We have just returned from the most pleasurable week at Hamanasi.
The resort is so comfortable, and the staff never tired of providing personalized service.
Opportunities for fun and adventure were always available, but more importantly I felt
like rest-and-relaxation was the real treat.
Don't take this the wrong way. I went scuba diving every day except for one (more on that).
Then after a great lunch, my wife and I would have an afternoon adventure, too. Horseback riding through the
rainforest, souvenir hunting in Hopkins village, kayaking on the rivers of the Stann Creek district,
birdwatching, and home in time for dinner - and dinner was always outstanding with something unique available.
An early start every morning with coffee on the veranda, breakfast was always prepared with a choice of fresh fruits and eggs and bacon,
before meeting at the dock for a trip to the southern barrier reef. Our boat captain, dive master and mate
always made sure we were prepared for the dive, and then they provided a wonderful guided tour along the walls and
reefs. Goliath groupers, turtles, eagle rays, moray eels and even batfish were found around every bend,
all in a scene of giant barrel sponges with other sponges and corals of every shape and color drifting along.
The one day I didn't dive, my wife arranged our Magical Mayan Tour. Hamanasi provided a van and tour guide
for our small party. This excursion traveled through the country so diverse with peoples, cultures, citrus groves,
and rain forests and took us to 2 wondeful Mayan archeological zones. We felt like we had whole deserted cities
with towering citadels to explore on our own. This ranked as one of our most enjoyable vacations, I'd like to
celebrate our 30th next year with Hamanasi.

When people as me about our trip to Belize this last summer, there is only one word that comes to mind, "UNBELIZALBE!!!!" and it is mostly due to an amazing stay at the Hamanasi. From beginning to end it was the best trip my husband and I have ever had in our entire lives. I can not recommend this resort enough. If you are looking for wonderful, warm and friendly resort staff that will bend over backwards to make sure you have a great trip, this is for you. The resort is remote, clean, and beautiful. If you are looking for total relaxation and only want to "veg" by the pool and ocean, this would be the place. OR if you want to take advantage of snorkeling and scuba diving their wonderful team will make that happen. My husband and I initially went to go just snorkeling however we ended up taking their "Discover Scuba" class (PADI) and it was fabulous!!!! Our master diver was exceptional and we are so glad that we took our introduction to scuba diving there. The off-site adventure tours were fabulous as well. I cannot recommend the ATM Cave strongly enough. If you are fit and like adventure it is a MUST SEE!!!!!! Do NOT miss it, even if you have to pay extra for it. Do not stay at this resort if you are expecting a nearby town with lots of shopping. The Hamanasi is remote and known for it's water and inland adventures. However, there is the small town of Hopkins nearby where we bicycled in and shopped at some of the few small shops. Also, if you are looking for a huge selection of dining places, do not choose the Hamanasi. BUT, and this is a huge but, the meals at the Hamanasi are wonderful. Plentiful and very good. I never felt like I needed or wanted to go anywhere else to eat. They provide lunches for the off-site adventures too. The rooms are very lovely and nicely appointed with a Guatamalan flair and wonderful, cool air conditioning. Our rooms were mosquito free and the staff work very hard to keep the insects at bay. However, since you are basically in a rain forest, you need to wear insect repellent all the time. The Hamanasi's people (including the owner, who called us personally when our plans had to be postponed due to a tropical storm) could not have been any nicer. This is a MUST if you are looking for a fabulous vacation!

There are not enough words to describe our amazing honeymoon at Hamanasi. Everything was perfect. The grounds are simply gorgeous, well manicured but lush with tropical trees, bushes and flowers. It looks like it was built around the vegetation, unlike other resorts down the beach which seemed to clear the beach when building and then stuck in a few lame palm trees. Everything about the location beckoned you to relax. After a week of eating on a porch while staring at the beach, it’s hard not to let your stresses slip away.

We stayed in the honeymoon suite which was beautiful, though the tile in the shower had seen better days. The 4 poster king sized bed was very romantic and the hammock on the porch was a great place to sit and read during downtime.

The adventures were absolutely fantastic. We snorkeled twice and did the jungle kayaking, Mayan Ruin Tour and Cave Tubing. All the adventures were absolutely amazing and we wish we had the time to go on more. An added bonus of the adventures is you get the delicious Hamanasi cookies as a treat after all the rigorous activity. All the guides were friendly and knowledgeable and we left Belize with a deep respect for its people and culture.

The food was unbelievable! Some of the best meals I ever had in my life were at Hamanasi. Each morning we looked forward to what delicious bread or muffin was served and we loved trying new tropical fruits. My husband will be raving about the nacho’s supreme on the lunch menu for years to come while I tried many different menu options, all spectacular. We, and the rest of the guests, always looked forward to happy hour to see what creation King came up with for the “drink of the day”. King was the best bartender and it was a joy sitting at the bar talking to him while nibbling on free happy hour chips, fresh salsa and a killer cheese dip that we wish we could find in the states! King even introduced us to some Garifuna music that has a permanent place on our iPods. Finally, dinners were always perfect and romantic. The soft music and low lights on the porch made for a great dining atmosphere. We occasionally enjoyed dining on the romantic deck as well, though we had to make sure to bathe in bug spray before sitting down. Choosing one meal from the changing menu was a difficult decision every night and we were rarely disappointed. The food was ample, but we always made sure to save room for dessert. The key lime pie was killer. Though both carnivores, there were some really great options for vegetarians and vegans as well. The staff went out of their way to make sure to observe all dietary requests.

There is no nightlife at the resort but we didn’t miss it. Most nights we were sound asleep very early, blissfully exhausted from the adventures and full bellies.

The best part about Hamanasi was the staff. Everyone was extremely friendly and took the time to introduce themselves and learn our name. We were especially impressed with the dining staff. They were outstanding! Mags, King and Barilla were always top notch and we loved getting to know them. At the front desk Lionel and Stephanie were so help and friendly. They really helped us choose adventures to make the best of our week in Belize. Finally, Golden and Hartsfield were fantastic inland guides. Golden was the first person we met at the Dangriga airport and we immediately knew it was going to be an awesome trip!

While we could complain about the bugs, Hamanasi did their best to make sure you weren’t eaten alive at dinner. They are just part of life in Belize. Make sure to bring the DEET when you go and reapply frequently! We went during rainy seasons which didn’t help the bugs but the rain rarely got in the way of our adventures. In fact, it was quite peaceful to sit on the porch and watch the rain come down. It never lasted more than an hour and it was usually came down in the early morning or late at night.

Thank you Hamanasi for making our honeymoon everything we dreamed of and more!

Hamanasi is truly the perfect resort if you like to go to a beautiful, relaxing place and also love adventure.
The scuba diving was outstanding. Saw the big animals - eagle rays, turtles, sharks and grouper. Sea Dog our dive master was very knowledgeable, professional and was very attentive to our needs.
The staff was exceptional and the beachfront room and gourmet food received an A+.