3 Best Sights in Hopkins Village, The Southern Coast

Five miles of golden sand stretch north and south of Hopkins. The in-town sector of beach has a local vibe; the resorts south of the village populate that strand of sand with more international tourists. The water has less sea grass than other mainland beaches, making Hopkins Beach better and cleaner for swimming. The barrier reef lies only 8 to 10 miles (13 to 16 km) out, meaning you don’t have to boat out so far to find good snorkeling. Amenities: food and drink; parking (no fee); toilets; water sports. Best for: partiers; snorkeling; solitude; sunrise; swimming; walking.

You can watch young Garifuna boys hone their drumming skills at the Lebeha Drumming Center. Lebeha means "the end" in the Garifuna language, a reference to the school's location at the north end of the village. The drums are of mahogany or mayflower wood, with deerskin on the drumhead. Other instruments include shakas, or shakers, calabash gourds filled with fruit seeds and turtle shells. The drumming goes on nightly, though most activity is on weekends. Donations are accepted. You can take drumming lessons and purchase a CD of Lebeha drumming.

One of Belize’s most offbeat sights are these ruins of a 19th-century sugar mill, now eerily engulfed by the jungle over a century after its abandonment. Sugar once fueled the economy of this region, and American Southerners fleeing the defeated Confederacy established the Serpon Plantation after the Civil War. At its peak, the steam-powered mill produced 1,700 pounds of sugar a month. By the early 20th century, mills in northern Belize were able to harvest and generate sugar more efficiently, and Serpon ceased operation. You’d think the heat and humidity would have taken their toll, but the cast-iron equipment remains remarkably well preserved with little rust. You can visit the site on your own—it’s a tad hard to find—and hire a guide at the small information center at the entrance. Hopkins and Placencia tour operators can also arrange visits.