The village of Hopkins and the surrounding areas have a population of around 1,100 people. The fishing village was settled by people pf the Garifuna culture in 1942 after their previous settlement of Newton was destroyed by a hurricane. The new settlement was first known as Yugada, a Garifuna phrase meaning "village by the sea". The name of the
village was eventually changed to Hopkins, named after a Catholic priest who drowned offshore of the village site in 1923. The village was rebuilt after 1961's Hurricane Hattie destroyed Hopkins.
Hopkins stretches along 2mi/3.2km of a road running parallel to the sea and has a low-key atmosphere. Several travelers visit Hopkins for its proximity to several offshore dive sites and natural attractions. Other popular activities in Hopkins include cycling and sailing, and there are several options for accommodation in the village. Excursions offered from Hopkins include fishing, kayaking and river running, as well as nature tours of the Cockscomb Basin. Manatees and dolphins are often spotted off the beaches of Hopkins.