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Utila, Honduras

Pawel Jaworski

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Although smaller than Guanaja, Utila does have a paved road, a few cars and air service from La Ceiba, which is just 18 mi/28 km away on the mainland. There's also ferry service to La Ceiba. People get around the island mostly by bicycle or on foot. Beaches are scarce, although there are some small beaches reachable by boat that have good sand. The tallest point is Pumpkin Hill, about 200 ft/60 m high. It's said that pirates once stashed their loot in the caves on the hill.

Utila used to be better known for fishing than diving, but that's changing as more dive shops are opening. Many of them offer very inexpensive certification courses. If you're interested, exercise caution in selecting a program. If booked through a known dive operator, the course should be safe. If not, check with the Honduras Institute of Tourism on Utila to make sure the course meets all safety standards. Diving is good right offshore, or make use of a boat to see exotic fish, sponges and canyons. One of Utila's claims to fame is that it offers divers and snorkelers an excellent opportunity to see whale sharks, the world's largest fish. Though they may be spotted at any time, they are most abundant August-October. Anglers can enjoy both offshore and flats fishing, with marlin, permit, tarpon and bonefish being the quarry. The fish populations are reported to be back to normal since the hurricane.