Is Utila safe? Honduras safety
Welcome to our Utila safety guide.
This tropical island is located just off the shores of Honduras, and is known for its world-class diving.
Utila has really risen to prominence in the last few decades, given it’s also home to some beautiful white sand beaches.
It’s arguably the most popular backpacking destination in all of Honduras too, and here you’ll find plenty of great value hostels and buzzing nightlife.
Utila Quick Summary:
- 📍 Where is it: Northern Honduras
- 🗺 Difficulty Getting There: Moderate
- ⏱ Time needed: 3-6 Days
- ☀️ Best Time to Visit: April/May
Is Utila Safe?
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore everything you’ll need to know about Safety in Utila as a backpacker or traveler.
We’ll look at all the different factors, our top safety tips, other useful information as well as an FAQ section where we answer your key questions.
We would advise any travelers who are thinking of heading to Utila to prepare properly before arriving, and to get in touch with us where we can offer more guidance.
Is Utila Safe Right Now?
Quick Answer: Many who are thinking of coming to this tropical paradise are often hesitant, given it’s formally located within Honduras (which by itself doesn’t have the best reputation for safety).
However Utila (and the other Bay Islands which are located off the coast of the mainland) feels like an entirely different world, with a really great reputation for safety. Given it’s small, has a more Caribbean feel, and also is a tourist hotspot, crime is actually quite rare here.
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Where to Stay in Utila
The majority of accommodations are found within the south-eastern portion of the island. This is where the town center is located, along with many restaurants, bars and dive shops.
Those staying on a budget will want to stay at Paradise Divers, which is a hostel located right next to the Caribbean Sea. Staying in a dorm room, they have a restaurant on-site and also offer a really great diving course. I (George) stayed here and learnt to dive with them – and personally vouch for them.
If you’re after a more luxurious experience, then you’ll want to stay at the Mango Inn Resort. Located just a couple of blocks from town, you’ll be right in nature and able to relax with its on-site swimming pool. All private rooms here include their own balcony and en-suite bathroom.
Things to do in Utila
This island really is a paradise for backpackers, and especially those who have been traveling along the mainland for several weeks (or months). Island life here is really laid-back, where you let your guard down, enjoy the more familiar atmosphere and lounge on picturesque beaches such as those of Bando Beach and Chepes Beach.
The main highlight on the island is diving, and here you’ll be close to one of the best diving spots in all of Latin America. It’s part of the Mesoamerican Reef, which is the second largest on earth. It’s a great place to learn if you haven’t already, and underwater you can spot everything from Angelfish and Sea Turtles to Nurse Sharks.
You’ll also find lots of tasty restaurants too, serving both international and local Honduran cuisine (we highly recommend eating Baleadas, which are cheap and really filling too).
Those are just some of the highlight that made us want to add Utila to our famous Central America backpacking route, so if you’re currently trip planning be sure to give that a whirl.
Is Utila Safe to Visit?
Utila Travel Warnings
As you may have already expected, there’s no major travel warnings for Utila, with this island continuing to be a really safe spot for travelers backpacking Central America.
You can come here and comfortably lower your guard, with both friendly locals and an inclusive scene both waiting for you.
Diving is a popular activity in Utila, so if you’re thinking of this then be sure to book with a reputable school. Other than that just use common sense, such as not getting black-out drunk and going for a swim, as well as drinking plenty of water to avoid dehydration.
Crime in Utila
Utila rarely has any crime happen, which is due to several reasons. The first is that the island is so small (less than 4000 inhabitants), so if something were to occur it would be easy to pick out who did it. And given Utila is heavily dependent on tourism, there would be pretty serious consequences too.
Pickpocketing and petty theft is the only real worry here, which again is rare but can still happen. Most likely victims are those who drank way too much and got stranded out by themselves, who end up remembering nothing (which makes for a perfect target).
Safety in Utila during the day
Daytime in Utila is really safe, which is similar to its neighboring diving-mecca island of Roatán. Not only is crime extremely rare here, there’s also little to really worry about when out and about.
Of course it’s an island so do take care when swimming, and also not to go for dips if you’ve been drinking heavily.
Rains can be quite random and heavy here, so just wait them out before heading out. And when it’s wet, be sure to take it easy on the ATV’s (since it can be much easier to crash given there’s less traction). Other things to keep in mind are regularly reapplying sunscreen and drinking lots of water.
Utila Safety at Night
Utila transforms during the night, where lazy day vibes are replaced with some pretty heavy scenes.
The main strip is relatively safe to walk around after dark, although it’s best not to get black-out drunk since it’s still possible to get robbed. If you do find yourself having had one too many, then get a friend to drop you back (or ask someone working at the bar to get a taxi for you).
The rest of the island is pretty safe to walk around, which is more peaceful compared to the main strip (and much safer in comparison with the Honduran mainland).
7 Safety Tips for Utila
Below we will list 7 of our top safety tips for when traveling to Utila.
Go Diving with a Reputable School
If you’re learning to dive for the first time, then you’ll probably be scratching your head when you arrive given there’s many options to choose from. I (George) learnt to dive with Paradise Divers and had a great experience, hence why I can personally vouch for them.
Keep Reapplying Sunscreen
The sun is really hot in this part of the Caribbean, and on Utila it’s really easy to burn if you’re not careful. We recommend keeping lotion on you (in your bag) and reapplying several times throughout the day.
Watch the Roads
Although Utila is really peaceful (especially compared with the rest of Honduras), the little traffic that does pass through the Main Street can be a little hectic. Just keep an eye out for the flurry of motorcycles and ATVs that fly around! Speaking of which…
Go slow on the ATV Rides
Don’t get us wrong – hiring at ATV and bombing around Utila is a really fun way of getting around and seeing the island highlights. However go slow to start with, and also keep in mind that the rains can make tyre grip much looser.
Only Drink Bottled Water
Although we’re on a stunning tropical island, we still need to follow general safety advice when it comes to drinking water. This means only drinking from sealed bottles of water, and never from the taps. If you don’t have a water purifier like this one then we recommend buying big bottles (3+ liters) and throwing them out after a few days if not yet completely used.
Don’t forget about Travel Insurance
Given most people coming here want to dive, then it’s mandatory to have solid travel insurance ready in case anything happens (diving or even just sticking to island life). This will help you to relax much more when exploring Honduras. World Nomads offers simple and flexible travel insurance. Buy at home or while traveling and claim online from anywhere in the world.
Avoid Getting Black-Out Drunk by Yourself
Let’s be honest here – Utila is a big party spot for those traveling through Central America, and is a great place to let loose with many bars and clubs here. Just be mindful as those who are heavily drunk (or anything else) make easy targets for pickpocketers.
Lastly, we suggest you check out out packing list for Central America for more ideas on what to pack when traveling here so you can make sure you have all the essentials.
Utila Safety FAQ Guide:
Is Utila Safe? Final Words
We’d like to thank you for reading our guide on how to stay safe in Utila.
This Caribbean Island feels a long way away from mainland Honduras, which is both safer and better set-up for tourists. It’s the perfect place to go diving, as well as to bathe in the turquoise waters before heading out for the evening.
As we’ve seen, this island is really safe to visit. You won’t need to worry and always be looking over your shoulder like you would in San Pedro Sula or Tegucigalpa.
There are a couple of things to keep in mind though, such as protecting yourself from the sun as well as listening carefully if going diving for the first time.
In this guide, we’ve explored the current safety situation in Utila, which includes the areas to avoid, as well as any current travel advisories. As well as looking at the best things to do in Utila, we’ve also included our FAQ which answers your most burning questions.
While you’re still here, read our Honduras Itinerary for more tips and travel inspiration.
👉🏽 P.S. If you’ve found this guide helpful, buy us a coffee here to say thanks! Or, support us by downloading our South America Travel Bible to get our best content.
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