A typical Belizean holiday at Hopkins

Hopkins is a small village on the eastern coast of the nation of Belize. Part of the Stann Creek district, this town is home to the Garinagu group and the total population is around 1,300 residents.

Hopkins is broken into two major regions, the Northside, which consists of Baila and the Southside which is made of False Sittee.  The town is set amidst the Cockscomb Range inland along with the ever so popular Maya Mountains and the Caribbean ocean.

The economics of the town is pre-dominantly fishing and agriculture. However, there seems to be new bread earner for the locals in the form of the booming tourism industry. Hopkins is rich in long white-sand beaches and diving activities are also very popular here.

The town is very small and just around 3 miles from north to south and hence, you may also prefer to walk it out. Besides, if you are tired you can always hire a bike for extra comfort.

Let’s go through some of the popular activities of this tiny town.

There’s the Le Beha Drumming center, which will give you drumming lessons. Besides, all you dive freaks can visit Glover’s Atoll, which is considered to be the cheapest place in Belize. You can also take advantage of the price factor here and walk away with a certification.

The village also houses wildlife sanctuaries and parks. A must visit place here is the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary.

Then, there’s snorkeling run by the fishermen from the village. Besides, there are windsurfing and kayaking facilities available aplenty.

The popular Sittee River is an excellent location for canoeing and bird watching. For the guys who prefer to spend the day in diving activities, the place is ideal for you as there are guided night tours of the Boom Creek near this river.

Hopkins is also the home to Central and Southern Belize’s only sports fishing charter operator, better known as Belize Fishing and Charters. The charter provides world class facilities for fishing and cruising. One can cruise beyond the second largest barrier reef of the world and view secluded beaches, cayes, and fishing areas besides many other unique sites.

Besides, there are a number of popular eateries in the town. Popular ones include Marva’s and Kismet. Windschief and Punta Rock Club are the popular drinking hangouts.

Listed below are some of the questions which may be on your mind.

How do I reach Hopkins?

Hopkins is situated in very close proximity to Belize City on the south. The Phillip S.W. Goldson International Airport (BZE) near the capital hosts numerous US flights from carriers such as American, Delta and Continental. The most comfortable way into Hopkins is to board a Maya Island Air or Tropic Air flight from Goldson, which flies into the Dangriga airstrip, from where you can hire a cab. Alternatively, you may also rent out a cab at the Goldson airport itself and follow the directions on the Western Highway and Hummingbird Highway.

Where do I stay during my Hopkins holiday?

The town of Hopkins is ready for visitors in any capacity.  There are various accommodation facilities available. Some of the more popular ones include Hamanasi Adventure and Dive Resort, Jaguar Reef Lodge and Spa, Hopkins Inn, and Sinsonte Beya Beach Hotel. The general feedback about these resorts is they score very well in terms of cleanliness and other amenities.

When is the best time to visit Hopkins?

The ideal period to visit the town is during the dry months of December through May. This period also forms the tourist season of the city and the country as a whole and as a result, general prices are at their peak.

If you are looking to save some bucks, you may travel during the June-November period, however, the weather is very humid during these months and it recommended you do not visit the city during this period.

In conclusion, Hopkins is an ideal place for that romantic holiday. The village doesn’t see large crowds as seen in other tourist hotspots. Also, the natives are of a friendly nature and this only helps you as a traveler. So, without wasting any further time, you need to start planning a trip to Hopkins.