Chan Chich Lodge

Amazing visit to Chan Chich Lodge. It is a very special place. I felt like I was on safari with all the birds and wild animals. Staff were incredible and very helpful with pick up and drop off. Food was delicious. Would recommend flying in if you don't want a long drive to get there.

My wife and I spent seven nights at the lodge and could not have asked for more attentive and thorough care from the most excellent staff there. We are birdwatchers, and the lodge provides a unique opportunity to experience the complete rainforest ecosystem, with more than 500,000 acres of conserved land surrounding it. Wildlife was abundant; from ocellated turkeys strutting around the grounds daily, to howler and spider monkeys swinging from the branches, to impossibly lucky glimpses of ocelot and puma. There are profession bird guides on staff and they are excellent at their craft. The food was a highlight of the trip. The kitchen puts out a terrific menu every day and the quality ingredients and masterful execution is hard to believe in such a remote place. Be aware that biting insects are present when you step into the jungle. Insect repellent is available in the gift shop, but bring lightweight long pants and long sleeve shirts if you plan to hike. The “bug shield” technology found in some garments is worth seeking out.

My dive-buddy and I stayed for 3 nights in a Garden Cottage. Although we are divers we enjoy experiencing the other highlights and the culture of countries we visit. Unfortunately starting with an initial complaint (because it was the first thing that happened) we were not met at the airport when we arrived as per the arrangements. Our plane was due to land at 10:45 am, in the event we landed about 10 mins early, we were the only plane arriving at the time and we collected our baggage and went through customs quickly. We were actually outside by the 10:45 landing time. For some reason our driver, Elias, had been given an 11:45 pick-up time, he then allowed 15 mins for us to collect baggage and get through customs, so we were waiting at 10:45 am and our driver arrived at 12:00 am. When Elias turned up we saw his paperwork and knew it was not his fault. Elias asked whether we wanted to stop on the way for lunch and we pulled into a local restaurant along our route where we had a good meal. For much of the journey Elias provided us with information and spotted birds for us. We were staying in a Garden Cottage, which was everything the web site portrays. There was wire netting over all the windows as well as mosquito nets over the beds, someone sets these up every afternoon/evening and then moves them to the head of the bed (out of the way) in the morning. There were ample power points in the room for us to charge our devices. There was no air conditioning but we found the ceiling fan adequate and slept quite well. I do not think either of us got a mosquito bite during our stay; insect repellent was used. The food was excellent, there were menus, which changed by the day, for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The lodge is part of the Gallon Jug Farm and that is where most of the food came from, some fish was also on the menu. One cut of beef that I had was exceptional. There seemed to be a bit of confusion around the trips (the trips themselves were excellent). When we arrived around mid-afternoon we were told that someone would speak to us about possible trips during the evening meal. In the event no one did, we made our own enquiries with the dining staff and discovered there was an evening walk, we got on this but I had to rush my dinner and nip back to our cottage to change into socks and boots (no sensible person would walk in the rain forest in open sandals). We saw Tarantulas and other spiders as well as scorpions, a fawn and a few birds. On our last day we were approached at dinner regarding trips but other than this it seemed safer to check on what might be planned at the reception. The trips seem to be somewhat set each day with little consultation with guests although we did at one point suggest things that we would like to do the following day (all of which were accommodated). The trips that we did included an evening walk, a morning walk, an evening drive, a morning drive, drive to the Upper Escarpment, lake kayaking, a lake cruise and we d

My husband and two children (ages 13 and 11) stayed three nights here and were blown away by our connection to nature and the Mayan culture. Reuben was our guide for multiple excursions and it was incredibly special to learn about the area through his eyes. He is Mayan and encouraged us to ask lots of questions during our archaeological tour as he pointed out ancient Mayan structures covered over by nature and took us into tombs in nearby caves that had been looted for their treasures. Our night walk had us dodging spiders, snakes and leaf-cutter ants as we searched for the "big cats" that roam the rainforest. Reuben's reverence for nature inspired us all. Other highlights included the delicious, freshly prepared meals and the pool, which always felt very refreshing after a hot hike. Chan Chich feels more like a retreat than a resort so if you're traveling with kids don't expect zip lines or other amenities. This place is also not for the faint of heart, since you will be far away from civilization but up close and personal with the howler and spider monkeys who live in the trees just outside of the cabanas, as well as many other creatures. We even accidentally came home with a tarantula that crawled into my son's luggage!

We stayed at Chan Chich 3 nights on a birding trip. The grounds were well-tended and the cabanas were lovely, with a huge bouquet of fresh flowers to greet us on our arrival. Our cabana had a wrap-around porch with a chaise lounge (with mosquito net -- which was unnecessary during the day) and hammock. The beds and pillows were extremely comfortable, and the mosquito nets added a touch of the exotic. The restaurant offered good variety at each meal, but the service was slow during our stay, though the staff was very attentive.

Two families of twelve in total for five days. Our time was rich and we feel blessed to have been able to experience all that Chan Chich has to offer. Full days with early starts and memorable evening drinks and dinners together. Service and the support from the whole team of guides and staff was altogether excellent and there was a true care for all the guests. The site and location, being in the middle a protected jungle area, on a Mayan archaeological site, is extraordinary. We had morning and evening safari type drives each day except days when we did full excursions. One morning bird watch, when the weather was super clear, was probably the most memorable, starting in the farm area seeing Toucans, Parrots, Hawks, among others, and then moving up to the escarpment for breakfast watching the raptors. We did every type of walk or drive on site that was possible, including horse riding through the jungle. The stables and its twenty horses are a treat to see and appreciate. This is a beautifully and carefully managed farm with sustainability at its core. Dinner each evening was excellent with a good limited range of choices and very much farm-to-fork. We were positively surprised by how good the kitchen was. The wine list needs work - only ten wines and the majority out of stock - this should be an easy fix. Elvis needs a call-out as a new joiner and great mixologist. We tackled two day trips which were outsourced to Maya Tours. Tikal was a massive effort - you need to budget 5-6 hour travel each way including border crossing- but it is an extraordinary place, We might not have gone if we have realised fully the journey time but it was worth it. Flying is not an easy alternative as you have to fly through Belize Airport given its International. ATM Caves is unique: a physically challenging visit where you will be wet for 3+ hours but the geology and sacred significance of the place is very special. Do bear in mind that you are remote and in a jungle environment. There are bugs, insects and things that bite. Deluxe rooms much better than standard, especially the bathrooms. We flew to Chan Chich direct from San Pedro after a few days in Ambergris to Gallon Jug - Chan Chich’s own air strip - this was really efficient and not too expensive for a group. The drive to Belize airport only took us 2.5 hours on return.