Your Personal Island Paradise

Have you ever dreamed of vacationing on your own deserted beach?  Have you ever dreamed of having your own dedicated boat from which to dive or fish?  Have you ever dreamed of having your own personal divemaster or fishing guide?  Ever wanted to pretend to be Gilligan (or MaryAnn) for a week?  Now you can.   

Eighteen miles off the coast of Honduras lies Utila, one of the Bay Islands.  Step back in time to the sleepy Caribbean of yesterday.  The world is just beginning to discover the Bay Islands.  Come to Utila and see for yourself.

        Big Rock Cabana is situated on a magical 640 feet of white coral sand beachfront on the South Shore of Utila.  The construction of your luxury cabana was completed in the fall of 2008.  In addition, the South Shore’s most magnificent dock was completely rebuilt.  This retreat is for the adventurous couple looking to truly get away from it all.  Come,  see for yourself, the magic that is Big Rock.

Anything, Everything, Nothing

Scuba Diving

 Utila is world renowned for its Scuba Diving.   According to Scuba Diving Magazine, Utila is one of the top scuba diving destinations in the Caribbean.  There are some 60 moored dive sites surround Utila.  The south shore is characterized by gently sloping slopes and close in fringing reefs filled with the smallest and most interesting creatures in the Caribbean.  Seahorses, pipefish, blennies of every shape and size all reward the patient observant diver.  Although the diving is easy in the sense that strong currents are rare, excellent buoyancy is required to truly appreciate Utila’s uniqueness.  The north side of Utila is a different world.  Here the Cayman trench meets the volcanic peak that is Utila.  Depths on the north shore are measured in thousands of meters.  Barrel sponges are measured in meters and the elusive Whale Shark can be reliably found during much of the year.  Utila has been the subject of many articles on its diving: Sport Diver, Scuba Diving and Islands magazines. Our captain will take to to your choice of sites to dive each day.   Although we recommend getting up early for the calmest seas and best visibility, there is no rushing to make the dive boat.  Its at your beck and call.  And when you are done diving off the Down Time, hoist a tank and head off the dive platform at the end of the dock.   A mere 20 yards in front of the dock, the reef drops off to more than 150 feet!

Fishing

 One of Utila’s (and Honduras’) lesser known available sports is sportfishing.  Utila’s  flats are teeming with bonefish and permit, her lagoons home to year round tarpon fishing and the amazingly deep waters just offshore are home to Marlin (a record 600lb marlin was caught in 2007), Wahoo, Dorado (Bull Dolphin), and Tuna.  If you prefer to fish instead of (or in addition to) diving, the “Down Time” is at your beck and call.  With a 50 gallon tank and a reliable Yamaha Saltwater Series II engine, she is ready to take you an a companion on a tour of some of the best fishing found in the Bay Islands.  Whether your passion is deep sea or flats fishing, fly or casting, Utila has it all.  We encourage our guests to practice reasonable catch and release policies.  If you want to take a fish or two for dinner, by all means please do. But we do ask that all of our guests take only what they will use and return the rest to the sea for future guest and the future of this our fragile environment.

Horseback Tours

 Red  Ridge Stables offers scenic tours of Utila via horseback.  See Utila the way her original settlers did!  Prices are a reasonable $35 for two hour tours and tours are scheduled for mornings and afternoons.

ATV Rentals

    Lance Bodden, in town will ret you ATVs if you prefer a more modern tour of the island.  Lance is located in town just north of the main dock.  His rates change from time to time, but an ATV can usually be rented for less than $80/day.

Water Caye  

   Located off of Utila's southwest shore, Water Cay is the epitome of a Caribbean dream, a small deserted island with swaying palms, white sand beaches, and clear turquoise waters.

    It is possible to hire a water taxi for the 30 minute journey from the town centre to Water Cay and spend the day enjoying the isolation and the fabulous snorkeling that can be found there.

    Our captain and the Down Time will take you and your friends to this uninhabited, palm-treed, white sanded Caye. Campfires are discouraged, so pack some sandwiches if you're the hungry type. A jug of water, a bucket of sunscreen and a bottle of rum might make your Crusoe fantasy complete. Entrance L25 each (approx. $1.50 each). Just leave your Blackberry back on Utila, OK?

    Water Cay is also home to the famous Sun Jam a 2 day music and dancing fiesta held at Water Cay every year during the 1st weekend of August.

Utopia Dive Village
 
    Utopia dive village is a full service resort located approximately 3/4 of a mile west of Big Rock Cabana.   Utopia features a full service bar and restaurant.  Many of our guests enjoy strolling to Utopia for a drink and/or dinner  on an evening or two while they stay with us.  Making advance reservations for dinner is important as they usually prepare just for the number of guests that they  have at the resort.   Instructions for contacting Utopia can be found in the Cabana Welcome Book at Big Rock Cabana

2400 per week (6 nights).   Your rate includes the use of our boat, boat captain, dive master and two boat dives per day for 2 divers.   Each additional diver is $100 per day.   We apply a 16% tax to your stay in order to be compliant with Honduran law.   Our max occupancy is 6.   One of our bedrooms is a bunk room, best suited for children.