Utila, Bay Islands

Utila is the most affordable of the Bay Islands, located about 32 kilometers west of Roatán's west shore. Backpackers flock to this little, 13-kilometer-long island, and many people come for low-cost diving trips.

Utila Town, which presides over an arching bay, is the principal hamlet, where people compete fiercely in domino games while tourist shops and dive facilities line the streets. Make time to sample fresh seafood and traditional Honduran cuisine at one of the area's hip waterfront restaurants.

Apart from diving, most guests spend their time relaxing on the two slivers of beach, snorkeling in the lagoon, zipping out to a smattering of cays off the island's southwest shore, and taking up the rustic tropical ambiance. At the Iguana Research & Breeding Station, you may also get up and personal with some of the island's species.

Dive operators often provide the opportunity to dive or swim with whale sharks. These gentle giants are commonly sighted in the waters surrounding the island, particularly between March and April and August and September.

Location: Utila, Honduras