We have two weeks for a honeymoon in mid-October this year. We are currently trying to organize some plans. We will do a week on the water, thinking about going to Caye Caulker. And then a week of adventure/ruins, plan to base ourselves somewhere around San Ignacio. Definitely want to get over to Tikal.
Any suggestions on accommodation? It is our honeymoon, so would like something a bit exclusive, but at the same time not overly expensive. Also would LOVE to stay in a tree house in the jungle.
Several new lodges near San Ignacio are nice and moderately priced. One is Mariposa, just mentioned. Another in that same area is Table Rock Lodge. A third, on the Georgeville Road, is Gumbo Limbo. It even has a pool. As I recall, off-season rates at Gumbo Limbo are a steal at US$85.
Black Rock Lodge has a wonderful jungle setting above the Macal River.
Cohune Palms in Bullet Tree has a nice riverside setting on the Mopan. Also in Bullet Tree Parrot's Nest has "tree houses," but it's pretty basic.
The safari cabins at Chaa Creek are an excellent value at US$110 double including meals. They are little A-frames on platforms (baths in a bath house, though), near the Macal River.
Lots of nice places on Caulker for not very much money. I'd spring for either Seaside Cabanas or Iguana Reef Inn, arguably the two best hotels on the island. Both have pools.
--Lan Sluder
http://www.belizefirst.com
Just got back from a 2 week honeymoon in Belize.
I would highly recommend Hidden Valley Inn, on the Mountain Pine Ridge. Amazing service and food, 12 great cottages, pool. They have 90 miles of private hiking/biking trails, including waterfalls, some of which you can hire exclusivly for the day. They also do trips, Caracol was very cool, much quieter than Tikal (and cheaper/closer).
On the water we stayed for 4 days north of San Pedro on Ambergris Caye at Xaman Ek Spa, which was cool, but I'd highly recommend Hamanasi resort, down by Hopkins (near Dangriga) 21 rooms including private treehouses. We spent 4 days there too, you have the option of water/land based trips.
Check out tripadvisor for both of these. Hope that helps.
If you wish to stay in San Ignacio, check out Black Rock Lodge. It is a very remote, very very beautiful lodge (not too expensive - $80 for a spacious, very clean private cabin) which fronts a lovely river and acres and acres of preserved jungle. It is a very romantic and quiet place, but with plenty of adventure activites to choose from --- the lodge has its own horse stable, river rafting/canoeing, miles of jungle trails, cave, and will also arrange any nearby trip you wish.
The owners are from Boston, a very interesting and young couple...
The food was amazing..the lodge also boasts a full bar... free library, free binoculars....So much wildlife..........
A wonderful place for a honeymoon!
Also...on Caye Caulker...we stayed at Tree Tops Guest House...a very clean place, great location...for us it was $65 US a night.... If I had to do it over I would have chosen Tina's Hostel (a steal at $10 a bed) which is beachfront and looked very inviting (and clean!!) when we passed it.