All rooms have a view of the beautifully landscaped tropical gardens and the river and jungle beyond
Features
- Spa offering massage and beauty treatments
- Horseback Riding
- Kiking and Walking
- Mountain Biking
- Canoeing
- Mayan Temple Tours
| The Lodge at Chaa Creek - Cayo, Belize | |
Sustainability Scorecard
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From 105 per person p/night
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Good For You
At the foothills of the Maya mountains, with the river Macal gently weaving its way past the perfectly designed suites, Chaa Creek Lodge is both a model of sustainable tourism and a treat to the senses.
All 23 lodgings have views of the beautifully landscaped tropical gardens and the river and jungle beyond. The restaurant serves terrifically inventive international and local cuisine based on ingredients straight from the Chaa Creek organic farm.
A full range of excursions is offered to help you enjoy Chaa Creek’s 365-acre nature reserve, and there are tours to other points of interest in the region, including the magnificent Mayan ruins of Tikal, just over the Guatemalan border. You can hike the reserve, explore ancient caves, canoe the river, spot birds and butterflies, or ride on horse back or mountain bike to local beauty spots.
There’s plenty of relaxing to be done as well, with a full service cocktail bar, plenty of hammocks in the gardens, open-air Jacuzzis in some of the suites and a beautiful spa offering a range of massages and beauty treatments. Be sure to visit the butterfly farm and the natural history centre, which is full of information about ancient and contemporary Mayan culture.
Good For Belize
Traveling and awareness go hand in hand at Chaa Creek, where staff seek to enhance the visitor’s experience through environmental education and cultural awareness. The lodge definitely leads by example, with fine sustainability policies that include natural and renewable building materials, extensive recycling, conservation, energy saving and community development.
While reliance on diesel fuel reduces the lodge’s green credentials, Chaa Creek makes up for it with its extensive efforts in environmental education and conservation on its own patch of forest and beyond.
HighsComfort with a view: You really are right in the jungle here, without having to even approach roughing it. The Treetop suites, perched in the upper branches of the forest’s majestic hardwoods, deserve a special mention - they include a chic lounge area and an outdoor Jacuzzi. Stimulation: There is enough to do here at Chaa Creek to keep you going for a week, with extensive jungle trails at the lodge’s own reserve, and excursions further afield to Mayan archeological sites. Family: All kids and teenagers under 18 who are sharing a room with their parents stay free of charge, and there are endless child-friendly activities to keep them amused. |
LowsPool: The lodge has no pool, so if that’s important to you, be warned. There is swimming in the river and other natural swimming spots in the area, though. Getting around: While the lodge has its own van, if you’re interested in exploring the region beyond the lodge, you’ll be more independent and will save money renting your own car. |
Rooms
Each room is decorated simply and elegantly with Central American fabrics and craft objects, with fans and large windows to keep the spaces cool. There are also some Camp Casitas designed for the more outdoorsy types that take you deeper into the jungle and which run on solar power.
Travelers share stories and relax at the verandah bar before enjoying delicious meals in the Chaa Creek restaurant. Cocktails are offered all day long at the verandah bar.
Float among the uppermost branches of the majestic hardwoods in the Tree Top Suites. These chic one-bedroom suites feature high thatches roofs, beautiful wooden floors and elegant furnishings, and offer panoramic views of the encircling jungle landscape. Each suite has a raised bedroom that opens onto an airy lounge with a large verandah for stargazing from the luxurious Jacuzzi.
The Complete Garden Suite appeals to those jungle-lovers with a taste for extra luxury. The spacious tile-floored and thatch-roofed cottage surrounded by private tropical gardens, affording an extra measure of comfort and a beautiful, quiet ambience. The cottage consists of two separate suites (one with a private Jacuzzi) with a connecting door. The suites may be rented separately or together. The Garden Jacuzzi Suite is furnished with a four-poster mahogany bed, fine linens, Guatemalan antique armoire, a spacious bath with Jacuzzi and a private screened verandah with jungle garden.
The Garden Suite is furnished with a queen-size bed and a day bed that converts from a couch into a single bed. This room also has a private, screened verandah and lovely views.
The cottage features a common verandah with hammocks overlooking the gardens. Both rooms have ceiling fans, lamps, reading lights and are fully screened.
The Honeymoon Sky Room is perched twelve feet above the ground within a beautiful green orchard. The room commands a panoramic view of the hilly landscape with the Macal River meandering below. The Sky Room has a Queen and Single bed and a small lounge area. An outside deck accommodates hammocks for relaxing and bird watching. The room is secluded enough to offer privacy but can also be rented along with the Orchard Villa to accommodate larger family groups.
The Orchard Villa was designed with families in mind but it can comfortably accommodate two couples, be they relatives or friends, or those who are looking for a lot of space. The large thatched building can accommodate a family of six. Two queen-size sleeping bays are separated by closeted walls, a full bathroom and a winding staircase. The loft upstairs has two single beds and its own private bathroom. A screened sitting room offers lovely views of the surrounding tropical gardens and overlooks the orchard on the banks of the Macal River.
Chaa Creek's Cottage Collection is tucked away amid lush tropical gardens along the banks of the Macal River in the foothills of the ancient Maya Mountains. Individually designed thatched cottages feature charmingly decorated rooms with fine fabrics, traditional furnishings and antiques. The spacious accommodations include private decks for viewing wildlife and soaking up the sun.
The Macal Cottage is perched on the edge of a grassy garden overlooking the Macal River with a stunning rainforest backdrop. The spacious accommodation with its king sized bed, oversized day bed and leisure furniture also includes two private terraces for relaxing in hammocks or enjoying the outdoor Jacuzzi - al fresco. Perfect for families or groups of friends.
The two-bedroom Spa Villa is set within a tropical hillside garden in the foothills of the Maya Mountains and features a master bedroom with king size bed, a second bedroom with a queen and single bed, and two en suite bathrooms. The spacious glass-walled living room offers a panoramic view of the lush jungle surrounds of the Macal River Basin, which can also be enjoyed from the Jacuzzi on the large verandah. The spa room offers the special treat of professional massage in the privacy of one’s own lodgings.
The Villa contains a full kitchen, stocked with breakfast fare and snacks. Guests also have the choice of ordering a variety of delicious meals prepared by the lodge’s resident chef at the Chaa Creek restaurant. The villa also comes with a quality sound and media system.
Chaa Creek also offers Coach Rooms for the budget traveler. The individually decorated palm-thatched cottage rooms offer fine fabrics, original artwork and mahogany furnishings, all combining to create a charming atmosphere. Nestled within tropical gardens on the banks of the Macal River, each cottage has private sun deck verandahs for viewing nature or simply relaxing in hammocks with a good book.
Food
Start your day light with a selection of tropical fruits and home made yogurt, or go local and try a more substantial breakfast of refried beans, eggs and warm, fresh corn tortillas.
For lunch you can choose from international dishes like pizzas and pastas accompanied by some regional favorites like quesadillas and tamales, or ask for a packed lunch to take off on your jungle adventures.
Apart from the a la carte menu at dinnertime the chef offers his daily four-course connoisseur menu, which for many will no doubt come to represent one of the highlights of each day. Innovative dishes like carrot and ginger soup flavored with orange peel and lemon grass, cho cho and cantaloupe salad with mango and balsamic dressing, or fresh fish fillet wrapped in 'Santa Maria' leaves sprinkled with lime butter are just a few examples of what you can expect to find in this surprising menu.
Most of the fruit and vegetables served are grown at Chaa Creek’s organic Maya farm - what Chaa Creek cannot grow is carefully selected from local producers. This guarantees freshness and quality while supporting local small-holding farmers.
At the end of your day’s explorations, you can recline in a hammock or on the deck at the verandah bar with a sorrel flower ice tea, Chaa Creek’s non-alcoholic signature drink, or sip on any of the bar’s succulent tropical cocktails
Breakfast is included in the rates. A packed lunch is $10, and dinner is $32 (taxes and service charge, each 10%, not included).
Features & Facilities
- Spa offering massage and beauty treatments
- Full-service restaurant and bar
- A 365-acre forest reserve
- Rainforest tours (included in the rates) and a larger range of nature tours
- internet access
AWARDS
2006 World Travel & Tourism Council "Tourism for Tomorrow Award" ~ Finalist
2003, 2004, 2005 & 2006 Caribbean Travel & Life "Best Eco Lodge Award"
2003 Travel + Leisure Magazine "Top 500" World's Greatest Hotels
Travel + Leisure Magazine "2002 World's Best Awards"
2002 Condé Nast Traveler "Ecotourism Award"
ISLANDS Magazine/Caribbean Tourism Organization "2001 Caribbean Sustainable Tourism Award"
American Society of Travel Agents "The 2001 ASTA Environmental Award"
Belize Tourism Board "Hotel of the Year 2000"
American Express and the Caribbean Hotel Association "1998 Green Hotel of the Year"
Local Info & Activities
Chaa Creek’s 365 acres of rainforest on the banks of the Macal river offer plenty to see and do, and the lodge has organized tours that take you beyond the reserve to explore other sights in Belize.A typical day on the reserve combines activities like canoeing, mountain biking and horseback riding with the expertise of the lodge’s licensed naturalist guides to offer you a well rounded, comprehensive introduction to the unique natural and cultural riches of Belize.
The lodge can also arrange personalized and competitively priced tours easily from its front desk. Guatemala, the coast and cayes are all accessible from the reserve, and the lodge has a network of local resorts, tour operators and guides and are happy to help you create to a unique, personally satisfying Belize adventure
Horseback riding
Chaa Creek maintains a stable of well-groomed riding horses that are suited for all levels of riding experience. The rides, offered twice a day, traverse the trails of the Chaa Creek Nature Reserve through sub-tropical broadleaf forest past ancient Maya sites. As you ride along, your naturalist guide will highlight the various unique plant and wildlife species native to the reserve. Rides to Chaa Creek’s Maya organic Farm and Belize Botanic Gardens can also be arranged.
Hiking and walking:
Chaa Creek has a picturesque trail network that will have you exploring every corner of its345-acre forest reserve. All of the trails are numbered and the lodge will happily arm you with its comprehensive trail map. If you’re keen to do some hiking, be sure to bring along good shoes and sub protection.
You can head off on solo expeditions or join a guided tour led by a Chaa Creek naturalist.
Bird Watching:
With over 280 species of resident and migratory birds, the Chaa Creek Nature Reserve offers some of the best birding in Belize.
Mountain Biking
Chaa Creek’s naturalist guides will lead the way and share their extensive knowledge of the local flora and fauna as you cycle through the tropical jungle. The trail system was designed to provide enjoyable biking for riders of all experience levels, providing both an exciting opportunity for beginners and thrills for the seasoned biker.
Canoeing
You may rent a canoe for exploring the Macal River. Take a trip upstream, paddling up as far as you like before leisurely drifting back to Chaa Creek. Then there's the downstream option of paddling and floating to San Ignacio for approximately two hours. Tie up near the historic Hawkesworth Bridge where Chaa Creek’s van will pick you up for the drive back to the lodge. Staff will happily advise you on what to bring, best times to leave and sights along the way.
Natural History Centre
The Chaa Creek Natural History Centre, situated at the top of the hill behind the cottages is visited by travelers and students from throughout Belize and beyond. The centre chronicles Belize’s natural and cultural history from prehistoric land formation through to the shifting of the continents; from Mayan civilization to contemporary society in Belize. Visual displays of archaeological artifacts, butterflies, moths, insects and amphibians capture the curiosity of young children, students and scientists alike.
Tours:
MAYAN TEMPLES
The Maya civilization flourished from 2000 B.C. to about 900 A.D. During the classic period from 250 to 900 A.D., the Maya built temples, carved fantastic artwork from stone and jade, made astonishing discoveries in mathematics and astronomy, and devised the most sophisticated writing system in the Western Hemisphere. They also established a 1500-mile-long trade route running the length of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, and continuing through Guatemala, Belize, Honduras and El Salvador.
The following are some Maya Temple sites that you can visit while staying at Chaa Creek:
- Tikal was once one of the greatest cities in the world. In its heyday it was the capital of a vast Mayan empire. Today, the site is one of Guatemala's premier tourist attractions. Its unspoiled jungle setting makes it special for discerning travelers, particularly naturalists and bird watchers. The mystery of the Maya’s decline and the magnificence of their achievements both perplex and intrigue visitors. As you explore the temples with your local guide, you will see panoramas of the city, read about the history and culture of the Maya, view artifacts, and listen to the sounds that bring Tikal to life.
- Xunantunich or Maiden of the Rock is situated on the Western Highway across the river from the village of San Jose Succotz. This major ceremonial center can be reached by ferry daily and it is only 1.5 kilometers (one mile) from some lovely rapids of the Mopan River. This Classic Period site provides an impressive view of the entire river valley. The site core occupies only 300 square meters but the periphery covers several square kilometers.
- Located deep within the Chiquibul Forest Reserve, Caracol is the largest known Maya site in Belize and one of the biggest in the Maya world. Caracol was a Classic Period urban center that spread out over 55 square miles with an estimated population of 180,000 people. Caracol's enormous central core area covered 15 square miles and was linked together by more than 20 miles of "sacbeobs" (causeways) that radiated outward from its epicenter.
The temple "Caana" rises 42 meters above plaza level and to this day is the largest man-made structure in Belize. Over 70 formal tombs have been excavated and many hieroglyphic texts have been found on stelea, altars, and ball court markers, capstones and wall facades. Ocellated Turkeys are one of the many wildlife species that you will find in this area. This region is also known as an excellent location for birding.
Sustainability
Chaa Creek operates on the basis of environmentally sound and sustainable Best Management Practices. As part of its sustainability policy, all aspects of its operations and development must adhere to and utilize these accepted methods.
- Chaa Creek participates in and is currently benchmarked by the internationally recognized “Green Globe” program - a global environmental certification program for travel and tourism. The lodge is also currently in affiliation through a memorandum of understanding with the Rainforest Alliance and their in-country counterpart, Program for Belize, to assist and promote a project to introduce Best Management Practices to the tourism industry throughout Belize.
Chaa Creek encourages industry partners to embrace sustainability and shares its commitment to sustainable tourism with lodge guests. Staff explain Chaa Creek’s environmental policies to all guests and details how each guest can assist with the lodge’s conservation efforts. This education process is continued through written conservation messages in each guest room and through interaction with staff throughout the property.
The lodge’s written Environmental Policy applies to all operations. The lodge adherse to the practice of Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. A written Purchasing Policy requires all its suppliers to provide environmentally safe products in reduced or bulk packaging. All solid waste is separated and then reused or recycled.
The electrical energy required by the lodge is produced on-sight by well-maintained diesel generators. These generators will soon be converted to run on light crude oil that is being produced in Belize by Belize’s fledgling oil industry. Use of this crude will help reduce Belize’s dependence on imported foreign oil and support the industrial development of Belize.
Energy efficient lighting combined with automatic timers and the utilization of natural lighting assists with the reduction of energy consumption. The Macal River Camp facility utilizes solar power for all of its electrical needs. Water consumption is reduced by way of low-flush toilets and low flow shower heads. Waste water is treated with natural enzymes in properly designed septic tanks and soak-aways.
Getting There
Chaa Creek Lodge is located in central Belize, close to the Guatemalan border. It’s at the foothills of the Maya Mountains, just a short drive from San Ignacio.The following are transfers offered by the lodge:
- One-way direct transfer from Philip Goldson International Airport (1-4 persons), $135
- One-way direct from Belize City (1-4 persons), $135
- One-way from either Belize City or the International Airport, with a story at Belize Zoo and the Mayan ruins at Xunantunich (1-4 persons) $185 plus entry fees.
Visit our Transport section for flights, hybrid car rentals and train bookings.
Rates & Bookings
The following are quoted in $US for high and low season respectively. High season is from November to April, and low season is from May to mid-December. The rates do not include taxes or service charges
Prices are Per Person/ Per Night
Full breakfast is included in the rates.
The Cottage Collection:
- Single occupancy, $215/$195
- Double occupancy, $150/$135
- Triple occupancy, $115/$105
The following are all based on double occupancy, high/low season respectively:
- Coach Rooms, $115/$105
- Garden Suite, $175/$160
- Honeymoon Sky Room, $175/$160
- Garden Jacuzzi Suite, $175/$160
The following prices are per suite or villa per night (high/low season respectively)
- Orchard Villa (accommodates up to 6), $450/$400
- Complete Garden Suite (accommodates up to 5, $450/$400
- Treetop Jacuzzi Suites (accommodates up to 4), $450/$400
- Macal Cottage (accommodates up to 3), $450/$400
- Spa Villa (accommodates up to 4), $575, $550
booking & cancellation policy
Chaa Creek require a deposit of 30% of the total amount, within 21 days, with full payment 45 days in advance of arrival.
A full refund minus $60 USD handling fee will be made on cancellations 60 days or more prior to the scheduled trip.
Cancellations 60 - 45 days in advance a 50% refund will be given. Cancellations 45 days or less prior to arrival no refund will be given.
No refunds will be given for unused hotel rooms, meals, sightseeing trips or tours for any reason whatsoever.
Want to avoid cancellation fees? Visit our Insurance section for information on travel insurance.
