Chaka Demus and Pliers in Utila

Brought to you by a group called Reggaeneration Utila!

This Jamaican band was big in the 90s, and huge here in Utila with some great songs like:

Murder She Wrote  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-av7F1JBmj4

Bam Bam https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zz-G25XMXr4

When I Get Your Love  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFu1FewHVIE&feature=kp

Saturday night they played here to a huge crowd at Bandu Beach.  Tickets were from $30-$50!  Now where can you see a concert for that?

 

 

 

 

 

 

New Map of Utila!

I just finished a cool map of Utila.  Click here to check it out:

http://realestateinutila.com/map-of-utila.html

I made two.  Tell me if you like the old one or the new one?

 

Please also let me know if there is anything I’m missing?

Trying to Identify this Snake?

On one of my walks in the savanna with friends, we came across our second snake of the day.  I’m an ex-dive center owner and ex-PADI scuba instructor and can name most of the marine life here in Utila, but I’m learning about the land creatures now.  So perhaps you can help me identify this snake in the video?  I’m thinking rat snake, or parrot snake?

http://youtu.be/T0JBwrNa4eM

The following picture is of a Pink Boa Constrictor.  This one I can identify.  It’s an endangered species only found in Cayos Cochinos (The Hog Islands).  Check out the pink hue!

Another wonderful creature we have here is the Iguana.  There is an Iguana Research station here was well, so come and visit!

 

Hay Iguana!

While scouring the internet this morning to identify this great display of snake-hood, I came across some amazing images from some nature photographers and thought I’d share:

 

 

 

http://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/animals/stories/nature-photographer-contest-winners-show-off-their-amazing-images

 

Visitors arrived to Utila Monday – from Toronto for $350 round-trip direct to Roatan!

Mom, Sis and brother-in-law flew in Monday to Roatan, and then chartered a flight to Utila.  This is where we had lunch at Neptune’s yesterday.  Isn’t it nice?

This is where we had lunch!

Many years ago, flying into Utila meant landing on a teensy airstrip on the oceanfront located en La Punta (The Point).  The runway was short.  I recall looking to my side, and seeing passengers grasp onto the seat in front with white knuckles as the bumpy landing strip jiggled us around violently, and us, subconsciously and collectively, pressing our brake foot down hard, as if willing the plane to reduce speed and halt before falling into the ocean at the end of the airstrip.

I flew into Utila often. We always stopped eventually.

Nowadays we have a large airport that draws tourists taking advantage of the many charter flights that occur during North American winter months.  Usually charters fly between November and May each year.   For Canadians, there are charter flights from Montreal to La Ceiba direct. From there, you can take a SOSA flight from La Ceiba to Utila , or take the Utila Princess Ferry which departs 9:30am and 4:00pm ($27).

New flight routes include American Airlines with direct flights from Miami to Roatan.   Utila is just a hop away if you get on a boat like the Lady Julia (Captained by Dillard Whitefield), or Captain Denny Bush to come over in the afternoons, leaving from West End, Coconut Tree Divers dock, around 2pm.  Contact either on facebook, or shoot me an email at info@realestateinutila.com for more info.

There are flights available with Capt. Angelo and Island Air (https://www.facebook.com/IslandAirHonduras), or Troy Bodden’s charters.  Last Monday, we flew with Troy and I took this picture on the way back!

Leaving Roatan to Utila!

Flights run from $90 to $125/person, and charter flights are available through Worldwide Travel https://www.facebook.com/wwtutila (check out this article:  http://www.honduras.com/travel-in-honduras-with-ease/#sthash.BvBmRvHn.gbpl.)

Last week I posted about the Sunwing charters for Canadians from Toronto to Roatan that my family picked up for $350 round-trip.   This picture is when we flew into Utila  with Island Air and Capt. Angelo’s twin engine plane.

If you fly into San Pedro Sula, Central American Airlines has direct flights to Utila every Saturday, so try to fly into the country on a Saturday.  If you fly in on any other day however, you can contact the people above to see if there are any non-scheduled flights which occur A LOT!  Another option is to take the bus to La Ceiba, and then the Utila Princess ferry, but then you’re talking about a difference of  6 hours minimum by land and sea, for half the cost, versus 1 hour flying direct.  If you have a one or two week vacation, I always suggest the fastest route to having you sit by the beach at the earliest moment possible.  In the end, 5 hours on the beach on both ends of a trip constitutes many potential Margarita and Piña Coladas!