Utila is the eastern most of the Bay Islands of Honduras.  It lies some 18 miles off the northern coast of Honduras, opposite the city of La Ceiba.  The island is about 8 miles long and less than 3 miles wide.  Much of the island is low-lying; the central portion (about 2/3 of the surface) is mangrove.  

Utila's population is about 6,000.  Long-time islanders are of both European and African descent.  They speak English as their first language.  In recent years Spanish speakers have been moving to the island from the mainland; they are mostly of Mestizo (European and Amerindian) descent.