About Hopkins
Explore Belize
Overview
This tight-knit Garifuna community of West African, Central African, Island Carib, European and Arawak peoples reflects the cultural heart of the country. Yearly festivals incorporate their colorful heritage with festive music and dance.
Nearby, the 128,000-acre Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary holds the world’s first jaguar reserve plus other indigenous species, such as howler monkeys and a variety of birds, set against the lush Cockscomb Mountains.
Vacationers can learn to play Garifuna-style drums or cook a traditional meal of Hudut, plantains and Belizean-style coconut fish curry, while listening to delightful local tales. Nearby Mayflower Bocawina National Park boasts three magical waterfalls, lush jungle trails and the longest zipline in Central America.
What To Do
Snorkel off the coast or take a dive charter an hour or two offshore to coral-covered Caribbean seas teeming with schools of colorful tropical fish, eagle rays and other enchanting creatures of the deep.
Visit the 128,000-acre Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary, the world's first jaguar reserve, in the heart of Belize near Hopkins.
Hike some of Cockscomb Mountain’s 20 miles of trails through lush rainforest. During the dry season, adventurous souls can hike to Victoria Peak, viewing incredible Mayan sites, plants and wildlife along the way.
Go native with a lively Garifuna drum lesson. Learn how chocolate is harvested at a local cocoa farm.
When to Go
High season in Belize corresponds to its dry season from December through April. When it’s winter in North America and Europe, it’s the ideal time to vacation in Belize. Low season occurs between mid-May to early December, and showers are most likely from June through October.
Fast Facts
The Garifuna people hold various Catholic, African and Indian beliefs, and harbor a great respect for their ancestors, who they believe guide their lives from the spirit world.
The traditional Arawakan language of Garifuna is still spoken by around 200,000 people in Belize, Honduras, Guatamala and Nicaragua.
Sir Roger T. Goldworthy, Commander-in-Chief and Governor of British Honduras between 1884 and 1891, and Governor of the Falkland Islands from 1891 to 1897, led the first recorded expedition to the Cockscomb Mountains in 1888.
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