Normally an extravagance few can afford, a stay on a private island is also possible in the Utila Cays. George Jackson (tel. 504/425-2005 or 504/408-3100, CayosUtila [at] hotmail [dot] com) rents out Little Cay (US$115/night, up to six people) and Sandy Cay (US$100/night for a two-bedroom house, up to six people). Each small cay has one house—perfect for a weekend getaway or lounging in the sand and snorkeling the clear, turquoise waters.

If some guests don’t mind sleeping on mattresses on the living room floor, an additional eight people can be squeezed into the house on Sandy Cay, and countless more can camp out on the beach, while the house and cabin on Little Cay can accommodate up to 12 (US$15 for each additional person).

Little Cay is about 5 minutes by boat from Pigeon Cay or 20 minutes from Utila’s municipal dock, while Sandy Cay is a bit farther afield. Reservations can also be made through Captain Morgan’s Dive Shop (tel./fax 504/425-3349, www.divingutila.com).

The cays are heavily booked, so be sure to plan in advance and make a reservation. More information and some photos can be found on the website www.aboututila.com.