Welcome to Hopkins Belize Hotels

The Caribbean Sea laps at the soft sand and the fronds of palms trees flutter like natural flags in the steady breeze coming off the light blue water. Through the green fronds, fluffy clouds scattered about in a blue sky are visible as are pterodactyl-like Frigatebirds that glide by on long, narrow wings. It’s midday and both visitors and locals are relaxing in hammocks at their hotels and in the small town of Hopkins, Belize. The only person moving around is a fellow on a bicycle who casually pedals down the main (and almost only) street. The only police officer in town, he lazily waves at the other residents of Hopkins, Belize and even nods at visitors relaxing outside their hotels. He stops off in the local grocery store to chat and pass the time. On this day, like most days in Hopkins Belize, there isn’t a whole lot going in; just the way that locals and visitors to the hotels like it.

 

Despite being a village with a total population of around 1,000 inhabitants, Hopkins, Belize has a fair number of hotels. Located about eight miles (five kilometers) south of Dangriga, this Garifuna village attracts visitors and ex-patriots from North America and Europe primarily because of its combination of Caribbean seaside beauty and its authentic small town flavor. Like many peaceful villages throughout the world where there is plenty of breathing room for everyone, Hopkins, Belize (including the hotels) provides a very relaxed, stress-free atmosphere for living and vacationing. Most of the locals in Hopkins, Belize earn a living by fishing for conch, lobsters, snappers, and other Caribbean seafood delights, work in nearby Dangriga, run the few small businesses in town, or work in the tourism sector by owning or working in hotels.

In November during Garifunca Settlement day you can hear the drums that echo the African Ancsetry of the inhabitan of Hopkin Belize. The National Garifuna Council (NGC) of Belize picks a theme yearly to honor the Garifuna culture and is observed by the entire country as a public and bank holiday. Hopkins, Belize is no exception and is celebrated along with the towns own holiday appropriately know as Hopkins day. This is a great time to visit and be part of the culture and festivities.

 

Transportation

By air, Hopkins, Belize is accessible by a very short plane ride to Dangriga from Belize City, Placencia, or Punta Gorda, followed up by a quick taxi ride. From Belize City, Hopkins can also be reached by driving three hours south along the Hummingbird Highway and Southern Highway before taking the turn-off to Hopkins. A four wheel drive is recommended for this trip, especially during the rainy season.

Hotels in Hopkins, Belize

Hopkins, Belize has quite a few hotels that cater to a variety of visitors. In the southern part of the village, the Yugadah Inn is found. Although this hotel in Hopkins has few rooms, it is a small, friendly place with a large, sandy beach. The owners can also arrange tours to nearby sites as well as beach parties.

The Whistling Seas Vacation Inn is another small, but newer hotel in Hopkins, Belize with clean, comfortable rooms equipped with coffee maker and cable TV. The owners can also arrange tours to the rain forests of the Maya Mountains as well as diving and snorkeling trips.

In the village of Hopkins, Belize, the spacious rooms of the Wabien Guest House are cooled by a combination of fans and the hotel being elevated above the sandy ground by concrete posts. This design is shared by most of the hotels and houses in Hopkins, Belize; an easy, green way to cool down the houses in the hot, tropical climate.

The popular Tipple Tree Beya is close to the small stores in Hopkins, Belize and has a porch with hammocks from which guests can watch the waves of the Caribbean.

Tania’s Guest House, Heartland Inn, Caribbean View Guest House, the All Seasons Guest House, Laruni Cabins, and Ransom Cabins are other small hotels in Hopkins, Belize. All are located near the beach and have a few rooms each that impart a very tranquil, cozy mood.

The Seagull’s Nest Guest House is also a small, cozy hotel in Hopkins, Belize that, like other places, offers close access to the beach, but also has walls adorned with local Garifuna art.

For visitors who prefer a bed and breakfast during their stay in Hopkins, Belize, the Hopkins Inn is found in the village. This is another hotel that can arrange snorkeling and sightseeing tours. 

There are also a set of hotels that offer weekly rates such as the Ransom’s Seaside Gardens and the Hopkin’s Paradise.

South of Hopkins, Belize, more expensive resort-like lodging is available in the form of the Hamanasi Dive and Adventure Resort, and the Jaguar Reef Lodge.

 

Attractions

Walking Tours of Hopkins To gain local insight into Hopkins, Francis Zuniga offers professional walking tours of the village and elsewhere in Belize. Born and raised in Hopkins and a licensed tour guide, he is one of the more experienced tour guides in the village and can educate visitors about everything Garifuna.

Drumming School At the north end of the village, drum circle enthusiasts and percussionists might want to sign up for lessons at the Lebeha drum school to learn Garifuna drumming techniques from a local expert. 

 

 

Cockscomb Wildlife Preserve About fifteen miles from Hopkins in the Maya Mountains is one of the best rain forest preserves in Belize, the Cockscomb Wildlife Preserve. Sometimes known as the Jaguar Preserve, this large (128,000 acre) refuge was established in 1990 to protect populations of the largest cat in the Americas. The preserve was primarily created due to the work of conservation biologist Alan Rabinowitz, the gripping story of which is told in his book, “Jaguar: One Man's Struggle To Establish The World's First Jaguar Preserve”. Although jaguars are always difficult to see, even in the rain forests set aside for these majestic animals, a night hike with a local Mayan guide may result in a glimpse of this large spotted cat. Far more likely to be seen are stately rain forest trees, raccoon-like mammals known as Coatis, colorful toucans, huge, shining blue Morpho butterflies, and many other birds including the spectacular Scarlet Macaw. In addition to wildlife observation, canoeing, kayaking, and tubing are also possible on the section of South Stann Creek that runs through the preserve.

 

Snorkeling and Scuba Diving For visitors that don’t plan on staying at any of the hotels on the cayes, Hopkins, Belize is a good base to work from for snorkeling and diving the Belize Barrier Reef. Just forty minutes by boat from Hopkins, several hotels in town can arrange guided trips to fantastic sites such as Glover’s Atoll. Part of the second largest coral reef system in the world, the Belize Barrier Reef beckons with hundreds of types of colorful fishes, corals, and the chance to see playful dolphins up close and personal.

Possum Point Ecological Field Center Situated near the Sittee River, around four miles form Hopkins, this research station is a great place for the more adventurous to experience the lowland rain forests of Belize. The owners also operate a marine biology station on Wee Wee Caye and can transfer visitors between the stations to experience three distinct, highly biodiverse, tropical ecosystems; lowland rain forest, mangrove forest, and coral reefs. Many trails are available to explore the forests, and lodging is available at a few hotels in the area.

Sittee Sugar Mill Remnants of a sugar mill that operated during the nineteenth century are found about seven miles south of Hopkins, Belize along the Southern Highway. Visit these ruins of steam engines to see a remnant of the industrial revolution being slowly taken over by the jungles of Belize.

Featured Tours (Attractions)

Cave Tubing with Vitalino Reyes

Explore Belize Caves

Chuck and Robbie's

Long Caye Resort at Glover's Reef

Avadon Divers

Cave Tubing with Major Tom

Ecologic Divers

Cari'Bean Tours Belize

cave-tubing.com

Hol Chan Marine Reserve

Dining

Hopkins, Belize has a number of small, family run restaurants while some of the hotels and resorts at the beaches to the south of the village offer more international cuisine. Authentic Garifuna dishes are available at most of the small restaurants although they must be requested a day in advance to allow for the time needed for their preparation. Common menu items that don’t require advance notice include Creole shrimp, conch, rice and beans, the tasty Belizean stew known as Boil-up, and some Mexican dishes. The establishments that serve up the more international cuisine in “fancier” settings are the Jaguar Reef Lodge, Hamanasi Dive and Adventure Resort, and at the Beaches and Dreams hotel but can be a bit more expensive. Don't forget to try some of the small restaurants in the village like Tyson’s Diner, Therese’s Home Cooking (at her home), Innie’s Restaurant, and Iris’s Place.

Nightlife

The night life in Hopkins, Belize reflects the quite place that it is. There is usually nightly drumming at Lebeha, while bars such as the Watering Hole, Laru Beyu, and those of the more upscale hotels south of town all offer drinks. For reggae and meeting the locals, the King Cassava is a good choice.

Local Shopping

The village of Hopkins, Belize has adapted to tourism playing a major role in the local economy. This is especially evident by the presence of gift shops. Unlike many tourist areas though, those of Hopkins, Belize sell a good variety of locally made arts and crafts. At the Culture House Gift Shop, in addition to Garifanu drums, this shop displays purses, earrings, necklaces and other souvenirs crafted from coconuts and other local, natural products. For local art, the Tribal Arts store is the place to visit. This store sells paintings, carvings, and other locally crafted objects. The Kulcha Gift Shop also deals in locally made handicrafts as well as tee-shirts and Garifuna clothing.

 

 

Featured Resort

 

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Weather

Hopkins, Belize has hot, humid days and slightly cooler nights. Temperatures are pretty constant throughout the year and average around 80 degrees (27-28 Celsius) although nights in December and January can be cool enough for a sweater.

Hopkins, Belize has two main seasons; a wet one with daily rains from May until November, and a drier season with less rain during the rest of the year.

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