Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
portions. All guests come on multi-night packages that
centre on horseback or vehicle tours or on -site bird-w atching.
Five nights for two, with tours and meals US$2440
Pine Ridge Lodge Mile 15, Chiquibul Rd T 661 8264, in
the US T 800 316 0706, W pineridgelodge.com. This
small resort, on the banks of Little Vaqueros Creek just south
of the Cooma Cairn turn-off, offers a choice of simple, Maya-
style thatched cabins or more modern ones with red-tiled
roofs; all have private bathrooms. The grounds and trees are
full of orchids, and trails lead to pristine waterfalls. The
restaurant is a favourite refreshment stop on t ours of the
Pine Ridge. Rates include continental breakfast. US$129
Macaw Bank Jungle Lodge Cristo Rey Rd T 665
7241, W macawbankjunglelodge.com. Solar-powered
eco lodge, set within fifty acres of grassland savannah
and fruit trees surrounded by thick jungle, a short walk
from the river. Mountain biking, kayaking, tubing and
yoga are all on offer, or you can walk the numerous trails
spotting toucans, trogans and orange-breasted falcons or
simply kick back in a hammock. Five comfortable and
artistic cabañas (three on stilts) sleep up to four and have
river-rock-lined showers, varnished floors and verandas.
Tasty and fillin g meals available: US$54 per person per
day full board. US$188
Maya Mountain Lodge Cristo Rey Rd T 824 2164,
W mayamountain.com. Set in rich forest a mile south of
Santa Elena, just a short walk from the river. Eight colourfully
decorated cabañas and a larger wooden “Parrot's Perch”
building that holds seven rooms; all have private bath and
the latter a/c plus a huge shared deck with hammocks.
Delicious meals are served in an open-sided room, great for
birding: motmots, aracaris and trogons fly yards from your
table. The lodge sometimes hosts students and has a well-
stocked library and occasional after-dinner presentation.
Families are welco me; kids will enjo y the poo l and illustrated
trail guide. Rooms US$70 , cabañas US$118
Table Rock Jungle Lodge Cristo Rey Rd T 670 4910,
W tablerockbelize.com. Named after a landmark on the
Macal River trail, this beautifully appointed 100-acre
rainforest property offers spotless tiled cabañas with
polished hardwood floors, colourful modern decor and
four-poster beds - two are raised high on cantilevered
perches, with sweeping valley views - plus a series of
decks and trails. Soursop, orange and mango trees are all
around, and there's also space to put up your own tent by
the river. Guests can relax in the thatched palapa
restaurant/bar, where the friendly staff serve excellent
food and cockta ils (br eakfast a nd dinn er charged at
US$32). Camping US$36 , cabañas US$173
CRISTO REY ROAD
Chichan Ka Guest House Cristo Rey Rd, San Antonio
T 669 4023, W awrem.com/tanah/experience.html.
The Garcia sisters, nieces of the famous local healer Don
Elijio, run this inexpensive guesthouse; buses from San
Ignacio stop outside. The sisters also serve traditional
meals using organic produce from the garden, offer courses
in the gathering and use of medicinal plants, and are
renowned for their slate carving is - their gift shop is a
favourite tour-group stop. US$15
4
Crystal Paradise Resort Cristo Rey Rd, Cristo Rey
village T 824 2772 or T 824 4014, W crystalparadise
.com. Owned by the Belizean Tut family, this is a
welcoming, relaxed place with wooden rooms and
thatched cabañas , all with private hot water bath, plus one
larger cottage. The deck outside the dining room overlooks
the Macal valley (you can't see the river but it's an easy
walk), and attracts numerous hummingbirds. Victor
constricted thatched roofs for many of Cayo's resorts; sons
Jeronie and Everald arrange birding and adventure tours
throughout the district as well as to Tikal; and Teresa
prepares delicious and filling meals, co sting U S$25 per
person f for breakf ast and dinner. Rooms US$82 , cabañas
US$104 , cottage US$136
EATING
Orange Cafe Mile 60, George Price Hwy T 824 2341,
W belizegifts.com/guesthouse. Attractive restaurant/
bar, serving good Belizean, Mexican and international food
on a covered garden patio that's set well back from the
road. Choices range from crêpes, omelettes and burritos for
breakfast, costing up to Bz$14, to curried shrimp (Bz$26) or
steak (Bz$30) for dinner. Daily 6am-8pm.
Western Dairies Center Rd, Spanish Lookout T 823
0112, W westerndairies.com. Attached to the HQ of a
Mennonite farming company, this fast-food diner/cafeteria
looks like it stepped straight from the prairies of the US
Midwest. The real specialities are delicious milkshakes and
ice cream in multiple flavours, but they also serve Bz$3
quesadillas and burritos, and Bz$30 pizzas. Mon-Thurs
7am-5pm, Fri & Sat 7am-7.30pm.
SHOPPING
Orange Gallery Mile 60, George Price Hwy T 824
3296, W orangegifts.com. Prominent beside the
highway, this is one of the best craft and souvenir shops in
Belize, featuring superb wooden furniture, sculpture,
games boards and bowls, carved mostly on site - you can
tour the woodshop - and properly dried in a solar kiln, plus
slate reproductions of Maya artwork and a wide selection
of Central American contemporary art, textiles and silver
jewellery. Daily 8am-8pm.
 
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