DEHUROEN

Plizio Visual Lab

Hopkins

Plizio editorial teamData Sources
City
—°4
Hopkins (Belize)
ℹ️

Practical info — Hopkins

▾

🌤 Weather — 5 days

📍 Nearby

Sights nearby

💡 Tips

  • Rent a bicycle to get around the village easily.
  • Bring cash, as ATMs can occasionally run out of money.
  • Visit on weekends to experience traditional Garifuna drumming.
  • Use mosquito repellent, especially around sunset.

🍽 Food

🍽
Hudut

Try this fish in coconut broth at local Garifuna family eateries.

🍽
Cassava Bread (Ereba)

Buy this traditional flatbread directly from street vendors.

🍽
Fry Jacks

Enjoy these fried dough pieces for breakfast at beachfront cafes.

🛍 Shopping · 🧘 Quiet spots

🛍
Wooden crafts & drums

Look for authentic souvenirs at local artisan stalls.

🛍
Fresh tropical fruit

Buy fresh fruit at the small roadside stands.

🧘
False Sittee Point

An excellent spot for quiet and undisturbed beach walks.

🧘
Sittee River

Handy for relaxing kayaking or canoeing through the mangroves.

Hopkins is a coastal village in the Stann Creek District of Belize, widely regarded as the cultural heart of the country's Garifuna people. The settlement was established in 1942 following a destructive hurricane that leveled the nearby community of Newtown. Named after Catholic Bishop Frederick Hopkins, the village has successfully maintained its ancestral traditions despite the influx of modern tourism. Geographically, Hopkins is situated along an expansive bay of the Caribbean Sea, with the Maya Mountains forming a scenic backdrop to the west. The local economy, once strictly dependent on subsistence fishing and cassava farming, has transitioned into a major eco-tourism hub. Every year on November 19th, the village hosts massive celebrations for Garifuna Settlement Day, featuring traditional drumming and Punta dancing. Hopkins is renowned for its artisanal craftsmanship, particularly the production of traditional drums made from solid mahogany and deer hide. It currently serves as a vital staging area for expeditions to the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary and the southern reaches of the Belize Barrier Reef.

Best time to visit & climate

The most pleasant time to visit is Jan–Mar.

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Avg °C212224262625252525242222
Rain mm110665840127240175197225251200137

Geography

Population
1,767 (2025)
Coordinates
16.86700, -88.28300

Facts

  • Hopkins was founded in 1942 after Newtown was destroyed by a storm.
  • The village has a permanent population of approximately 2,500.
  • The largest Garifuna Settlement Day celebrations occur here on Nov 19.
  • It is a primary center for the manufacture of traditional Garifuna drums.
  • The settlement is located 15 miles south of the town of Dangriga.
  • The village was named in honor of Jesuit Bishop Frederick Hopkins.

Explore nearby

Notable places around

Sittee River VillageSittee River Village2 km · NExplore →
Sibun RiverSibun River2 km · SEExplore →
Silk GrassSilk Grass2 km · SExplore →
Sapodilla CayesSapodilla Cayes3 km · NWExplore →
MaskallMaskall3 km · EExplore →
Stann Creek Citrus GrovesStann Creek Citrus Groves4 km · NExplore →
DangrigaDangriga6 km · NExplore →
ChetumalChetumal6 km · SEExplore →

Route planner — Car & Motorhome

Where do you start? We build the route here, with stops and country notes along the way.

Vehicle
Only stops with (optional):

© OpenStreetMap contributors · OpenRouteService

Sights in the town Hopkins (4)

Hawai'i🎡 recreation

Recreation area called Hawaii in a Belize village.

Happy Go Luckie Tours📍 landmark

Happy Go Luckie Tours office in a village.

Toronto Transit Commission Bus Stop📍 landmark

Bus stop marked 'Toronto Transit Commission' in a village.

Hopkins Bay🎡 recreation

Hopkins Bay in a Belize village.

Frequently asked questions

What makes Hopkins culturally interesting?
It is considered the hub of Garifuna culture; you can experience traditional drumming and dancing there.
What is the beach like in Hopkins?
The beach is long, with darker sand and lined with many coconut palms.
What dish is typical for Hopkins?
Hudut, a fish stew in coconut milk with mashed plantains, is a local highlight.
Are there luxury resorts in Hopkins?
Yes, south of the village center there are several upscale resorts like Hamanasi or Belizean Dreams.
Can you explore the jungle from here?
Yes, the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary (jaguar reserve) is very close by.
Hopkins: where is it located?
Hopkins is located in Belize.
Hopkins: what is there to see?
Highlights include Hawai'i, Happy Go Luckie Tours, Toronto Transit Commission Bus Stop.
Hopkins: when is the best time to visit?
The most pleasant time to visit is Jan, Mar.
Hopkins: why is it worth visiting?
Hopkins is a coastal village in the Stann Creek District of Belize, widely regarded as the cultural heart of the country's Garifuna people.
View on map → The Top 50 Attractions → OpenStreetMap →
North America
Explore with Plizio Discover more places in North America
More places in Belize →

Nearby cities

Dangriga (Stann Creek Capital) — Hopkins (Belize)
Dangriga (Stann Creek Capital)
The capital of the Stann Creek District and the heart of Garifuna culture.
Independence and Mango Creek — Hopkins (Belize)
Independence and Mango Creek
Twin villages that are home to a major port for the banana industry.
Placencia Village — Hopkins (Belize)
Placencia Village
A picturesque fishing village at the tip of a peninsula, now a popular tourist spot.
Silk Grass — Hopkins (Belize)
Silk Grass
A village on the Southern Highway, south of Dangriga.
Seine Bight — Hopkins (Belize)
Seine Bight
A Garifuna village on the Placencia Peninsula.
Sittee River Village — Hopkins (Belize)
Sittee River Village
A village at the mouth of the Sittee River, surrounded by mangroves.
Laughing Bird Caye — Hopkins (Belize)
Laughing Bird Caye
Laughing Bird Caye is a protected national park and coral atoll offering exceptional snorkeling in the Belize Barrier Reef.
Riversdale — Hopkins (Belize)
Riversdale
A small fishing village on the coast of the Stann Creek District.

Nature

Sittee River — Hopkins (Belize)
Sittee River
A river in the Stann Creek District known for its rich wildlife.

More places

Sittee River Forest Reserve — Hopkins (Belize)
Sittee River Forest Reserve
A lush forest reserve protecting the watershed and biodiversity along the Sittee River.
Stann Creek Citrus Groves — Hopkins (Belize)
Stann Creek Citrus Groves
Citrus plantations in Belize's southern coastal belt.
Placencia Coconut Groves — Hopkins (Belize)
Placencia Coconut Groves
Coconut palms and small coastal farms along the Placencia Peninsula.
Manatee Forest Reserve — Hopkins (Belize)
Manatee Forest Reserve
A protected area known for its manatee populations in the lagoons.
Stann Creek Valley — Hopkins (Belize)
Stann Creek Valley
A major agricultural valley in central Belize, famous for its sprawling citrus groves.
South Water Caye — Hopkins (Belize)
South Water Caye
A picturesque island located directly on the barrier reef, part of a marine reserve.
Sittee River Foothills — Hopkins (Belize)
Sittee River Foothills
The transition zone where the Maya Mountains descend into the Stann Creek coastal plains.
🗺️
Bella Vista Banana Belt
An agricultural zone with banana fields in southern Belize.