Things to do in Hopkins

Best time to visit Hopkins

• a note or something on   ✦ an occasion worth the trip

• December to April

  Dry, best beach weather, busiest.

• May to August

  Hot with brief storms, good snorkeling, thinner crowds.

• September and October

  Heaviest rain; some tours do not run.

• November

  Transitional; Garifuna Settlement Day on the 19th is worth planning around.

What's on

• Garifuna Settlement Day 19 November

  The year's biggest cultural day: reenactment of the Garifuna arrival, drumming, dancing and food all day.

Best things to do in Hopkins

• Hopkins Beach

  Free

  Long, quiet Caribbean beach with calm water for swimming and walking.

• Sittee River

  $$

  Kayak or boat a slow river corridor with manatees, crocodiles and herons.

• Lebeha Drumming Center

  $

  Hands-on Garifuna drumming lessons in the culture's home village.

• South Water Caye Marine Reserve

  $$$

  Snorkel day trip to coral gardens with rays and turtles, plus a beach barbecue.

• Laughing Bird Caye National Park

  $$$

  Tiny protected island with some of the clearest snorkeling water in Belize.

• Hopkins

  Free

  Walk the Garifuna village's main street: jerk pits, bakeries and drum shops.

• Sittee River Marina

  Free

  Working marina where fishing charters and tour boats depart; book direct.

Best restaurants in Hopkins

• Chef Rob's Gourmet Cafe

  $$$

  Daily-changing market menu; the fanciest dinner in Hopkins. Reserve ahead.

• The Paddle House Beachfront Restaurant

  $$

  Reliable beachfront Caribbean and seafood with tables in the sand.

• Bahay Fiesta

  $$

  Filipino meets Caribbean: lumpia next to jerk chicken, big flavors.

• La Trattoria Romana

  $$

  Proper Sicilian-run Italian: handmade pasta, wood-fired pizza.

• Big Dock Ceviche Bar

  $$

  Ceviches and cold beer over the water at the river marina.

• Singanga Restaurant at Hamanasi Resort

  $$$$

  Tasting-style Caribbean fine dining at Hamanasi; open to non-guests.

• Jambel Jerk Pit Hopkins

  $$

  Smoky Jamaican-style jerk chicken and pork from a roadside pit.

• Woven Palms Restaurant & Bar

  $$

  Easygoing burgers-to-grilled-fish plates with a lively bar.

Best bars in Hopkins

• The Curve Bar

  $$

  The village's social headquarters: open bar, live music, drumming nights.

Outdoor things to do in Hopkins

• Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary

  $$

  Jaguar preserve with maintained forest trails and waterfall swimming holes.

• Mayflower Bocawina National Park

  $$

  Steep waterfall hikes and a canopy zipline in wilder-feeling forest.

• Dangriga

  $

  Working Garifuna town 20 minutes north with the coast's best market and jerk.

Best hotels in Hopkins

• Hopkins Bay Belize, a Muy'Ono Resort

  $$$

  Polished beachfront resort with villas and a pool at the north end.

• Parrot Cove Lodge

  $$

  Mid-range lodge with pool, free bikes and kayaks, two restaurants.

• The Lodge at Jaguar Reef

  $$$

  Beachfront lodge with pool, spa and beachfront dining at Sittee Point.

• Almond Beach Resort & Spa

  $$$

  Full-service resort with spa at Sittee Point.

• Belizean Dreams Resort

  $$$

  All-suite resort with spa and dive shop at Sittee Point.

• Cosmopolitan Guest House

  $

  Simple, well-run budget guesthouse near the village.

• Caribbean Shores Bed & Breakfast

  $$

  Small B&B with a personal feel near the beach.

• Villa Verano

  $$

  Apartment-style stays suited to longer visits.

Is Hopkins expensive? What a day costs

A day of food, drink, sights and getting around, before the room

What to book ahead

• Lebeha Drumming Center: a few days ahead
• South Water Caye Marine Reserve: a few days ahead
• Laughing Bird Caye National Park: a few days ahead
• Chef Rob's Gourmet Cafe: a few days ahead
• Singanga Restaurant at Hamanasi Resort: a few days ahead
• Hopkins Bay Belize, a Muy'Ono Resort: weeks ahead
• Parrot Cove Lodge: weeks ahead
• The Lodge at Jaguar Reef: weeks ahead

• Chef Rob's and Singanga: reserve dinner a day ahead.
• Snorkel day trips in the off season: confirm the day before; boats need minimum numbers.
• Hamanasi and Jaguar Reef in high season: book weeks ahead.

Is Hopkins safe?

• Hopkins is a small, calm village; the main risk is petty theft from unlocked rooms and beach bags. Do not walk the beach alone late at night. Emergency number: 911.

Hopkins travel tips: tourist traps to skip

• Lagoon-side rooms marketed as beachfront are not on the sea; check a map.
• Sand flies at dusk are real; bring repellent, not just sunscreen.
• Beach tour sellers without a boat or shop are middlemen; book at the marina or your hotel.

Getting around Hopkins: public transport and more

• The village is flat and walkable; rent a bike for Sittee Point and the river.
• Taxis and golf carts cover longer hops; agree the fare first.
• About 2.5 to 3 hours by road from Belize City; shuttles and buses run daily.
• Boats to the cayes leave from Sittee River Marina and hotel docks.

Who Hopkins suits

More in Belize

Every Belize guide