Hopkins is considered a cultural center of the Garifuna community. Those interested in music, dance and cuisine will find several ways to explore them here: from educational programs at the Lebeha Drumming Center to a Garifuna drumming tour and cooking classes. You can also take a village tour on foot, by bicycle or in a vehicle; a kayak or canoe offers a way to explore from the water. For planning, it helps to decide first whether you want to focus on culture, getting around town or paddling.

Garifuna Culture and Dance

The Lebeha Drumming Center gives local children the opportunity to learn about drumming, dance and Garifuna cultural heritage. It was founded in 2002 by drummer Jabbar Lambey and Canadian Dorothy Pettersen. The center connects Hopkins’ cultural significance with a concrete educational program.

The Wanaragua dance, also called Jankunu or John Canoe, originates in Garifuna culture. A tourism description identifies Christmas Day as an occasion to see it, including in Hopkins. Traditional attire includes a mask, shells attached to each knee and an elaborate headdress. Visitors in Hopkins can follow the movements of a Jankunu dancer or move along to the dance.

Drumming, Village and Water

On a Garifuna drumming tour, around four or five Garifuna drummers perform on the beach, and visitors can join in the dancing. The approximate number of drummers is part of the tour’s character, as is the opportunity to get moving yourself. This is a different way to experience Hopkins than a village tour, where getting around town is the focus.

You can take a village tour of Hopkins on foot, by bicycle or in a vehicle. For exploring from the water, you can choose a kayak or canoe. These are different ways to experience the town: one involves touring the village, the other paddling from the water. This information can help you decide which type of activity best suits your travel interests.

Cuisine and Encounters

Garifuna cooking classes are offered in Hopkins, where cassava, coconuts, plantains and fish are prepared into Hudut or a warm cup of Sahou. The classes begin with the ingredients and lead to named dishes and drinks. This makes the preparation—not just the finished food—the focus of the cooking experience.

Visitors can also experience Garifuna cuisine and drumming during encounters with local people. This offers a combination of culinary impressions, music and personal contact, while a cooking class focuses specifically on preparing ingredients. Together, these two options show different sides of the cultural experience in Hopkins.

Hopkins in the Wider Destination of Stann Creek

The wider destination of Stann Creek offers other cultural and historical highlights. In Dangriga, visitors can take part in Garifuna cultural dances, experience drumming and enjoy culinary specialties. The Serpon Sugar Mill illustrates the development of the sugar industry in southern Belize and its effects on the economy and cultural landscape. Placencia, Dangriga and Hopkins are considered good starting points for visits to South Water Caye.

Explore more destinations: Riversdale, Dangriga, Pomona, Middlesex, Placencia, Seine Bight, Kendal

Go to the wider travel overview: Stann Creek.