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Belizean Dreams Resort

Hopkins, Belize

4.8(419 reviews)

Family

Belizean Dreams Resort is a small, locally owned and managed beach resort in Hopkins Village on Belize's southern coast: nine standalone villas arranged in a horseshoe a few steps from the Caribbean, plus seven boutique rooms in the newer Promenade Building. It has collected Tripadvisor awards every year since 2011 and displays a Travelers' Choice Best of the Best placing as the top small and boutique resort in Central America and among the top ten in the world. Travelers describe the service the same way again and again: staff who learn your name on day one and make a week feel like staying with friends. The Garifuna village around it is a real draw too, and the resort hosts complimentary weekly events plus Hopkins Day, the September Celebrations and its own Lobster Fest.

Traveler Insights

Pros

+Small, personal and locally owned and managed: the whole resort is nine standalone villas in a horseshoe a few steps from the sea plus seven boutique rooms in the newer Promenade Building, so staff learn guests by name fast
+The All Inclusive Package bundles more than most Caribbean plans: three meals a day plus a bar snack, unlimited local drinks, the shared airport shuttle from Belize City, all resort fees and service charge, and one scheduled tour on stays of four nights or more
+The Mayan Jungle & Beach Package builds the adventure in: two scheduled tours for 4-5 nights, three for 6 nights and four for 7+ nights, chosen from a weekly roster of cave tubing and zip-lining, Belize Barrier Reef snorkeling, the Xunantunich Mayan ruins and the Mayflower Waterfall hike
+The reef snorkel trip is a 30-minute boat ride to the southern Barrier Reef with a stop on South Water Caye, and it runs twice a week, so even a short stay can fit it in
+Hopkins Village is one of Belize's most intact Garifuna communities, and the resort leans into it with complimentary weekly events plus Hopkins Day, the September Celebrations and its own Lobster Fest
+Plated meals instead of buffets at the beachfront Woven Palms Restaurant & Tiki Bar, with the indoor Promenade Lounge as a cool second space on hot or rainy afternoons
+Bliss Spa sits on site in the Promenade Building for massages, wraps, scrubs, facials and hair braiding after a day on the reef or in the jungle
+Complimentary kayaks, snorkel gear and bicycles, an infinity pool facing the sea, and a Belizean Dreamer loyalty program that kicks in after your first stay

Cons

−Getting there takes most of a day: the included shared shuttle from Belize City's airport is about two hours, and with only two departures (1:30 PM and 4:00 PM) you need to land by 3:00 PM or pay for another transfer or a domestic flight
−Wine and imported spirits are not in the package. Only local beer, local rum, gin, brandy and vodka drinks are unlimited, with a 20% happy-hour discount on imported liquor from 4 to 6 PM
−Only the scheduled weekly tours count toward your package. Anything else, from the ATM Cave and the Black Hole Drop rappel to horseback riding and fishing, is an a la carte extra billed at checkout
−Belize's barrier reef waters can be rough on certain days, and every boat trip runs weather permitting at the resort's discretion, so build some slack into your itinerary
−Insects, particularly sand flies (locally called no-see-ums), can be relentless around dawn and dusk; bug spray is not optional here
−The beach at Hopkins is natural and pretty but narrower and more rustic than the groomed, raked beaches of the big Caribbean all-inclusives
−With one main restaurant and a lounge, a week-long stay means eating in the same setting most nights, and nightlife is limited to the resort's events and a few quiet village bars

There are two all-inclusive plans, and the choice matters. The All Inclusive Package, which the resort calls its 'Relaxing Plus' option, covers three plated meals and a bar snack a day at the beachfront Woven Palms Restaurant & Tiki Bar, unlimited local drinks, the shared shuttle from Belize City's airport, resort fees and one scheduled tour on stays of four nights or more. The Mayan Jungle & Beach Package adds two to four scheduled tours depending on length of stay, drawn from a weekly roster of cave tubing and zip-lining, two reef snorkel trips to South Water Caye, the Xunantunich ruins and the Mayflower Waterfall hike. Wine and imported spirits cost extra, as do a la carte trips like the ATM Cave or horseback riding. The infinity pool, kayaks, snorkel gear and bicycles are free, and Bliss Spa is on site.

This is a resort for travelers who want their beach week to include jungle, reef and village life, and who find big all-inclusives impersonal. Compared with Ambergris Caye or Placencia it is quieter and more culturally rooted, and the tour-inclusive package makes Belize's spread-out sights easier to tackle without planning each day. Families can add the Eco-Explorer add-on (a chocolate farm, seasonal butterfly farm and waterfall day, plus a Monkey River trip), and couples have a romance add-on. The trade-off is the journey: about two hours by road from the international airport, so plan arrival flights around the shuttle times.

Common Questions

How do I get to Belizean Dreams Resort in Hopkins?

Fly into Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport (BZE) in Belize City. Both all-inclusive packages include a shared ground shuttle that leaves the airport at 1:30 PM and 4:00 PM and takes about two hours, so the resort asks you to land by 3:00 PM and to book departing flights after noon. Room-only rates do not include the transfer, and a short domestic flight toward Hopkins can be arranged for an extra fee.

What is the difference between the All Inclusive and Mayan Jungle & Beach packages?

Both cover your room, three meals and a bar snack daily, unlimited local drinks, the airport shuttle and all fees. The All Inclusive Package includes one scheduled tour with a four-night minimum, which suits a slower, beach-first trip. The Mayan Jungle & Beach Package includes two tours for 4-5 nights, three for 6 nights and four for 7 nights or more, which is the better deal if you plan to explore.

Which tours are included and which cost extra?

The weekly scheduled tours count toward your package: cave tubing and zip-lining on Mondays, reef snorkeling on Tuesdays and Fridays, the Xunantunich Mayan ruins on Wednesdays and the Mayflower Waterfall hike on Thursdays. Everything else, including the ATM Cave, the Black Hole Drop rappel, horseback riding, fishing and birding, is a la carte and billed at checkout. Missing a scheduled day can be fixed with an out-of-schedule fee.

Is the snorkeling as good as people say?

The snorkel trip runs about 30 minutes by boat to the southern section of the Belize Barrier Reef, the second-largest barrier reef in the world, with several sites for beginners and stronger swimmers and a stop on South Water Caye. Visibility of 60 to 100 feet and regular sightings of eagle rays, sea turtles and nurse sharks are why guests rank it a highlight. It is open to kids five and up, and boat trips run weather permitting.

What is Garifuna culture in Hopkins, and how do I experience it?

The Garifuna are an Afro-indigenous people whose culture blends West African, Arawak and Carib traditions, and Hopkins is one of their most intact villages in Belize. Drumming, local restaurants and village celebrations like Hopkins Day are the easiest way in, and the resort's team will point you to what is happening during your stay. Travelers who wander into the village consistently call it the most memorable part of the trip.

What insects should I be prepared for?

Sand flies, locally called no-see-ums, are the main nuisance: tiny, nearly invisible and most active at dawn and dusk near the beach. A strong DEET repellent applied before you head out at those hours is essential. Mosquitoes are around but rarely overwhelming, so bring your own reliable spray rather than counting on what is available locally.

Restaurants (1)

Type	Restaurants
Caribbean & local	Woven Palms Restaurant & Beachfront Tiki Bar

From the resort's own dining pages. Only restaurants the resort lists are shown. All are covered by the all-inclusive rate, per the resort.

What's nearby

Hopkins village and beach
5 min drive · 1.6 mi
South Water Caye snorkel day trip
6 min drive · 2.1 mi

More things to do (11)

Dangriga · town40 min drive · 21 mi
Sittee River Marina · marina6 min drive · 2.1 mi
Sittee River wildlife boat tour · excursion6 min drive · 2.1 mi
Serpon Sugar Mill · historic site14 min drive · 5.6 mi
Mayflower Maya site · ruins40 min drive · 14 mi
Gulisi Garifuna Museum · museum40 min drive · 20 mi
Mayflower Bocawina National Park · nature40 min drive · 14 mi
Antelope Falls · nature40 min drive · 14 mi
Bocawina zipline · adventure park40 min drive · 15 mi
Mayan World Adventure Park · water park45 min drive · 18 mi
Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary · nature50 min drive · 16 mi

Amenities

Horseback Riding

Hiking

Bicycle Rentals

Fishing

Diving

Snorkeling

Water Sports Rentals

Free Wi-Fi

Show 2 more amenities

Spa

Beach

Style & Rooms

Atmosphere

Ocean ViewGreat View

Room upgrades

2 Bedroom SuitesVillas

Seaweed & sargassum

Belize gets sargassum, typically worst June through August, with heavy conditions often extending April through October.See the month-by-month guide →

Every all-inclusive in Belize →

Google Reviews★ 4.8 · 419 reviews

Stephanie F.

a month ago

“This resort is truly something special. The moment you walk in, you can feel the warmth- not just from the beautiful Belizean weather, but from the genuine friendliness provided by all staff that fills the atmosphere. The staff treats you like family...”

Mike J.

a month ago

“Belizean Dream.. A time to be had... The difference in a vacation stay and a Dream Resort is in the hospitality of the staff! There are no amount of stars you can give to express gratitude for a great experience, and Delcie Anderson and Stephanie Arn...”

Claudia L.

2 months ago

“I cannot recommend enough this resort! My husband and I had the most wonderful stay. The staff learned our names, knew what cocktails we liked and indulged us in any way they could. Shout out to Caroline, Miriam and Bruno! The people dedicated to giv...”