About the Bay Islands
Utila, the most western of the Honduran Bay Islands, is part of a chain of islands and smaller cays that join the cays of Belize, forming the second largest barrier reef zone in the world. Utila is easily accessible, either by a fifteen-minute plane flight, or by a one-hour ferryboat ride from the town of La Ceiba on the mainland. Major U.S. and Central American airlines fly from Miami, Atlanta, New Orleans, and Houston to the key Honduran cities of San Pedro Sula and Roatan, and smaller domestic flights then connect to La Ceiba and on to Utila.
Indigenous people originally settled Utila, and some artifacts from this period are still found. Later, the Bay Islands became a base for English pirates attacking Spanish galleons and were frequently visited by the notorious Captain Morgan. In the mid-1800s, a group of Welch immigrants settled Utila, and their descendants remain the dominant cultural group on the island. However, there has recently been increased settlement by Spanish-speaking Honduran nationals, Garifuna Indians, as well as European and American tourists, creating a vibrant multi-ethnic mix.
The climate in Utila is pleasantly warm during most of the year, with the predominant easterly winds moderating the tropical heat. There is little rain in the late spring and early summer, but the rest of the year is mostly sunny with occasional showers. Low-pressure fronts can reach Utila from the U.S. during the winter months, with stormy weather lasting for several days, but even during these months the skies are mostly clear and sunny. Utila is protected from most hurricanes by the eastern bulge of the Central American landmass, as these giant storms tend to travel from the southeast to northwest.
The economy of Utila was traditionally based on fishing. Due to their superb knowledge of the sea, many Utilian men have worked in sea-going occupations in various countries throughout the world. There is limited agricultural production on Utila due to limited land, although the island’s produce is known for its excellent quality. Most produce is imported from the mainland. Tourism has now become the leading economic activity on the island. Honduras’ democratic government encourages tourism.
There are many services available in the main town of Utila, including banks, clinic, stores, restaurants, hotels, dive shops, etc. There are several Internet cafes in the town of Utila and cell phone and satellite TV access are becoming common. The smaller village on the Utila Cays (a derivative of the Spanish word “Cayos” meaning small islands, pronounced “keys”) also has several hotels, restaurants, and Internet.
For more information about Utila and how to get there, we recommend the following website: http://www.utilaguide.com
Indigenous people originally settled Utila, and some artifacts from this period are still found. Later, the Bay Islands became a base for English pirates attacking Spanish galleons and were frequently visited by the notorious Captain Morgan. In the mid-1800s, a group of Welch immigrants settled Utila, and their descendants remain the dominant cultural group on the island. However, there has recently been increased settlement by Spanish-speaking Honduran nationals, Garifuna Indians, as well as European and American tourists, creating a vibrant multi-ethnic mix.
The climate in Utila is pleasantly warm during most of the year, with the predominant easterly winds moderating the tropical heat. There is little rain in the late spring and early summer, but the rest of the year is mostly sunny with occasional showers. Low-pressure fronts can reach Utila from the U.S. during the winter months, with stormy weather lasting for several days, but even during these months the skies are mostly clear and sunny. Utila is protected from most hurricanes by the eastern bulge of the Central American landmass, as these giant storms tend to travel from the southeast to northwest.
The economy of Utila was traditionally based on fishing. Due to their superb knowledge of the sea, many Utilian men have worked in sea-going occupations in various countries throughout the world. There is limited agricultural production on Utila due to limited land, although the island’s produce is known for its excellent quality. Most produce is imported from the mainland. Tourism has now become the leading economic activity on the island. Honduras’ democratic government encourages tourism.
There are many services available in the main town of Utila, including banks, clinic, stores, restaurants, hotels, dive shops, etc. There are several Internet cafes in the town of Utila and cell phone and satellite TV access are becoming common. The smaller village on the Utila Cays (a derivative of the Spanish word “Cayos” meaning small islands, pronounced “keys”) also has several hotels, restaurants, and Internet.
For more information about Utila and how to get there, we recommend the following website: http://www.utilaguide.com
