Private Caribbean Beachfront Home

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Entire home

Overview
Amenities
Policies
Location
Host

Exceptional

2 bedrooms2 bathroomsSleeps 8

Popular amenities

Dryer
Parking available
Washer
Kitchen
Barbecue grill
Air conditioning

Explore the area

Hopkins

Anderson Lagoon
‪1 min walk‬
Sittee Point
‪15 min walk‬
Hopkins Village Beach
‪6 min drive‬
Santa Cruz (STU)
‪32 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 8)

Bedroom 1

1 King Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Queen Bed

Living room

1 Queen Bed

Loft

1 Queen Bed and 1 Double Futon

2 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 2

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Deck or patio

Porch or lanai

Kitchen

Balcony

Outdoor play area

Garden

Dining area

About this property

Welcome to our private Caribbean paradise! Wake up to the sound of waves lapping at the shore and parrots chattering in the trees. Sip coffee on the veranda as you watch the sun rise brilliantly over the sea while keeping an eye out for dolphins and manatees. After a leisurely breakfast, make your way to your own private beachfront and float in our shallow and generally calm warm waters. After tiring of the sand, grab a kayak and explore the Sittee River and Anderson Lagoon via the canal in the back of our property. An early morning paddle provides amazing bird watching opportunities.

After building this home in 2008, we decided to share this wonderful house with others. The large cathedral ceilings and spiral staircase to the open loft present the perfect feng shui. The living area blends into the large kitchen which is the ideal space for cooking and entertaining friends and family. The house sleeps 6-8 comfortably, with two bedrooms, two full baths, private sleeping loft, and a pullout sofa bed in the living room space.

Ready for a change of scenery? Bike or drive into the charming Garifuna village of Hopkins to enjoy a multitude of shopping and dining experiences. Hang out with the locals, have a Belikin or two, soak up the local scene in what has been called the friendliest village in Belize.

Belize is sure to please those who like to look beneath the surface of a perfect azure sea. Like to snorkel, fish, island hop, cruise the river, and explore lagoons and bioluminescence? We have recently partnered with a local captain named Steven who offers special rates to our guests for all boat activities on our on-site boat named Li'l Dot!

No trip to Belize is complete without a trek through the jungle. Cockscomb Jaguar Preserve, just ten miles from Hopkins, offers great hikes to amazing waterfalls.

Keywords: Beach House, Villa, beachfront, on the water, beach, sand beach, great sunrises.

Property manager

Karen Winters Schwartz

Premier Host

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen

Washer

Dryer

Air conditioning

Outdoor space

Ocean view

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Ocean view
Kitchen
Washer
Dryer

House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM

Check out before 10:00 AM

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17

Events

No events allowed

Pets

No pets allowed

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy

Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges

Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed

On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited

Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip

Host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property

We should mention

A car is recommended for transport to and from this property

About the area

Hopkins

Located in Hopkins, this holiday home is on the beach. Mayflower Bocawina National Park and Anderson Lagoon reflect the area's natural beauty and area attractions include Marie Sharp's Factory and Blue Marlin Dock. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.

Hopkins

What's nearby

Anderson Lagoon - 1 min walk - 0.1 km
Sittee Point - 15 min walk - 1.3 km
Hopkins Village Beach - 6 min drive - 2.9 km
Hopkins Pier - 11 min drive - 6.1 km
Maya Beach - 71 min drive - 55.8 km

Getting around

Dangriga (DGA) - 53 min drive

Restaurants

‪Driftwood Pizza Shack - ‬11 min drive
‪Ella's Cool spot - ‬9 min drive
‪the paddlehouse - ‬6 min drive
‪Hopkins Smokey Grill - ‬10 min drive
‪Geckos Restaurant - ‬11 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Private Caribbean Beachfront Home pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Private Caribbean Beachfront Home?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Private Caribbean Beachfront Home?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Private Caribbean Beachfront Home located?

Nestled on the beach, this Hopkins holiday home is within 1 mi (2 km) of Anderson Lagoon and Sittee Point. Hopkins Village Beach is 1.9 mi (3 km) away.

9.6

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.

Learn more

9.2/10

Cleanliness

9.6/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

10/10 Excellent

Cindy M.

6 April 2025

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Amazing Location

Where do I start? This property was perfect for our family of adults. There where 6 of us and plenty of room for everyone. The bedrooms are spacious and comfortable. The loft is very nice. The view is simply amazing. What a wonderful place to view beautiful sunrises from the balcony or the beach. The house has everything you need to have a great stay. Kitchen is pretty well set up for cooking if you choose to. Brian was very responsive and helpful. The kayaks were such a nice addition. We kayaked during the day first to the bioluminescent bay to get our bearings. Had dinner at the marina which you pass by and then headed back to the bay at night. It was magical to see. We also saw some crocodiles on that route. The town of Hopkins is so welcoming. Delicious food and the fruit stands keep you in all the fruit you could want. I would recommend this property to anyone thinking of a vacation in Belize. Karen, the owner is also extremely responsive and gave us lots of insights before we even started out trip. So don't hesitate to book this property for your next vacation!!!

Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Tom H.

24 March 2025

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Belize fun

Overall our stay was magnificent. I can highly recommend this property and the manager. I could not have asked for more from him and from the owners. They were all fantastic. They were very helpful getting us started and acclimated and then were very responsive to all our needs during our stay.

Stayed 15 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Justin M.

5 March 2025

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

.

Thanks for a great stay!

Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

randy s.

12 February 2025

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

awesome

Karen was great to work with, and her support staff was phenomenol. This property was perfect for us. Our only dissapointment was that the placencia/hopkins area has gotten extremely built up and lost so much of its natural beauty since we visited last

Stayed 3 nights in Jan 2025

8/10 Good

Kathy G.

5 January 2025

Liked: Communication, location, listing accuracy

Disliked: Check-in

Simple and nice

This is a nice, basic rental on a beautiful beach, and it’s priced accordingly. We usually stay in more expensive properties so we were surprised not to have shampoo/body wash provided, and only 3 wash clothes, but the kitchen has what you need and there were plenty of towels. The beds are okay but they sag a bit in the middle, we had to put a pillow between us so we didn’t roll together. We put the window storm covers down to use as black out shades and that worked great. There were plenty of beds for our group of 8, but the sitting area was tight when we all had to be inside during the rainy downpours. It’s rare that a rental provides so much water equipment like floaties, we would’ve loved to use the kayaks but the off and on rain prevented us. Having the property manager across the street and having access to the boat rental so close was wonderful. We had a major issue at check in, but Karen is great at communicating so she quickly made it right. Hopkins is a sleepy beach town with not a lot of shops, but we enjoy that pace. The restaurant two doors down serves great food in a fun, laid back atmosphere, and we also had good meals nearby at Chef Rob’s and a pizza place. If you’re on a budget this is a fantastic option.

Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Doug M.

14 April 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

What a place!

Karen’s place is a true gem. The photos don’t lie. You’ll enjoy a private beach, well-kept grounds, and safe, clean, comfortable accommodations off the beaten path. Karen is an attentive host whose recommendations were always spot on. Caretaker Mary was always available without ever being intrusive. Make sure to book your private tours with Steven and Jaheem who can show you everything on and in the water. They are great company and excellent tour guides who launch from a small dock right across the street. We swam in bioluminescent lagoons under the stars, visited the cayes, swam with turtles, and snorkled with fish of all shapes and colors. Couldn’t ask for more! Big thanks to Karen, Mary, Steven and Jaheem for a fantastic trip!

Stayed 7 nights in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

Rachael C.

14 April 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great adventure base

My family had a wonderful stay at Karen's property. The house was clean and well appointed and a great location to base all of our adventures. The view was incredible and Karen's tips were all great. The property manager was helpful and quick to respond. We especially enjoyed taking the kayaks to see the bioluminesence at Anderson lagoon nearby. By far our favorite though, was Karen's recommendation to spend a day on Lil' Dot with Captain Steven. We saw so much, even a large sea turtle! We had an amazing fishing day and caught a baracuda, just as my 8 year old had hoped for - and also lots of snapper.

Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Cheryl B.

3 April 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect location

The house was perfect for 6 (3 adults and 3 teens). We loved the location, especially being right on the beach. The highlight was the boat and Captain Steven! Being able to head out for a full day of snorkeling, half day of fishing and the bioluminescence tour right from the house was amazing. Steven was the perfect guide, he made sure we were all taken care of and showed us the best time. He was professional and fun! If you are looking for crowds, this is not the location for you! The homeowner and manager were very responsive to questions, especially while I was planning the trip. We would definitely go back again!

Stayed 8 nights in Mar 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jerry F.

2 January 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Awesome little gem in a quiet neighborhood

We had an amazing stay. We had no issues with the property and had easy communication with the owner and the caretaker. We did utilized the owner's relationship with a tour guide using the owner's boat to do snorkeling, island hopping, and bioluminescence tours. Mango's bar just down the street was open for all but 1 day of our stay and I think we ate at least 1 meal there every day. Very neat and quite bar right on the beach. We had a rental car so we were able to go explore other places and frequented some areas in Hopkins. We absolutely repeat this trip at this house.

Stayed 5 nights in Dec 2023

10/10 Excellent

Ryan G.

18 June 2023

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

What a gem!

Thanks for letting us stay at this amazing property. We loved the location - secluded yet close enough to bike to the town of Hopkins. Karen was very responsive to any inquiries and questions. While on the property, Mary and Daniel were amazing. Daniel took the time to lead us on a kayak adventure in the dark, which gave me a peace of mind. We loved Belize, the friendly people, the great food and fun. We can’t wait to return.

Stayed 8 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Robin R.

2 January 2020

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great holiday

Everything went off easily and a beautiful place. Mary was great at introduction and throughout. Fun to have optometrist s and authors as the owners!

Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2019

10/10 Excellent

karen w.

8 August 2019

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Belizean adventures

We had a wonderful stay , loved everything about the house. Their were so many great day trip adventures , we enjoyed the snorkeling trip the most , would do it all tomorrow if we could.

Stayed 8 nights in Jun 2019

10/10 Excellent

Sarah H.

8 July 2019

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Paradise Found

We had a wonderful vacation here. The house has everything you could ask for, and lots of extras too. The kayaks were a great bonus and we all enjoyed being out on the water in them. It rained too much while we were here for the bioluminescence, but we'll definitely be back to see it. The caretakers were very helpful and solicitous, without feeling intrusive. The area is beautiful, with lots of fabulous activities. We floated through a jungle on inner tubes, swam in a waterfall, zip lined through the jungle, enjoyed the local drumming, and spent countless hours in the perfectly placed hammocks located throughout the house and property. Truly this was an idyllic setting. We were looking for somewhere we could just relax and we found it here. Thank you so much for sharing your home with us.

Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2019

10/10 Excellent

Ronald H.

11 June 2019

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great Beachfront Stay

There are many houses along this area near Hopkins which I am sure are very nice, clean, well run, etc. What sets Karen's house apart and makes it unique is the mature landscaping on both the street and ocean sides. On the street side the house is set back a bit and the palms and other large plants provide a sense of privacy and seclusion. On the ocean side again the large palm trees both line the property and fill in to provide shade (when desired) as well as a place for the hammock. It really feels like you have discovered something special, a secret hideaway you will only share with our best friends.

Stayed 4 nights in May 2019

10/10 Excellent

Nansi L.

7 May 2019

Perfection!

My husband and I have been going to Hopkins, Belize since 2005. We've stayed in many different places, but we need look no further for the perfect place to stay! The house and grounds has the best of both worlds. In the front, the beach and the beautiful Caribbean ocean and in the back, the feel of the jungle. Even though there are neighbors to either side, the lush foliage makes it feel very private. In the back there is a screened in porch with hammocks where you can relax at night listening to the night sounds. The foliage in back shields the house from the road making it feel as if you have your own private paradise. The kitchen has everything you need for making meals and there are plenty of towels. We would highly recommend this house for a stay in the Hopkins area. We will definitely be back! It is now our home away from home and happy place! As for activities, we booked a snorkel tour and the bioluminescence nocturnal tour through Happy Go Luckie Tours. We have snorkeled every time we've been to Belize. The fish and corals are amazing. We had never done the bioluminescence tour before and I can't say enough good about it. It is well worth it! Luckie and Cheryl are very professional and were good to work with. Another activity we did that we had never done before was tour the chocolate factory. It was very interesting and gives one a new perspective on the process of making chocolate. Again, I can't say enough good about this property. It is a great place to relax and cast off the cares of everyday life. It has a good vibe!

10/10 Excellent

Melissa C.

6 May 2019

Loved Belize!

I loved the house! Loved Belize and need to come back!

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

karen w.

17 December 2017

It's my house! Of course I loved it! 🤗

And BTW, we gave up on the "on-demand” hot water unit so now we have beautiful consistent hot water!🙃

Stayed 20 nights in Nov 2017

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

8/10 Good

Lynne H., Houston

13 August 2017

Quiet location but lots to do nearby

Very comfortable house with great view. Mary was lovely and very helpful. A warm friendly community. Will miss Marty at the Mangoes bar next door

Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2017

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Elise S.

10 May 2017

Wonderful Visit

We had a wonderful stay in Hopkins. The road is bumpy and dusty but the journey is well worth the effort! The house is clean, well equipped and well maintained. Enough space for 4 adults and three teenagers for sleeping, cooking, eating, reading, lounging and finding some alone time. This is a very quiet spot. After dark there are few cars on the road or boats in the sea. Sunrises are spectacular. Walking down to the waterfront for a swim with the soft breeze blowing in your face is a great way to start the day. Mary and Daniel took great care of us. Kayaks are great fun. We improvised and were able to open a few coconuts growing on the beach. Highly recommend. Eat at Innies, Driftwood, Luba Lugura . . .

Stayed 4 nights in Apr 2017

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

21 May 2016

Awesome home!

We were a party of five including my husband, daughter, and another couple. The house was perfect. My daughter loved her loft room. The view is amazing! I think everyone napped in a hammock at least once! My husband said it was the best equipped rental he has seen. Everything we needed was there! The house was clean and had plenty of towels. My husband mentioned that he wished he had brought a fishing pole and the next morning, there was one on the balcony! Karen gave us some wonderful ideas for places to see and restaurants. I forgot the directions to the house and we were arriving at night. We saw two girls in front of a house (one with a lamb on a leash!) and asked if they knew Mary or Karen from New York--she took us directly to the house! We visited three different cities, but I would definitely use the Hopkins house as a home base and take day trips from there next time! There are Mayan ruins, a Spice Farm, ziplining and the Marie Sharpe hot sauce factory nearby. We went to see the bioluminescence and hunt alligators and fishing. You won't regret renting this house! You will miss it when it's time to go home! Thank you for sharing it with us!

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Kristopher M.

17 December 2015

Thanksgiving in Belize

We took a trip to Belize for Thanksgiving as 2 couples. This house was great for that, as the rooms were on separate sides of the house and both had an adjoining bathroom. While the house was a hike from Hopkins proper, we did enjoy the free bikes for a run into town before we rented a golf cart to make the trip a little more fun. Be aware that this house is about 3M from Hopkins, so a taxi is a great thing if you don't have a car. I recommend Barbara, as she has the best rates and is great for pickups. We did use the kayaks and the other couple went all the way to the Marina in them, so they are very useful for getting around locally. The view from the veranda is wonderful, especially with a full moon like we had. The owner was responsive, and their caretakers were great for letting us use the dock on the canal side as well as offering us a ride into town and back. All in all, I would recommend this to one or 2 couples who enjoy the peace and quiet and don't mind being away from the village for some privacy. Three couples would be too many, as the upstairs room is great to work out in, but you wouldn't want anyone but children up there. The only drawback was that the showers tended to flip from hot to cold with very little warning. I didn't mind, but my wife did.

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

8/10 Good

Stephanie and Dave H.

10 January 2015

great place to relax and unwind

Paul and Karen's place is a comfortable, lovely, welcoming home. It's a great place to sling a hammock in the shade of the palms and fall asleep to the sound of the waves. We were not quite prepared for the grocery stores (ah, how I missed Wegmans), so packing snacks as others suggested is a good idea. Try freezing the fresh coconut water in ice cube trays and dropping them into mixed drinks or cola - yum! There are a number of good places to eat nearby (the Curve Bar at the Marina) and in town (Innies) and if you can catch some Garifuna drumming, it's well worth it; be sure to get up and dance! So is the Mayan Chocolate "factory" in nearby Maya Center - now that's what chocolate should taste like.

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Audrey U.

2 December 2014

Great getaway spot complete with an adopt-a-dog

The house is precisely as described and as seen in the photos. Literally on the beach with all the water toys one could hope for. Our only problem was that the weather wasn't cooperating -- it rained so hard that there was a small craft warning for two days. But I couldn't imagine a better place to be hunkered down in during stormy weather. The town of Hopkins feels alive and laid back at the same time. There are a couple of funky stores to pick up groceries and other basic items but don't expect to find your stateside grocery store selections. We packed a ton of snacks and were glad we did. When you rent a car definitely get a four wheel drive because I think it would be tough going on the rutted mud roads otherwise. The internet wasn't working when we arrived and the water out of the faucet was rust colored but when we alerted the caretakers, they came over the next day with bottled water and a new router. The best part of our stay was being adopted by an adorable neighborhood dog who made sure to check in on us daily right at dinner time! We bought a bag of kibble and left it at the house for her so please give her a hug and treat when she comes to greet you.

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

John H.

4 August 2014

Fun & friendly week in Belize

We found the property in great shape and loved our week in Belize. We packed 6 people into the house -- parents, three boys (13, 14, and 18), and one girl (18). Two of the boys did well upstairs in the loft, one boy slept on the couch, the girl got a bedroom, and we took the master bedroom. Our bed was huge and we didn't have any problems with bedding at all. When we weren't out playing in the ocean, we often opened the windows or sat on the balcony so we could hear the ocean. One of the other reviewers commented that there were almost no insects and I would second that. Even though we were warned that the mango flies (doctor flies?) were out, we saw very few and I'm not sure I saw a mosquito ever on the property -- there were some on trip to the interior, but amazingly few. We got a few sandflea bites (avoid the seaweed on the beach) but I would get worse in the evening where I live. A big plus was the orange squeezer -- I had fresh orange juice many days there. We went for a horseback ride at a local ranch and the owner, Michelle, also grew oranges. Since the orange juice factory had shut down, she had more oranges than she knew what to do with so we took plenty. With the oranges and the local coconuts (that you can open with the machete in the storage room), we made a few rum drinks that weren't half bad either. The hammocks we wonderful and were frequently occupied to get the shade and ocean breeze. We knew we were going in the off season, and we did have one fairly big wind/rain storm, but that was pleasant. I would warn other travelers to be careful after a wind storm though, we saw several Portuguese man-of-wars washed up on the beach the next day. We also had a few problems with pika pika -- microscopic jellyfish too small to see but which give a tiny sting that seems to go away within a short time. We found that the caretaker's grandson was an excellent predictor of when these little pests would be around, so we were able to avoid them for the most part. I understand the pika pika are seasonal, so there are probably better times to visit than early July. The trip was marked by friendly people we met in Belize. Our first time in a restaurant, the owner’s sister went to her tree to get us some mangoes to try out – a wonderfully nice thing to do by a very friendly person. Our oldest kids ended up spending time with some of the locals, too. The caretakers were also helpful and friendly – we spent some time chatting with them and enjoyed it.

This review was submitted before 2018 and has not been verified.

10/10 Excellent

Kevin Q., Arnold, md

23 July 2014

Even better than described

This is a very nice home, right on your own private beach as described. The ocean is perfect for kids because it is only 3-4 feet deep to about 200' out, which meant I felt very confident reading in the hammock on the beach without having to look up to check the kids every 30 seconds. The house is very well equipped with beach chairs, floats, kayaks, hammocks with shade all day right on the water....pretty much everything you need for a perfect vacation. This is also the only house I've ever rented in the tropics with no bugs inside at all, a pleasant surprise. I want to directly address the one poor review as well since it isn't representative of our stay at all. We were an off-season, summer stay and the house was completely fresh and clean, no mildew smell at all even in the bathrooms and towels/linens; and we're very sensitive to mildew. The beds were all very comfortable, the house was spotless, and everything worked. We've stayed around the world in rental homes and this one was the nicest we've stayed in as far as condition of the home, not to mention the location. Also wanted to mention that while we were worried about the Sittee River sand gnats/flies, they were really a non-issue. We ate outside frequently, spent all day on the beach, and sat outside every night without noticing any bugs at all except for the few minutes around sunset. Although not in the control of the owners, potential renters should be aware that not only is internet dial-up slow, it frequently goes out altogether. On average we had internet for about an hour a day, and a random hour at that. If you're really on vacation and just need to check and send emails once a day you'll be fine, but if you're on a working trip and really need reliable internet you may find yourself frustrated, a fact mitigated by the fact that the place is so relaxing. Note that this is a Hopkins wide issue, all the local cafe internets suffered similar slow speeds and spotty availability.

About the host

Hosted by Karen Winters Schwartz

My wife, Karen, and I are both optometrists who live in Central New York. We love to escape to the tropics and there is no better place in the world than Belize!

Why they chose this property

Belize is a beautiful, friendly country.

What makes this property unique

See the long description above!

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests

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Private Caribbean Beachfront Home

Photo gallery for Private Caribbean Beachfront Home

Reviews

Popular amenities

Explore the area

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 8)

Bedroom 1

Bedroom 2

Living room

Loft

2 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Bathroom 2

Spaces

About this property