Anchorage· Utila· Other Caribbean
Utila Port of Entry & East Harbour Anchorage
16° 5.5′ N · 86° 53.7′ W · approximate
Utila Town's large, reef-protected harbour (Puerto Este / East Harbour), in front of a laid-back backpacker-and-diver town where English is widely spoken and dive courses are famously cheap.
Practical
CLEARANCE ALERT: Noonsite (October 2026) says Utila's Immigration office is closed until further notice; Immigration and the Port Captain are open on Roatán and Guanaja. Even before, offices were often shut (2019 report of a 5-day wait) — plan to clear on Roatán. Approach: the reef extends west from the lighthouse; waypoint 16°05.08'N 86°54.18'W (OCC) or the bay entrance 16°05.27'N 86°54.08'W (Noonsite) keeps you clear, then head NE into the harbour. Anchoring: holding is not great — find sand in 20 ft+ and dive the anchor; anchor east of the concrete town dock off the fuel dock (two tall white cylindrical tanks), further east inside the protective reef, or west of the Municipal Dock off the beach. Bush's dinghy dock watches dinghies and sells fuel. Exposed in northers. Security: thefts from yachts have been reported; secure deck items and dinghy, and keep watch at night (party town). Coordinate is approximate (derived from the OSM harbour shoreline between the lighthouse and town).
Best for
Diving base and backpacker town
Season
Calm trades; untenable-feeling in strong S-SW or northers
Place data includes © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).