Things you must do while in Utila!
Utila is Small Island in the Caribbean Sea, part of the Bay Islands of Honduras. It has slowly, but surely made inroads in the travel industry, and more and more people around the world are hearing about Utila and even traveling to this lovely island. Utila was under British rule until 1860, when the UK signed a treaty with Honduras, known as the Treaty of Comayagua that transferred the control of the Bay Islands to Honduras. Utilians are proud of their British heritage and to this day use English as their native language, despite the fact that Spanish is the official language in Honduras. Utila has carved a niche for itself in tourism as the most affordable spot in the world to get certified as a diver. Over a dozen PADI scuba schools compete to offer the best prices and deals to visitors from near and afar, deals include accommodations, from private rooms to dorm style facilities, and food and beer is extremely affordable across the island. However famous for its diving, there are other things you must do while in Utila other than getting your diving certification!
To get to Utila, you must travel to the coastal city of La Ceiba in Honduras, from where a ferry operates the La Ceiba to Utila route twice a day, with a departure at 9:30 a.m. and another one at 4:00 p.m. Generally speaking, Utila attracts a younger crowd, and although there are two specific activities that most visitors to Utila concentrate on: diving and partying, there is a lot more to do and see in Utila. There are several things that are usually overseen, and yet are things that you must do while in Utila! First of all, make sure you get to the Cays! This is a small community, located on a two small cays off the main island, on the southwest tip of Utila. It retains its unique personality, this small community offers a couple of places to stay in as well as some restaurants. Definitely a worthwhile day trip. You can also try to get out to Water Cay, a lovely uninhabited cay that is close by and offers the idyllic Caribbean setting that you have always dreamed of…
Although not part of Utila, one of the things you must to while in Utila is to visit the Cangrejal River Valley. This can easily be done as a day trip from Utila, departing on the morning ferry to La Ceiba and returning on the afternoon trip back to Utila. There are a couple tour operators that can provide the full service, (www.lamoskitia.hn & www.omegtours.info ) from meeting you at the ferry and providing transportation up the Cangrejal River Valley, where you can enjoy some magnificent World Class white water rafting, a great meal and some time to relax and enjoy the crystal clear waters of the Cangrejal River. While this full day tour is a great experience, nothing is equal to actually spending the night in this incredibly beautiful and natural setting. There are several inns and bed and breakfasts located in the area. One that has gotten raving reviews is La Villa de Soledad B&B. A lovely boutique style bed and breakfast located within walking distance of the best rafting, hiking and zip line options within the valley. It is a real shame that so many travelers visit Utila and totally miss out on the Cangrejal River experience. There is no doubt in my mind that one of things you must do while in Utila is to visit the Cangrejal River Valley.
