Hamanasi Adventure & Dive Resort, Belize

The Best of Belize, On & Offshore

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In the Community
What Can You Do?

Social Responsibility

Hamanasi isn’t an entity that exists on its own. We are active members of Hopkins village and surrounding communities, as well as the Stann Creek District and Belize as a country. Hamanasi is proud to support many projects and aspects of the community. Click to expand the headings below and find out more about our work in the community.

Community Initiatives

Local Employment & Training
  • Over 97% of Hamanasi employees are Belizean, most of whom are from our surrounding communities.
  • We have an ethnically diverse staff and 41/59 split of women and men.
  • Leadership positions reflect this diversity and Hamanasi aims to groom its managers and supervisors from within.
  • All staff members receive customer service, sustainability and safety/first aid training. In addition, employees receive area-specific training on an on-going basis. Managers and supervisors receive leadership training.
  • More than a third of our employees have been with us for 5 or more years, many from the first year we opened!
  • All staff undertake annual training through The Code, an organization that provides training in recognizing human trafficking and how to communicate and deal with it as a hospitality employee. Hamanasi feels very strongly about this topic as trafficking rings frequently use the privacy of hotels to their advantage.
  • Hamanasi has a Workplace Wellness Policy and Program as healthy employees are happy and productive employees. We partner with the Belize Family Life Association (BFLA), which visits every month to address important health issues and provide free confidential testing and education to all our employees.
  • All tours are guided by Belize Tourism Board certified guides who take the time to inform guests about all flora and fauna that they will encounter on their tours – on land and under water.
  • Guests learn how to minimize their impact during tours, such as following maintained trails, not touching coral or other animals, not taking anything that they may see during their excursion, etc.
  • Special training for those wishing to dive with the Whale Sharks, or conserve the reef from the invasive Lionfish by spear hunting them on a dive.
  • We have periodic presentations on bird watching, fish identification and Mayan history.
  • Guest booklets in each room contain information about our tours and eco practices.
  • Green Team notice board posts updated community information.
  • Easiest of all, we encourage you to ask questions! Our staff, who all speak English, would be happy to answer your questions a best as possible!

One of our many outreach programs is with the Hopkins Belize Humane Society (HBHS). We recognize that a healthy environment for people is directly related to the health of the animals in a community. Through free spay/neuter clinics, vaccinations for rabies, parasite control and a free dog food program, the HBHS is proactively changing the welfare of people and animals alike. By partnering with HBHS, Hamanasi supports these efforts to make Hopkins and all of Belize a healthier place for wildlife, domestic pets, and the people that care for them. To show our commitment, Hamanasi has a matching fundraising program, whereas donations made by our guests will be matched up to BZ $10,000 each year.

We invite you to take an interest in the HBHS during your stay at Hamanasi by volunteering, bringing supplies such as collars and leashes, flea treatments, bedding, and food bowls, or donating to our matching fund-raising campaign.

Since 1989, The Nature Conservancy has been helping Belize conserve high priority terrestrial and marine habitats. As part of the Fish for Life program, the Conservancy is training fishermen to sustainably farm and harvest seaweed, diversifying income and reducing pressure on fish stocks. It is working closely with major fishing cooperatives to improve the sustainability of their product. Moreover, the Conservancy helps protect the Maya Forest through sustainable forest management and offsetting carbon.

Hamanasi supports The Nature Conservancy’s efforts in Belize. We hope that you, too, will consider financially supporting this work. Contributions may be made during the reservations process or upon checkout.  100% of the donation will go directly to The Nature Conservancy. 

As part of our commitment to the youth of Belize, Hamanasi has an internship program that allows high school students studying tourism and hospitality, or technical fields such as carpentry, electrical and mechanical, to gain valuable work experience in a hospitality environment.  During each school vacation select students are partnered with a mentor at Hamanasi in their chosen department and coached to develop the skills they are learning in school and to provide them with an opportunity to have real workplace experience.

Education is a basic right that every child should be allowed to experience. In Belize, school children face relatively high expenses as each school year begins. They must pay for tuition, uniforms, books, school supplies and more. Many families have limited incomes and multiple children, making simply going to school a severe financial challenge. By supplying a backpack filled with basic school supplies we can alleviate that burden.


Partnering with Pack with a Purpose, throughout the year Hamanasi receives many donations from guests: backpacks, pencils, crayons, rulers, calculators, notebooks, art and sports supplies, among many other items. Just before the schools re-open in August, Hamanasi holds an event called the Backpack to School Fest. During the event, the local school children take part in fun games and programs such as first aid instruction by our instructors, conservation education about local threatened species such as the manatees and parrots, and other team building activities. At the end of the event our Hamanasi Green Team is happy to present numerous children with a backpack filled with school supplies to help them throughout the year.

 

What can you do? Look around in your closets and drawers, ask neighbors and classmates, scout garage sales and check out the bargain tables at stores for backpacks and school supplies. All donations help!

Hamanasi came in contact with the World Pediatric Project when the baby of one of our employees was rushed to the United States to receive life saving treatment. The mother and child spent over 4 months in Richmond, Virginia receiving expense-free care, housing and board. Today, this young boy is healthy and happy!

The World Pediatric Project aims to build a better life in Central America and the Caribbean by providing quality, critical-care health services to children. It sends surgical and diagnostic teams to provide treatment in partner countries. It develops prevention programs to reduce birth defects and preventable diseases. For children requiring complex medical attention World Pediatric Project coordinates care in the United Stares or advanced regional facilities. Furthermore, it equips local doctors and nurses in developing nations to diagnose and treat critically ill kids. We hope you, too, will considering contributing to this organization!

Who doesn’t want to be healthy? In Belize, small villages like Hopkins are lucky enough to have health clinics, but most of the time they are stocked with only limited supplies. Along with generous donations given by guests, we are able to support our local clinic by providing them with essential medical items such as gauze bandages, antibiotic ointment, suture kits, thermometers and so much more. With these seemingly small items the doctors are better able to help maintain the health of the inhabitants of not only Hopkins, but also our smaller surrounding villages. With brochures, posters and informational flyers, the medical center is also able to educate people on how best to protect and maintain a healthy body, helping to keep people aware of conditions that can lead to sicknesses.

Make Your Sunscreen #ReefFriendly

Using Reef Safe sunscreens is a simple step we can all take to protect our beautiful reefs for future generations.  Hamanasi allows only reef safe sunscreens on property and during all tours. Learn more about Reef Safe sunscreen – we’ll help you find a product that protects you AND the Reef!

Regeneration at Hamanasi

slider
Responsible Eco-Tourism
Regenerative Philosophy
water_bottles_IMG_8765
Environmental Awareness
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Kids-back-packs.jpg
Our Green Team
Leading the Way
# 9 ( A) 2
Regenerative Package
Focus Your Itinerary

What Can You Do?

Attend the weekly green hour while at Hamanasi to find the latest info on what our Green Team is up to and how you can help. We are also proud members of Pack for a Purpose, an initiative that allows travelers like you to make a lasting impact in the community at your travel destination. If you save just a few kilos of space in your suitcase and take supplies for area schools or medical clinics in need, you’ll make a priceless impact in the lives of our local children and families. Please click here to see what supplies are needed for our project/projects or contact us directly with any questions you may have about our various initiatives.
packforapurpose

Sustainability tips for your stay at Hamanasi:

Attend the weekly green hour while at Hamanasi to find the latest info on what our GreenSustainability tips for your stay at Hamanasi:

  • Refill your water bottle for excursions to cut down on waste.
  • Reuse your towels to help reduce water and chemical use.
  • Have respect for local cultures and customs. Don’t judge. Listen and learn.
  • Dispose of all trash responsibly.
  • Ensure people’s enjoyment of nature in solitude by traveling quietly.
  • When diving and snorkeling never touch plant and animal life. Minimize fin movement, which stirs up sand that can choke the reef.
  • Never chase an animal – while hiking, diving or snorkeling.
  • Stay on trails.
  • Do not take souvenirs from nature or archeological sites.
  • Turn off lights, water and air conditioners when you leave your room.
  • Minimize water use. Turn off taps when shaving or brushing teeth.
  • Join environmental groups and support environmental causes.
  • Contribute to the local community by donating time, talent or treasure.
  • Learn more and teach others about ways to reduce negative impacts on the environment!
 

Together we can preserve our world for future generations! 
Thank you for helping us to protect our environment. Again, we welcome your ideas feedback and suggestions.

Together we can make a difference!

Social Responsibility

Previous slide
Next slide
In the Community
What Can You Do?

Social Responsibility

Hamanasi isn’t an entity that exists on its own. We are active members of Hopkins village and surrounding communities, as well as the Stann Creek District and Belize as a country. Hamanasi is proud to support many projects and aspects of the community. Click to expand the headings below and find out more about our work in the community.

Community Initiatives

Local Employment & Training
  • Over 97% of Hamanasi employees are Belizean, most of whom are from our surrounding communities.
  • We have an ethnically diverse staff and 41/59 split of women and men.
  • Leadership positions reflect this diversity and Hamanasi aims to groom its managers and supervisors from within.
  • All staff members receive customer service, sustainability and safety/first aid training. In addition, employees receive area-specific training on an on-going basis. Managers and supervisors receive leadership training.
  • More than a third of our employees have been with us for 5 or more years, many from the first year we opened!
  • All staff undertake annual training through The Code, an organization that provides training in recognizing human trafficking and how to communicate and deal with it as a hospitality employee. Hamanasi feels very strongly about this topic as trafficking rings frequently use the privacy of hotels to their advantage.
  • Hamanasi has a Workplace Wellness Policy and Program as healthy employees are happy and productive employees. We partner with the Belize Family Life Association (BFLA), which visits every month to address important health issues and provide free confidential testing and education to all our employees.
  • All tours are guided by Belize Tourism Board certified guides who take the time to inform guests about all flora and fauna that they will encounter on their tours – on land and under water.
  • Guests learn how to minimize their impact during tours, such as following maintained trails, not touching coral or other animals, not taking anything that they may see during their excursion, etc.
  • Special training for those wishing to dive with the Whale Sharks, or conserve the reef from the invasive Lionfish by spear hunting them on a dive.
  • We have periodic presentations on bird watching, fish identification and Mayan history.
  • Guest booklets in each room contain information about our tours and eco practices.
  • Green Team notice board posts updated community information.
  • Easiest of all, we encourage you to ask questions! Our staff, who all speak English, would be happy to answer your questions a best as possible!

One of our many outreach programs is with the Hopkins Belize Humane Society (HBHS). We recognize that a healthy environment for people is directly related to the health of the animals in a community. Through free spay/neuter clinics, vaccinations for rabies, parasite control and a free dog food program, the HBHS is proactively changing the welfare of people and animals alike. By partnering with HBHS, Hamanasi supports these efforts to make Hopkins and all of Belize a healthier place for wildlife, domestic pets, and the people that care for them. To show our commitment, Hamanasi has a matching fundraising program, whereas donations made by our guests will be matched up to BZ $10,000 each year.

We invite you to take an interest in the HBHS during your stay at Hamanasi by volunteering, bringing supplies such as collars and leashes, flea treatments, bedding, and food bowls, or donating to our matching fund-raising campaign.

Since 1989, The Nature Conservancy has been helping Belize conserve high priority terrestrial and marine habitats. As part of the Fish for Life program, the Conservancy is training fishermen to sustainably farm and harvest seaweed, diversifying income and reducing pressure on fish stocks. It is working closely with major fishing cooperatives to improve the sustainability of their product. Moreover, the Conservancy helps protect the Maya Forest through sustainable forest management and offsetting carbon.

Hamanasi supports The Nature Conservancy’s efforts in Belize. We hope that you, too, will consider financially supporting this work. Contributions may be made during the reservations process or upon checkout.  100% of the donation will go directly to The Nature Conservancy. 

As part of our commitment to the youth of Belize, Hamanasi has an internship program that allows high school students studying tourism and hospitality, or technical fields such as carpentry, electrical and mechanical, to gain valuable work experience in a hospitality environment.  During each school vacation select students are partnered with a mentor at Hamanasi in their chosen department and coached to develop the skills they are learning in school and to provide them with an opportunity to have real workplace experience.

Education is a basic right that every child should be allowed to experience. In Belize, school children face relatively high expenses as each school year begins. They must pay for tuition, uniforms, books, school supplies and more. Many families have limited incomes and multiple children, making simply going to school a severe financial challenge. By supplying a backpack filled with basic school supplies we can alleviate that burden.


Partnering with Pack with a Purpose, throughout the year Hamanasi receives many donations from guests: backpacks, pencils, crayons, rulers, calculators, notebooks, art and sports supplies, among many other items. Just before the schools re-open in August, Hamanasi holds an event called the Backpack to School Fest. During the event, the local school children take part in fun games and programs such as first aid instruction by our instructors, conservation education about local threatened species such as the manatees and parrots, and other team building activities. At the end of the event our Hamanasi Green Team is happy to present numerous children with a backpack filled with school supplies to help them throughout the year.

 

What can you do? Look around in your closets and drawers, ask neighbors and classmates, scout garage sales and check out the bargain tables at stores for backpacks and school supplies. All donations help!

Hamanasi came in contact with the World Pediatric Project when the baby of one of our employees was rushed to the United States to receive life saving treatment. The mother and child spent over 4 months in Richmond, Virginia receiving expense-free care, housing and board. Today, this young boy is healthy and happy!

The World Pediatric Project aims to build a better life in Central America and the Caribbean by providing quality, critical-care health services to children. It sends surgical and diagnostic teams to provide treatment in partner countries. It develops prevention programs to reduce birth defects and preventable diseases. For children requiring complex medical attention World Pediatric Project coordinates care in the United Stares or advanced regional facilities. Furthermore, it equips local doctors and nurses in developing nations to diagnose and treat critically ill kids. We hope you, too, will considering contributing to this organization!

Who doesn’t want to be healthy? In Belize, small villages like Hopkins are lucky enough to have health clinics, but most of the time they are stocked with only limited supplies. Along with generous donations given by guests, we are able to support our local clinic by providing them with essential medical items such as gauze bandages, antibiotic ointment, suture kits, thermometers and so much more. With these seemingly small items the doctors are better able to help maintain the health of the inhabitants of not only Hopkins, but also our smaller surrounding villages. With brochures, posters and informational flyers, the medical center is also able to educate people on how best to protect and maintain a healthy body, helping to keep people aware of conditions that can lead to sicknesses.

Make Your Sunscreen #ReefFriendly

Using Reef Safe sunscreens is a simple step we can all take to protect our beautiful reefs for future generations.  Hamanasi allows only reef safe sunscreens on property and during all tours. Learn more about Reef Safe sunscreen – we’ll help you find a product that protects you AND the Reef!

Regeneration at Hamanasi

slider
Responsible Eco-Tourism
Regenerative Philosophy
water_bottles_IMG_8765
Environmental Awareness
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Kids-back-packs.jpg
Our Green Team
Leading the Way
# 9 ( A) 2
Regenerative Package
Focus Your Itinerary

What Can You Do?

Attend the weekly green hour while at Hamanasi to find the latest info on what our Green Team is up to and how you can help. We are also proud members of Pack for a Purpose, an initiative that allows travelers like you to make a lasting impact in the community at your travel destination. If you save just a few kilos of space in your suitcase and take supplies for area schools or medical clinics in need, you’ll make a priceless impact in the lives of our local children and families. Please click here to see what supplies are needed for our project/projects or contact us directly with any questions you may have about our various initiatives.
packforapurpose

Sustainability tips for your stay at Hamanasi:

Attend the weekly green hour while at Hamanasi to find the latest info on what our GreenSustainability tips for your stay at Hamanasi:

  • Refill your water bottle for excursions to cut down on waste.
  • Reuse your towels to help reduce water and chemical use.
  • Have respect for local cultures and customs. Don’t judge. Listen and learn.
  • Dispose of all trash responsibly.
  • Ensure people’s enjoyment of nature in solitude by traveling quietly.
  • When diving and snorkeling never touch plant and animal life. Minimize fin movement, which stirs up sand that can choke the reef.
  • Never chase an animal – while hiking, diving or snorkeling.
  • Stay on trails.
  • Do not take souvenirs from nature or archeological sites.
  • Turn off lights, water and air conditioners when you leave your room.
  • Minimize water use. Turn off taps when shaving or brushing teeth.
  • Join environmental groups and support environmental causes.
  • Contribute to the local community by donating time, talent or treasure.
  • Learn more and teach others about ways to reduce negative impacts on the environment!
 

Together we can preserve our world for future generations! 
Thank you for helping us to protect our environment. Again, we welcome your ideas feedback and suggestions.

Together we can make a difference!