Things to Know

Hopkins is really a small village and if you are looking for night life, a hopping bar scene and tons of shopping, you might want to head for the Cayes instead. Hopkins is laid back and things run slower here. Still, there are good restaurants, lots of things to do, miles of beautiful sandy beach and a wonderful Garifuna culture to absorb. If you are looking for some place off the beaten track, a place that still feels as if it hasn't been 'discovered' and a place where you can slow down and simply chill out, you will likely fall in love with Hopkins.

Banking

There are no ATMs or banks in Hopkins. Both US and Belizean cash are welcome in the village and we take both Visa and Mastercard. Some, but not all restaurants take credit cards but you'd do well to bring enough cash with you to last your stay, at least as far as meals are concerned. Small denominations such as 20s are better as well for you many have a hard time changing a $100 bill. If you run short, you can always make a run to Dangriga, 30 minutes to the north, where there are two banks, both with ATMs. The Belizean dollar is tied directly to the US currency at $2 BZ for $1 US.

Food

For a little village, there is quite a reasonable selection of restaurants to choose from. Western style cuisine including a full early morning breakfast is available a few doors up the beach at the North Beach Bar. Right next door is a new place serving tasty pizza. There is some really good Belizean food at Marva's about 300 metres down the beach. Further south you can find a Chinese place, and an Indian place that makes surprisingly delicious Indian dishes. There are several general stores to the south and even a small hole in the wall place that sells fresh vegetables and fruit. Ask Dorothy for directions and specifics as each place usually has its own set day that it closed.

Getting Around

The best way to get around Hopkins is by bicycle. We rent them for $5 US/day and if we have none available, you may be able to rent some from the drumming center. Hopkins is only about 2 miles from north to south however, and walking from place to place is a perfectly reasonable way to get around. If you are heading out of town, buses leave Hopkins for Placencia to the south and Dangriga to the north a couple of times a day. Ask Dorothy for the current bus timetables.

Within the village, roughly in the center, is a small health clinic on the beach near the main intersection of Hopkins. Ask anyone and they will direct you there. While not usually staffed by a doctor, a nurse is usually on hand and most minor issues can be dealt with here. There is no pharmacy in Hopkins, nor is there a full fledged hospital. Both of those can be found 30 minutes north in Dangriga. As in many developing countries, AIDS is unfortunately all too common. Safe sex practices are a must.

Reservations (requiring a deposit) can be made by email at:
info@hopkinscabanas.com