The old adage that adventure is worthwhile is certainly true but in this modern age, every internet review helps us to determine how worthwhile. That’s why we’re taking a closer look at Hamanasi Dive & Adventure Resort sitting number one in a list of 8 hotels in Hopkins on TripAdvisor, with an impressive 2,760 “excellent” reviews from guests and a 100% “would recommend” rate. Found on the beachfront of Hopkins Village, it’s hard to imagine Hamanasi wouldn’t make the cut; the premier resort south of Hopkins, Hamanasi (Garifuna for ‘almond tree’) combines the amenities of a top-class dive resort with an array of inland tours and activities, all on a gorgeous 900ft private beachfront. Besides being Green Globe certified, Hamanasi is also one of the founding members of Regenerative Resorts.
THE RESORT
Reviewers praised the “private and lush” location directly on the beach of Hopkins, attentive staff, and meticulous details at the resort for both guests and the environment. Although ratings have seen Hamanasi rise through the ranks, even as high as 17th Best Hotel In The World, a clutch of rave reviews from customers on Tripadvisor has seen it soar to the top of the best-rated venues in Belize, too.
Indulge in a private treehouse. Photo via Jaron Johns/Hamanasi
“We have been to A LOT of resorts around the world and Hamanasi is the best!”
– Dan R., April 2022
The resort boasts 30 rooms including two romantic beachfront suites and ten spectacular deluxe treehouses. The deluxe treehouse features a king bed, a stunning jungle-facing terrace, and a private jacuzzi.
Come see for yourself how romantic living amongst the trees can be!
Our Deluxe Treehouses offer a private and serene athmosphere where you can enjoy the jacuzzi tub on the deck while listening to the breeze rustle through the trees and birds singing their songs. pic.twitter.com/FMdmLRiLxX
— Hamanasi Resort (@HamanasiResort) April 26, 2022
At Hamanasi Resort, standard beachfront rooms start at $292, while the Deluxe Treehouse starts at US$534. They’re often to be the highlight of the Hopkins resort on TripAdvisor, but Hamanasi also offers a fifth option: the Beachfront Plus.
Hamanasi Adventure and Dive Resort in Belize is the bronze medal winner in the 'Hotels on the Water' category. It also finishes eighth in the overall 'Top Hotels' ranking.
Kickback in the ocean air on the veranda of the Great House, which acts as the heart of all activity. Downstairs, you’ll find the lobby, gift shop, and bar, while upstairs hosts the Singanga Restaurant for al fresco dining beside a quiet and quaint library or on an expansive veranda. If you’re hoping to catch the sunset with a sundowner, head to the Lookout—a rooftop space with panoramic views of the Caribbean Sea and the Maya Mountains.
Onsite, head to the adventure hub to plan a tour, bike into the nearby Hopkins Village on complimentary bikes, lounge in a beachside hammock with a good book, or waste away the day at the freshwater infinity pool. And of course, the warm waters of the Caribbean are just steps away from your beach-facing lodging.
THE DIVING
This locally-run, exclusively-priced resort also has its own PADI dive facility; besides, divers have prime access to a spectacular underwater world home to whale sharks, eagle rays, and manatees.
– Michael W., April 2022
Hamanasi guest Lorenzo Ballarin dives with a nurse shark in Belize.
In fact, you can even get PADI certified as a scuba diver in Belize with Hamanasi Resort, all the way up to the PADI Divemaster—the highest certification course available with PADI. Gear can be rented, even specialty lights and enriched Nitrox tanks since Hamanasi compresses its own air.
– Michael P., March 2022
Bioluminescence tour in Hopkins. Photo by Hamanasi Guest Austin Schmitt
As a PADI 5-Star Resort, experience Belize’s best diving with Hamanasi’s personal service touch to the pristine southern tip of the Belize Barrier Reef as well as three of the Caribbean’s four atolls.
THE STAFF
Hamanasi believes in responsible nature and cultural-based eco-tourism, which shows through their staff too.
– Renee S., April 2022
Notably, the tour guide to guest ratio is kept intentionally low for maximum VIP treatment. At Hamanasi, all tours are guided by Belize Tourism Board-certified guides who take the time to inform guests about all flora and fauna that they will encounter on their tours – on land and underwater. Guests also learn how to minimize their impact during tours, such as following maintained trails, not touching coral or other animals, and not taking anything that they may see during their excursion.
– Kendra R., February 2022
Interestingly, the Hopkins resort was one of the first hotels in Belize to roll out a wellness program for their staff, too. In 2016, the program was signed off by the International Labor Organization, National Aids Commission, and the Belize Labour Department.
“We wanted to improve the overall well-being of our employees by creating a health-conscious work environment and providing practical and accessible programs.”
– Kirsty Roberts, General Manager
From the moment the Hopkins resort opened its doors in 2000, it has worked to mold happy, proud, and skilled employees, and that’s obvious on TripAdvisor. “Add healthy to the list!” their blog reads.
THE FOOD
“The service is really amazing. We thought they had all been sent to charm school. We’ve recommended this place to our friends and even our enemies.”
Continental Breakfast, Belizean style, at Hamanasi Resort.
Dinner at Hamanasi Resort
A twist on the Belizean onion soup: Escabeche. Photo via Singanga Restaurant at Hamanasi
A superb Caye Lime Pie from Singanga Restaurant, Hamanasi.
Seafood Curry from Singanga Restaurant, Hamanasi.
Singanga prides itself on farm-to-table dining using organic produce from on-site gardens for a variety of fresh vegetables including tomatoes, zucchini, peppers, onions, broccoli, and spinach. Guests can try it for themselves in the “Quiche of the Day” or any other special requests with seasonal veggies.
– Jennan840
Enjoy fine dining, beachside. Photo via Leah Flores/Hamanasi
Not to worry, you’ll be asked for any allergies or special requests upon check-in that are quickly committed to memory by staff. Inside the restaurant itself, you’ll find Belizean hardwood furniture alongside locally crafted art and Caribbean fusion cuisine.
“We take pride in all of our departments’ practice of the 3 R’s: Reuse, Recycle, Reduce. This reaches especially to the restaurant where scraps are composted along with coffee grounds and garden trimming.”
– Dana Krauskopf, Owner
Mojito me, please!
Even the restaurant has all five-star reviews: 523 people name Singanga as excellent, making it the #1 restaurant of 56 restaurants in Hopkins. Order a classic, like a gin + tonic as your pre-dinner aperitif; all cocktails even come with a locally-sourced bamboo straw. But don’t take it from us: all 2, 760 reviews on TripAdvisor give Hamanasi Resort in Hopkins five stars. Learn more here.
