Hopkins Belize is an idyllic seaside town at the core of Garifuna culture and offers many exciting activities to visitors. Zipline through a rainforest or search for jaguars while hiking through Mayflower Bocawina National Park’s jungle and waterfall hike.
Check out local shops like Caitlin’s Bakery for fresh bread and whole grain muffins, or take up drumming lessons with Lebeha Drummers and unleash your inner drummer!
GariMaya Gift Shop & Gallery
GariMaya, Hopkins Belize premier gift shop, boasts an amazing collection of Garifuna art that stands the test of time. Not only can they offer competitive prices and friendly owners; but there is also a vast array of food and beverages for sale!
Hopkins offers more than just stunning Belizean art and souvenirs; it also boasts a selection of delicious seafood restaurants that provide delightful meals. From high end dining at Love on the Rocks to family run establishments like Ella’s Cool Spot, Hopkins offers something for every dining preference imaginable! Additionally, live music from Lebeha Drummers plays every night; their studio offers lessons as well.
Hopkins is an ideal location to discover Belize. From Mayan ruins at Xunantunich to exploring St Herman’s Inland Blue Hole, there are endless day trip possibilities! Be sure to plan some during your time spent here!
Other fun activities available from Hopkins include snorkeling on the world’s second-largest barrier reef, just a short boat ride away. Cave tubing lets you float into caverns while guides share stories about local history and culture; plus there are always open-air cenotes where refreshing waters beckon for swimming!
Learn drumming alongside locals and experience breathtaking Garifuna music – descended from Africans brought over after a shipwreck off St Vincent in 1635 – then explore their culture through music, food and art – making the trip all the more worthwhile!
Caitlin’s Bakery in Hopkins Belize
Hopkins is an ideal base from which to explore Belize’s natural resources and cultural diversity, offering stunning white-sand beaches characterized by Garifuna culture. This coastal village provides accommodations ranging from backpacker-style lodgings to beachfront resorts; peak tourism season runs between January to March; this time provides gorgeous sunny days and calm seawater conditions, but hotel rooms and tours will likely be more costly during this period.
At each corner of town you’ll find shops selling handmade local and Central American items, from wooden bowls carved by local artists, slate carvings, beadwork jewelry and beadwork, paintings by local artists as well as handmade Garifuna dolls and baskets to paintings by local artists and more. Don’t miss the Hopkins Market Artisan Food & Crafts for locally made hot sauces, beauty products and other goodies made right there in Hopkins Market itself!
Hopkins offers an eclectic food scene, but Garifuna cuisine reigns supreme. Look for dishes like Hudut – a dish featuring stewed fish or chicken with cassava bread and coconut milk served over cassava roots – bundiga (grasted bananas or plantains cooked in coconut milk) or carne Asada (steak or pork marinated with garlic-and-lime sauce) while for drinks you could try an exotic rum cocktail or Belikin beer at either Driftwood Beach Bar or Pizza Shack
Are you up for an adventure? Take a boat tour from Hopkins and head out to either Mayflower Bocawina National Park or Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary nearby for wildlife spotting and hiking adventures in these jungle preserves – home to jaguar, puma and margay species among many others – where wildlife watching opportunities await! And don’t forget your camera – as these jungle preserves are home to an assortment of wildlife including jaguars, pumas and margas!
To better understand the history and culture of the Garifuna people, attend one of their drumming or dance performances at local schools or cultural centers; alternatively visit one of their chocolate farms to see cacao beans harvested and transformed into tasty treats that you enjoy back home.
Sew Much Hemp in Hopkins Belize
This small shop on South Road features homemade hemp oils, soaps and salves with many health benefits that the owner claims have many uses for customers. She also sells other natural products including herbs and herbal tea. While she does not speak much English herself, her friendly proprietor would make an ideal place for unique souvenirs or gifts.
While exploring Hopkins, you will come across a wide array of shops, boutiques, and markets that capture its spirit and vibrancy. Look out for GariMaya Gift Shop & Gallery, Caitlin’s Bakery, U Lick Ice Cream Shoppe, Mirror Mirror Boutique and Caribbean Village as great spots for gifts and groceries for the family – not to mention delicious ice cream at U Lick Ice Cream Shoppe and all of the necessary supplies needed to cook Belizean cuisine at Caribbean Village!
Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary provides another fun option, where visitors can hike in search of jaguars and other species, along with over 150 bird, reptile and mammal species that inhabit this sanctuary. You could also go cave tubing — where an inflatable tube rides down river to explore limestone caverns along its course.
There are a variety of all-inclusive tours that will take you to Thatch Cay, a private island near Hopkins. These trips provide transportation, fees and snorkeling equipment – as well as lunch! Furthermore, Hopkins boasts the UNESCO-listed Belize Barrier Reef which allows snorkeling or diving enthusiasts to see an impressive variety of fish and coral formations.
Don’t miss your chance to explore Xunantunich Mayan Ruins near Guatemala – take a tour from Hopkins that includes transport, fees and watercraft rentals!
Caribbean Village
Hopkins is an attractive seaside village in Southern Belize that attracts travelers looking for an eco-cultural base from which they can learn about Garifuna culture, explore the Belize Barrier Reef and top jungle attractions. A mere short distance away from Belmopan capital city, Hopkins’ laidback Caribbean charm attracts those interested in experiencing more authentic ways of life and unspoiled beaches.
There are a variety of upscale resorts and local restaurants located here, in addition to gift shops selling Belizean handicrafts crafted locally. Some establishments specialize in these handcrafted products such as bowls carved from local hardwoods, coconut and beadwork jewelry, colorful paintings and handwoven baskets crafted by local craftspeople; small shops may sell items such as slate carvings.
Caitlin’s Bakery first began operations as a mobile venture in 2000 and has become an institution in Hopkins since 2006. Offering fresh baked goods such as muffins, banana bread and loaves of bread to Belize residents since 2006; also offering vegetarian menu options like mushroom burgers, soy burgers and tropical fruit smoothies – Caitlin’s offers something delicious for every appetite!
The Belizean Dreams Resort is an expansive beach-front property featuring one, two, and three bedroom villas situated around multiple pools for optimal relaxation. Boasting a chic poolside tiki bar for casual cocktails with friends or families alike, its well-appointed one, two, and three bedroom villas provide guests with everything they need for an exceptional Hopkins Belize experience without compromising luxury or privacy. Indulge yourself at Woven Palms Restaurant offering delectable Belizean and international cuisine for breakfast, lunch and dinner each day!
Hopkins is home to many Belize tour companies. Some offer cruises that visit the Great Blue Hole nearby while others organize excursions to some of Belize’s most impressive natural and cultural landmarks. One of the most exciting day trips is a hike to Actun Tunichil Muknal (ATM) Cave, an ancient Mayan site used for burial and human sacrifice. This challenging and thrilling trek requires wading, swimming, climbing and maneuvering through tight spaces – truly an adventure of a lifetime! However, this experience should not be overlooked! It can be hugely fulfilling and should not be passed up. Visitors looking for something less strenuous should head over to Mayflower Bocawina National Park where you can enjoy guided waterfall rappelling adventures or hike through its lush tropical rainforest on an exciting nature trail.
