrived in Utila I was a bit surprised at how little there is to do if you’re not diving. After a few days, I accepted that as part of its appeal. There’s not much to do and how lovely is that!
If you are looking for things to do, here is a list of things that I found on my stay. Although most are some form of diving or relaxing, isn’t that kind of the point of the Carribean?
1. Learn to SCUBA dive or do some fun dives
Diving has to be Utila’s number one thing to do. There is an abundance of dive sites right off the coast, with some amazing coral formations and marine life. The island also boasts some of the cheapest dive packages in the world so if you’re looking to learn or upskill, Utila is the place. Most of the other travellers on the island that you meet will be doing some sort of dive training or fun diving package. While diving isn’t for everyone, I really do think you would be missing out if you came to Utila and didn’t at least give it a go. If you don’t want to do a qualification, ask a dive center about doing a discovery dive. I’ve written another post about Utila with some recommendations for dive shops, so if you’re interested, give it a read here.
2. Go snorkelling
For those who don’t want to dive, snorkelling is a great option to see the reef. There are some small reefs that you can swim our to from the shore or you could ask at one of the dive centers to organise a trip to some of the snorkelling sites further out.
3. Learn to free dive
Another diving option is to learn to free dive. As you walk through town you will see signs for Freedive Utila. I personally haven’t done this, but the sport is growing in popularity and the beautiful marine sites around Utila would be a great place to learn. They also offer training packages that include accommodation.
4. Spend the day at one of the islands beautiful beaches
If you’ve decided to rent a vehicle, you will be able to access some of the quieter, more rugged beaches in Utila. If not, you can walk to Chepes beach from town in about 15 minutes. Chepes beach is a free public beach with crystal clear water. There are sheltered tables that you can wade out to which make this place pretty special. Take a few drinks and enjoy sunset waist-deep in the Carribean.
5. Take a trip to Neptune’s
For a relaxing day on Utila, take a trip to Neptune’s. Neptune’s is a bar and restaurant located outside of town. It has everything you need for a chilled day – hammocks, bar, restaurant, lounge chairs and showers. They have a dock that you can jump off and do some of the best snorkelling on the island.
To get there, you need to take a boat. The boat access is normally near the Blue Bayou docks, but they are currently closed for renovations. Currently the boat is leaving from behind Chepes Beach. According to some posts online, the boat used to be free however now it costs 80 Lempira for a return ticket. It’s still definitely worth the trip!
6. Go kayaking or stand up paddle boarding in the mangroves
This is a pretty cool activity to do and takes you inland away from the crowds. We were able to use kayaks from our dive center, but there are places with signs to rent them around Main Street. In the mangroves you can spot lots of different bird life. Bring snorkels and you can paddle out to do some snorkelling.
7. Visit the island’s only private beach – Bando beach
Bando beach is a 20 minute walk or a couple of dollars in a tuk tuk from town. If you’re not staying at the accommodation, you need to pay 50 Lempira in cash to visit. There is a restaurant and bar there that accept card payments, however the entry is cash only. It’s a nice place to spend a few hours relaxing in the hammocks under the palm trees. There are also a couple of decent snorkelling spots to swim out to.
8. Take a day trip to Water Cay
Heading out to Water Cay is a must when in Utila. Water Cay is uninhabited, has turquoise water and white sand. The island doesn’t have much in the way of facilities, so make sure you bring everything you need to enjoy your day- food, drinks, sunscreen and protective clothing.
Day trips can be organised through Bush’s on Main Street. It is best to have a bit of flexibility with when you want to go as boats won’t leave unless they have 6 passengers. If there isn’t a boat scheduled, you can put your name down and they will text you when it is available.
9. Eat baleadas
Food is always a highlight of travel for me, and baleadas took the cake in Honduras. A baleada is sort of like Honduras’ take on the taco. They’re large, flour tortillas spread with refried beans, cheese, sometimes cream, and whatever additional filling you choose. They are available everywhere in Utila and I didn’t have one that wasn’t delicious.
10. Hire a bike/scooter/golf buggy/ATV and explore the island
You can’t rent a car on Utila so renting a scooter, golf buggy or ATV is a great way to get around the island and tick a few attractions of your list. And let’s face it, it’s way more fun than a car! With an ATV you’ll be able to get out to some of the more remote parts of the island and explore at your own pace. Some of the roads are pretty hairy, so make sure you’re confident riding whatever you hire. As with renting any vehicle any where in the world, it’s always a good idea to take pictures of any pre-existing damage so you don’t get stuck paying for something you didn’t do.
11. Hike up Pumpkin Hill for a view of the island
Pumpkin Hill is the highest point on Utila and the only place that you can get a nice view of the island. You can take a tuk tuk to the start of the trail, but you will have to finish the way on foot. It’s a short hike, but probably better to do it early in the morning or late in the afternoon when the sun isn’t so intense.
Not yet arrived in Utila? Check out my guide to everything you need to know before you go!
Looking for more inspiration for travelling in Central America?
Check out these posts:
The best things to do in Antigua, Guatemala
Acatenango volcano hike – a bucket list experience!
