Getting and going Hopkins

Caye Caulker >> Hopkins (via Belize City)

To get to Hopkins from the Cayes, you need to take a water taxi to Belize City and head to the bus terminal (about a six block walk). Depending on which company you go with, the water taxi from Caye Caulker to Belize City costs $20BZE/$10USD (Caye Caulker Water Taxi) to $24BZE/$12USD (San Pedro Water Taxi), though you can generally get a bit of a discount if you haggle a bit. The water taxi will drop you off at one of two piers, about two blocks apart. Regardless of which one you land at, head out of the terminal and go to the left towards the swing bridge. Cross the bridge and ahead of you across a pretty busy intersection will be Orange Street. Take Orange Street about 5-6 blocks until you see the bus terminal. It will ahead and to the left — it’s hard to miss.

From the bus terminal, take the bus heading to Punta Gorda. It will drop you at the turnoff to Hopkins for $7BZE ($3.50USD), about 4 miles from the center of town. Here is where it gets a bit tricky, since there is no regular bus service heading into town and no taxis readily available. Most people end up walking some of the way and hitching a ride from a passing vehicle. We were lucky to find a ride right away from a passing motorist, so keep your spirits up and your thumb out and you shouldn’t be walking long. Good luck!

Hopkins >> Puerto Cortes, Honduras by boat (via Independence/Mango Creek)

There is boat service from Belize to Puerto Cortes, Honduras leaving from Placencia and Independence/Mango Creek at 10am on Fridays. If you are leaving from Mango Creek, you need to take the bus towards Punta Gorda no later than 8am. There is a bus that leaves from Hopkins around 7am that will get you to the bus stop at the crossroads in time to catch the bus to Punta Gorda. Ask to be dropped off in Independence ($7BZE/$3.50USD), and from the bus stop it’s a short walk to the boat terminal. Head to the left — it’s about a ten minute walk.

Migration paperwork for departing from Belize will be handled on the boat. Since you are leaving by water, you only have to pay the environmental tax ($7.50BZE/$3.75USD) and you avoid paying the $30BZE/$15USD departure tax. The boat to Puerto Cortes costs $120BZE/$60USD and takes around 4 hours if your boat operator makes sure he has enough fuel not to get stuck waiting for a refill from a passing boat (oops). Welcome to Honduras!

Take me to SLEEPING: HOPKINS

Take me back to HOPKINS // Take me back to BELIZE // Take me HOME