Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean - Clean Breaks: 500 New Ways to See the World - page 240

limes, papayas, avocados, bananas) and the
owners are currently growing jatropha plants to
produce their own biodiesel fuel for a back-up
generator and two diesel vehicles.
Close by to the ranch there are trails to five
waterfalls, daily guided horse-riding excursions,
white-water rafting, zip-lines through the tree
canopy and coffee-farm tours, or you can spend a
day at the beach (an hour away). In between all
this the owners encourage you to take some time
out to sit and watch the clouds. All rooms have
a 6m wall of glass facing the mountains to the
east, where you can catch the sunrise from the
comfort of your king-size bed or just sit in the
afternoon and gaze at the changing sky over the
continental divide.

a few beers in the adjacent bar or
walk among the cabañas under
the vivid stars amid the din of
the jungle.
The environment and the Maya
are integral to the philosophy
behind Cotton Tree Lodge. The
complex is solar-powered and
a reforestation programme
restores teak and mahogany
trees to the area. In addition, the
demonstration organic farm on
the grounds has helped educate
local farmers to use more efficient
agricultural methods and create
potable water systems. Some of the extended
tours - such as the “Chocolate Week”, learning
about the cacao fruit in Mayan villages, visiting
the growers' association and then making cocoa
yourself - also directly benefit the Maya.
A visit to Cotton Tree Lodge could involve little
more than lying in your riverside hammock and
kicking back in your cabaña , but that would
be missing the point. Meeting the Maya and
sharing their lives for a while - in their villages,
churches, bars and daily work - is part of what
makes this lodge memorable.

Need to know Minimum stay two nights. The
ranch is 25 minutes' drive from Boquete. For prices,
bookings and links to local activity operators in the
region see W ranchocaldera.com; T [phone].

323 Meet the Maya at cotton
tree lodge, Belize

Close to the small town of Punta Gorda in the
remote Toledo district of southern Belize - and
closer still to two Mayan villages - Cotton Tree
Lodge is a jungle hideaway like few others;
a place where luxury hasn't compromised
involvement with the community.
A raised walkway connects the thatched
cabañas , each with handcrafted interiors and
private decks that overlook the tranquil Moho
River, where guests are encouraged to take a
dip or try out the rope swing. Birdsong will be
your alarm call, and by day you can go on a
jungle-medicine tour - on which you'll discover
which plant prevents infidelity - or be shown
the lodge's organic farm by its gardener, or take
a hike up to and then into a nearby cave, once
used by the Maya as a place of worship. After
dinner in the main hotel lodge, which might
include rice and beans, chicken caldo or fry jacks
(all Belizean staples), you can swap stories over

Get up close to some of the
local wildlife from the comfort
of a kayak; Kicking back at
the Cotton Tree Lodge in
southern Belize

Need to know The lodge is about 25km from
Punta Gorda; staff will collect you from there. For
further info on excursions, rates and reservations
see W www.cottontreelodge.com; T [phone].