Hamanasi Adventure & Dive Resort, Belize in Stann Creek District, Belize - reviews,open hours,photo spots,things to do

Belize Stann Creek DistrictHamanasi Adventure & Dive Resort, Belize

Hamanasi Adventure & Dive Resort, Belize

Sittee River Road, Hopkins, Stann Creek, Belize

4.0(408)

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Phone

(844) 235-4930

Website

hamanasi.com

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Pam McMenaminPam McMenamin

Since it had been 5 years since our last trip to Hamanasi, we wondered if anything had changed during that time. After spending 8 days and 7 nights there as a group of six we were pleased to find that everything was exactly the same: the warm and friendly staff, the delicious food, the varied and exciting adventures and the comfortable rooms. For all of these reasons our third trip was just as good as, if not better than, our first two. There were actually two notable improvements. The wifi was strong throughout the resort (even in the rooms). Hamanasi now offers a transfer by van from the Belize City airport to the property which is both a time- and a stress-saver.After having taken the Maya Air flight to Dangriga and then the 45 minute van ride to Hamanasi on our two previous visits, we much preferred the van transfer. It took less time (under 2 hours) than the flight and drive from Dangriga and it was much more relaxing than waiting for a flight in a crowded airport, transferring to a van and then driving for 45 minutes. A new highway makes the van-only transfer workable. All of the Hamanasi employees, from the adventure guides to the waitstaff to the housekeepers to the front desk staff to the bartenders and bar waiters, are genuinely friendly and work hard to make sure that each guest’s every need is met. They sometimes even figure out something that would make your stay better before you even know you need it! The food at breakfast, lunch and dinner was delicious and plentiful. We never left a meal hungry! The fry jacks at breakfast were delicious and addicting. The tropical fruit salsa that was always served with chips as an appetizer at lunch was our favorite. At dinner our group especially enjoyed the soups and the catch of the day. The servers were always so friendly and helpful that it felt like we were going to a friend’s house for a meal. And actually, by the end of our stay, they really did feel like friends! Our stay included morning adventures (snorkeling, hiking, canoeing) and afternoon relaxing. The snorkeling was really good because the reef in this area is still pretty healthy so there are lots of fish. The canoeing and hiking were thoroughly enjoyed by those in our group who participated. We spent afternoons by (and in) the pool or on the breezy porch. It never felt crowded and there was always a shady place to sit or lie down. We appreciated the wide range of adventures offered and the fact that we had down time in the afternoons. Two of the couples in our group stayed in treehouse rooms and one couple stayed in a beachfront room. All of the rooms were really well taken care of and very clean. Beds were comfortable and showers were spacious with good water pressure. The provided aluminum water bottles, homemade fudge, handmade soaps and local art in the rooms added to the ambiance. Even though an 8% service charge on the entire reservation is distributed among all of the employees (except the bar staff), we chose to tip our adventure guides, servers and van drivers at each encounter. We tipped the bartender and bar waiter on a daily basis. We tipped our housekeeper (with her name on the tip envelope so all of our tip went directly to her) at the end of our stay. Everyone there worked so hard to make our visit exceptional that we were pleased to be able to reward them. One last thing: check the Pack for a Purpose section on the Hamanasi website. It explains how you can help the residents of Hopkins by donating backpacks and school supplies, medical supplies, pet supplies, and children’s books (in English) for the local library. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay and are looking forward to our fourth trip to Hamanasi in the next few years. And as a bonus, we learned that returning guests get 10% off their stay starting with the fourth visit (as if we needed any incentive to return!).

Rich BarnesRich Barnes

My Review: "Awesome Experience! Just Go!" Wife's Review: Another Unforgettable Visit to Hamanasi! My husband and I had the pleasure of visiting Hamanasi again last month. Our first visit was in 2016, and we would have returned sooner but for the pandemic. It was a long wait between visits, but well worth it! It’s difficult to capture the magic of Hamanasi in writing, but here are some highlights: Accommodations: During our first trip to Hamanasi, we stayed in a Treehouse Room, which was a great experience. For this trip, however, we decided to try one of the Beachfront Rooms. We were not disappointed! The room was spacious and beautifully decorated. (NOTE: We learned that the majority of the furnishings at Hamanasi are made on-site at the carpentry shop, which guests can visit.) We happened to arrive on my husband's birthday and found a “Happy Birthday” message spelled out on the bed. (No... I did not tell anyone that it was his birthday. They just knew!) The Housekeeping Team does an incredible job of keeping the rooms immaculate, and their extra touches, such as the personalized welcome notes and the homemade Belizean fudge, made the room feel like home. When I mentioned how much I enjoyed the fudge, they gave me the recipe! Adventures: Hamanasi has something for everyone to enjoy the beauty of Belize. We spent three days diving the Southern Barrier Reef with Hamanasi’s top notch dive crew, including John, Eric, BJ, and Gariff. The dive briefings were thorough, and it is clear that safety is paramount. Everyone on the crew was knowledgeable, professional, and friendly. The reefs were full of marine life, including nurse sharks, stingrays, spotted eagle rays, sea turtles, moray eels, etc. We will gladly dive the Southern Barrier Reef again, but we are also planning to dive the atolls during our next visit. Maybe even try a night dive! For our land adventure, we went on the “Cave Tubing Adventure Tour” with Angel, who I had previously met during an on-grounds bird watching tour. On our way to the site, Angel spotted two toucans. These were the first toucans that we have seen in their natural habitat. As we walked through the rainforest to reach the cave entrance, Angel spotted an emerald toucanet and a howler monkey. All of this before the adventure officially began! Angel was a very knowledgeable guide, who provided a lot of information about the significance of the site, as well as an in-depth overview of Mayan history and culture in Belize. Combined with the refreshing and crystal-clear water, it was a great way to spend the day on land. For our next trip, we are planning to try the Waterfall Rappelling Adventure! Dining: We greatly enjoyed the fresh food, much of which is locally sourced (including from the on-site organic garden, which guests are welcome to visit). The Culinary Team even made several traditional Belizean dishes after I mentioned that I would like to experience local cuisine. After we said how much we enjoyed the caye lime pie (one of my husband's favorite desserts), they gave us the recipe! Singanga is an elegant and inviting place to enjoy meals. The Hospitality Team made us feel at home at every meal. Extra touches, such as his birthday dessert and remembering that he likes iced tea, were very considerate. During our stay, we enjoyed seeing and talking with Abby, Christina, Erisie, Elvira, Charles, and Reion. Overall: While Hamanasi is a beautiful resort with so much to offer, it is the Hamanasi family that makes it special. They make everything look effortless and are some of the hardest working people we have had the pleasure of meeting. In sum, the Hamanasi family is an integral part of the experience!

Erin GoldbaumErin Goldbaum

From the moment we arrived at Hamanasi, we knew we had made the right choice. We opted to drive from the airport, but the resort’s shuttle might have been a better option. While having a car gave us the freedom to explore, the shuttle would likely be sufficient for most guests. The resort offers exclusive excursions only for guests. We did an outside snorkeling and fishing tour, which felt private since it was just my fiancé and me, and also booked the resort’s sunset cruise, which was beautiful and highly recommended for couples. The grounds of Hamanasi are stunning and far exceed what photos online convey. The resort is immaculate, with every detail carefully thought out—from tree placement to hammocks to pathways. Everywhere you looked felt like it could be a framed photo. Even the beach hammocks are tucked into corners, offering privacy. The dock at night is a must-see. Green underwater lights attract fish and jellyfish, creating a mesmerizing display. Hammocks, tables, and chairs make it the perfect spot to relax. On clear nights, the stargazing is breathtaking, and during our last night, we watched the full moon rise—it was pure magic. Our room was at the end of the path, and the walk felt like a journey through a jungle, complete with bridges and wildlife. We loved the privacy and didn’t mind the walk to the main house. The grounds also feature a pond with fish, turtles, crocodiles, and iguanas. One important tip: bring bug spray and use it, or you’ll get eaten alive, especially in the evenings. The main building houses the bar, restaurant, and check-in. From the rooftop, you can watch the sunrise or sunset. The furniture stood out, crafted on-site by the resort’s carpentry team, which you can tour. Each wooden piece, from the bar top to chairs, was beautifully made and showed the team’s passion. We stayed in the deluxe treehouse, and it couldn’t have been more perfect. The room had a double shower, king-sized bed, balcony with a hammock, and an outdoor spa tub. We truly mastered hammock lounging and even bought two from the gift shop. The staff were attentive, knowing our names from day one and greeting us warmly. However, their level of attention sometimes felt overbearing, almost as if they knew what we were doing at all times. The push to book tours was also a bit much, as staff would even come to our room to ask. The resort mostly attracts older, retired guests, which was fine for us since we weren’t looking for a loud atmosphere. By 9 p.m., it was quiet, but we enjoyed having the place to ourselves at night. Security guards were present, and we always felt safe. We did wish there was a restroom available at this time in the main building so we didn’t have to trek all the way back to our room. Walking along the beach, it was clear that other nearby resorts didn’t match Hamanasi’s beauty or exclusivity. The resort does an excellent job of keeping non-guests off the property. The food was decent but catered to Western tastes. We would have loved more authentic local flavors, as the dishes felt underwhelming. The waitstaff at the restaurant were a bit cold, but the bar staff were fantastic—friendly, accommodating, and happy to customize drinks to our tastes. Overall, Hamanasi was incredible, with a bit of a “White Lotus” vibe. We already miss it. It’s easy to imagine staying at the resort for an entire trip, though we also enjoyed exploring Hopkins. We’d absolutely recommend Hamanasi—it was so amazing that we felt like we got a bargain for the experience!

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Reviews of Hamanasi Adventure & Dive Resort, Belize

4.0

(408)

5.0

Hamanasi is a "must-visit" location for anyone traveling to Central America! This resort is the epitome of 5-star accommodations and offers absolutely amazing adventures that will create lifelong memories for any and all vacationers! Nestled along the Caribbean Sea and only a short drive to the dense jungle, Hamanasi is the perfect location for scuba diving and snorkeling enthusiasts, a superb base camp for nature lovers and history buffs, or the ideal spot for a romantic getaway. The only problem you'll have at Hamanasi is figuring out how not to leave!

When we arrived at Hamanasi, the staff welcomed us to the resort and showed us to our room. We had planned a Sunset Cruise for that evening. Our guide and the boat captain navigated us through the coastal waterways, pointing out the various wildlife, vegetation and historical context of the area. With a bountiful spread of finger foods and champagne, we enjoyed the tour to a beautiful spot where we watched the sun set behind the magnificent coastline. When we returned from the sunset cruise, Hamanasi provided us with a complimentary "travel day" massage and we were delighted to find that the staff had drawn a hot jacuzzi for us on the deck of our tree house. No better way to finish a long day of travel to the beautiful country of Belize!

Our first adventure was Cave Tubing! Our guide was absolutely Amazing! Throughout the day, he delighted us with his explanation of the country's history, its economy, emigration trends and development. He led us along the Butterfly highway, pointing out every town and landmark. When we finally arrived at the adventure location, he shepherded us through the cave so that we could experience his Mayan culture and history. His personalized and professional touch made our experience that much more memorable.

Our second adventure was the Tikal Mayan adventure to Guatemala. Once again, it was like we were given a private tour of the fabulous countryside! Our guide was equally knowledgeable and entertaining during our drive as the day before. At the border, we met with our Guatemalan guide, who took us through Guatemala to the Tikal ruins. Another amazing experience!

For our third adventure, we chose the "Extreme" zip-lining adventure. Our guides took us through an amazingly beautiful experience. They were extremely professional and helpful! It was our first time zip-lining...and we will definitely take this adventure again! After our adventure, we enjoyed a couple's massage on the beach followed by a private dinner on the beach! It was truly magical.

Our last full day at Hamanasi, we started off the day "fishing with the locals" and then went snorkeling. The crew took us on an amazing tour of the reef. We caught so many fish! Like 40! We had such a fun time! Before we left to go fishing, we asked if it would be possible for us to also enjoy some snorkeling in the afternoon even though it was not on our itinerary. We knew we would be pressed for time...we docked from fishing and had to race to the adventure center to get fitted with snorkeling gear and jump on the snorkeling boat! The staff was standing by to get us efficiently through the adventure center and fitted with our goggles, snorkels and fins. Another outstanding example of how the Hamanasi staff did everything possible to make our stay a magical experience. Our snorkeling guide was absolutely incredible! He pointed out all of the sea life as he took us around the reef. Another incredible experience that we will always remember!

Throughout our stay, everyone on the staff was so courteous and accommodating. From learning our names to entertaining our every desire, Hamanasi has truly created an environment that far exceeds any other vacation experience we've ever had. You absolutely must plan a visit to this most wonderful resort!

To the Hamanasi staff, Thank you so much for your hospitality. To the owners of the resort, Thank you for choosing to open this resort! These words simply cannot describe how much we enjoyed our stay. We cannot wait for...

4.0

13w

We stayed a week in August 2025 for our first trip to Hamanasi. We are already making plans for a return trip. Didn’t find any area that I would improve on no matter how much I tried from the pre-trip interaction with reservations to the drive back to the airport. Although the ride to and from the airport is 2 hours you are entertained by the history and stories about Belize from the drivers. We stayed off season so there was between 15 to 28 guests during our stay.||ROOM: We stayed in room 5, a ground floor ocean front room that was set up nicely, clean and had everything we needed. A large shower with great water pressure which was extremely nice and a 5-gal bottle of water for drinking. We had some medicine that needed to be kept cold so the staff provided a small refrigerator for our use. Bed was comfortable and AC worked great. We could set our clock by the ground’s person coming by each morning to empty, clean and refill the foot wash bowel to rid sand from your feet before entering your room. No phone or TV in room – didn’t miss them.||FOOD: Outstanding, every meal. Lots of variety and sometimes just got half portions since the normal portions were too much for us to eat. My wife drinks coke zero and so at every meal a bottle with a glass of ice was at the table unless she requested otherwise. Our 2 main servers were Kisha and Denver which did a fantastic job as did all the restaurant staff. The chief will try and accommodate your needs if you just ask, in fact one dive was lion hunting and the chief prepared the fillets for dinner for the divers.||GROUNDS: Immaculate. Ground keepers were out early ever morning raking up the leaves, staging pool lounges and putting out the towels for the day which are placed one on each lounger. We were always greeted with a smile and a good morning from them all. Left as much of the nature as possible only cutting enough for trails. Made you feel in the rain forest.||DIVING: I dove 5 days as my wife just stayed at the pool or relaxed on one of the many hammocks on the beach. She did totally enjoy a deep massage. With the 15 minutes comp it was a 1:15 min massage. The diving staff here spoiled me for all future dive ops. In short this was the BEST valet diving I had ever experienced (certified in 1978) from taking care of my gear, setting it up for morning dives, and cleaning it. They set the standard that all other ops should strive to achieve. Being 70 it was greatly appreciated all the help they gave me. Always felt safe in all aspects of the diving experience. As the staff kept saying, you’re on vacation no need to work. My DM’s were Big Daddy, Valentine and Decil which were all professional and excellent. Everyone I came in contact with were outstanding and I give each and every one of them 5 stars, just too many to mention by name. On the dock by 7:45 am and back between 12:30 and 1 pm for lunch. Surface interval about 1:10 mins on cookie island so I didn’t worry about deco on my second dive as I always stayed around 60 ft, I’m a notice photographer. Water, juice, fruit and fresh baked cookies provided on cookie island. I’ve never seen so many bonefish looking for a free meal. They like watermelon.||STAFF: One thing I can say after talking to many of the staff is that they truly love working at Hamanasi. It seems the employees felt like a big family. It sure did show watching everyone laugh and joke with each other. We were always greeted by name with a smile. My daughter’s dog had to be put to sleep while here which upset my wife and she had to leave dinner. Waiter asked why and management asked me the next morning how was she and if there was anything they could do. 5 Stars. Belize was once a British colony so everyone spoke perfect English. ||Hint: If you don’t want to walk or bike to Hopkins they will drive you $10 round trip. I always bring peanut butter crackers as a snack while diving. Bring lots because they love them and can’t get them in Belize. Experience the crocodile pond. Nice catwalk to see nature on...

4.0

26w

All I can say is, "WOW!". It was our first trip to Belize and we still are in awe of how amazing of a stay we had at Hamanasi. From the moment we first had any contact with the resort, their reservations team was very willing to talk through all of the options and make sure our stay matched our expectations. They are not shy to help by giving suggestions with the options Hamanasi offers and were experts in answering our questions.||We stayed in a deluxe treehouse, which was really a unique experience. The treehouse was extremely clean, quiet, comfortable and well-maintained. Even though we almost never saw the housekeeping staff, they were very clearly always there behind the scenes keeping our room in order and giving attention to making our stay fantastic. ||We were impressed by all the eco and sustainability efforts the resort makes. It was very noticeable the amount of waste materials was extremely minimal and it was nice to even hear from our guides (like Axel) about some of the efforts also made behind the scenes, such as the implementation of solar power on the property and the composting of waste. It really shows how much Hamanasi cares about the environment, country and planet.||A stop at the Adventure Center made coordinating our adventures a breeze. They did a great job of making sure our scheduling was spot on, including booking a tour for us not offered by Hamanasi (Bioluminescence Tour - which was quite good). ||The snorkeling experience was fantastic! The marine life was stunning and Dencil was a great guide! We loved the trip to the private island and John was an excellent captain of our boat!||The Magical Mayan History Tour was fascinating. Ems and John were our excellent guides and they were very knowledgeable. We loved the tour and it was amazing with the incredible history and breathtaking views!!!||The daytime Cockscomb tour was challenging and exhilarating. It was our first time in a rainforest and it was great to learn about all the local flora and fauna from our guides, Antonio and Ems. Their stories were quite entertaining and they were super guides! ||The chocolate tour was a last minute add-on tour for us and we are so thankful we did! It was amazing to visit the farm where the cacao is grown and then get to participate in turning it into chocolate in the way its been done for generations. Everyone was so eager to share their craft with us and it was overall one of our favorites! Santi was our fantastic guide for the experience and it was so interesting to hear about his Mayan heritage and his personal connection with the family operating the farm.||Saving the best of the best for last - our trip to Tikal. This trip was yet another Hamanasi big win for us! Our guide and international travel companion, Axel, was fantastic!!! Without question, Axel loves what he does, even at 4:45 AM!!! We had such great conversation the entire ride to the Guatemalan border that the time just flew by. He shared so much knowledge with us and it was like having an archaeologist leading us to Tikal. Our Guatemalan tour guide, Danny, was great as well. These guys really know their stuff and made the whole tour an experience we will not forget.||Just like everything else at Hamanasi, the entire front desk team was excellent too! Everyone was ready to spring into action for whatever we needed. Vilma and Risa were always very engaging in conversation with us and their good spirits really set the fun tone for our vacation!||Overall, we found the Hamanasi experience to be really world-class. It's clear from the moment you set foot on the property that the number one priority of the staff is making sure you enjoy your stay. You can pick a vacation pretty much anywhere and Hamanasi is already pure paradise; what really made the whole trip stand out above the rest was the staff. We can't thank them enough for making our stay wonderful and we truly felt like family during our entire visit!!! We're already planning our next...

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