small wooden house surrounded by coconut trees and hung clothes

Hopkins Guide

Locally recognized as the ๐Ÿช˜ culture capital, Hopkins is home to the โœŒ๏ธ friendly Garifuna people. It's surrounded by ๐ŸŒณ lush rainforest and the majestic Maya mountains โ›ฐ๏ธ.

Fun Facts

  • ๐ŸŒŠ Hopkins has close proximity to pristine hikes & waterfalls
  • ๐Ÿ›– The Garifuna culture is why Hopkins is known as culture capital
  • ๐Ÿฒ Local dishes like Hudut are cooked with coconut milk & fish
  • ๐Ÿ† Cockscomb Basin, a jaguar preserve is only 40 mins by car
  • ๐Ÿ›ถ Hopkins only has about 1000 locals living in the village

๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ฟMore Belize Facts

When To Visit

The best weather is enjoyed between October & June. There's also an annual Mango Festival in June.

๐ŸŽ‰ Hopkins Mango Festival

Nearby Attractions

  1. Image of Cockscomb Basin
    Cockscomb Basin
  2. Image of South Water Caye
    South Water Caye
  3. Image of Glover's Reef
    Glover's Reef

How To Get To Hopkins

Four ways of getting to Hopkins are by bus, shuttle, car and plane. The cheapest way is by bus while traveling by car is the most convenient way of exploring the area.

Trip Duration

3.5 Hours

Total Cost

$45.00 USD

Travel Route

View Route

International Airport To Hopkins ๐ŸšŒ

PGIA Airport โ†’ Belize City โ†’ Belmopan โ†’ Dangriga โ†’ Hopkins

  1. From the International Airport (PGIA), you can take a taxi ride to the main bus terminal in Belize City. Please note that the price is per group and not per person.

    30 Mins

    $30.00 USD

  2. From Belize City, take a Dangriga bus. The bus trip will take you through Belmopan & Dangriga then your final stop is at the Hopkins Junction (Notify bus conductor).

    3 Hours

    $10.00 USD

  3. After reaching Hopkins Junction, look for the taxi vans parked by the bus stand (Green license plate) If you're a good planner, try getting a bus directly to Hopkins from Dangriga.

    6 Mins

    $5.00 USD

  4. Alternatively, you can hitchhike to Hopkins from the Hopkins Junction (10-mins ride) which is common for locals. View Travel Route. Read Getting from Belize Airport to Belize City for a backpacker-friendly transport option.

Trip Duration

2.5 Hours

Total Cost

$80.00 USD

Travel Route

View Route

International Airport To Hopkins ๐Ÿš

PGIA Airport โ†’ Hopkins

  1. Shuttle companies are available at the airport but you can also pre-book online.
  2. While shuttles can be affordable, most of the companies have 2-6 persons minimum per shuttle. So, in reality, the shuttle service would be $160.00 USD to confirm booking with a minimum of 2 persons in most cases.

Trip Duration

2 Hours

Total Cost

$100.00 USD

Travel Route

View Route

International Airport To Hopkins ๐Ÿš—

PGIA Airport โ†’ Hopkins

  1. Car rental companies are available at the PGIA Airport and range from $35.00โ€“$75.00 USD. Keep in mind that gas prices in Belize range from $6.00โ€“$7.00 per gallon (~3.8L).
  2. From PGIA Airport, you can now take a new Airport road down south instead of passing through Belize City (Shown on map link).
  3. Then you can either take the Hummingbird Highway (Scenic) or the Coastal Highway (Fast) to Hopkins.
  4. The Coastal Highway is now completely paved cutting down travel significantly but during the rainy season this road can get flooded temporarily.

Trip Duration

1 Hour

Total Cost

$155.00 USD

Travel Route

Map Unavailable

International Airport To Dangriga โœˆ๏ธ

PGIA Airport โ†’ Dangriga โ†’ Hopkins

  1. There are flights from PGIA Airport (BZE) to Dangriga (DGA) available via two domestic airlines: Maya Island Air & Tropic Air.

    15 Mins

    $100.00 USD

  2. After arriving Dangriga, you will need to take a taxi to Hopkins Village. The airline staff can help you contact a reliable taxi driver.

    45 Mins

    $55.00 USD

  3. There are no direct flights to Hopkins. The closest airport is Dangriga Town (DGA) which is a 45-minute drive from Hopkins. There are also buses to Hopkins from Dangriga.

Frequent Questions

Where is Hopkins in Belize?

Hopkins is located on the eastern coast of Belize. It's roughly 2 hours away from Belize City by road.

How long do I need in Hopkins?

If you're looking to get a good feel of the village and visiting the two nearby national parks, three days should be enough.

When is the best time to visit Hopkins?

High season (tourism peak) is between October & June which is when the weather is best. Avoid this period if you don't like crowds.

Is Hopkins safe?

Hopkins is known as the friendliest village in Belize. Given it's a touristy place, it's very safe walking the streets during the day and even at night.

Comments

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