Hopkins, Belize
This is part of the London to Belize and Guatemala trip December 2019.
Today we travel to Hopkins Beach, Belize, staying at The White Horse Guest House, Hopkins, Belize for a bike hire for a few days.
Travelling to Hopkins Beach, Belize from Guatemala border
Pick up was at 7.30am with Roberto from Jets Shuttle, Belize https://www.shuttlebelize.com/ and we quickly crossed the border into Belize. No payment to leave Guatemala. We met up with Josh from Jets Shuttle Belize, who was taking us to Hopkins. We stopped off on route in Belize for a breakfast of fried beans, some form of ‘mystery meat’ and Jacks, which is some form of doughy deep fried diet busting food.
Driving to Hopkins we cross through the deep jungle of Belize arriving at Hopkins around 3 hours later.
Hopkins, Belize, is very quiet, the bars are few with a number of high end resorts to the South of Hopkins.
The White Horse Guest House, Hopkins, Belize,
We are staying on the beach front at The White Horse Guest House, Hopkins, Belize, https://www.whitehorseguesthouse.com/ run very efficiently by Angel. He actually gave us a full briefing re location of restaurants and bars, facilities around the hotel, and how to get around before he gave us the room keys. White Horse Hotel Hopkins Belize is a really nice hotel. The rooms come equipped with fridge, TV, mosquito nets on the windows (Without any holes in them), a front communal patio, own part of the beach which was manicured, and close to bars and restaurants. Hotel White Horse Hopkins Belize is a great place for a few days.
The first night we went to the bar next door, Ella’s Restaurant Cool stop, http://www.ellascoolspot.com/ the choice was limited and I had Jerk Shrimps and rice. It was nice but could have done with more food, the price being around $10 US.
There is a Chinese supermarket close to the hotel which stays open until 9pm. We stocked up with wine beer and spirits. They sold expensive craft beer at around $5 US a can. The local beer and wine was a good choice and not at all expensive.
Kat’s coffee shop
The following day we had coffee in Kat’s coffee shop then I popped into a local bar on the main road, close to the hotel, named Virge’s diner, a wooden shack off the main road, for a breakfast burrito,
Virges bar, Hopkins Belize
Virge’s bar, Belize is run by Michael.
This is a traditional Belize bar, not a great choice of beer or food, a TV in the corner with fuzzy reception. Lots of children running around, and a lady that looks similar in build to the one off of Tom and Jerry. Happy days.
That evening we ate at Virge’s diner Again great food, limited menu and to be honest limited food. We had to eat the potato chips when we got in!
Bicycle hire Hopkins Beach
A new day, and a new adventure. It started with me trying to hire some bicycles and failing miserably. Some had expensive mountain bikes, some had bikes but only for the top end resorts, but finally I went to the Bar Ella’s CoolSpot, Hopkins, next to our Hotel White Horse. They had some bikes for $15 US a day each bike. Beware the bikes don’t have gears or brakes! To stop the bike you pedal backwards and it stops. There are no hills so no brakes or gears required. Yes I know it all sounds a bit dodgy, but it was OK.
From top to bottom of Hopkins take about 30 minutes on a bike. There are 3 parallel roads, that run alongside the sea. The nearest to the sea is the main road connecting the various hotels and bars. The other 2 ‘house’ the locals. On a first glance the roads and the people living nearby look a bit dangerous but after a while you realise these are some of the friendliest people you will meet. Clearly a requirement at each house is to have sound system greater than their neighbour, and to demonstrate the sound quality at all times. We identified a suitable resort to relax for the following day. Belizean Dream.
The rules in Hopkins are that if you buy a drink at most of the hotels they will give you a sun bed and towel and you can relax all day.
The Curve Bar, Sittee River Marina
We headed as far south in Hopkins as the bumpy road will allow, Stop off at a gift shop. Lots of local wood has been changed into masks, animals, bowls. There are paintings, jewellery, clothing. All very nice but none have my name on. The tarmac road then stops and we’re cycling on red, heavily impacted sand/rocks. and ended up at Sittee River Marina. We get to The Curve Bar, Sittee River Marina.
What a beautiful place, there are about 30 boats moored there, the Curve bar and restaurant and not much more. We order breakfast burritos there with 2 coca colas and the check was about $30.
Not a cheap place but very pleasant. Also about 15 minutes cycling from the White Horse hotel. Lots of small motorboats are moored and we watch the birds flying around. No crocodiles are spotted. This bar has a lovely feel but I wouldn’t want to be there after dark as I can only imagine the mosquito activity.
That night we ate at Michael’s Virge’s bar again. I had a vegetables only meal, more food when I got in as still hungry!
Peers Place, Hopkins
Breakfast was taken a short walk along the beach at Peers Place, Hopkins, https://peers-place-restaurant-and-bar.business.site/ This is run by a German man and his Russian partner. I have a very nice Mexican extravaganza between a seeded roll. Huge meal, very tasty.
There are lots of trips you can go on, from snorkelling to wild life treks. Iguanas appear to be the wildlife of choice here.
We cycled down to Belizean Dream. resort. Bike parking is no problem. A pleasant stay for a few hours supping cocktails and beer watching the pelicans dive into the sea for their lunch.
That evening we returned to Peers Place Hopkins and had a great meal. There was plenty of food on this occasion. Whilst not local food, the food was great. I had Hummus type nibbles to start followed by a tuna salad. Hit the spot.
The following morning we took an early breakfast at Peers Place. I had the farmer’s omelette. Huge breakfast. Sue had a tuna bake thing, which was equally huge.
Around 10 we were collected by Josh with Jets Shuttle, Belize and driven for about 3 hours back to our final destination in Belize, at Belize city at The Bamboleo Inn, which is close to the airport for our departure for a few days in Houston USA tomorrow.