How do I get to Hopkins Belize?
So you’ve decided that you want to make Hopkins Belize your next vacation destination. But how do you get there? Hopkins has a remote feel to it, but there are a surprising number of ways to get there.
If you are flying into Belize from outside the country, you will land at the only international airport which is called Philip SWGoldson Airport (Code: BZE). This airport is located about 9 miles from the country’s largest city, Belize City, and about 130 km north of Hopkins by road.
Once you have landed at the airport, you can choose from the following options to continue your journey.
Hopkins Belize by Plane
This is the fastest, easiest, and generally most popular option. Although Hopkins does not have an airport, you can take an internal flight from Belize City to Dangriga (Code: DGA), which is the largest airport in southern Belize. There are currently two airlines that operate this route, Maya Island Air and Tropic Air. You will hardly have taken off when you will land again as the flight time is a super fast 15-20 minutes. From Dangriga Airport, it’s about half an hour by car or taxi to Hopkins.
Cost: Flights are available from around USD $50 each way. A taxi from Dangriga airport to Hopkins costs around USD $50.
Hopkins Belize by ferry
Another popular way to continue the journey from Belize City to Hopkins is by shuttle service. You’ll need to pre-book the service before you travel, but you’ll be picked up right outside the terminal at Philip SW Goldson Airport. If you take a shared ride service, there may be a short wait for other passengers to arrive, but once you’re on the move, the trip will take around 2.5 hours.
Cost: Shuttle service fees will vary, but expect to pay USD$30-100 or more per person, depending on how many people are traveling and whether you are taking a shared or private shuttle.
Hopkins Belize by public bus
There are several bus companies and routes that operate in Belize. Although it is an inexpensive method of transportation, it can be time consuming to get around and challenging to navigate for new or non-Spanish speaking visitors. Also, public buses are usually converted American school buses, so they may not earn points for comfort. But if you’re interested in exploring Belize’s transportation system and having an authentic experience, once you’ve arrived in Belize City, you can take a public bus south to Dangriga; look for buses heading to Placencia or Punta Gorda.
Cost: It costs USD $6+ for a one-way ticket from Belize City to Dangriga, and takes about 3 hours.
Hopkins Belize by rental car
If you want to travel on your schedule, you have the option of renting a car and driving from Belize City to Hopkins. Conveniently, there are a number of rental agencies, including AVIS and Hertz, located at or near Philip SW Goldson Airport.
Cost – This will vary depending on the size of the car, time of year, etc., but you can expect to pay upwards of $65 per day.