Utila Travel Forum

Hi

Does anyone know if there are 2 ferry crossings a day from La Ceiba to Utila? Also, is it true that there are only connecting flights 3 times a week to Utila from San Pedro Sula? We thought there were flights every day, now we need to take a bus then ferry to Utila. Any recent travelers experience would be appreciated! Thanks.

Hey, I was in Utila a few months ago. There are two crossings a day. I think one at 6 in the morning(its mostly between half to a hour late)and again at 2 or 3 in the afternoon. I travelled by bus so i dont know about flights.

Enjoy, Your going to get bugged big time to go diving straight off the ferry.

Heather -

In theory there are two daily ferry crossings from La Ceiba to Utila. One at 9:30 AM and the other at 4:00 PM. The morning departure I undersand requires 30 passengers to leave and it is sometimes discontinued (last year for part of October).

There really aren't any really direct flights to Utila from San Pedro Sula that I am aware of. Everything routes through La Ceiba. Sosa Airlines online schedule is showing daily (except Suday) departuers at 6:00 AM and daily at 3:30 PM from La Ceiba to Utila. Atlantic Airlines advertises a San Pedro Sula to Utila flight departing daily at 1:50 PM and arriving Utila 3:40 PM (also routes through La Ceiba). Schedules are sometimes pared down during slow times but you should be able to find someone flying to Utila.

The AboutUtila.com site is a good place for information and the webmaster Mark Smith lives on the island. You can contact him at WebMaster@AboutUtila.com for any additional informtion he may have. I have found him very helpful in the past.

Have fun!

Charlie Meador, Coco Pando, La Ceiba, Honduras

Charlie knows whereof he speaks, he gives great info!!! Also, if you get stuck in La Ceiba, the ONLY place to stay is the Coco Pando, and they've got a free shuttle service to/from the ferry dock or airport in La Ceiba.

FYI, the ferry & airline schedules are a bit fluid, which is something you can't find out on any official sites. If you go for the morning ferry to Utila and there aren't enough passengers to make it worth their while, the boat won't go. The afternoon one seems to be a bit more reliable.

And despite appearances on the online or printed flight schedules you may find, it's true that almost all flights go thru La Ceiba. I say "almost" cuz if weather does not permit flying via La Ceiba, you may try to get from Roatan to Utila and end up in San Pedro Sula for a night.

My experience getting off Utila was quite a challenge, starting with the fact that the ferry didn't run for several days due to high winds onshore in La Ceiba. I can't remember at this point, but I'm thinking the tiny flight I finally managed to get on (after an entire day waiting in the rain at the airport on Utila where a HUGE black scorpion tried to stow away in my luggage) was with Atlantic.

So leave yourself scheduling leeway both ways or you may be in deep caca...

Another thing to note:

The ferry schedule may be different, or nonexistant, on sundays. We got stuck in Utila (not such a bad thing) because although we had seen twice a day ferrys scheduled 7 days a week, we learned there that there is no afternoon ferry on sunday... at least not that particular one.

Re: "We got stuck in Utila (not such a bad thing)..." Also true! If you do get stuck, relax and enjoy meeting other travelers from all over the world who are stuck there with you, wander the back streets looking at the pretty homes & gardens, go have a real Italian style wood fired pizza at the Mango Inn's restaurant, and generally take it in stride.

I met some of the nicest fellow travelers on Utila, a couple of whom are still friends!

Heather -

The ferry schedule appears to have changed (again) and the afternoon departure is leaving sometime around 3:15 PM.

Charlie Meador, Coco Pando, La Ceiba, Honduras