Useful Travel Information - Download pdf file

Submitted by Darren - October 2014

Arriving by flight in to Cancun

• Once you arrive at CUN International Airport walk past the money changer/hotels info area, go outside, turn right, walk 50 meters, bay #1 for Cancun bus terminal (35 peso leaves once per hour, on the hour), bay #2 for Playa del Carmen terminal (80 peso or $8 usd), this bus leaves once per hour on the half hour (starting at 10:30am), both buses run 7 days a week unto 9:30pm.

• Do not wait at the ADO Bus ticket counter inside the airport since you may not see anyone there for 10-15 minutes and during that time the bus may have just left (ask me how I know)

• There is no need to change $ at airport, rate is at least 10% less (9.10) than what you will get at money changers in towns (10.4), you can use USD on either airport bus.

• Once in Playa del Carmen you can buy a bus ticket going south (to Tulum or Chetumal) from the same terminal but you will need to go to the alternate terminal (6 blocks north, 2 blocks west, 25 peso taxi) to catch it, runs every hour starting at 6:20am until 5:30pm, then every 2 hours until midnight (Tulum $44 peso, 1 hr, Chetumal $190 peso, 4.25 hrs), bus has air con, bathroom and videos, so earplugs might be in order. You can usually catch the next express bus as they are rarely full. (A good timetable for many Mexico buses is: https://www.ticketbus.com.mx/ticketbus/eng/index.jsp)

• Chetumal is a fairly large town (250,000) so there are many sleeping options. There is only one hostel though, located in the southern part of the city at 262 Siciclia Street, (friendly lady can make evening meals, good information resource) $98 Peso dorm, $275 Peso private room, both with breakfast, it is a $20 Peso taxi ride (10 min) from ADO bus station.

Heading to Belize, there are two options:

• 1) Take an ADO bus from the same station you arrived in at Chetumal (buses depart around 11:30am)

• 2) Take a Belize style bus (Venus Company) which departs from the parking lot by the Nuevo Mercado on Veracruz Ave. This "station" is a 10 min ride (12 Peso taxi ride per car, not per person) from the hostel, this bus leaves at 9am (and noon maybe...?) and cost $25 Peso to Corozol (30 minutes) , $40 Peso to Orange Walk (1.5hr) or $60 Peso to Belize City (3 hr). This is a non-express bus so it makes frequent stops

• Note: Belize is 1 hour earlier than Mexico time

• Mexican border is simply a passport stamp, Belize border requires you to bring in all of your luggage as well.

• There are money change booths in the market, however the Belize bus will accept USD, Peso or $Bz.

• Once in Belize you should be able to catch a Dangriga bound bus within 20 minutes, takes around 3 hrs, $12 Bz.

• Buses heading south from Dangriga to Hopkins ($5 BZ) leave at 10:30am and 5:15pm. These buses go to both North & South Hopkins so you can get dropped off right at Lebeha. The Placenia bound buses going through Hokpins only go to the main intersection and then turn south so you will need to walk or hitch the 1/2 mile north to Lebeha Drumming Center.
  
  

Compiled by Dorothy - Jan 09

Recent flight prices from various US destinations (Dec 08)

• Cincinnati, OH $234 RT Includes all taxes (American)
  Seattle, WA $380 RT Includes all taxes (Continental)
  Dallas, TX $246 RT Includes all taxes (Delta)
  Houston IAH, TX $306 RT Includes all taxes (Delta)
  Newark, NJ $351 RT Nonstop flights, Includes all taxes (Continental)
  Chicago O'Hare, IL $458 RT Includes all taxes (Delta, US Airways)
  Atlanta, GA $223 RT Includes all taxes (Delta)
  Boston, MA $380 RT Includes all taxes (Delta, US Airways)
  Orlando, FL $366 RT Includes all taxes (Delta, US Airways)
  Washington National, DC $340 RT Includes all taxes (Continental)
  Washington Dulles, DC $346 RT Includes all taxes (Continental, Delta, US Airways)
  Philadelphia, PA $326 RT Includes all taxes (Delta, US Airways)
  Charlotte, NC $338 RT Includes all taxes (Delta)
  Detroit, MI $349 RT Includes all taxes (Continental)
  Denver, CO $360 RT Includes all taxes (Continental)
  Tampa, FL $366 RT Includes all taxes (Delta, US Airways)
  Salt Lake City, UT $245 RT Includes all taxes (American)
  St Louis, MO $249 RT Includes all taxes (Delta)
  Cleveland, OH $355 RT Includes all taxes (US Airways)

Getting Here

From Belize City (Philip Goldson) International Airport

• By Air:  After clearing customs and immigration, it is just a few short steps to the Maya Island Air (501 223 1140, info@mayaisland.com, www.mayaislandair.com) or Tropic Air (reservations@tropicair.com, tropicair.com) counter.  If you don’t have a reservation it is usually no problem to book the next flight to Dangriga.  There should be a flight almost every hour.  The price should be around $126.

• By Bus: If you want to take the bus to Dangriga ($9) through the beautiful Hummingbird highway take a taxi to Belize City (around $50).  Make sure the taxi driver takes you to the bus terminal.  One of the bus companies serving the south of Belize, National Transport, has a web site, www.nationaltransportbelize.com.

• By Car:  Belize has a number of car rental companies serving Philip Goldson Airport.  When you leave the airport take the road south to Belize City.  After about five miles take the exit to Burrel Boom (known as the Burrel Boom cut off) for a shorter route and to avoid Belize City.  At the roundabout head to Belmopan.  At the next roundabout head to Dangriga.  Enjoy the beauty of the Hummingbird Highway, remember ”go slow”.  If you are not familiar with this road it is not recommended that you drive it in the dark as it has a number of narrow single-lane, bridges.  Six miles before Dangriga you will see the signs for the turn-off to the Southern Highway turn right here.  After about thirty minutes drive, you will see a Hopkins Village sign; turn left here and after four miles you will be in beautiful Hopkins.  Go as far as the road takes you, past the colorful mural and turn left just before the dock.  You are exactly one half mile from our gate.  When you see the Lebeha Drumming Center sign turn right at the lane and right again and you are there.

• By Car via the Coastal Road:  As an alternate to the Hummingbird Highway via Belmopan you can take the Coastal Road.  This is a much shorter route to Dangriga and the only road to Gales Point from either Belize City or Dangriga.  However, the road is unpaved and not well maintained.  It would be advisable to check with your car rental company on the status of this road BEFORE you consider taking it.

From Belize City Bus Terminal

• You can take any bus going to Dangriga, Placencia or Punta Gorda ($9 to Dangriga).  The buses will stop in Dangriga ($4 to Hopkins).  The last bus going into Hopkins leaves Belize City at 2:00p.m.  If you take a later bus you will have to get off at the junction of the Hopkins Road and Southern Highway and hitch hike in or get off in Dangriga and either spend the night in Dangriga, rent a car in Dangriga or taxi direct to the Drumming Center ($75).

From Caye Caulker/SanPedro

• By Air:  Fly into Belize City Municipal Airport ($70).  From there, either take a flight to Dangriga ($83) or taxi ($6) to the bus terminal and take the bus to Dangriga ($9).

• By Boat:   You can take one of the water taxis to Belize City (SP-$20., CC$12 with San Pedro-Belize Express, Phone 223 2225, www.sanpedrowatertaxi.com, info@sanpedrowatertaxi.com) and taxi ($6) or walk to the bus terminal and take the bus to Dangriga ($10). or taxi to the Municipal Airport ($6) and take a flight to Dangriga.($83)

From Gales Point

• This is a small village on the Coastal Highway and home to Emmeth Young’s Drum school (www.maroondrumschool.com, methos_drums@hotmail.com).  At present there are no buses going south from Gales Point.  Emmeth will drop off visitors to the Gales Point Drum School at the junction of Hummingbird and coastal Highways (known locally as “Six Mile”) for $100.  From there you can take any bus going south.  A Placencia bus will take you into Hopkins as will the local Hopkins bus.  Punta Gorda busses will drop you off at the junction of Southern Highway and Hopkins Road.    Call Emmeth at 668 7733 to arrange transportation in and out of Gales Point.

From Tobacco/South Water Cayes

• Take the water taxi back to Dangriga ($35). And walk along the river (don’t cross the bridge) to the bus that says “Hopkins” waiting by the river.  This is the local Hopkins bus ($5) and will take you right to our gate. The bus leaves at 10:30a.m (and 4:30pm) .  When you pay tell the conductor you want to get off at the Drumming Center, Lebeha, or Jabbar’s; they will let you off at our gate.

From Dangriga (You can take a taxi directly from either the airport, bus terminal or water taxi dock to our gate for about $75)

• From the airport:

  • By bus:  Take a taxi ($6) to the ”riverside” (the taxi driver will know what you mean) to take the local bus to Hopkins ($5).  These busses leave at 10:30a.m. and 5:15p.m.  When you pay tell the conductor you want to get off at the Drumming Center, Lebeha, or Jabbar’s; they will let you off at our gate.

  • By taxi:   Take a taxi directly to Lebeha Drumming Center in Hopkins ($75).

  • By Car:   Dangriga has two car rental companies:  Dangriga Auto Rental, 501 533 2744, 501 607 0435, dangrigaautorental@gmail.com and Ilagulei Easy Car Rental, 501 626 3485 in Dangriga and 501 601 3672 near the airport.  Six miles out of Dangriga you will see the signs for the turn-off to the Southern Highway.   Turn off here.  After about thirty minutes drive, you will see a Hopkins Village sign; turn left here and after four miles you will be in beautiful Hopkins.  Go as far as the road takes you, past the colorful mural and turn left just before the dock.  You are exactly one half mile from our gate.  When you see the Lebeha Drumming Center sign turn right at the lane and right again and you are there.

• From the Dangriga bus terminal:

  • By bus:  You can either walk or taxi ($6) to the riverside and take the local Hopkins bus ($5), leaves 10:30a.m. and 5:15p.m., as described above; or from the bus terminal take the next Bus going to Placencia or Punta Gorda.

  • At the time of this writing, the buses to Placencia leave the terminal at 10:30a.m., 4:00p.m. or 5:15p.m.  The Placencia busses from the terminal will let you off at the bus stop in Hopkins ($4). The Punta Gorda busses will let you off at the Hopkins-Southern Highway junction ($3), from there it is four miles into the village.  Most people hitch hike.

  • By taxi:  Take a taxi directly to Lebeha Drumming Center in Hopkins ($75).

From the Hopkins Bus Stop

• There is a public phone at the bus stop near the mural and you can call Anaca and Abrahan Rodriguez, 668 2067 or 503 7292 for reliable taxi service to our gate ($5), or you can walk.  Turn north (to the left, if you are facing the sea) and you are just a half mile from our gate.

• If you take a Punta Gorda bus from Dangriga it will let you off at the junction of Hopkins Road and the Southern Highway, from there it is four miles into the village.  Most people hitch hike.

From Sittee River

• Many people like to spend some time in the Garifuna Village of Hopkins, especially after a visit to Glovers Atoll.  The easiest way to get here is by taxi and you can call Anaca or Abraham Rodriguez, 668 2067 or 503 7292 for reliable taxi service to our gate ($20) or ask about a local taxi service when you are in Sittee.  There is a local bus that leaves Sittee at approximately 6:30 that will drop you off at our gate.

From Placencia

• All buses traveling north from Placencia are scheduled to stop in Hopkins ($10); however, this may be at the driver’s discretion; in which case they will drop passengers off at the junction of the Hopkins Road and the Southern Highway.  From there you can either wait for one of the busses from Dangriga going into Hopkins or hitch hike the four miles.

• You can avoid the long bus ride over the Placencia road by taking the “Hokey Pokey” water taxi from Placencia to Mango Creek ($10) and from there a bus going north which will let you off at the Hopkins-Southern Highway junction ($10) from there it is four miles into the village.  Most people hitch hike.

From Punta Gorda

• Take any bus going north and get off at the Hopkins-Southern Highway junction.

From Livingston or Puerto Barrios, Guatemala

• Take the water taxi to Punta Gorda, then proceed as above.

From Puerto Cortez, Honduras

• Take the Nesymein Neydy water taxi on Mondays. ($50USD).  Phone 504 339 61380 or 504 996 38239.   Leaves Laguna la Pescaderia at 11:00a.m.; arrives at Dangriga in approximately three hours.  Once in Dangriga, walk along the river to the bridge, cross over the bridge and put your bags on the Hopkins local bus parked by the river.  This bus leaves at 5:15p.m. and will drop you off at our gate; or you can walk or taxi to the bus terminal and take the 4:00p.m. Placencia bus which will drop you off at the bus stop in Hopkins, just a half mile walk from our gate

From San Pedro Sula, Honduras

• There are direct flights to Savannah Airport via Maya Island Air ($325) at 3:15p.m., arriving at 4:00p.m.  This airport is located on the Southern Highway between the turn-off to Placencia and Independence.  From the airport take the next bus going north which will let you off at the Hopkins-Southern Highway junction ($10).

From San Salvador, El Salvador

• Toucan Tourist Cruise Line offers direct bus service to Belize City on Tuesday and Thursday. $90USD.  Phone 503 2100-6810/2248-4017.

Heading out of Hopkins

Dangriga and on to Belize City, Mexico, Flores/Tikal Guatemala, San Ignacio, Orange Walk and any other points north or east:

• By Bus:  There are two buses leaving right from our gate to Dangriga ($5), one at 7:00a.m. and one at 2:00p.m.

• By Taxi: Anaca or Abraham Rodriguez, 668 2067 or 503 7292 offer reliable taxi service to the Hopkins Bus Stop ($5), Southern Highway ($15) or Dangriga ($75).

From Dangriga

To connect to a flight out of Belize City (Philip Goldson) International Airport

• You can take a taxi from the bus stop to the airport ($6) and fly direct to the international airport ($126) or take a bus to Belize City ($9) and taxi to the airport ($50)

To Caye Caulker/San Pedro

• Take the 7:00a.m. bus right at our gate into Dangriga ($5).  Once in Dangriga you can take a taxi to the airport ($6) and fly direct to the Municipal airport in Belize City ($83) and fly on to the Caye ($70) or taxi ($6) to one of the water taxi (SP$20., CC$12)  docks and take a boat from there.  If you decide to take the bus through the scenic Hummingbird highway transfer onto a Belize City bus at Dangriga ($10) and from the Belize City terminal either take a taxi to the municipal airport ($6)  and fly to your Caye ($70) or walk or taxi ($6) to one of the water taxi (SP-$20., CC$12)  docks.  Popular with locals are the water taxis “behind the courthouse”; the San Pedro-Belize Express has a nice facility and friendly, helpful staff at the Tourism Village or try the Marine Terminal which is currently under renovation.

Bound for Tobacco or South Water Cayes

• Take the 7:00a.m. bus right at our gate into Dangriga.  Do not get off at the bus terminal, but stay on the bus until his last stop.  He will park by the river.  Follow the river and cross the main street (do not cross the bridge).  You will see the dock where the water taxis depart ($35).  The water taxis leave when they have enough people for a load, usually around 9:30.  You can go inside the Riverside Café for a bite and wait there.

 Heading to San Ignacio, Flores or Tikal

• Take the 7:00a.m. bus right at our gate into Dangriga.  From Dangriga take a bus to Belmopan or Belize City and get off at Belmopan.  From Belmopan take a bus to San Ignacio.  They usually run every hour.

To Gales Point

• This is a small village on the Coastal Highway and home to Emmeth Young’s Drum school (maroondrumschool.com, methos_drums@hotmail.com).  At present there are no buses going to Gales Point from Hopkins.  Emmeth will pick up visitors at the junction of Hummingbird and coastal Highways (known locally as “Six Mile”) and bring you to the Drum School in Gales Point for $100.  Call Emmeth at 668 7733 to arrange transportation in and out of Gales Point.

Sittee River

• Many people like to spend some time in the Garifuna Village of Hopkins, especially before visiting Glovers Atoll.  Hopkins has more services than Sittee and if you are planning to take your own food to Glovers there are three grocery stores and a small vegetable market where you can stock up.  You can leave Hopkins Sunday morning with all your food and water by taxi and arrive in Sittee in time to take the boat to Glovers.  Call Anaca or Abraham Rodriguez, 668 2067 or 503 7292 for reliable taxi service ($20).

Placencia

• There are three buses scheduled to leave from the Hopkins bus stop to Placencia ($9).  Their departure times are approximately 11:00a.m., 4:30pm. and 5:45p.m.  We can call you a taxi to the bus stop ($5) or you can walk the half mile.

Punta Gorda, Livingston, Puerto Barrios

• There are buses going to Punta Gorda ($15) from the junction of Hopkins Road and the Southern Highway starting at 8:30a.m. with one approximately every two hours.  You can take the morning bus at our gate at 7:00a.m. and get off at the junction and wait for the 8:30 bus, take any or the buses going to Placencia (11:00a.m., 4:30pm. and 5:45p.m.) and get off on the Southern Highway to catch a Punta Gorda bus, or have a taxi come pick you up (668 2067 or 503 7292) and drop you off at the junction of Hopkins Road and Southern Highway ($15) where you will catch your Punta Gorda bus.

Puerto Cortez Honduras (Saturdays only, Nesymein Neydy Water Taxi ($100) (501 522 0062, 501 604 4738, 501 605 7336)

• Take the 7:00a.m. bus right at our gate into Dangriga. Do not get off at the bus terminal, but stay on the bus until his last stop.  He will park by the river.  Cross the bridge and turn left.  You will see the boats docked along the river.  Their office is just across the road from the river.  You have to be at their office by 8:30a.m...  They will take your passport and have Belizean immigration process it and collect your exit fees.  The boat leaves at 11:00a.m. and arrives at Puerto Cortez in approximately three hours.

San Pedro Sula, Honduras ($325)

• The Maya Island Air flight leaves Savannah International Airport (523 2026) at 2:00pm, This airport is located on the Southern Highway between the turn-off to Placencia and Independence.  You can take a Punta Gorda bus at the junction of Hopkins Road and the Southern Highway and get off at the airport.  There should be one at approximately 12:30.   You can take the Placencia bus at the Hopkins bus stop at 11:00a.m. and get off at the highway and wait for the 12:30 bus, or have a taxi pick you up (668 2067 or 503 7292) and drop you off at the junction of Hopkins Road and Southern Highway ($15) where you will catch the Punta Gorda bus. Or take the taxi all the way to the airport.

From San Salvador, El Salvador

• Toucan Tourist Cruise Line offers direct bus service from Belize City on Wednesday and Saturday. $90 USD.  Phone Don Manuel in Belize City 501 625 2621 or the Pharmacy in Belmopan 501 822 1299.

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