Garifuna Cultural and Culinary Experience in Hopkins Belize

Overview

Available languages

English

5 hours

Mobile ticket

Dive into the most interactive, fun and educational Garifuna Cultural & Culinary Experience in Belize. Visit Kalipuna Cultural Heritage Island a unique destination designated for the preservation of Garifuna Culture and share and learn from passionate and knowledgeable afro-indigenous advocates by participating in hands on cooking classes learning authentic & traditional Garifuna recipes and cooking methods. Chit chat about Garifuna History with knowledgable elders. Explore the lush herbal garden and learning about herbs used for both recreation and medicinal purposes. Savor the fruits of your labor as you enjoy a mouthwatering Garifuna meal. Every bite tells a story, connecting you to the flavors of this vibrant culture. Cultural dishes can be customize so that guests with special dietary restrictions can also enjoy. Conclude your day with a mesmerizing Garifuna drumming session led by our master drumming instructor.

Additional Info

Public transportation options are available nearby

Specialized infant seats are available

Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries

Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health

Guests with special dietary needs and restrictions can be hosted.

Alcoholic beverages will be served to ages 18 and above (optional)

Cancellation Policy

All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.

What‘s Included

hudutu

Kayaks

Bottled water

Life jacket

Snacks

Rum Punch . only for 18 and above

Meeting and Pickup

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

What To Expect

Prepare to be transported to the heart of Garifuna culture, where tradition, nature, and culinary delights merge into an unforgettable journey. Join us on The Garifuna Cultural Culinary Adventure, an immersive exploration that will engage your senses and leave you with a deeper appreciation for the rich heritage of the Garifuna people. Kick start your journey by kayaking\boating cross the lagoon and Arriving at Palmento Grove Cultural and Fishing Lodge on Kalipuna Cultural Heritage Island* Join in the immersive exploration chit-chatting about Garifuna culture and history. Follow our knowledgeable guides through the lush herbal garden, where you'll learn about herbs used for both recreation and medicinal purposes. Guided by expert chefs, you'll prepare the iconic Garifuna dish, hudutu, using the very fish you caught earlier, freshly picked herbs, local coconuts, and plantains. Gain hands-on experience in husking coconuts and extracting creamy coconut milk. **Lunchtime Delight:* - Savor the fruits of your labor as you enjoy a mouthwatering Garifuna meal. - Conclude your day with a mesmerizing Garifuna drumming session led by our seasoned instructor.

Sample Menu

main

Hudutu

Coconut chowder flavored with fish, herbs, garlic & onions. Served with pounded plantains and fried fish.

Options

Garifuna Cultural and Culinary Experience in Hopkins Belize

Pickup included

Reviews

4.94

17 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

The most delicious experience!
Cynthia S,
Jun 22, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
The best experience ever! There was something for everyone to enjoy...intergenerational. The connection to nature was transforming.
An exceptionally fun interactive experience!
Karen S,
Apr 4, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
For an immersive, engaging, and fun cultural experience with exceptional hospitality, supporting local Garifuna entrepreneurs and businesses, this is an unparalleled opportunity for cultural immersion. This experience is highly recommended.
Don't Miss This
k0nniw,
Apr 3, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Amazing experience! I would highly recommend this for anyone who wants an understanding of Garifuna culture and a delicious meal. Was an amazing way to spend the day. Hands on learning at it's absolute best.
Wonderful experience
645johny,
Mar 16, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
So glad we took the time to spend on Palmento. Learning about the Garifuna culture made for a much better trip to Hopkins. Spending time there, one feels like part of something bigger. History, cooking/talking, drumming. Would highly recommend!
Good drumming experience
hascarrots,
Feb 26, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Drumming with Jabbar was low key, meditative and worthwhile! It gave us some new insights into Garifuna culture, and Jabbar was a patient teacher.
Incredible deep dive into Garifuna culture!
X9499IKnathanl,
Feb 13, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
My partner and I spent an incredible day diving into the rich culture, traditions, history and cuisine of the Garifuna people. This particular experience had been very high on my list of tours on our visit to Belize and it did not disappoint! Elder Eugene captivated us with Garifuna stories of resistance, resilience, trauma and triumph. After which we headed to the kitchen to try our hands in preparing Hudut under the stewardship of some great cooks. We had the opportunity to husk and grate coconuts by hand, pound plantain and cook fish on an open fire. The meal was delicious! To cap off the day, we participated in a traditional drumming lesson with a well known drummer in the community. Your trip to Belize is incomplete without a visit to Palmento Grove!!!
Fantastic Experience!
Grace N,
Jan 8, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
We were a bit apprehensive after booking because we realized that a kayak had to be taken to get to the location, however we decided to be adventurous and go along with it. The host provided the kayak and kayak “driver” and then lead us to an amazing history lesson of the Garifuna people and of Belize. After that we got a review of the various medicinal plans and then we cooked traditional Garifuna dishes from scratch! Including making our own coconut milk. After indulging in the meal that we cooked we thought the day was over and would have been satisfied but were reminded that we then had a drum lesson. The drum lesson was tons of fun. Highly recommend this unique, native cultural experience.
Enlightening, Informative, Participatory, and Delicious!!
J3213DLtimp,
Nov 7, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Words cannot fully express how much we enjoyed our Garifuna Cultural and Culinary experience. My friend, who had participated in a drumming event approximately ten years ago, encouraged me to put Hopkins, where I could hear and/or participate in drumming, on my bucket list. We traveled specifically to Hopkins for this particular tour. I play drums with a West African drum and dance ensemble in Dallas, Texas, and I was eager to learn about drums from a different culture. The drum class portion of his tour was phenomenal for me. Although I wished the class had been longer, I understood how it fit into the overall experience. Getting the history lesson about Belize from Mr. Eugene was enlightening and informative. I could sit and learn from him for hours on end. His knowledge of the culture and agriculture is amazing. Our experience in the kitchen was also amazing. Learning about the coconut and how to extract it from the outer shell was fun. Cracking it open to release the coconut water and then squeezing the pulp to create the coconut milk was a delightful experience. Participating in all aspects of preparing the Hudut was a welcome surprise. I had a chance to pound the plantains, which was a cool experience. What I thought I needed to do and what I actually needed to do were two different things. Once my technique was corrected, I was amazed at how the texture of the plantain changed almost immediately. Enjoying the meal with our host was truly delightful. The coconut fudge we had for dessert was also a tasty treat. We highly recommend this excursion for anyone wanting to come learn and appreciate another culture and have a hands-on experience.
Fiance's Birthday Tour
Britt223170,
Aug 11, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
This tour is one of a kind! I purchased this for my fiance's birthday and wound up enjoying it as much as he did. He loved it too! Ayani and her father were so welcoming and kind that it made you feel as if you'd met them before. Learning about the family structure, history, and drumming of the Garifuna people was awesome. Cooking the traditional Garifuna dish hudut was a whole lot of fun! Wearing the traditional clothes was beautiful touch as well. Also, a big shout out to Warren with the drumming CD! I will surely tell all of my friends traveling to Hopkins to take this tour. Easily the best part of our Belize trip! 🇧🇿🇧🇿🇧🇿
HIGHLIGHT of our whole trip!
Laurie C,
Jul 28, 2024
- Review from Viator
5.00
What an incredible experience spending a day with the Garifuna people and learning about their tribe and how they have evolved over the past 200+ years. Eugene, the patriarch, was so amazing to listen to and shared some homegrown snacks and a great historical lesson. This was the highlight for me and my teenage boys loved it too. We learning about the local plants and herbs and then learned how to open coconuts (a new skill used later during our trip too!) , shred them, and squeeze the milk out of them. We made a local dish called Hudut together and even though we aren't "fish people", it was delicious! The day was finished off with a drum circle for us all and it was truly magical. I would recommend this to everyone. but bring bug spray during the rainy season and get ready to be a bit sweaty.