Well 2020 has been a crazy year not only for Utila, the Island, also the country of Honduras. With Covid-19 closures of the island from March 16, 2020 until mid-September, the tourism industry was hit very hard, and will be really struggling for the next several months to recover. Although the island’s marine life and terrestrial life has flourished, we can’t say the same for local businesses & the rest of the country.
Top that off with the recent flooding and havoc of hurricanes Eta & Iota on the mainland, which also caused a lot of shoreline and dock damage in Utila, this means that the island needs your patronage even more!
Due to hurricane Eta & Iota, and massive flooding on the mainland, the San Pedro Airport will be closed until early 2021. Thankfully, airlines have redirected their flights to La Ceiba on the mainland, and Roatan, our neighboring island.
Upon arriving to Roatan, in order to travel to Utila, you will need to get a charter flight, or take the Utila Dream Ferry that departs Roatan at 2pm, currently on Wednesdays, Saturdays & Sundays. Please note that the timing to make the departure of the Utila Dream Ferry can be extremely tight!!! If you arrive in Roatan and show proof of onward travel to Utila, show them your reservation or your ferry tickets, etc., they will allow you to make your way to the leftmost line at immigration where you’ll be fast tracked through so you may be able to catch the ferry in time. It’s my understanding that the latest possible time for you to make the ferry would be an airport arrival before 1:00 PM. And that’s pushing it!
Don’t forget that you need to fill out the pre-check in form before arriving. Also, remember:
- Honduras requires a negative COVID rapid test to allow entrance to the country.
- This test needs to be within 72 hours from your departure from the United States. It’s a good idea to print out several copies of your test results, highlight your names & other pertinent information to expedite your check-in at the airport.
- Your passport needs to have at least 6 months before expiry, or you will be not be allowed to fly.
Please note that if your flight is not on the list above (to Roatan), it will likely be canceled. We have experienced months & months of travelers trying to get to Utila and if their flights were not on the list of known airline carriers and their schedules, the flights were eventually canceled. We feel like the RE/MAX Sunshine real estate brokerage is more like a team of travel experts! So don’t be disappointed and check that your flight is one of those listed above. Speaking with the airlines in the USA is not sufficient, as they do not know what’s happening over here.
We have been posting updates often on our Utila Expats Facebook page since the whole Covid pandemic began and we will begin to post travel and weather updates on our blog here, since many of you do not have Facebook. We commit to communicating and updating you at least once a week from now on. I realize now that we should have been doing this all along!
I hope that everybody is staying safe & healthy.
p.s. Hurricane Eta & now Hurricane Iota have devasted the mainland of Honduras and your relief donations are badly needed. Our friends have a charitable organization where 100% of the funds go to relief. In other words, there are no admin & carrying costs. American donors can receive tax receipts for their donations. Please donate here: Hurricane Eta Relief Fund