Getting There & Departing
By Plane -- The closest airport to Hopkins Village is in Dangriga. A taxi from Dangriga to Hopkins or Sittee River village should cost BZ$80 to BZ$100 for up to four people. For a taxi in Dangriga, call Star Line Taxi Service (tel. 621-9956).
By Car -- From Belize City, head west on Cemetery Road, which becomes the Western Highway. Take this all the way to Belmopan, where you will connect with the Hummingbird Highway heading south. Ten kilometers (6 1/3 miles) before Dangriga, the Hummingbird Highway connects with the Southern Highway. Take the Southern Highway towards Placencia and Punta Gorda. About 13km (8 miles) south of this junction, you'll see signs for the entrance to Hopkins Village. From here, it's 6.4km (4 miles) on a graded gravel road. A few miles farther south on the Southern Highway is the entrance to Sittee River Village; however, you can also enter at Hopkins and head south from there along the coast, as it's really just a small loop.
By Bus -- Only a couple of the buses each day from Dangriga south make the loop through Hopkins Village and Sittee River. The ride takes between 25 and 35 minutes to Hopkins Village, with Sittee River Village just a few miles farther on the route. The fare is BZ$6 each way. Be sure to ask before you get on the bus if it will drop you off in the village. If not, you will be let off on the Southern Highway, at the entrance to Hopkins, but still some 6.4km (4 miles) away. If this is the case, you will hopefully have arranged pickup with your hotel in advance. Otherwise, you'll have to hitchhike in to town. The buses heading back to Dangriga or to points south can be caught in either Hopkins or Sittee River, or better yet, from the Southern Highway.
Getting Around
Hopkins Village itself is very small, and you can easily walk the entire town. If you're staying south of town or in Sittee River Village, or want to explore, a bicycle is the preferred means of transportation. Most of the hotels will either lend you a bike or rent you one for a few dollars per day.
There are no official taxi services, but if you ask around town or at your hotel, you should be able to hire someone for small trips or excursions. There are also a number of freelance guides in the area who have vehicles and may be willing to provide transportation.
Orientation
The access road from the Southern Highway heads right into the heart of Hopkins Village. If you continued straight, you'd be in the Caribbean Sea. The village itself spreads out for a few hundred yards in either direction. Heading south you'll come to the larger resorts listed below. At the turnoff and entrance to Jaguar Reef Resort, the road heads back towards the highway, passing through Sittee River Village. Note: It's only a 15- to 20-minute walk from the village to any of the resorts to the south, with the exception of Kanantik, which is farther away.
Fast Facts -- Both Hopkins and Sittee River villages are tiny, and there are no banks or major stores or services. There are, however, ATM's in both places, and you can get gas at the little marina in Hopkins.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
