Discover Utila Cays
A Place Caught In Time
Islas de Bahia, Utila Honduras
When visitors travel to beautiful Utila, just off the coast of Honduras, they often overlook the nearby Utila Cays. This is a true shame, because life on the Cays is a totally unique experience! Although the Cays are very small, they are big on culture and character. Learn more about the Utila Cays. You will get a taste of Island life.
Utila Cays, you found us!! Lucky, lucky you.
“Nestled in the Gulf of Honduras and washed by the water of the Caribbean Sea”, Islas de la Bahia, [The Bay Islands] are made up of four larger islands, Cayos Cochinos, Roatan, Guanaja, and Utila and over 60 small islets and cays [pronounced keys]. These tropical islands are located in the western Caribbean, off the northern coast of Honduras. All of the islands have something different and very special to offer visitors.
Utila has eleven neighboring Cays, but Suc Suc, [also known as Jewel Cay] and Pigeon Cays are referred to by locals simply as “The Cays”. Suc Suc was settled by Joseph Cooper, his wife and their six children in 1836. Their journey was not one of religion or political need, but for the potential of prosperity. The Coopers discovered 2 Americans farming here upon their arrival at Suc Suc Cay, Mr. Samuel Warren who subsequently married a daughter of Joseph Cooper, and Mr. Joshua who never married. Later in history, small numbers settlers from United States, England, Germany, Switzerland and other places helped to improve the population of the Cays and Utila. Today Suc Suc and Pigeon Cays, [locals say upper and lower Cays] are connected by a bridge allowing everyone easy walking access.
Island Life Tours’ specialty niche is The Cays, just a short 5 mile boat ride from Utila town, the activity hub on the Island of Utila. The Cays are a getaway, a break from the hustle and bustle of Utila. The Cays are a very special place where about 500 people call it home, some of the most beautiful spirited people on the planet. It’s colorful, serene, and peaceful. Today, fishing is the main industry, and local shops, restaurants, and churches make up the balance. Cay life is relaxed with virtually no crime, no cars, no streets, no addresses, and a friendly population of honest, quiet, industrious and unpretending folk.
Cayons are unique and if you spend some time with them you will realize that they are not Utilians but special in their own way. They are a small isolated subculture, a group who tend to keep to themselves, but nevertheless welcome the visitor with friendly smiles, and with a genuine sincerity in their welcome.
Cay life teaches you how to cope with what life and its challenges bring every day. You must have patience, because nothing comes easily. They depend on getting their supplies brought to them from the coast or from Utila. You may or may not receive what you ordered when you expect it. You learn to make do with what you have. Make something work from something that was meant to be used elsewhere. You learn to be ingenious.
The weather plays a most important role for the Cayon fishermen and Cayon life. They know the sea and respect the sea. They fish by what the weather tells them. The Cays are truly a Caribbean fishermen’s village. They provide the majority of fish for the Island of Utila, and a large percentage is sold fresh to the two fish factories that are located on the Cays. Months before Semana Santa (holy week), you will see numerous homes with their entire yards, fences, and odd make shift drying racks loaded with drying salted fish to be sold to fish buyers. These buyers take the fish by the hundreds of pounds to the coast to be sold there. You can watch daily as the fishermen arrive home with their catch, and you can even purchase your evening meal, as fresh as it gets. There are always fish stories to listen to, where the best catches are, what fish are currently running, who caught what and how much, and of course the oh gee, my dory (fishing boat) needs repair. The fishermen are friendly and will even take you out for a “pull”. Most do not use rod and reel but line fish, thus the word “pull”. If you would like to make arrangements to spend some time with a genuine fisherman, arrangements can be made through Island Life Tours, 9937-5457 local cell number, or via email at reservations@islandlifetours.com.
Cayons have time for one another, and are genuine when asking how you are. Story telling in the most casual of ways in the public park or in the local food shops gives you a great insight of the old days as well as what is going on in everyone’s lives. It is a small community and with that comes, “everyone knows everyone’s business” but it also comes with neighbors being there for one another. And the biggie, someone’s word can be taken as meaningful.
Time and time again, you will hear a visitor say, everyone should spend some time on the Cays. You can not be in Utila and not take a trip to the Cays. It is an experience that can not be missed.
When you come to stay on the Utila Cays with us, our goal is to give you a worry-free discovery experience. This means that we'll happily take care of every detail of your stay.
Your only responsibility while you are here enjoying Island Life is just that: to enjoy Island Life! We invite you to browse this website to get a taste of what Island Life Tours is all about.
Utila Cays visitor options: We have a Day Tour, and overnight Mini Vacation and two unique vacation options, FreeStyle Vacation and an All-Inclusive Vacation Retreat on beautiful Utila Cays. Visit our sister site to learn more about Utila Cays and to see the only map with descriptions of the businesses and services.
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