Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Chechem Ha Cave
Mile 8, Arenal/Mollejon Hydro Rd • Half-day tours, daily 9.30am & 1.30pm • Bz$40 •
T
653 0799 or
T
652 4714
The pristine
Chechem Ha
Cave
, eight miles south of Benque Viejo, is remarkable for its
huge collection of intact
Maya pottery
, still lying where it was discovered by the
Morales family in 1989, when they were hunting on their own land. William Morales
now leads tours through the cave, and will pick groups up from Benque; be sure to
bring sturdy shoes, insect repellent and water, and the will to get muddy - you can
rinse off in a waterfall at the site.
Visits begin with a dramatic half-hour hike through the jungle up to the
inconspicuous mouth of the so-called “cave of poisonwood water”. Once inside, you
scramble through successive chambers, where ornate ceramic vessels, used for food
storage as well as ritual ceremonies, poke from up to two thousand years of accreted
limestone deposits. While it's a physically demanding expedition that requires climbing
agility and some use of ladders, it's not as challenging as ATM (see p.125), and because
this is a “dry” cave it also remains accessible at those times during the rainy season
when ATM and other Cayo caves are forced to close to visitors.
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
WEST OF SAN IGNACIO
BULLET TREE FALLS
By bus
Buses connect Bullet Tree Falls with San Ignacio
(Mon-Sat, 7 daily; 20min).
By colectivo
A shared
colectivo
taxi to Bullet Tree Falls
from opposite the Belize Bank in the centre of San Ignacio
costs
BENQUE VIEJO
By bus
Regular buses run east from Benque Viejo along
the George Price Highway, to San Ignacio and beyond.
Destinations
Belize City, via San Ignacio and Belmopan
(half-hourly daily 4am-5pm, express service every 3-4hr;
3hr 15min).
4
Bz$2
per
person
(slightly
more
to
each
accommodation).
ACCOMMODATION
BULLET TREE FALLS
Mahogany Hall Resort
Pasloe Falls Rd
T
844 4047,
W
mahoganyhallbelize.com.
Luxury, three-storey
riverfront property, one mile along a dirt road that heads
left immediately before the bridge in Bullet Tree Falls.
Superb views and very comfortable rooms and king-
size suites (one with a jacuzzi), all with local hardwoods
and artwork. Giant doors and winding staircases give
the place an odd resemblance to a (not very fo
rbidding)
medie
val fortre
ss. Restaurant/bar on site. Rooms
US$291
,
suites
US$546
Parrot Nest Lodge
Bullet Tree Falls
T
820 4058,
W
parrot-nest.com.
Six simple, clean riverside cabins,
three of which have their own private bathrooms, plus two
treehouses perched in the branches of a
guanacaste
. Set in
beautiful gardens, all have verandas. Great home-cooked
meals are served by owner Theo Stevens at a friendly
communal table, and
there's
free tubing and a free daily
shuttle to San Ignacio.
US$54
cooking,
and t
here's a
quiet b
ar overlooking the falls.
Camping
US$9
, cottages
US$82
Ka'ana Resort & Spa
Mile 69, George Price Hwy
T
824
3350,
W
kaanabelize.com.
Targeted towards American
honeymooners and anyone with a taste for the latest thing
in tropical luxury, this boutique resort, set in colourful
gardens rather than rainforest, stands just off the highway
5 miles southwest of San Ignacio. Its stylish contemporary
options range from individual
casitas
arrayed across
peaceful lawns, via a hacienda holding five separate rooms,
to a couple of stand-alone villas that have their own pools;
all abound in polished hardwoods and local artwork.
There's also an opulent spa, a
nd a hig
h-class r
estauran
t
open
to non-
guests. Rooms
US$321
,
casitas
US$416
,
villas
US$963
Nabitunich
San José Succotz, Mile 70, George Price
Hwy
T
661 1536,
W
hannastables.com/nabitunich.
Six
miles southwest of San Ignacio, enjoying unbeatable views
of the Xunantunich ruins and surrounding countryside, the
peaceful San Lorenzo farm makes a wonderful budget base
for horseback trips and bird viewing. Accommodation in
simple private cottages includes three family-style meals a
day in the central lodge, which also houses a library and
games room. The sizeable property also encompasses a
long stretch of the Mopan
River, w
hich can be explored by
kayak, tube, horse or foot.
US$45
Rumors Resort
Mile 68, George Price Hwy
T
623 4899
GEORGE PRICE HIGHWAY
Clarissa Falls
Mile 70, George Price Hwy
T
833 3116,
W
clarissafalls.com.
Part of a working cattle ranch, 1.5
miles north of the highway, this restful place is located
beside a set of rapids on the Mopan. Simple thatched
cottages, all wheelchair-accessible with private bath, plus
space for camping. Owner Chena serves great home
