Ultimate Hopkins Travel Guide (+ Map)
TL;DR
Discover Belize’s most laid-back beach town – where Garifuna culture, wildlife adventures, glowing lagoons, and reef snorkelling all come together in one unforgettable destination.
If you struggle to choose between the Belizean islands and the mainland, we say give Hopkins a try! It’s a laid-back destination that combines culture, nature, and adventure.
Drawing on our firsthand experience, our travel guide breaks down where to stay, how to get around, and the best activities – from relaxing on the beach and exploring Garifuna culture to wildlife hikes, bioluminescent lagoons, and adventures on the barrier reef.
Written for independent travellers and backpackers, we share practical tips, local insights, and must-do experiences to help you make the most of your visit.
Hopkins Travel Guide
Hopkins Belize Map
Is Hopkins Worth Visiting?
Personally, Hopkins was our favourite place in Belize – super laid-back, a long beach lined with restaurants and bars, rich Garifuna culture, and easy access to the barrier reef islands.
Being on the mainland also makes it a great base for Mayan ruins, nature spots like Mayflower Bocawina National Park or Cockscomb Wildlife Sanctuary, and adventure activities such as ziplining, waterfall rappelling, or caving.
Where to Stay in Hopkins
The Funky Dodo Backpackers Hostel is a budget-friendly option right at the beach. There are dorms and private rooms. The staff is friendly, and the hostel is cosy with plenty of hammocks and an open kitchen.
Here are more affordable accommodations around Belize (only places we stayed ourselves):
How to Get to Hopkins
Hopkins is located along the southern bus line between Belize City and Punta Gorda. The majority of buses do not go into town but stop at Hopkins Section. Here, (shared) taxis are waiting to take the travellers the 7 km (4.5 mi) into town.
The closest airport to Hopkins is in Dangriga.
If you prefer not to use public transport, you have the option to book a private shuttle.
How to Get Around Hopkins
Hopkins is small and very walkable. For longer distances, you can rent bicycles.
Things to Do in Hopkins
1. Relax on the Beach
In our opinion, the beach in Hopkins is the nicest beach in all of Belize. It is long and lined with palm trees. There’s enough infrastructure, bars and restaurants to provide creature comforts, but it’s far from overdeveloped and overcrowded.
You simply can’t visit Hopkins without spending some time at the beach!
2. Cockscomb Wildlife Sanctuary
The Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary is the world's only Jaguar Preserve. You probably won’t find a Jaguar. What you will find is plenty of hiking trails. The tiger fern trail is the prettiest. It ends at a beautiful waterfall. Make sure to explore the second pool as it’s more secluded and nicer for a dip. The trail is around 6 km (3.7 mi) round trip and is mostly uphill on the way to the waterfall and mostly downhill on the way back. You can also go tubing.
If you don’t have your own car, going by public transport is a bit complicated. Your best option is the 7:00 a.m. bus to Dangriga. Hop off at the Hopkins sections and wait for a southbound bus to Maya Centre. From here, you have to walk to the entrance. It’s an 8 km (5 mi) hike on uneven ground. If you’re lucky, you can hitchhike.
Of course, you can also book a tour.
3. Garifuna Culture
Hopkins is considered the hub of Garifuna culture in Belize. It’s vibrant all around town – probably most visible for travellers is the omnipresent Garifuna cuisine.
If you want to dig deeper, you can experience Garifuna drumming either as a listener at Driftwood Beach Bar & Pizza Shack or as a participant at Lebeha Drumming Center.
If you still want more, you can book a Garifuna cooking class and even a full day Garifuna cultural immersion.
4. Minigolf at Windschief
Playing minigolf at Winschief is a nice little activity if you want more from your beach day than just lounging around. They also have nice food and drinks, by the way.
5. Bioluminescence Tour
Honestly, seeing bioluminescence is a unique experience that feels otherworldly.
The Bioluminescence Tour in Hopkins starts on the Sittee River, from where you take the boat into Anderson Lagoon, an area where bioluminescent algae are present. After a short ride through the mangroves, the boat enters the open lagoon, where water movement causes the plankton to emit a blue glow.
Fish and other marine life create visible glowing trails as they swim. Jellyfish are also commonly seen feeding on the algae, with the bioluminescence visible along their edges. Visitors can place their hands in the water to see the plankton light up on contact. The tour is conducted at night, with minimal artificial light, and clear conditions often provide excellent stargazing along the river and lagoon.
6. Snorkelling the Belize Barrier Reef
Hopkins is an amazing jumping-off point to visit the Belize Barrier Reef, the longest barrier reef in the northern hemisphere.
Paradise tropical islands like Bread and Butter Caye or South Water Caye are just a stone's throw away. Here, you can relax on the beach and swim among some of the more than 500 species of fish that populate Belize’s colourful coral reefs. Maybe you can even spot eagle rays, sea turtles, dolphins or nurse sharks!
Two popular options are the half-day Barrier Reef Snorkel and the full-day Barrier Reef Snorkel & Fishing Combo.
7. Scuba Diving the Belize Barrier Reef
South Water Caye, with the South Water Marina Reserve, is not only great for snorkelling but also for scuba diving. A bit further out, Glovers Reef Atoll, known for the huge coral formations and swim-throughs, is another great spot to see the underwater world. Of course, you can also go all the way to Turneffe Atoll, Belize’s premier diving destination.
Currently, there are several dive shops in town. As we didn’t Scuba dive in Hopkins, we don’t have any personal recommendations.
8. Mayan Ruins
Smaller Maya ruins are dotted all around Belize. Some of the closer ones to Hopkins are
- Nim Li Punit (located along the southern bus line and hence easy to reach by public transport)
- Mayflower Archaeological Site (in the Mayflower Bocawina National Park)
- Lubaantun
The most popular Mayan ruin day trip goes to **Xunantunich** but we would only recommend this tour if you don’t plan on going to San Ignacio as it’s much closer from there.
9. More Adventure Activities
There are so many things to do in Hopkins that it’s hard to do them all. Here are three more adventures that sound super cool:
- Cave Tubing at Saint Herman's Cave
- Jungle Canopy Zipline & Waterfall Rappelling - Bocawina Falls
- Cook Your Catch-Private Island Picnic
Where to Eat in Hopkins
We were pleasantly surprised by the quality and variety of food in a small town like Hopkins. You can find everything from Garifuna cuisine to international food. Here are our favourites:
- Queen Bean
- Tugusina Garifuna
- Hopkins Smokey Grill
- Ella's Cool Spot
- Peer's Place
How Many Days in Hopkins Do You Need
In our opinion, you need at least two full days in Hopkins. Use one day to visit the Cockscomb Wildlife Sanctuary and the other to relax at the beach. Maybe get some Garifuna culture, bioluminescence, adventure, or snorkelling in.
Here’s our full 2-week Belize itinerary:
Hopkins Tips
ATMs in Hopkins
There is one ATM in Hopkins, which worked fine for us but seems to be rather unreliable in general.
Supermarkets in Hopkins
In general, we’re not big fans of the supermarkets in Belize. There are some supermarkets in Hopkins, and the Happy Shopping Center seemed to be ok. Check for the expiration date and price tags.
Internet in Hopkins
We had great internet both in our accommodation and with our eSIM card.
Is Hopkins Safe
In general, Hopkins is a safe destination, and we always felt safe. Avoid walking around at night, as not much is going on this time of day.
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