6 Best Sights in The Southern Coast, Belize

South of Hopkins in Anderson's Lagoon, bioluminescence (when an organism emits light through a chemical reaction) is the main attraction. Plankton that live in the water light up when disturbed by any agitation of that water, such as when fleeing predators or when fleeing your excursion boat. In a different take on the town’s nightlife, several Hopkins outfitters (Barefoot Services;  www.barefootservicesbelize.com and Get to Know Belize Tours;  www.gettoknowbelizeadventures.com) let you take in this evening spectacle. The first part of the evening takes you by boat through the mangroves of the Sittee River where you’ll spot crocodiles, iguanas, and coatimundi among the variety of nocturnal animal life. You enter the lagoon and the motion of your boat drives the display of blue light. 

You have a narrow window of opportunity for optimal viewing here. You want the driest of Belize’s dry season. (Bioluminescence is a year-round phenomenon, but rain stirs up the lagoon, making it nearly impossible to see.) Most nighttime excursions run February through May, admittedly with forays outside those months, depending on the weather. You want as close to a dark night as possible. Nights surrounding the new moon are ideal. Quarter-moon nights become possible but less optimal. The full moon makes for difficult viewing, and tours do not run on those nights.  Unfortunately, the bioluminescent phenomenon does not show up well in smartphone photos.

Some visitors to Cockscomb are disappointed that they don't see jaguars and that wildlife doesn't jump out from behind trees to astound them as they hike the trails. (Or maybe they're relieved.) The experience here is indeed a low-key one, and seeing wildlife requires patience and luck. You'll have the best chance of seeing wild animals, perhaps even a jaguar or one of the other large cats, if you stay overnight, preferably for several nights, in the sanctuary and employ the services of a guide on an extended hike. Several nearby lodges, such as Hamanasi in Hopkins, offer night hikes to Cockscomb, departing around dusk and returning around 9 pm. Even then, your jaguar might not materialize—pragmatism is a must—but you'll spot plenty of other wildlife, and that's a splendid consolation prize.

Among the native wildlife aside from the jaguars, you more likely will see other cats—pumas, margays, and ocelots—plus coatis, kinkajous, deer, peccaries, and, last but not least, tapirs. Also known as the mountain cow, this shy, curious creature appears to be half horse, half hippo, with a bit of cow and elephant thrown in. Nearly 300 species of birds have been identified in the Cockscomb Basin, including the keel-billed toucan, the king vulture, several hawk species, and the scarlet macaw, a species of parrot.

Within the reserve is Belize's best-maintained system of jungle and mountain trails, most of which lead to at least one outstanding swimming hole. The sanctuary also has spectacular views of Victoria Peak and the Cockscomb Range. Bring serious bug spray with you—the reserve swarms with mosquitoes and tiny biting flies locals call no-see-ums—and, if you can tolerate the heat, wear long-sleeve shirts and long pants. As anywhere in Belize, the best times to hike are early morning, late afternoon, and early evening, when temperatures are lower and more animals are on the prowl.

The road from Maya Centre to the Cockscomb ranger station and visitor center winds 6 miles (10 km) through dense vegetation—splendid cahune palms, purple mimosas, orchids, and big-leaf plantains—and as you go higher the marvelous sound of tropical birds, often resembling strange windup toys, grows stronger and stronger. This is definitely four-wheel-drive terrain. You may have to ford several small creeks as well as negotiate deep muddy ruts. At the end, in a clearing with hibiscus and bougainvillea bushes, you'll find a little office, where you can buy maps of the nature trails, along with restrooms, several picnic tables, cabins, and a campground. The Belize Audubon Society manages the Cockscomb and can assist in making reservations for the simple accommodations in the sanctuary.

Altogether there are some 20 miles (33 km) of marked trails. Walking along these 12 nature trails is a good way to get to know the region. Most are loops of 0.5–1.5 miles (1–2 km), so you can do several in a day. The most strenuous trail takes you up a steep hill; from the top is a magnificent view of the entire Cockscomb Basin. Longer hikes, such as to Victoria Peak, require a guide and several days of strenuous walking.

Hotels and tour operators and guides in Hopkins, Placencia, and Dangriga offer tours to Cockscomb; Hopkins is closest to the sanctuary but it is easily accessible from any of these coastal communities.

This museum on the outskirts of Dangriga contains a number of displays on Garifuna history and life. It was named for a Garifuna heroine who came to Belize with her 13 children and founded the village of Punta Negra in the Toledo District. Exhibits cover the Garifuna migration from Africa to the Caribbean island of St. Vincent, then to Roatán and Belize. Another exhibit is on Thomas Vincent Ramos, a visionary Garifuna leader who, in 1941, established the first Garifuna Settlement Day. (The Southern Highway now bears his name.) Other displays are on Garifuna food, clothing, medicinal plants, and music and dance. The museum also has rotating displays of paintings by Garifuna artists including Pen Cayetano.

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 seagrass 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 visit the source of one of Belize's best-known exports, Marie Sharp's Hot Sauce, made in about a dozen different heat levels from Mild to Beware. The small factory, with about 25 workers and still a Sharp family business, is open to interested visitors weekdays, but for a tour it's best to call in advance. Besides the factory tour, you can also see the entire selection of products manufactured by the Sharps, and most are offered for sale along with Marie Sharp T-shirts and tote bags. The products are sold in nearly every grocery in Belize and sit on tables in most local restaurants in Belize.  Marie Sharp's main office is on 3 Pier Road in Dangriga, where there also is a small shop.

Mayflower Bocawina, an expansion of Belize's first protected area, has small Maya ruins, lovely waterfalls, and good hiking on more than 7,000 acres. A private lodge, Bocawina Rainforest Resort, is in the park and has upscale lodging, food and drink, and the longest zipline in Belize. The park has three minor Maya ceremonial sites: Mayflower, T'au Witz, and Maintzunum, near Silk Grass Creek. Nearby are the three waterfalls, usually referred to as "the Three Sisters": upper and lower Bocawina Falls and Antelope Falls. Access to Mayflower is easiest from Hopkins, about 20 minutes by car, but tours are offered from Placencia and Dangriga as well. The entrance to the park is about 4½ miles (7½ km) on a dirt road off the Southern Highway. From the visitor center, to get to the two Bocawina falls, it's an easy hike of about 1¼ miles (2 km) on the marked Bocawina Falls trail. The trail to Antelope Falls, about 1¾ miles (3 km), is more difficult due to some steep sections that can be slick after rains. Maps of the trails are available at the small visitor center. So far, little excavation has been conducted at the Maya sites.