Hopkins is conveniently located to the barrier reef, the longest in the Western Hemisphere, and Victoria Peak, the second tallest point in the country. There is an endless list of activities!
While there are numerous activities, below are some of the attractions most convenient to Hopkins.
Belize is home to some of the best water activities in the world with the beautiful sea, Great Barrier Reef, and many cayes (pronounced keys) to explore the tropical fish. Local guides offer a variety of tours, including snorkeling, diving for full or half- day trips. Belize is also known to be one of the best places to achieve the fishing “Grand Slam”—permit, bone fish, and tarpon and many people enjoy trying to conquer that prize while they are here.
Some people and places recommend particular tour guides, companies, and places because they benefit financially. Not us! We refuse to accept commissions and instead, we choose to give you recommendations with the sole goal of you having an amazing experience and a great story to return home with.
Our list is not without controversy as some of the best guides and restaurants may not have a “social media influencer following” or even a website—but you will have an authentic experience, even if they don’t make some bloggers must-do lists. Our list changes as new guides or experiences with guests’ changes. We’ve been out with these fellas and have enjoyed snorkeling, line fishing, fly-fishing, hiking, kayaking, and more.
Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary & Jaguar Reserve
Known internationally as the world’s first jaguar reserve, it is home to almost 50 jaguars, in addition to an abundance of wildlife, flora, and fauna. There are many hiking trails or a less intensive day could be spent floating the river. For the serious hikers, Victoria’s Peak is the highest point in Belize and offers a challenging climb. Visitors purchase tickets at the Maya Welcome Center at the park entrance and may either take a self-guided tour or hire a guide. A guide is now required for Tiger Fern trail. One is also required to hike Victoria’s Peak.
Mayflower Bocawina National Park is home to over 7,000 acres filled with small Maya ceremonial sites, amazing waterfalls, and many hiking trails. The longest zip-line in the country is located inside the park.
Guides to Inland Tours:
Charleton Castillo-Kulcha Tours: http://hopkinskulchatours.weebly.com/index.html 501-661-8199
D-Golden Tours: Golden Miranda: https://dgoldentours.com/ 501-660-7879
Snorkeling:
D-Golden Tours: Golden’s Brother, Bert, does the snorkeling/fishing tours and leaves out of the Hopkins Inn lane (the blue boat is his) and Bert goes out just about everyday—with our without tourists! There office is the third building, across the street from the Hopkins Inn lane.
Noawell’s Fishing: www.noawels.com/As many of you remember, Noawell was a pioneer as one of the first snorkeling/fishing guides in Hopkins. Although he passed away in 2024, his family had been working with him for years and the business and his legacy continues.
Elton Andrews Tours: Fishing, River Tours eltonandrews89@gmail.com or 638-6296
Happy Go Luckie Tours: www.hgltours.com/ 501-635-0967
Kayaking (or Stand Up Paddle Boarding) the Sea, Hopkin’s freshwater lagoon, or Sittee River, offer a great way to experience the area wildlife and can make for a fun day. We have some paddle boards that guests may use on first-come, first-served basis.
Fly-Fishing: Floyd Arana Floyd is old school—no website, no social media influencers, and he refuses to wear fancy buffs or gear. Floyd is considered the best and trained many of the well-known guides in the village. His house and boats are next to Windschief—four doors from the Inn.
Bioluminescence Tour. Levi is similar to Floyd is that he keeps a low profile despite being the guide who “invented” the bioluminescence tour. He lives on the River. His daughter, Pamela, owns Windschief and books his tours there. Windschief is located three doors north of the inn. Email: info@windschief.com or 501-647-7287
Stand Up Paddle Board Rental:
Thong’s Café:(on FB) and 501-661-7549 however they are closed and will reopen in October 2024.
Kayak Rental:
Sugar Patch Inn: Wayne Murray 254-697-9475 They have the Crystal-Clear Kayaks
Sittee River Marina: www.sitteerivermarina.cominfo@sitteerivermarina.com or 501-675-8525
Seakunga Adventures: FB or info@seakunga.com or 501 650 5055 for river rafting (river, cayes, and multisport
Mini Golf:
Funky Musik Café/Windschief offer Mini Golf. They are located three doors north of the inn. This is a smartly done 9-hole golf course that shows golfers the “Wonders of Belize” with holes of Victoria Peak, Maya Ruins, Zip-lining, and the Blue Hole, to name a few. All the holes can be made in a hole in one, but to save you frustration there is a ten-hole limit.
Bicycles are a fun way to get around the village and explore and cooler. The village goes about a mile to the north, passing the locals ancestorial burial grounds, ending at "Hawaii" where the sea enters the fresh water lagoon. The village goes a mile to the south as well. If one continues on, they reach the resort district....False Sittee Point, and Sittee River Marina. Take a stroll or ride on the Hopkins road for bird watching. Overlooking the savanna, many of us have spotted birds such as spoonbills, parrots, and even jabiru storks.
Bike Rentals:
Yugadah Bike Rentals: The Nunez Sisters are a few blocks south of Hopkins Inn, 501-670-7089
Mark’s Bike Rental: 501-602-4772 Mark is located across from the ATM at the main intersection, when coming into the village.
If you prefer to Rent a Golf Cart or E-Bikes: Scallywags: www.scallywagrentals.com or info@scallywagsrentals.com or 501-634-3500
Souvenir or Gift Stores:
Hopkins is blessed with many little shops including “pop-up” shops where folks set up street-side stands and sell a few items—such as carvings, dolls, or fresh baked breads. Sometimes, people will ride their bikes calling out, “wanna buy?” to prospective buyers. While some shops are easy to find, for the “hidden gems” try using Google maps, as it’s pretty accurate and stays current. Listed below is just a sampling, but one shouldn’t leave Hopkins without taking a stroll to all the many other little shops and stands in Hopkins.
· Rudy Coleman “BaBa”-Hand-made Garifuna Drum. Take home a drum as a reminder of the drumming enjoyed while visiting the village. Want something smaller to take back? Consider purchasing his book, A Brief History of Hopkins.
· Iris & Frederico’s—Hand-beaded Christmas Ornaments, key chains, and rings. Beautiful and bright hand-made Maya textiles, including table runners, placemats, blankets, etc. (They have two gift stores. One by Happy Store and the other two blocks south of the inn, next to the green building--T&C Restaurant.)
· Garimaya Gift Shop-One of the biggest and perhaps the best gift shop in Belize, has a large inventory of all kinds of items. The question is what they don’t carry! The store is packed full of clothes, hats, t-shirts, playing cards, great paintings by local artists, textiles, chess sets, bowls, wood carvings, coffee mugs, and lots more items.
· Golden’s Gift Shop-Golden may be best known for his tour business, both inland and marine. But he also has a gift shop where one can find postcards filled with Belize’s wonders, hand-made Maya baskets, Dolls, Hammocks, Bowls, and Napkin Holders, just to name a few items.
· Hopkins Market—Located upstairs on the Main Street, across from Siomara’s restaurant, the market carries Artisan crafts and foods, for artisans that may not have a distribution outlet. Featured items such as Local Chocolate, Truffles, Wine, Rum, and Kombucha. Hand Made Soap in the shape of fish and flowers and Colorful pottery.
· Seashell Art by Alex-Rings, Bracelets, Necklaces, Earrings made from different conchs. The queen conch makes for pink jewelry, while the mud conch is white and black. Cohune Palm jewelry, Carved animals; like Sea Turtles, Dolphins, and Toucans, are some of the many items made on-site here. You can observe the craftsmen at work often using “found” raw materials. Alex and his team can also personalize items making them to size or engraving with your name and date.
Going to Cockscomb or south toward Placencia? At the entrance to the village of Maya Center, is the Maya Center Gift Shop where tickets to the Cockscomb Jaguar Reserve are sold. There you will find crafts made by folks of the village that identify the name of the artisan. The ladies that staff the gift shop especially enjoy the moment that customers select items they personally made.