FAQ

Hello Festival Guest,

For the Belize Songwriter Festival, we have selected a small portfolio of luxury properties to discerning travelers for a completely customized vacation experience. We have carefully
chosen our venues based on facility quality, professionalism of staff, culinary experience,
personalized services, and overall market impression.

We are pleased that you have chosen to stay at the Belize Collection Properties including the
Colonial House, Villa Margarita, Jaguar Reef Lodge & Villas, and/or Almond Beach.
Register and pick up your festival packet (event tickets, room key and drink tickets for the
break-out sessions) at the main desk at the Lodge at Jaguar Reef. You are free to charge
meals and drinks to your room and pay at check-out.

We would like to inform you of some of the local information that may be relevant to your
stay in Hopkins Belize.

DIRECTIONS: Traveling by Car
Traveling from the international airport, you will make your way to the coastal highway for
about an hour and 30 minutes or so to the village of Hopkins. See MapQuest or google maps.
Go left for about 4 miles and take a right at “six-mile.” At “six-mile” you will see the Southern
Highway to the Hopkins turn-off, take a right. You will travel south for about 20 min or so.
You will then turn left off the highway to Hopkins. It’s about 4-5 miles to the main
intersection in town. You will take a right and travel through the village. At the end of the
village, you will pass through some “s” curves and go straight for about 2 miles and will see
the Lodge at Jaguar Reef on the beach side of the street. You may pass several police check
points. Do not be alarmed by this. They are there for your safety and to make sure you
arrive without incident. In Belize the police departments rarely have cars, so they essentially
patrol at given “stations” on the road. They will ask for your driver’s license and may ask for
any rental car document. You will not need to present your passports under normal
circumstance.

DIRECTIONS: Traveling by Air
Maya Island Air – Mayaislandair.com & Tropic Air – Tropicair.com
All the booking information is available on these websites to travel from the
International Airport to the village of Dangriga. From Dangriga, you will need to
schedule a driver to take you to the Lodge.

Our recommendation is Mr. Julian with Julian Shuttle Service. He can be reached by WhatsApp at 501.636.5601 or the Lodge at Jaguar Reef will offer a shuttle bus for an additional charge as well.

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RENTAL CAR OPTIONS:
Crystal Car Rental (Belize City) – US 936.307.1325, WhatsApp 501.670.7617,
www.crystalautorentalbelize.com. Reserve online and pick up car/van at Belize
International Airport. There are other rental options available, but we do not have
any experience using them.

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HOPKINS RESTAURANTS/BARS AND CULINARY DELIGHTS:
Driftwood Beach Bar and Pizza Shack – (501.664.6611) – Owner is Denise, and the
main bar tender is Georgia. They are both wonderful ladies and their specialties
are pizza and burgers.

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 La Trattoria Romana – (501.630.3606) - Owner is Max (if he is not in Italy). This is
a fairly upscale setting (the food…not the building, LOL). They serve great wine,
steaks, pasta, and pizza. The wine selection is all Italian. We especially like the
beef carpaccio and the filet mignon.

Play Bar – (501.650.7829). Super fun little bar just up the road from Jaguar Reef
Lodge. It’s a place you can order some food from La Trattoria or Bahay while you
enjoy some local brew and liquor while play and game or playing you favorite
vinyl record. Cat & Matt are the owners and are fantastic people. Cat also owns
the Spa for facials, message, and such as well.

Coconut Husk/Row – (501.675.3000) Down in the village, beach side, and kinda
off the beating path. Great breakfast and the chicken curry is excellent!!

Siomara’s -- (501.635.8410) Totally local Belizean breakfast. Love the fry-jacks
and very well priced. Located in the village on the main road.

Thongs Beach Cafe – (501.662.0110) – The owner Tania is great. She is from
Russia and super nice. Eggs Benedict is fantastic with some country potatoes.
Great Coffee!!!

Bahay Fiesta – (501.664.7000) – Filipino cuisine. Really nice and just down from
the house. They do smoked ribs on Wednesday evening but check for availability.
Peers Place – (see FB page) – Peer and Oksana are great (just get beyond the
German and Russian accent and you’ll be great). This is a place for breakfast,
lunch and dinner…. super nice and great choices. Coffee is served European style
and is delicious!!

Big Dock Ceviche Bar at Jaguar Reef (501.822.3851) – Cool spot to hang and have
a few drinks. The pool bar is also cool, and both of these bars are within walking
distance from the house to the north.

 

TOURS:

Fishing/Diving/Snorkeling/Spear Fishing/Island Hopping – Call Brad Bowman at Caye
Element at 501.625.2030 WhatsApp, Or Janine at 501.600.2487 WhatsApp. They do
it all and are simply the most reliable that Belize has to offer. Book now, not later.
 

Zip Lining –We prefer Maya King, South of Hopkins on the southern highway about 6
miles. They also have a cool waterfall to swim in. You will see them on the west side
of the highway as you are traveling south.

Mayan Ruin Tour – Contact Julian at 501.636.5601. He will make sure you get exactly
what you want out of your Ancient Mayan tour.

Tours may also be booked at the reservation desk at Jaguar Reef.

 

Kind regards,
Dwayne Hoving, Principle
Belize Songwriter Festival
806.236.1046 (WhatsApp)
info@belizesongwriterfestival.com
www.belizesongwriterfestival.com