Hopkins was built in 1942 after a hurricane washed away Newtown just up the coast; it is a loose coastal fishing village steering more and more toward tourism. Ignore the monstrous condos going up on either end of the Hopkins coast road—nearly everything in between is still very chill, spread out, and reasonably priced. Hopkins’ 1,100 or so Belizeans are mostly Garinagu, making this one of the more exciting places to be for Garifuna Settlement Day (November 19).

With the advent of some new resorts in Sittee, and the continual trickle of backpackers that still show up in the village, there are a handful of makeshift art galleries and local craft shops along the main drag; other than that, there really aren’t any sights beyond those that make up everyday village life.

bitters, playing drums and dominoes, and laughing away another hot, breezy day. Of course, things pick up considerably on festival days, Christmas, and Easter Week (expect rooms to be in high demand during these times).

As for orientation, the road that carries you into town from Dangriga also splits Hopkins into Northside (or “Baila”) and Southside (or “False Sittee”), with the Northside being a bit more dense with local flavor. Be advised: sand flies can get vicious along this stretch of beach, especially between November and February—pick up some natural repellent at Sew Much Hemp. And for a roundup of all Hopkins businesses, click on www.cometohopkins.com.