Hamanasi

Hamanasi Review

With beautifully landscaped grounds, top-notch accommodations, and an excellent dive program, Hamanasi (Garífuna for "almond") is among Belize's superior beach and dive resorts. Upon your arrival, you'll notice that the grounds are manicured and the lobby is filled with local artwork, including paintings by Benjamin Nicholas. The "zero effect" pool seems to stretch to infinity. Choose from regular rooms, gorgeous suites with king-size four-poster beds of barba jolote wood, and "tree houses" on stilts, the most popular accommodations (and the most expensive, at BZ$1,252 double for a deluxe tree house in high season, including tax and service and continental breakfast). There's a five-night minimum stay in high season. Most people come here for the diving opportunities—Hamanasi has three large, well-equipped dive boats, including a 45-ft. boat with three 200-horsepower outboard engines, and is the leading operator in the Hopkins area—but you won't feel out of place if you want to snorkel or just laze around the pool. The restaurant, which has a romantic outdoor dining area, serves seafood and other dishes.