Things to do in Bay Islands
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Munchies
Located on the 1st floor of an island home built in 1864, this restaurant has a great Caribbean vibe, with pleasant outdoor seating on the front porch and at the back. The menu is a bit limited, but includes good vegetarian options and big breakfasts, which keeps it busy with travelers.
reviewed
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Alton’s Dive Center
Longtime local shop – ‘Alton’ is Alton Cooper, Utila’s mayor until 2010 – with good equipment and a laid-back atmosphere. Courses include four night’s accommodation – in little, basic, cold-water rooms right at the shop – and two fun dives. The service can be a bit hit and miss. It also offers NAUI courses.
reviewed
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Driftwood Café
A way’s west of the ferry dock, this ‘yachtie’ hangout has decent pub grub. Try the ‘Monkeyball, ’ made with home-crafted Kahlua and a few other secret ingredients.
reviewed
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Diving Sites
Roatán has dozens of dive sites and most shops do a good job of making sure divers who buy multi-dive packages don't end up going to the same place again and again. If there's a site you are keen to try, don't be afraid to ask. At the same time, weather and water conditions dictate most site selection, and some dives aren't practical or diveable for days at a time.
Some favorites - among many, many others - include: Mary's Place: fissures in the coral form a deep, sheer-faced maze at this one-of-a-kind site. Winding through, you'll likely see jacks, lobsters and crabs, and huge schools of silversides; near the mooring, keep an eye out for seahorses. Mary's Place is near …
reviewed
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RJ’s BBQ
Huge, cheap, well-prepared dishes attract a crowd here – it’s lucky for the other restaurants in town that RJ’s is only open three days a week. Choose from barbecued chicken, wahoo, kingfish, pork or beef, all of which are served with mashed potato and salad. The selections are written on a chalk board near the cash register, and erased one by one as the night wears on and the food runs out. Needless to say, come early. It’s across from Alton’s Dive Shop.
reviewed
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Cross Creek
Owned by the Utila Diver Center, Cross Creek is a bit more expensive, but has friendly multilingual staff and professional instruction. Breakfast and accommodation are included with an Open Water course, and the rooms are some of our favorites on the island. All guests can use the big, shared kitchen and lounge.
reviewed
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Beach House
This is a fine hotel, but they’re simply overpriced – the last, spectacularly so.
reviewed
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Roatán Institute for Deepsea Exploration
The Roatán Institute for Deepsea Exploration is the fancy name for an American kid with a homemade submarine, which he uses to take tourists into the deep-sea trenches just off Roatán’s north shore. This is one of only two operations in the world that take Joe Public deeper than 91m. And the Idabel, as the sub is called, goes much deeper than that – more than 610m down, for as long as seven hours. There is no vegetation after 91m (and no light after 520m) and only the strangest of life forms: bioluminescent sponges, swimming sea cucumbers, six-gilled sharks, all amid huge limestone boulders and fossilized coral formations. The sub’s creator, Karl Stanley, got into sub…
reviewed
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Roatán Marine Park
Thousands of divers and snorkelers come every year to explore the magnificent reefs just a few yards offshore. Three dive schools operate at the western end where there's excellent snorkeling, though the reef is starting to show damage.
Avoiding contact with the coral is extremely important. Coral has an invisible covering of slime that protects it, much like skin on other animals. Touching the coral can damage this protective covering, exposing it to infection and disease. Large segments of coral can be killed by a single brush of a diver's fin.
Under ideal conditions, most coral grows about 1cm (less than half an inch) per year; even the fastest growing sponges grow onl…
reviewed
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Whale Shark & Oceanic Research Center
Based out of the Bay Island College of Diving, the Whale Shark & Oceanic Research Center is one of the only programs in Honduras that is 100% dedicated to advanced whale shark research. Divers and snorkelers can participate in various whale shark programs, ranging from one-time shark-spotting trips (L$1026 per person without snorkel gear), to in-depth three- to six-day courses on theory, ecology and research methods, plus training in spear guns and whale identification. There are plans to offer internship and summer camp programs as well. Just visiting the WSORC office is fascinating, with its numerous displays about whale shark biology, identification, safe diving practi…
reviewed
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Central American Spanish School
Utila isn’t the most logical place in the world to take Spanish classes – most of the locals speak English – but all of the professors at the Central American Spanish School are native speakers from La Ceiba, and there are more and more mainland transplants working and living here. Homestays aren’t available yet, but with a little effort you should have no trouble finding people to practice your skills on. Classes are offered for all levels, usually one-on-one, four hours per day, five days per week. All books and materials are included, along with five hours of internet access per week, and the school can help arrange long-term lodging. It’s opposite Rubi’s Inn.…
reviewed
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Carambola Botanical Gardens
Across the road from Anthony’s Key Resort, the Carambola Botanical Gardens has well-maintained trails through 40 acres of protected forest, extending up a hillside known as Carambola Mountain. It’s about 1km to the ‘summit, ’ where you can see all the way to Utila on a clear day and, at the right time, down into the dolphin show at Anthony’s Key Resort. Along the trail you’ll encounter dozens of species of native plants, including orchids, spice plants, medicinal plants and fruit trees. You’ll also pass Iguana Wall, a cliff favored by iguanas and parrots, as well as remnants of pre-Colombian settlements. Reservations are required for guided tours.
reviewed
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Gumbalimba Park
GumbalimbaPark, a family recreation park, has something for everyone: beach, kayaking, canopy tour, snorkeling, SNUBA, nature path, botanical garden, monkey and bird enclosures, and, of course, restaurants and gift shops. Aimed squarely at cruise-shippers, it can still be a fun outing for independent travelers with kids. The park is only open to the general public on days when there are no cruise ships on the island. Even more strange, the park does not have set individual admission prices – they negotiate package deals with cruise ship companies – so be sure to call the day you plan to go to see what the fee is. It’s a 10-minute walk north on the beach from West Bay.…
reviewed
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Yübu – the Garífuna Experience
Yübu – The Garífuna Experience is an utterly artificial cultural center that was built as a tourist trap for cruise-shippers, and which seems to be working its magic perfectly well. The experience begins with a 30- to 35-minute historical talk about the Garífuna’s beginnings and their brutal passage to Roatán. After that, a dance demonstration ought to be uplifting, but the dancers are obviously not having much fun. You can also shop in the gift shop, learn to make casabe (a traditional yucca flatbread) or eat Garífuna specialties at the small comedor, but the food, like the overall experience, is pretty bland.
reviewed
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Mary's Place
Fissures in the coral form a deep, sheer-faced maze at this one-of-a-kind dive site. Winding through, you'll likely see jacks, lobsters and crabs, and huge schools of silversides; near the mooring, keep an eye out for seahorses. Mary's Place is near French Harbour, and is usually combined with another south-side dive and lunch at Hole in the Wall restaurant.
A one-time 10.00 park fee should be added to equipment hire. Please only use shops that are part of this effort - there's a list of member shops at the marine park's website. The money goes toward anti-poaching and reef protection programs. It costs a little more, but one dive will show you why it's so important.
reviewed
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Eddy & Danny Fishing Charter
At the far end of town, Eddy & Danny Fishing Charter is a friendly family operation that takes groups trolling (for tuna, dorado, barracuda, and sometimes wahoo and marlin in season), deep-sea fishing (for grouper, and snapper) and flat fishing (catch-and-release bone fish). On a full-day trip (L$6650 to L$11,400 depending on the boat), you can combine different types of fishing, and even stop for snorkeling or lunch on a deserted beach. Half-day trips cost from L$3800 to L$6650. At the end of the day, you can have your catch cooked up, along with potatoes, garlic bread and veggies, for an extra L$100 per person.
reviewed
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Bite on the Beach
Perched on a rocky outcrop at the north end of the beach, this was West Bay’s second establishment, and the first restaurant, when it opened in 1996. (How times have changed!) The friendly American owners, who took over in 2001, serve an eclectic menu, from hamburgers and blue-cheese-and-sundriedtomato chicken to Thai curry and conch soup. Its large garden salads are made with vegetables from Roatán’s hydroponics garden, and the key lime pie is divine. The view isn’t too shabby either – from the restaurant’s raised two-level eating area, the bay and ocean spread out below you, both endlessly blue.
reviewed
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Mayoka Lodge
For a couple of grand each, you and the other jurors can deliberate in style at this stunning six-bedroom, 1980-sq-meter beachfront home, surely one of the most beautiful houses (and most luxurious accommodations) in the whole country. Overlooking Sandy Bay, the home features a wine cellar, cigar humidor, infinity pool, flat-screen TVs, multilingual book and DVD library, pool and poker tables, tennis courts, kayaks, sea scooters, wireless internet, maid, chef and chauffeur service…the list goes on and on. Rates include meals and most drinks, but not taxes.
reviewed
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Roatán Museum & Dolphin Show
This smallish historical center has displays spanning island history from prehistoric times and Mayan occupation to Columbus' arrival and the beginning of the colonial period. There's also a resident population of some 20 bottlenose dolphins. It's worth checking out the dolphin show held twice daily.
You can sign up for one of several programs; from the Dolphin Beach Encounter where you wade and interact with a single dolphin in waist-deep water to a Dolphin Snorkel or Dolphin Dive, which include interacting with a group of dolphins in the open water.
reviewed
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Roatán Butterfly Garden
Lady Slipper, Queen and Sunset Langwings, Helicopter, Common Owl and Orange Dog are just a few of the 30-plus species of moths and butterflies at the Roatán Butterfly Garden, a 900-sq-meter enclosure a few hundred meters from the West End turn-off. The best time to visit is noon or early afternoon, when the sun is hottest and the butterflies are most active. The garden also has a large collection of orchids and other tropical plants, as well as bird enclosures with keel billed toucans, collared aracari and several species of parrots.
reviewed
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Lighthouse Restaurant
Everyone loves an inside tip, and Lighthouse Restaurant is that easy-to-miss ‘secret spot’ that hoteliers like to recommend to their guests. It’s pricy, but has great views and a landed-elite British Caribbean feel. The coconut prawns and Thai-style seafood bowl are reliable, and the daily specials usually have some intriguing items. The setting is the real highlight: it’s hidden from the main road and (amazingly enough) is one of only a couple of restaurants with seating right on the water. Service is a bit hit and miss. It’s near Mavis and Dixie’s.
reviewed
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Hiking
A loop starting in West End heading to Flowers Bay, then continuing south almost to the tip of the island, over the ridge to West Bay and back up the beach to West End, makes a good five- to six-hour hike. Tack on a couple of hours enjoying the beach at West Bay, and it's a whole day's excursion. For a shorter trek, simply do the West End-Flowers Bay leg - when you reach the ridge, look out over both sides of the island.
In either case, bring plenty of water to stay hydrated and adequate repellent to ward off the numerous ticks and sand flies.
reviewed
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Iguana Research & Breeding Station
A scientific center that is open to the public, the Iguana Research & Breeding Station is dedicated to studying, protecting and breeding the island’s endangered iguana, known locally as ‘swamper’ or ‘wishiwilly’. Overhunting of eggs and development on the island has led to the iguanas’ near demise. Visitors get a tour of the research station, learn about the species and see lots of wishiwillies. If you’re interested in volunteering, check the website for information.
reviewed
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Yaba Ding Ding
Located on the ground floor of a two-story commercial center next to HB Warren, this friendly shop has a surprisingly complete selection of Honduran artesanía, including Lenca pottery, Garífuna paintings, glasswork from Tegucigalpa, junco baskets from Santa Barbara, even some talavera dishes and clay masks from El Salvador for good measure. Also on display – but not for sale – are several pieces of yaba ding ding, an island term for pre-Colombian artifacts.
reviewed
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Thompson’s Café Bakery
Don’t leave Utila without stopping here at least once to try the famous Johnny cakes – a doughy biscuit that is like manna from heaven when fresh from the oven and smeared with butter. For something heartier, have it with egg and ham: a Ferrari to the Egg McMuffin’s Pinto. Thompson’s opens early (and starts baking even earlier) so you can snag breakfast before an early dive. Good egg-and-bean breakfasts, fresh bread and cinnamon roles are also served.
reviewed
