Sometimes you’re looking to get away. You need a spot with a bit of adventure, a bit or relaxation, and plenty of sunshine. Hopkins, Belize is the place to go.

We were fortunate enough to share a beach house in Hopkins with a large group of people both times we visited. (Once in December of 2006 and once in December 2008 - January 2009.) My parents discovered Hopkins a few years ago and because of my dad’s love of diving (he’s a certified dive instructor) they decided to build a beach house in Hopkins, Belize. Lucky for us. And lucky for everyone else — because you can rent the beach house.

So, time for a little nepotism — in case it isn’t clear: I’m biased. Our stay was 100% comped (actually, we did “pay” for it with hours we spent cleaning and preparing the house for the next guests…) It’s my parent’s house. That said, I wouldn’t write about it if I didn’t think 1) the place is great 2) Hopkins, Belize is great and 3) a shared house is an environmentally friendly (and economic) choice.

So, if you’re looking for a beach house in Belize, you should check out Key Belize, a beach front rental property in Hopkins.

The Good

House

The house is spectacular. The upstairs has a kitchen, three bedrooms, two bathrooms, dining area, living room, and veranda. And there is a downstairs apartment with one bedroom, one bathroom, a kitchen, living room, and porch. If there are just a few of you, you can rent the downstairs or upstairs as separate units.

Location

The location of the house is towards the southern end of Hopkins. It’s within a 15 minute bike ride of “downtown” and a 5 minute bike ride to the Sittee River Marina — perfect if you’re planning on taking any boating or fishing trips. Did I mention it’s right on the beach?! There’s nothing quite like falling asleep to the sound of the waves crashing up against the shore. (When I returned home to my sound machine’s “ocean” setting, it couldn’t compare.)

Activities

Key Belize has plenty of entertainment options right at the house: bikes, water rafts, water toys, snorkeling gear, fishing poles, board games, card games, and wifi. (And they’re all free.) Plus there’s a pier on the property. Piers are only allowed every few hundred feet, and the next one down is about a 10 minute walk — so having a pier right in front of the house is a huge benefit.

On the ocean (or river) you can kayak, canoe, and fish. Guides take you out fresh- or salt-water fishing. You can also get snorkeling tours, diving tours, or all day fishing, snorkeling and sea cruising catamaran tours.

In the jungle, not far from Hopkins, you can find water falls, mayan ruins, caving tubing, and plenty of wildlife. (Check out Kimberly’s post on the monkeys, toucans, alligators and more we saw at Tikal Mayan Ruins).

Pretty much, there’s everything you’d want to do, or if you’d prefer, sit on the beach and do nothing at all.

Environmental Impact

By staying at Key Belize with a group of people you’re having less of an impact on the environment than you would by staying at a resort. You’re sharing resources (electricity, gas, water) and meals, leaving less waste overall.

Price

The price varies depending on time of year, but when you stay with a group, it ends up being about $30/person/night. This is far far less than you’d pay at any of the hotels or resorts nearby.

Needs Improvement

Note that I couldn’t think of anything specific to Key Belize that “needs improvement.” We had one day where the power went out for a few hours because of construction up the road, but other than that the Key Belize House and Property were perfect. So, the things that need improvement are more general to Belize and good to know if you’re planning on visiting.

Transportation

Unfortunately, Belize doesn’t have the most amazing public transportation system. There are busses, and many people hitchhike, but if you’re only in the country for a short time and want to see and do everything, you may want to consider renting a car.

Kimberly and I stayed a week without a car. We rode our bikes everywhere in and around town. And people were willing to give us a ride if need be. Resorts will also take you on excursions (for a price.) So, by no means do you need to rent a car, but it adds a convenience factor.

Bugs

My only other complaint about Key Belize also applies to the rest of the town and country. There are tons and tons of sand fleas and mosquitoes. (They don’t get inside the house, but outside they are everywhere.) Anytime you step outside, even if it’s just to walk down to the pier, you need to put on bug spray. You probably won’t notice the sand fleas biting you, as with a nickname of “no-see-ums” they’re practically invisible. But the next morning you’ll have 10’s, if not 100’s of little red bites that itch like crazy. However, the bugs are a small price to pay for the beauty and adventure that is Belize.

Why Go Home

After three months of traveling, Hopkins was the first place I visited that I really did not want to leave. I felt like I could have sat on the pier each day reading a book, biking through the jungle, and fishing. And there were plenty of volunteer opportunities. Many of the expats who end up in Hopkins use their skills their services to help out the community — one couple are veterinarians who spay and neuter dogs, Barbara is a nurse who opened a clinic, many help out at the local school. So, my only other check in the “needs improvement” column is that Key Belize in Hopkins is a place you just don’t want to leave.