Honduras - Isla Utila

After our afternoon at the German restaurant we lifted anchor early the next morning at first light, to sail the 60 miles to Utila. 

A relaxing sailing day, made better by Nicholas catching a beautiful male Mahi-Mahi

I quickly processed, vacuum packed and froze into 7 generous meals for us and kept one large fillet out for our arrival dinner.  Yum. 

We anchored in East Bay amid many beautiful looking dive resorts mainly catering to back packers looking to do scuba dive certification and a few dives thereafter.

Already cleared into Honduras we did not have any formalities to attend to, so we explored the village. 

Meshugga at anchor 

Dive resorts

In the village, map of Utila

Tuk tuk taxis

After walking a few miles exploring the village it was time for a few libations and we headed into Mario’s

Pina Colades for Nicholas, and Margaritas for me. 

Friday, 28 Oct 

We’re waiting to see what’s happening with the Low pressure just south and east of us. It looks like it’ll become a Tropical Storm and probably a Hurricane. 

We’ll check-out, (Customs & Immigration) of Honduras today, so we can leave over the weekend depending on the development of the Low; if it forms into a strong Tropical Storm or Hurricane we will head into Rio Dulce in Guatemala.  If all good, then we’ll head to Belize. 

We went ashore with our bikes and toured east and west until the tarred roads became gravel. 

This at at the western end, where the tarred road ran out. A lovely beach and bay. 

After we had to stop for a cocktails hydration 

On the east side we passed many dive resorts and this cute bridge to the east end of East Bay of the island, where we spotted Meshugga. 

Photo using my Telephoto Lens

Looking inland to the Lagoon

As the Port Captain and Immigration officer were apparently at South Side, we kept popping back to their offices all day. No luck until 4.30pm, and then we’re told to return at 7am on Saturday, as they had no internet. 

This is the main jetty that we hung around waiting for the authorities. Blue building on the RHS is the Authority’s Building. 

Cargo boats unloading 

Love this Burglar Guard on the Authority’s building

Back at Meshugga the sun is setting and the Ferry is coming in on its last run for the day

Dinner is Lobster, pan fried in Garlic, Chillie and butter on Brown rice. 

Saturday we went ashore to the Port Captain and 2 1/2 hours later we had our ZARPE (clearance papers for Meshugga), and passports stamped. 

And then a final dinner out at Utila’s best restaurant Mango Tango for excellent Garlic Shrimp. 

Sunday morning NOAA forecast is as we had feared and so we are definitely leaving this morning for the Rio Dulce in Guatemala. The system has an 80% chance of intensifying, and coming direct for the Honduras Bay of Islands our home for the past 2 weeks.