Hamanasi Adventure & Dive Resort is a truly special place. My husband and I recently had the privilege of staying here and it was one of our all-time favorite travel experiences.
We fell in love with the expansive jungle property and beautiful Hopkins Beach, and we felt so cared for by Hamanasi’s personable team of friendly locals. We also enjoyed the best snorkeling of our lives on our guided snorkeling tour with Hamanasi’s dive team.
We had such a lovely time, and I can’t wait to share all about our experience in this Hamanasi Belize Review.
If you’re considering staying at Hamanasi and want to read a firsthand review before booking, or if you’ve already booked but want to prepare for your stay, this article is for you!
Keep reading to learn about the breathtaking property, must-do excursions, onsite dining, and how Hamanasi is a regenerative resort. Plus, I’ll share how you can give back to the local Garifuna and Maya community through Hamanasi’s community programs.
Note: This article may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases through these links, at no cost to you. But don’t worry, I only share products I’d truly recommend to a friend.
🌺 My Belize Favorites 🏝
🤿 Barrier Reef Snorkeling & Diving: Belize has the best snorkeling I’ve ever experienced! You can book guided snorkel and dive trips from Hopkins, San Pedro, or Caye Caulker. Browse Belize snorkel and dive trip.
🌲 Escape to Mountain Pine Ridge: Climb up in elevation to a cooler (and less visited) area with gorgeous waterfalls, fun swimming holes, Mayan ruins, and so much more! You will need a vehicle with 4WD here, but this day trip from San Ignacio is also an option.
🥾 Cave Adventures: Cave tubing is an adventure unique to Belize, and many people come all the way here to experience the ATM Cave, where you can witness human remains and Mayan artifacts.
🚙 Explore the Hummingbird Highway: This breathtaking lush scenic drive connects the Cayo District and the Caribbean coast. Stop along the way at waterfalls, a cenote, a chocolate workshop, caves, and more! My guide to the Hummingbird Highway.
🌴 Where to Stay: A sustainable jungle treehouse beside the beach in Hopkins at Hamanasi, a quiet breezy room at Weezie’s on the vibrant small island of Caye Caulker, or a luxury bungalow overlooking waterfalls at Gaia Riverlodge.
Find more of my Belize favorites and Belize travel tips at the bottom of this article!
What to Know Before Booking a Stay at Hamanasi Resort
About Hamanasi Adventure & Dive Resort
Nestled amongst lush native fauna and flora beside the turquoise Caribbean ocean, Hamanasi is where luxury, adventure, and sustainability meet.
Hamanasi is quite different from other resorts I’ve visited — it is down-to-earth yet incredibly luxurious.
The staff quickly learn your name and remember what you’re up to so they can ask about your excursions and other adventures.
And the excursions are absolutely incredible. Hamanasi specializes in scuba diving and snorkeling excursions to the Belize Barrier Reef, and the resort also offers a diversity of jungle adventures like hiking, cave tubing, zip-lining, and visits to ancient Mayan ruins.
It seems like a good majority of Hamanasi’s guests are scuba divers. With such a vibrant reef just 25 minutes from the shore, this is no surprise. But you don’t have to be a diver to enjoy Hamanasi. My husband and I are not scuba divers (yet), and we felt completely at home at Hamanasi.
I also appreciated how much there was to do on Hamanasi’s property — sit by the pool, swim in the gentle ocean waves, relax in a hammock on the dock, take out a paddle board or kayak, or ride a bike into town.
Hamanasi’s Perfect Location
Hamanasi Adventure & Dive Resort is located in the small fishing village of Hopkins in Belize’s Stann Creek District. Hopkins is in southern Belize, but it is only about two hours away from the Belize City international airport.
The resort is located right on the beach and is just a short walk, bike ride, or drive from the main part of the village. Despite its close proximity to Hopkins village, Hamanasi feels quite secluded. Besides the sounds of nature, it is quiet here, and the beach is often empty in both directions.
But Hopkins Village is certainly worth a visit, whether you choose to go on a guided cultural tour or venture out on one of Hamanasi’s complimentary bicycles.
Belize First Magazine ranked Hopkins as the Friendliest Village in Belize, and if you visit, it is easy to see why.
There are a handful of rustic beach bars and restaurants to visit, plus friendly locals to meet. African and Carib-descendant Garifuna people make up the majority of the population. One of the best ways to get a glimpse of Garifuna culture is to visit a local bar on a drumming night.
Hamanasi is also located conveniently close to the Belize Barrier Reef and the lush Maya Mountains, which enables you to get the best of both coastal and jungle Belize without having to travel to another town.
Rooms and Suites at Hamanasi
Hamanasi has five types of rooms and suites to choose from:
- Deluxe Treehouse Rooms
- Treehouse Rooms
- Beachfront Suites
- Beachfront Rooms
- Beachfront Plus
Each room features air conditioning, comfortable mattresses, ceiling fans, and gorgeous Belizean furniture and art.
A peek at Hamanasi Belize’s Deluxe Treehouse
My husband and I stayed in the Deluxe Treehouse and it was the ultimate romantic escape.
Although it is called the Deluxe Treehouse ‘Room,’ it has a bedroom as well as a large separate living room, and a private wrap-around veranda with a Jacuzzi, lounge chairs, and a hammock. And the gorgeous bathroom features a dual shower overlooking the jungle.
I loved all of the details — fresh flowers, a handwritten welcome note on our bed, and exquisite local art.
Fun fact: Almost all of the furniture and wood details are made at Hamanasi’s onsite carpentry workshop.
Dining at Hamanasi
If you’ve read some of my other travel guides you know that my husband and I are both vegan. We are always a little nervous about finding wholesome, flavorful vegan food at resorts, but Hamanasi took all of our nerves away and exceeded our expectations.
Whether you’re a meat eater, a vegan, or someone with an allergy, you can expect Hamanasi to cater to your unique dietary needs.
We were delighted to find vegetarian and vegan dishes already on the menu at Hamanasi’s Singanga Restaurant, and the restaurant staff went above and beyond to offer even more options, including vegan desserts made just for us.
During our stay, we had the opportunity to tour Hamanasi’s onsite organic garden and composting center with the lovely gardener. Delicious fresh herbs and vegetables grown in the garden are served at Singanga Restaurant, and all of the food waste is composted to create nutrient-rich soil.
Although I cannot personally speak to the non-vegan options here, a quick look at other Hamanasi reviews reveals that meat eaters enjoy the menu as much as we did.
Insider tip: If you love Belizean hot sauce as much as we do, be sure to ask for Hamanasi’s hot sauce which is made with habanero peppers and other fresh ingredients grown in their garden.
Rainforest and Reef Tours at Hamanasi
Hamanasi’s serene property is just the beginning — and a vacation at Hamanasi is not complete without immersing yourself in the natural surroundings on an unforgettable day tour.
At Hamanasi, you can book a selection of Rainforest and Reef Tours, such as the following:
- World-class scuba diving at the Barrier Reef, Turneffe Islands Atoll, Lighthouse Reef Atoll & Blue Hole, Glover’s Reef Atoll, Night Dives, and more.
- Barrier Reef Snorkeling with a stop at South Water Caye Marine Reserve
- Romantic Private Sunset Cruise for Two
- Maya History Tour to Xunantunich and Cahal Pech
- Day trip to Tikal archeological site in Guatemala
- Garifuna Cooking Class with Drumming and Dancing
- Caving at the famous Actun Tunichil Muknal (ATM) cave
- Jungle River Canoeing along the Sittee River
- Caving and Swimming at St. Herman’s Blue Hole
If you’re not sure which day trips to book, you can head over to Hamanasi’s Adventure Center to chat with a friendly guide.
Josh and I joined the Barrier Reef Snorkeling excursion during our stay and had an incredible time. We’ve snorkeled on several Hawaiian islands and all over Mexico, but the snorkeling here with Hamanasi was the best we’ve ever experienced — and I have heard that the scuba diving is incredible as well!
There were six other guests on our snorkeling excursion, two guides, and the boat captain. We were split up into two small groups each with a guide who accompanied us around the Barrier Reef, pointing out marine life as we went.
We snorkeled at two parts of the Barrier Reef and took a short break at South Water Caye Marine Reserve between the two. We saw a diversity of tropical fish including puffer fish, barracuda, parrotfish, and so many more. We also saw a spotted eagle ray, a southern stingray, and a shark that was sleeping on the bottom!
Sustainability at Hamanasi, A Regenerative Resort
Eco-resorts and sustainable hotels are lovely, but Hamanasi is something even better — it is a regenerative resort.
Here is how Hamanasi defines the term:
“Regenerative resorts like Hamanasi aim to regenerate the environment and communities. Many ecosystems actually are unhealthy and communities may be suffering. Sustainability as practiced today is more about slowing down degradation. A regenerative resort’s goal is to improve vs. merely sustain. It has a commitment to regeneration and is dedicated to the highest levels of social and environmental impact.”
A few examples of Hamanasi’s dedication to the local environment and community include:
- Reforestation: In 2016 Hamanasi purchased an adjacent property that was denuded and bare. After panting thousands of trees, bushes, and vines, this once barren land is now teeming with both plant and animal life.
- Nature reserve: Hamanasi’s property includes a 25-acre nature reserve that is protected from further development.
- Job creation: Hamanasi employs over 170 Belizeans, including members of the Garinagu, Maya, Creole, and Mestizo ethnic groups. Employees are paid generously and get benefits including a wellness program to support physical and mental health.
- Elimination of single-use plastics: Single-use plastics are almost completely eliminated at Hamanasi. Guests receive refillable stainless steel water bottles, encouraging them to continue to avoid plastic water bottles when they go home.
- Partnership with Pack for a Purpose: Through Pack for a Purpose, guests can pack a few extra items to donate to the local community, such as school supplies for the Holy Family Hopkins School, and vet supplies for the Hopkins Belize Humane Society. We participated in this program and highly recommend it to other guests!
- Composting and organic garden: All food waste is composted, creating soil that is used to grow 40% of the food served at the resort restaurant.
- Onsite carpentry workshop: Most of the furniture at Hamanasi is built with natural materials by the staff carpentry team.
These initiatives are just the start of what Hamanasi is doing to bring life into Hopkins’ local community and ecosystem. As a guest, you can feel good about where your money is going when you stay at Hamanasi!
Final Thoughts: Is Hamanasi Worth Booking?
1,000% yes!
I loved every moment of my time at Hamanasi—and if you’re looking for a jungle beach getaway at a resort that goes above and beyond in every way—you will too.
How to Book a Stay at Hamanasi
Before I stayed at Hamanasi the first time, I didn’t quite understand how to book a stay, and how their packages work. As it turns out, their unique booking process really sets Hamanasi apart from other resorts.
While you can simply book a room at Hamanasi, most guests prefer to create a custom package that includes Rainforest and Reef tours and some meals. You can end up saving a lot by creating one of these packages ahead of time, and then you don’t have to worry about paying for food or Rainforest and Reef tours while you’re in vacation mode.
With most packages, there are a set amount of excursions that are automatically included with the price of your room, which is an incredible perk! Of course, you can also add on other excursions or subtract a few if you prefer to spend the majority of your time at the resort.
Either way, the first step to secure your stop at beautiful Hamanasi is to reach out to their team. If you do so through my link, you’re essentially telling Hamanasi’s team that my review helped you make your decision to book. I don’t earn any commission by this, but it enables the resort and I to determine how helpful articles like this are. We appreciate it!
If you do end up booking a stay after reading this Hamanasi review, I would love to hear about your experience in the comments below!
Getting Around Mainland Belize
🚙 Renting a Car: The best way to experience all (mainland) Belize has to offer is to rent a car! Just keep in mind that some roads are not in the best shape and you should never drive for the first time after dark (learn the potholes in the light first!) You can compare rental prices from various rental companies here, but I usually end up renting from locally-owned Crystal Auto Rental when I’m in Belize.
🚕 Private Shuttles (and Tours): If you prefer not to drive in Belize, you can easily get around by booking a private shuttle from the airport, and then going on guided tours for all your jungle adventures. This shuttle is also the best option for folks flying into Belize airport and then going directly the islands!
🚍 Public Busses: Riding the local chicken bus is a popular way to get around Belize for backpackers and budget travelers, but I wouldn’t recommend it to most people as the busses are hot, crowded, slow, and unreliable. Spend the extra money for a private shuttle (or car rental) so you can get your destination more quickly and maximize your time in beautiful Belize.
Best Things to do in Belize
🌲 Explore Mountain Pine Ridge: Perhaps the most underrated area of Belize, Mountain Pine Ridge is full of beautiful waterfalls and fun swimming holes, plus the most striking cave I’ve ever seen! You will need a vehicle with 4WD here, but this day trip from San Ignacio is also an option!
🏺 Discover Ancient Ruins: There are far more Mayan ruins here than you could ever expect. I recommend a day trip Tikal (UNESCO World Heritage Site) in nearby Guatemala, a river cruise to Lamanai in Northern Belize, and/or a visit to Xunantunich near San Ignacio.
👙 Experience ATM Cave or go cave tubing: Dare to explore the famous ATM cave system, where you’ll swim upstream until you find rooms with hundreds of Mayan artifacts and human remains. Book your ATM tour here ahead of time (they sell out!) Or, go on a more relaxing cave experience, cave tubing!
🚙 Drive the Hummingbird Highway: Belize’s most scenic drive connects the Cayo District to the Caribbean coastline. Chase waterfalls, swim in a cenote, indulge in local chocolate, go caving, and taste Belize’s famous hot sauce along the way. My guide to the Hummingbird Highway.
🦈 Coral Reef Snorkeling & Diving: Whether you stay in Caye Caulker, San Pedro, or Hopkins, be sure to book a guided snorkeling or diving experience on Belize’s gorgeous barrier reef!
My Favorite Places to Stay in Belize
🤿 Hamanasi Adventure & Dive Resort in Hopkins: The best place I’ve stayed in Belize! Hamanasi is located in Hopkins, which is said to be the friendliest place in Belize. The town is full of Caribbean charm, and the resort itself is incredible with next-level service, a gorgeous oceanfront property, and wonderful guided day trips to both the jungle and islands. Read my review of Hamanasi.
🌺 Weezie’s in Caye Caulker: My favorite hotel on the vibrant island of Caye Caulker. Weezie’s has a beautiful property on a quieter part of the island, but it is still very close to all of Caye Caulker’s restaurants. Check Weezie’s nightly prices.
🚠 Gaia Riverlodge in Mountain Pine Ridge: The most breathtaking (and peaceful) hotel I’ve ever seen! Gaia is situated on a cliff overlooking the river and mountains in Mountain Pine Ridge, with an excellent onsite restaurant, and a tranquil area by the waterfalls below to relax. Check Gaia Riverlodge nightly prices.
Erika says
We have two teenage boys ages 18 and 16do you think they would enjoy the resort or is it more for couples?
Annie says
Hi Erika, if your boys like diving/snorkeling, jungle adventures, and the other types of day trips Hamanasi offers, I think they would enjoy their time! There were some teenagers at Hamanasi when I was there, but only a few. So you’d just want to make sure they enjoy the activities are okay staying somewhere with few others their age 🙂