Why Honeymoon in Hopkins
Belize's two honeymoon clichés are the busy island of Ambergris Caye and the polished jungle lodges of Cayo. Hopkins sits between them in more ways than one. It has resorts with pools, spas and dive shops, but you walk out the gate into a working village where people know each other by name.
That mix matters on a honeymoon. One partner can spend the morning on a dive boat while the other takes a cooking class or reads under a palapa. You meet up for a hike to a waterfall in the afternoon. Neither of you has to give up what you came for.
It also costs less than the northern cayes for a comparable room. Dinner in the village is a fraction of resort prices. The trade-off is that the beach is narrow and sometimes carries seagrass. Come for the setting and the culture, not for postcard-white sand.
When to Go
The dry season runs roughly from late December through April. That is the best window for a Hopkins honeymoon. Days are warm and sunny, the sea is usually calm and the jungle trails are firm underfoot. February through April are the most reliable months.
May is hot and still mostly dry. Rain starts around June and peaks in September and October, which also sit at the heart of Atlantic hurricane season. Some small businesses close for a few weeks in the fall. If you travel then, choose a resort with a flexible cancellation policy and consider travel insurance.
Two dates are worth planning around. Garifuna Settlement Day on November 19 brings reenactments of the arrival by boat, drumming and dancing that goes all night. In spring, whale sharks gather off Gladden Spit to the south, a trip usually run from Placencia but bookable from Hopkins too.
Where to Stay
Most honeymoon stays sit south of the village along the beach road toward Sittee Point, a short bike ride from the center.
- Hamanasi Adventure and Dive Resort is a long-running beachfront resort with treehouse-style rooms on stilts, a pool and its own dive and tour operation, so excursions are easy to arrange.
- Belize Ocean Club, near Sittee Point, has villas and suites with kitchens, several pools and a calm, residential feel.
- Jaguar Reef Lodge, also on the southern beach, is a relaxed option with beachfront rooms and a restaurant on the sand.
- Bocawina Rainforest Resort sits inland in Mayflower Bocawina National Park, if you would rather wake up to howler monkeys than waves.
In the village itself, small guesthouses and cabanas offer simple rooms steps from the beach. They suit couples who would rather spend their budget on food and tours than on a suite.
Romantic Things to Do
- Take a drumming lesson. At a family-run center in the village, you can learn basic Garifuna rhythms on hand-carved drums, then come back after dark when the evening session gets going.
- Hike to the waterfalls of Mayflower Bocawina National Park, about 30 minutes away. Antelope Falls is a steep climb with ropes in places; the pool at the top is cold and worth it.
- Spend a day in Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary, the world's first jaguar preserve. You will almost certainly not see a jaguar, but you will see tracks, toucans and the clear river pools along the trails.
- Take a boat to the barrier reef. Snorkel trips visit patch reefs and small cayes. Divers can reach the deeper walls.
- Paddle the Sittee River at dawn or dusk to look for birds, iguanas and, with luck, manatees.
- Rent bikes and ride the beach road at sunset.
Getting There and Around
Most couples fly into Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport (BZE) in Belize City, which has nonstop flights from several US hubs. From there you have two options. A domestic flight on a small plane to Dangriga (DGA) takes around 20 minutes, followed by a half-hour drive. Or book a private transfer by road, which takes about two and a half hours on the Hummingbird Highway, one of the prettiest drives in the country.
Many resorts will arrange the whole transfer for you. Renting a car is possible and gives you freedom for day trips to Cockscomb, the waterfalls and Placencia, about an hour south. Roads are mostly paved but watch for speed bumps in every village.
In Hopkins itself, bicycles are the default. Most resorts lend them free. The flat beach road makes riding easy. Taxis can be called for night trips back from dinner.
Food and Drink
The food is a big reason to stay in Hopkins rather than on a resort island. Try hudut, the signature Garifuna dish: fish cooked in a coconut broth, served with a ball of mashed green and ripe plantain that you break off and dip. Many small restaurants in the village serve it, sometimes only on certain days, so ask in the morning.
Other things to look for include cassava bread, fried fish with coconut rice and beans, conch fritters in season and fresh lobster from mid-June to mid-February. Belikin is the national beer and local rum punches are strong.
The resort restaurants are good and convenient, but plan at least a few dinners in the village. Prices are lower, portions are generous and the atmosphere is more fun. Bring cash in US or Belize dollars, since smaller places may not take cards.
Honeymoon Tips
- Bring strong insect repellent. Sandflies come out on calm evenings, especially after rain. Mosquitoes are around in the wet season. Dengue occurs in Belize, so if you're pregnant or hoping to be soon, check CDC travel health notices before you go.
- Pack water shoes for river crossings and waterfall pools, plus a light rain jacket even in the dry season.
- Dress is casual everywhere. Shorts and sandals work at every restaurant, though a light shirt or dress is nice for dinner.
- Book reef trips early in your stay so you have backup days if the weather turns.
- The US State Department rates Belize at Level 2, exercise increased caution. In Hopkins, normal care is enough: lock up bikes, use taxis late at night and keep valuables in your room safe.
- Tip guides and drummers directly. It goes straight to families in the village.
