Immerse yourself in Garifuna culture
Thought by many to be the epicenter of Garifuna culture, once voted the Friendliest Village in Belize, Hopkins lies on the mainland coast looking out over the Commerce Bight. Flanked by the Maya Mountains, Cockscomb Range and the Caribbean Sea, the vibrant community celebrates its Garifuna culture with gusto. You can join the locals to celebrate Hopkins Day, a colorful national holiday where the beat of the drum can last well into the early hours. Just be sure to book your Hopkins vacation rental early or you may miss out.
The beat of the drum
If you can drag yourself away from the beach life, there are some interesting cultural attractions to keep you busy. One of the hippest spots in Hopkins is the Lebeha Drumming Center. Every night, Garifuna local Jabbar Lambey hits and taps his drums to an eager crowd of travelers. You can even get involved and have a go if you wish. In the day, take a tour of the Marie Sharp's factory and learn about this ubiquitous spicy sauce found on every table around the country, or visit David's Woodcarving to see exquisitely crafted wooden objects.
Activities on land and sea
Other than the warm hospitality, beautiful beaches and mouthwatering cuisine, the biggest draws for travelers are the exceptional scuba diving and snorkeling opportunities. The ocean-faring locals know their stuff when it comes to marine life, and when you join a tour you'll be treated to sights of turtles swimming through the coral reefs, magnificent eagle rays gliding along the seabed and schools of colorful exotic fish. Back on land, the Mayflower Bocawina National Park is only a short distance from your Hopkins vacation rental and offers visitors plenty of activities from zip-lining to canyoning down the waterfalls.
Visit when the skies are clear and bright
The climate is Belize is roughly split into 2 distinct seasons. The best time to stay in a Hopkins vacation rental is between November and April when the sun shines, it rarely rains and the skies are clear and bright. During this time the inland forests, mountains and sea awaken with wildlife and the cultural attractions and events are in full swing. This is the high season, so book up early if you want to travel during these dates. Outside the season, there are rains each afternoon, but they don't last long and you'll have the sunny beaches all to yourself.
Spot the elusive jaguar
If you're a wildlife lover, don't miss your change to visit the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary & Jaguar Preserve just a short drive from Hopkins vacation rentals. Home to 50 or so jaguars, it's the first reserve of its kind in the world. As well as giving you the maximum chance of spotting one of these elusive creatures, you'll also likely see other large cat species including ocelots, jaguarundis and margays. In this densely forested sanctuary, playful otters swim along the rivers and colorful keel-billed toucans loiter in the tree canopies.
How to get to and around Hopkins
The nearest airport is in Philip S. W. Goldson Intl. Airport (BZE), located 47.2 mi (76 km) from the city center. If you're unable to find a flight that fits your schedule, you could book a flight to Belize City (TZA-Belize City Municipal), which is 46.1 mi (74.2 km) away.
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