Hamanasi Adventure & Dive Resort: Jungle, Beach, Heaven in Hopkins Village

This humble sign on the edge of charming Hopkins Village gives very little indication of what is beyond.

The AMAZING Hamanasi Resort.

I apologize for taking so many days to write this post – I left Hamanasi Resort just about one week ago – but I needed to let the experience marinate.  The lush surroundings, acres and acres of manicured jungle, the friendly, knowledgeable and proud staff (about 150 employees for under 30 rooms), my gorgeous treehouse, the commitment to the environment (truly walking the walk), the impossibly sophisticated yet casual restaurant and fine food, just the attention to detail…

Impeccable.  Elegant, deliberate and thoughtful but relaxed.  But even more than that…

The “Hamanasi experience” is just that.  A full experience.  Last week I left with 2 of the best scones I’ve ever tasted packed carefully for me by a waitress named Abby (she heard me gushing) and four huge bunches of bulbs (rhizomes actually) and cuttings- pink ginger, red ginger and two types of heliconia – carefully packed and labelled by Mr Che.  Ready for my flight home on Tropic Air.

I was bursting with need to tell everyone I know to get to Hamanasi as soon as they can.

My poor boyfriend bore the brunt of it.

It came as no surprise that many of their guests return year ago year.  This spot is so incredibly special.

Here are a bunch of pictures that I took during my 2 night stay in MY Deluxe Treehouse.  You know it has to be good when I barely wanted to leave to attend the Hopkins Mango Festival.  There are very few things in the world I would choose over my favorite fruit.

I even skipped the huge amount of amount of other options – from diving to hiking to waterfalls and chocolate!

Tucked back amongst orchids and huge trees, vines dripping with flowers.  It really felt like a treehouse.

Outside and in.

How could I leave this?

My tree house was Wi-Fi free and still I never wanted to leave.  The world wide web AND mangos!

To connect to the outside world, I headed to the main building – a big open lodge with a wrap around porch, an easy going cat named Gibnut, a large bar and sitting areas.  From 4 to 6pm, appetizers are served before dinner.  Delicious appetizers like black bean panades, guacamole and conch fritters.

So good that I decided to head upstairs for dinner even though I had feasted at the festival.

Upstairs the relatively new dining room is a stunner. The magnificent ceiling that would rival many cathedrals.  All from local hardwood – Santa Maria wood to be exact.

I took so many pictures of the ceiling and the big ass fan.  (No literally, they were ordered from a company called Big Ass Fans)

Breakfast is an impressive affair.  Fresh baked goods, fruit, juices, cereals and homemade yogurts, vegetarian and vegan options.  And a menu to order anything from pancakes or fry jacks or a fresh made cappuccino.

Though I didn’t make it on any of the tours off-property – I did go visit the organic gardens.

Beautiful local spinach.  I brought home seeds!

The recycling area – everything from glass bottles (either returned to the distributor or ground to add to the paving stones) to cooking oil.  Meticulously done.

There is a woodshopping – hard at work making the beautiful furniture.

It’s really an amazing spot.  One you never want to leave.  And all of this and I’ve hardly mentioned that it’s right on the beach!

Down the steps from the main house.

Just a boat ride from this dock are some of Belize’s most stunning cayes -for snorkeling, scuba, flyfishing or just exploring.All I can say is that I am smitten.  Luxury, top notch food, staff that seem like friends (if my friends checked in on me to see if I needed anything else) and gorgeous tropical surroundings.

I’m not sure how you could want ANYTHING else.  I certainly didn’t.

For more on Hamanasi Resort, check out their website and for more on their exceptional commitment to sustainability, the community and the environment, see their blog.

Heaven.

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