Your all inclusive Utila adventure awaits!
Make your reservations, travel to our island is easy!
Getting here is easy!!!
Airlines fly into Roatan just about every day of the week. An easy and beautiful ferry ride to Utila makes it easy to get h Now is the time to get the week you want and make plans to get out and LIVE! There are lifelong memories to be made - soon! Questions? Just let us know and we will get them answered!
About Us
Make memories that will last a lifetime! - This is actually a picture from Utila - Our Island!
Who Are We?
Here at Utila Island Quest, we are all about making lasting memories for couples, families, and friends. Utila is a unique island in one of the most beautiful parts of the world, with world class scuba diving and a peaceful, unspoiled topside environment as well. It is just coming onto the "radar" of many sun seekers and divers around the world. As a former British Colony, the island has been used by famous pirates, has a rich history, and is known as the "Jewel of the Bay Islands". Tamara and Sarge are excited to meet you soon!
Sarge is a former Army NCO (Non-Commissioned Officer) and now a PADI Master Instructor with thousands of dives and is able to certify Openwater up through IDC level divers. He can also teach and certify you in 17 different PADI specialties like Deep, Night, Wreck, Enriched Air (Nitrox), Self Reliant Diver, Diver Propulsion Vehicle, just to name a few. He has also written 3 Distinctive Specialties for PADI and is the ONLY instructor that can certify you in those - Underwater Zombie Hunter, Expert Underwater Zombie Hunter, and Lionfish Education and Removal. Some of the coolest dive certifications you can get! All of this can be done DURING your trip with us, so there is no wasted time between two or more dive shops.
Tamara has been an Entrepreneur in Hospitality and Heart Centered businesses since she was 19 years old and is professionally licensed as a Master Massage Therapist and a Master Intuitive. She has healed her own body, mind, and Spirit and would love to help you enhance your life in innumerable holistic ways! From simple muscle pains to chronic illness, she will guide you back to feeling better!
What Do You Get at Utila Island Quest?
We want our home to be your home! We make your week long stay easy and enjoyable by including everything you need from the moment you step on the island to the moment you head back to wherever you call home. Lodging, food, drinks, diving, excursions - all are included in our price! We are priced right to be both an affordable and authentic vacation. We have compared our package to others in five different locations around the Caribbean (Cayman, Bahamas, Bonaire and Belize) and we are less than ONE HALF the cost of those locations when you have everything included that we do. A couple of them were almost 3 times as much!
Where in the World is Utila?
Utila is a small, unspoiled island just south of Roatan and is located on the Meso American reef in Central America - the second largest reef system in the world behind the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. The Meso American reef is vibrant and healthy, which gives us outstanding diving year round! Utila was actually used as a base by such famous pirates as Henry Morgan, John Coxen, Blackbeard, and Van Horn.
Tamara and Sarge Payne are a perfectly matched couple to take you on Utila adventures both above and below the surface, and make those memories that you will be talking about from that moment forward. Our motto is "Arrive as friends, leave as family!" We would love to see you here - let's start YOUR memory making adventure!
Frequently Asked Questions
What if one in our party doesn't dive and just wants to hang out on the beach?
While diving is a large part of life on Utila, we understand that some people just want to escape the daily grind and read a good book on a sunny beach. If there is a person in your party that doesn't wish to dive, $275 is deducted from their price.
What are the best months to visit Utila?
The absolutely BEST months are December, January, February, and March. Picture perfect weather is the norm in that span. April through October are a close second with higher humidity, but almost 100% sun as well. Rainy season starts in mid October and lasts through November. Daily rains, but cooler temperatures are the norm for those two months.
How much does it cost to get my PADI Open Water certification while staying with you?
Getting your PADI Open Water diver certification while staying with us is easy and economical! The cost for each person in the class is just $250 and that includes both the classroom AND the open water sections completed! Compare that to anywhere else and you'll see just how economical that price is! To receive the specialty certifications, just let us know the courses you would like to be certified in and we will get you the price prior to your arrival. Don't worry, we will keep everything on track and straight with communications through email as we plan your memory filled vacation.
How much are the massages that are offered in house?
Tamara offers PROFESSIONAL Therapeutic massages while you are staying with us either by the hour, or in a package of three. Cost for one hour is $99, a package of TWO is $179, and the cost for a three pack of massages during the week is $250 (the two and three pack must be purchased at the beginning of the trip).
What size groups can stay with you?
We like our island experiences to have that true "family feel" so couples or groups of up to six are best. That way we can really personalize the experience for you.
Why are the trips all one week long?
Utila is a wonderful 45 minute ferry ride south of Roatan, which is only a 2 1/2 hour flight out of Houston, Atlanta, or Miami. The flights work out best and are cheapest when done Saturday to Saturday, or Sunday to Sunday. We can work with you on whatever days you want to come and go so you can find the best deals on flights. Also, a full week is the perfect length of time to enjoy what our beautiful island has to offer both above and below the water! You will be truly relaxed!
How do I get to Utila?
United and American airlines fly into RTB (Roatan airport). From the airport, a short taxi ride takes you to the Utila Dream Ferry. You will enjoy a beautiful 45 minute ride over the crystal clear, blue waters of the Caribbean Sea on the newest most modern ferry in the Caribbean. We will meet you at Municipal dock in Utila and your Island Quest will begin! You are on island with us by 3:00 pm!
FAQ Continued
Is Utila safe for me and my family?
Utila comes under the nation of Honduras, but don't tell THEM that! Utila is a very independent tribal society and is unaffected by the woes of "the mainland" of Honduras. Extremely low crime rates and a small town feel are part of the beauty of our island.
What is the currency on Utila?
The local currency is the Lempira, which at this moment officially exchanges at a rate of 24 to $1. US currency is accepted widely on the island, however it must be free of tears/rips and markings. Currency can be exchanged at many stores in town, but usually at slightly less than the official exchange rate (for example 22lps/$ instead of the official 24). Locals favor bill denominations of $10 and $20, so we recommend you bring CLEAN bills of that type with you. If you wish to thin the wallet a little bit, we do have places that will exchange $100 bills for you for a slight ($4/$100) charge.
What language is spoken on Utila?
At this time, locals speak about 60% English and 40% Spanish. No worries if you don't speak any Spanish as there are always friendly English speaking locals around if you need assistance.
How and when do I pay?
A $350 deposit per person is required to reserve the week when your reservation is made. One month prior to your arrival, an additional $350 payment per person is due. The balance is due on island when you arrive. Add on's (diving certifications, massages) can be purchased once you arrive on Utila. Deposits and pre payments are accepted by credit card through Paypal. Venmo is also a method, just let us know and we can send you an invoice for your preferred payment method. Balance due on island may be paid in cash or by credit card through Paypal. Venmo, Square, wire transfers and other forms of payment are also accepted, just contact us.
How do I make my reservation?
Simply get in touch with us using the "Contact us" area below and we will assist you in getting the perfect trip at the perfect time! You can also use the "Subscribe" area below to be notified of any specials that are being offered.
Is Utila far away? How long does it take to get there?
Utila is only a 2 1/2 hour flight out of Atlanta, Houston or Miami, so it doesn't waste any of your precious vacation time just in travel. You are with us on the island by 3:30 the day you leave! Grab your passport and let's get relaxed!
What about our laundry?
We have laundry facilities on site, so laundry is not a problem.
What other items should I bring with me besides clothes and dive gear?
We recommend that you bring a refillable water bottle for each person, and also a backpack or similar to carry the water and other small items with you as we move around the island. Another suggestion is "reef safe" sunscreen. Simply buy a brand with those words on the label. We try to protect our reef and keep it pristine for future generations. This is an important step in doing that.
Miscellaneous minor stuff.......
The power here on Utila is the same as the States, so no conversion plugs or anything needed, just plug your stuff in and go. Wifi is available here at the house (we will get you set up on it once you arrive) and at various places around the island. Change here is given in Lempira, regardless of the currency used to pay. We can exchange $ to lps for you at the current exchange rate once you arrive. You won't need much cash, but it is nice to have local currency with you for small stuff outside the house.
Week Long All-Inclusive Vacation Deposit
$350.00
The $350 deposit is per person (1 person = $350, 2 people = $700 etc). The deposit is refundable if the airlines cancel your flight and is required to reserve the week long slot you choose. The balance is due as described above. Need to talk to us? Just send us an email below - we are here to help! Deposits are paid through Paypal, Venmo or Square. You do NOT need a Paypal account to do this. Paypal is simply a secure way of making online payments - neither we nor anyone else has access to any of your card information. If you prefer Square, Venmo, wire or other form of payment, contact us and we will work it out.