The dry season runs from November through May, and these are the best months to visit. The weather is sunny more often than not, the reef is calm enough for snorkeling trips most days, and the Southern Highway is easily passable. January and February can bring a norther — a cold front that pushes in from the north and makes the sea rough for a few days — but it passes quickly and temperatures stay warm enough to swim.
The rainy season runs June through October, with September and October seeing the most rain and the occasional threat of tropical storms. The reef and jungle are still beautiful in the wet season, and the village is even quieter than usual. Beach days become less reliable, and boat trips to Glover's Reef may be cancelled in rough weather. Cockscomb Basin is lush and green and particularly good for birdwatching after rain.
Hopkins is quiet year-round compared to Ambergris Caye or Placencia. Christmas and Easter bring more Belizean domestic visitors, and the village comes to life with music and cooking. If you want to see a Garifuna cultural celebration, November 19 — Garifuna Settlement Day — is the most important date in the calendar, marked across southern Belize with drumming, traditional dance, and large communal gatherings.