Good For You

If you were to list all the things that made up a perfect ‘green’ holiday then you would probably come up with Hickatee Cottages. Small, charming and affordable this idyllic jungle retreat also has stellar eco credentials.

Located in the Toledo District of southern Belize, Hickatee Cottages are hidden within a jungle setting a stone’s throw form the laidback town of Punta Gorda. Choose from one of three bedrooms built in the traditional Caribbean-style that once dominated ‘PG’ before the cement mixers moved in. All are furnished with locally made hardwood furniture, ceiling fans and ensuite bathrooms.

The cottages are owned by a British couple, Ian and Kate Morton, who are permanent Belize residents. Their enthusiasm for the country is infectious and they offer first-time (and returning) guests an excellent understanding of the region’s history, culture and fabulous wildlife. There is more than enough to keep even the most active of guests occupied in the area surrounding Hickatee but the Morton’s are always on hand to organise more far-flung adventures.

Good For Belize

The philosophy at Hickatee Cottages is one of minimal impact to the environment, and maximum benefit to their adopted community. They are committed to providing guests and visitors with a sustainable, quality product that protects the environment and conserves natural resources, whilst promoting and protecting the local culture and economy. They reduce, re-use, and re-cycle wherever and whatever possible.

Hickatee Cottages have participated in Programme for Belize's implementation of Rainforest Alliance's "Best Management Practices" and have seen a 22% increase in their 'green' score over the past 18 months. Recent improvements include their new formalised composting system, and the elimination of plastic water bottles (which are not recyclable in Belize). They also work closely with the local community and employ local staff.

Rooms

Food

Features & Facilities

• Restaurant
• Bar
• Plunge pool
• Library
• Internet
• Free use of bicycles

See Local Info & Activities for more

Local Info & Activities

There is over a mile of wide, well-maintained jungle trails surrounding Hickatee Cottages, which are home to a surprising array of wildlife including toucans, butterflies, quash, and iguanas. You’re also almost guaranteed to hear the roar of the howler monkeys at some stage during your stay, and you might even spot them in the bush. Keep an eye out for animal tracks – jaguar and tapir tracks have been spotted here in the past.

Alternatively, relax in the hammock on your verandah, and watch the birds as they come to you, or cool off in the new plunge pool. There is a small collection of local orchids dotted around the grounds, species which have collected from the land and one or more is usually in bloom at any time of the year. These attract the fascinating orchid bees, which travel vast distances to collect the oil in pouches on their hind legs.

Hickatee Cottages organise free visits to Fallen Stones Butterfly Farm for guests staying on a Wednesday or Saturday

Bicycles

Guests have complimentary use of well-maintained bikes – an excellent way to explore the local area. Visit the morning market and enjoy a hearty traditional breakfast at "Mar's" followed by Tito's famous seaweed shake, or if you're feeling energetic cycle the PG 'loop' from town through Cattle Landing, Forest Home, and Edridgville. Boom Creek is a pleasant 5 mile bike ride heading west from Hickatee: meet the friendly villagers as they go about their daily activities, and relax at the beautiful Moho River. They may even give you a short trip in one of their traditional dories - a hand-made canoe, crafted from a hollowed-out tree trunk.

Off the beaten track

Off the beaten track activities include jungle hiking and exploring ancient Maya sites, cave swimming and waterfalls, cultural exchanges in the Maya and Garifuna villages, and the cacao trail to the local organic cocoa farms which supply the cocoa for Green & Black’s Maya Gold chocolate.

On the water

For water babies, Toledo ’s rivers and coastline offers great kayaking trips, while the Port Honduras Marine Reserve has numerous mangrove islands, coral cayes, great snorkelling, and rich fly-fishing grounds (catch and release). Further offshore, the World Heritage Site Sapodilla Cayes entice visitors with their diving opportunities or simply a picture postcard beach.

Tours

Tours are arranged through local tour operators, who use only local registered tour guides. Hickatee Cottages can arrange these for you, they do not charge guests (or receive commission) for this service.

Sustainability

Sustainable tourism means different things to different people - eco-lodges, recycling, low-impact, environmentally friendly to name but a few. The philosophy at Hickatee Cottages is one of minimal impact to the environment, and maximum benefit to their adopted community. They are committed to providing guests and visitors with a sustainable, quality product that protects the environment and conserves natural resources, whilst promoting and protecting the local culture and economy. They reduce, re-use, and re-cycle wherever and whatever possible.

Hickatee Cottages have participated in Programme for Belize's implementation of Rainforest Alliance's "Best Management Practices" and have seen a 22% increase in their 'green' score over the past 18 months. They have also been assessed by WholeTravel.com, receiving 4.5 feathers out of a maximum 5. Recent improvements include their new formalised composting system, and the elimination of plastic water bottles (which are not recyclable in Belize). They also re-cycle empty bar spirit bottles into water bottles for use in the cottages and the restaurant, and provide guests with insulated sports bottles for use on day-trips.

Exterior and bathroom lights are now all replaced with energy-saving bulbs, and a water meter has been fitted. The majority of their water is now supplied by rainwater collection, with the well supply used as a back up.

Hickatee are vigilant in working with the Forestry Department to minimize this destructive practice, encourage people to plant their tree seedlings, and are lobbying local environmental groups to take a keener interest in the wildlife-rich but, as yet, unprotected area.

Recycling

Hickatee Cottages recycle wherever and whatever possible, whether natural products or man-made: their log bridge was formed from the 'waste' of an illegally logged tree, as were their woodland seats, and smaller creek bridge, with the much smaller pieces of 'waste' wood being transformed into orchid baskets. Their guest house and trail signs come from cross-sections of a small rosewood blown down in heavy winds.

Some of their cohune nuts are donated to an organisation in Placencia which is developing soap using only natural ingredients, leaving more than enough nuts to feed the gibnuts and agoutis on our land.

The majority of their glass bottles are recyclable in Belize , and are returned to the local drinks' 'depot' for return to the bottling plant. Other bottles, for which there are no formal recycling facilities, are:

* Converted to water bottles for use in the cottage rooms and the bar-restaurant;

* Taken to a small store in town (where they are sold at minimal cost for bottling locally-produced honey and home-made wine; or

* Donated to the Mayan ladies who use them as fish traps, by making a hole in the 'dimple' at the bottom of the bottle where the fish can swim in, but cannot swim out again.

Their non-recyclable plastic bottles were originally used to provide the filters in the septic systems, but are now cut into strips for plant labels, or turned into sleeves for young trees in yet another experiment to deter the leaf cutter ants.

Paper is recycled wherever possible, with printer paper saved and the reverse side used, and subsequently donated, along with all their newspapers, to the Boom Creek village “ Living Word School ” for their papier mache and other craft projects. Egg cartons are returned to our local grocer, and also used as soundproofing for the generator room.

Plastic bags are washed, sterilised and re-used wherever possible, and any 'spare' bags are donated to the PG fish market. They are also working with a grocery store in town to try and implement a bag re-cycling scheme, where they pay a small sum for clean plastic bags, or offer a reduction in the bill in return for people re-using their own plastic bags.

The boxed lunches are packaged in reusable plastic containers, guests are provided with jam-jar ashtrays, and are asked to take their garbage back with them. Guests are encouraged to refill water bottles by providing free refills.

Hickatee compost any vegetable matter, and minimize the amount of waste taken to the municipal dump.

Hickatee Cottages are also working to implement a battery re-cycling scheme in conjunction with Renco Batteries in Belize City.

Green Energy

Renewable energy is an important part of Hickatee Cottage’s philosophy and they strive to reduce their use of non-renewable energy. Their power system is a combination of three sources - solar panels, a battery-invertor system, and a generator (required by Belize hotel legislation). Since opening in November 2005 they have successfully reduced their generator usage from an average of ten hours per day to around four to five hours each day, through efficient use of the generator, the installation of our battery-invertor system, and the installation of the solar panels.

The generator is run for a minimum number of hours each day – usually an hour in the morning, and around four hours in the evening. They endeavour to carry out all our 'power-hungry' tasks (such as laundry and ironing, pumping of water into the site's holding tank, and the use of power tools) whilst the generator is on, so as to maximise its use and minimise fuel consumption.

Whilst running the generator charges up a bank of deep-cycle batteries, and it is this battery bank that supplies power to the site for the majority of each day, with additional charge supplied from their solar panels (they have recently added two more solar panels in their efforts to further reduce generator usage).

Guests are asked to help conserve battery power by switching off fans and lights when they are not in their cottages, and by using hairdryers and other 'power-hungry' items only when the generator is running. They are happy to offer a laundry service, but only when the generator is running and when there is sufficient washing for a 'full load'.

Green Purchasing Policy

Hickatee Cottages are committed to purchasing as many goods locally as possible, and over 90% of their purchases are made within 3 miles of the cottages. Preference is given to local (Toledo) and then Belizean produced goods and services, those that are environmentally friendly and from sustainable resources, and those that are eco-labelled and from socially responsible manufacturers. Their purchases cover a wide range of products from the cottages’ hardwood floors to the Toledo produced goods in their gift shop, and from their range of local spirits and wines, to the locally-grown fresh fruits and vegetables purchased from PG market to supplement those grown on their farm.

Information for Guests

Each guest has a short orientation on check-in covering the basics on the environment (don’t waste power and water, don’t remove anything, ask before taking photos, dress modestly etc). Further printed information is provided in the rooms and a range of books are available covering local history, folklore, flora and fauna.

Local Projects

Hickatee Cottages are involved in the following projects:

• They implemented a community programme working with Boom Creek Village’s “Living Word School” whereby guests wishing to donate items are encouraged to bring requested basic school supplies.

• They participate in Julian Cho Technical High School ’s twice-yearly student intern project, taking between two and four students for a three to four week period agricultural internship.

• They played a major part in the organisation of Toledo’s first ever Cacao Festival, involving several stakeholders and members of the community, designed to raise awareness of the District as a responsible tourism destination, to help the cacao-growing members of the Toledo Cacao Growers’ Association to benefit from developing ‘chocolate tours’, and undertaking a community project – the first year’s project was to renovate and landscape Punta Gorda’s Central Park.

• They participate in the annual PG Parish Health Fair, exhibiting herbs and detailing their traditional local and foreign medicinal uses, as well as culinary use.

• They work with the Punta Gorda Methodist School to implement the Governor General’s “Music in Schools” programme in the Toledo District.

Water system

The cottages, bar-restaurant, and the owner’s house each have their own water treatment systems, with grey water being filtered through a leach field planted with bananas, and the black water treated in a rotoplas 'biodigestor' septic system. The septic system consists of two chambers, the first of which contains cut plastic bottles (a good use for plastic water bottles which have passed the stage of continued re-use) and where the microbial action breaks down the waste, which then passes through to a second chamber which eventually filters clear water through to the leach field.

Their water heaters, efficiency-tested shower heads, and hot taps are sited as close together as possible, and water heaters are switched off when the cottages are not occupied.

Their gardens are landscaped with local plants hardy enough to withstand the dry season, and therefore do not require irrigation. The only area of land that is irrigated is the small farm, and this is carried out by the regular 'draining' of the reserve tank, which forms part of their preventative maintenance plan.

Linen and towels are changed every three days, unless otherwise requested. Guests are asked to be mindful of their water consumption, to turn off taps when not required, and to report any leaks immediately.

Insulated water bottles are provided for guests on day-trips with free refills from the large (refillable) water cooler in our bar.

The environment

Only a small portion of land (15%) has been developed (it was cleared some years earlier for small-scale farming), and this area was cleared entirely by hand so as to retain the maximum number of trees that had re-grown. The lion's share remains in its original natural state, and no logging, hunting, or fishing is allowed. In addition, the night watchman deters poachers on neighbouring land. Trees are being planted to maintain a wildlife 'corridor'.

A minimal amount of agricultural and horticultural chemicals are used on the farm and environmentally friendly products are used wherever possible.

Garden and appropriate kitchen waste is composted, and additional organic matter is provided by rice waste from the local mill, and sheep dung from a local farm. The exceptionally acidic forest soil is corrected through the use of 'Punta Gorda dolomite', allowing vital nutrients to be released to the plants.

Staff

Three permanent local members of staff are employed and staff training is considered to be an integral element in ensuring long-term sustainability of the tourism industry in Toledo. Hickatee is committed to training, empowering and supporting their staff in all aspects of their work. They use only registered Belizean tour operators, who themselves employ only Belizean certified tour guides, to help spread the tourist dollar further, provide sustained employment, and maintain high safety and quality standards.

Getting There

Hickatee Cottages provide a free transfer for guests arriving by plane, boat or bus.

By bus

The 5 to 7 hour journey on the James Bus line from Belize City takes you 50 miles along the Western Highway to the nation's capital, Belmopan. Journeying south-east along the Hummingbird Highway, winding through the foothills of the Maya Mountain, take in the beautiful scenery before heading south along the Southern Highway to the Toledo District. This stretch of road passes through the Golden Stream Corridor Preserve, and the villages of Big Falls, Jacintoville and Forest Home, through Cattle Landing and then along the coast road into Punta Gorda town. James Bus offers 9 buses daily to Punta Gorda.

By water taxi from Guatemala

There are 3 daily crossings from Puerto Barrios to Punta Gorda (departing 10am, 2pm, and 2pm), with direct crossings from Livingston at 7am each Tuesday and Friday.

By air

Tropic Air offers five daily flights from Belize City to Punta Gorda airstrip. The 75-minute flight gives you a fabulous bird's eye view of southern Belize.

By car

Your journey along the Southern Highway brings you through the village of Cattle Landing, along the Caribbean coastline and into the town of Punta Gorda. Turn right at the Texaco Gas Station, follow the road through the town, past the clock tower, the Peter Claver School, bearing right past the hospital, with the Cemetery on your left. Proceed down Cemetery Lane for a further two blocks and, when you reach the small children's park, turn 'half-left' into Ex-Servicemen Road. As you leave the outskirts of the town, Hickatee Cottages is just one mile further on the left-hand side of the road.

Visit our Transport section for flights, hybrid car rentals and train bookings.

Rates & Bookings

All prices are in US Dollars per room per night

Duplex room

Single occupancy: US$50

Double occupancy: US$70

Stand-alone cottage room

Single occupancy: US$65

Double occupancy: US$85

* Rates are inclusive of accommodation, tea and coffee delivered to your verandah in the morning, light continental breakfast, use of bikes, internet access, transfer to and from Punta Gorda and visit to Fallen Stones Butterfly Farm for those guests staying on a Wednesday or Saturday.

* Rates are not inclusive of the 9% hotel tax.

* Cooked breakfasts and dinners incur an additional charge.

* A 10% discount is offered to guests staying six nights or more.

booking & cancellation policy

A 15% deposit is required within to confirm the reservation.

Balance is payable upon departure.

A minimum of 28 hours notice is required for cancellations or revision to the dates of your stay and all cancellations made with less than 72 hours notice or ‘no show’ incur a charge equal to the first night’s accommodation.

Want to avoid cancellation fees? Visit our Insurance section for information on travel insurance.