Hopkins, Belize: A Cultural Adventure Worth Taking

Hopkins, Belize is a small, authentic Central American fishing village with a rich Garifuna culture. It is located on the coast of Stann Creek in Southern Belize and is known for its warm and welcoming atmosphere. With its ideal location, highly-rated resorts, and authentic culture, Hopkins has become a must-visit destination for many travellers to Belize.

The village offers a unique travel experience, combining a beach and jungle vacation. Visitors can explore the Southern Barrier Reef, nearby jungle attractions, and learn about the fascinating Garifuna culture through drumming, dancing, and cooking lessons. Hopkins also provides access to top attractions such as the Cockscomb Jaguar Preserve, Bocawina National Park, and the Maya ruins.

With its laid-back Caribbean vibe, Hopkins is the perfect destination for those seeking a quiet coastal base to explore the natural and cultural wonders of Belize.

Explore the Southern Barrier Reef

Hopkins, a small, laidback seaside village in Southern Belize, is an ideal base for exploring the Southern Barrier Reef. Here are some tips for exploring this natural wonder:

Dive or Snorkel at the South Water Caye Marine Reserve

The South Water Caye Marine Reserve, located just offshore from Hopkins, is the largest marine reserve in Belize. It boasts a diverse array of marine life, including spotted eagle rays, turtles, moray eels, southern stingrays, dolphins, and several shark species. The pristine stretch of reef offers wall drift dives interspersed with sand channels and adorned with multicolored sponges and gorgonia corals.

Visit Other Cayes and Marine Reserves

While South Water Caye is a major draw, there are also many other cayes and marine reserves within easy reach from Hopkins. These include Glover's Reef Atoll, Turneffe Islands Atoll, and Lighthouse Reef Atoll, which offer hundreds of miles of additional reef ecosystems to explore.

Go Fishing

Hopkins has a strong fishing community, and local guides offer a range of fishing experiences, from reef fishing to deep-sea big game trips. You can even bring your catch back to your hotel and have the chef prepare it for you!

Explore the Belize Jungle

In addition to its marine attractions, Hopkins provides easy access to nearby jungle attractions. The Mayflower Bocawina National Park and the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary offer hiking, wildlife spotting, and nature immersion experiences. You can also take a Monkey River Tour to spot crocodiles, monkeys, and manatees.

Learn About the Garifuna Culture

Hopkins has a rich Garifuna cultural heritage, which is evident throughout the village. You can learn about their history, music, and food through drumming and dancing lessons, as well as cooking classes. The Garifuna Settlement Day on November 19th is a particularly special time to visit, as the village comes alive with traditional music, drumming, and food.

Garifuna culture

Hopkins, Belize is a great place to visit to learn about the Garifuna culture. The Garifuna people are of mixed free African and Amerindian ancestry, originating in the Caribbean island of Saint Vincent. They speak Garifuna, an Arawakan language, and Vincentian Creole. The Garifuna are the descendants of indigenous Arawak, Kalinago (Island Carib), and Afro-Caribbean people.

The Garifuna people originated with the arrival of West African slaves who washed ashore on the Caribbean island of St. Vincent around 1635. They intermarried with local populations of Arawaks and Carib Indians (Caribs), immigrants from South America, to become known as Garifunas or Black Caribs. Today, there are upwards of 300,000 Garifuna people globally, with communities along the Caribbean Sea in the Central American countries of Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua.

Afro-Caribbean Garifuna culture combines Caribbean fishing and farming traditions with a mixture of South American and African music, dance, and spirituality. Garifuna music styles are known for their heavy use of percussion instruments and distinctive drumming, which combines the beats of primero (tenor) and segunda (bass) drums. Punta is an evolved form of traditional music played using traditional instruments and is the most popular genre of Garifuna music and dance.

Garifuna food and drink make use of a combination of native Central American crops and African staples, including fish, chicken, cassava, bananas, and plantains. Cassava bread is served with most meals, and other Garifuna breads include buns, banana bread, and pumpkin bread.

Hopkins, Belize is a great place to experience Garifuna culture, with local restaurants and clubs offering native Garifuna drumming, and the opportunity to try Garifuna food. Garifuna Settlement Day, held annually on November 19th, is a great time to visit, with local music, drumming, traditional food, and a Garifuna Landing re-enactment ceremony.

Hopkins' beach

Hopkins, a small Garifuna fishing village on the coast of Stann Creek in Southern Belize, has become a must-visit place for many travellers to the country. Its ideal location, authentic culture, and proximity to the Sittee River are just some of the reasons for its growing popularity.

Hopkins is known for its beautiful beach, which is well-shaded and clean, with compacted sand. The beach is lined with upscale resorts, local restaurants, beach bars, and gift shops. The village has retained its coastal charm, offering warm hospitality and a safe environment for visitors.

The beach is a great spot to relax and enjoy the sun, sea, and sand. You can rent paddleboards or kayaks, with the calmest waters usually in the morning. Hopkins beach is also a fantastic base for exploring the Southern Barrier Reef, with world-class snorkelling and scuba diving just minutes away. The Southern Water Caye Marine Reserve is a popular spot, as well as the nearby cayes and other marine reserves.

For those interested in cultural tourism, Hopkins is a great place to learn about the Garifuna people's history and traditions, including their distinctive drumming and dancing. The local drum school offers sessions, and many hotels can arrange for guests to participate. The Garifuna culture is evident throughout the village, with its music, art, and food, all of which are well worth exploring during your visit.

In addition to its beach and cultural attractions, Hopkins also provides easy access to top jungle attractions. The Mayflower Bocawina National Park and the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary are both easily accessible from the village and offer excellent hiking and wildlife-spotting opportunities.

With its combination of beach, culture, and nature experiences, Hopkins beach is definitely worth visiting. Its laid-back Caribbean vibe and friendly atmosphere make it a unique and appealing destination for travellers seeking a quiet coastal retreat with plenty of options for exploration and adventure.

Hopkins' resorts and restaurants

Hopkins Resorts and Restaurants

Hopkins, a small Garifuna fishing village in Belize, has become a must-visit place for many travellers to the country. The village has retained its coastal charm and is known for its warm hospitality, safety, and highly-rated resorts.

Where to Stay

There are several accommodation options in Hopkins, ranging from backpacker-style digs to sprawling upscale beachfront resorts. Here are some of the top resorts in the area:

• Hamanasi Adventure and Dive Resort: This award-winning resort offers luxurious beachfront rooms and treehouses, along with its own on-site 5-star PADI dive centre. It is one of the most highly-rated resorts in Central America and can be pricey, but guests agree that it is worth it for the exceptional service, wonderful restaurant, and beachfront location.
• Buttonwood Guest House: This guest house offers more modest condo-style accommodations for those on a budget.
• White Horse Guesthouse
• Belizean Dreams Resort
• Hopkins Bay, a Muy'Ono Resort
• The Lodge At Jaguar Reef
• Almond Beach Resort at Jaguar Reef
• Villa Margarita at Jaguar Reef
• Bocawina Rainforest Resort

Where to Eat

Hopkins is known for its delicious Garifuna food, including dishes like hudut, cassava bread, and bundiga. Here are some of the top restaurants and food spots in the area:

• Chef Rob's Gourmet Cafe
• Singanga Restaurant at Hamanasi Resort: A highly-rated restaurant serving Caribbean, seafood, and international cuisine.
• Innie's Restaurant
• Driftwood Beach Bar & Pizza Shack: A great spot for Garifuna drumming and Garifuna food, as well as wood-fired pizza.
• Rhum Shack Restaurant
• Barracuda Bar and Grill at Beaches and Dreams
• Luba Laruga Restaurant
• The Paddle House Beachfront Restaurant
• Loggerheads Pub & Grille
• Jalapeno's BBQ & Grill

Nearby attractions

Hopkins is a great base for exploring the rest of Belize. The village is close to the Sittee River and the Caribbean Sea, and there are plenty of natural wonders and ancient ruins to discover.

Bocawina National Park

A short drive from Hopkins, this park offers world-class hiking to remarkable vistas and waterfall swims. Adventure-seekers can also zipline through the park.

Monkey River

Take a boat down the Monkey River on a crocodile-spotting mission, and walk through the dense forest to see monkeys and mangroves. You might also spot manatees and the leeward side of the Caribbean.

Cockscomb Jaguar Preserve

One of the world's only jaguar preserves, this vast piece of land is home to tropical forests, untouched Maya ruins, waterfalls, and a natural lazy river.

Xunantunich

One of the most popular Maya ruins in Belize, Xunantunich is a couple of hours' drive from Hopkins. Climbing to the top is not for the faint of heart, as there are no handrails. Tours often combine a visit here with cave tubing.

Tikal

An overnight trip to Tikal in Guatemala is highly recommended. The site is huge, and you can see the sunrise from the ruins.

Glover's Reef Marine Reserve

Glover's Reef is a popular destination for snorkelling and scuba diving.

Barton Creek

A half-day canoe trip to Barton Creek is a popular excursion from Hopkins.

Blue Hole National Park

On the way to Hopkins, you can stop off at Blue Hole National Park.

Placencia

Placencia is another popular beach destination in southern Belize. It has a domestic airport and plenty of restaurant options.

Dangriga

Dangriga is Hopkins' nearest town, with its own airport.

Belize City

Belize's only international airport is in Belize City, a 2.5-3 hour drive from Hopkins.

Ambergris Caye

A popular island in northern Belize, Ambergris Caye is a common stop for those interested in snorkelling and scuba diving.

South Water Caye Marine Reserve

This is another excellent spot for diving and snorkelling.

Mayflower Bocawina National Park

This national park is easily accessible from Hopkins and offers hiking and wildlife-spotting opportunities.

Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary

This wildlife sanctuary is also within easy reach of Hopkins and can be explored during the day or at night.

Maya Centre Village

A cultural highlight, Maya Centre Village offers the chance to experience Garifuna drumming.

Miss Bertie's Library

A fun place to visit, this library is growing by leaps and bounds.

Frequently asked questions