AmbergrisCaye.com
MACAL RIVER, CAYO DISTRICT, BELIZE, CENTRAL AMERICA
Ek' Tun.... where you make the transition from civilization to wilderness...... where you cease to be a vacationer and become an adventurer.... where you go for a change of scenery and return with a change in perspective..... maybe this is the place you've been looking for....
Dear Adventurers,
I'd like to extend this invitation to be my guests, and experience a unique blend of personal hospitality, tropical nature and "reality adventure." As well as being my private retreat, Ek' Tun provides an exotic, jungle experience for adults who enjoy active, challenging travel and exploring possibilities in an invigorating, spectacular natural environment. Having only two guest cottages permits the intimate and casual yet romantic ambiance of a "bed & breakfast," as well as offering privacy and solitude not possible at larger jungle lodges and hotels.
You have many options for your special Belize vacation or honeymoon, but if you've found Ek' Tun, it means you're holding out for something unique and different. You're probably not an average tourist, and are looking forward to a journey that takes you beyond the ordinary. That's why your experience here is guaranteed to be YOUR experience, as unique as YOU are.... an experience worth coming all the way to Belize for.
In la'kech,
Phyllis Lane Dart
"Ek' Tun is the most beautiful property we have seen in the country"....BELIZE REPORT
Belize Book of Lists 2000
#4 in Top 10 Jungle Lodges
Top 10 Most Romantic Places to Stay
Top 4 Great Honeymoon Ideas- enjoying nature with creature comforts and privacy
+
Guide to Mainland Belize
Please note: Everything you see here is REAL! All photos, with the exception of the Orange Breasted Falcon and Tikal were taken by our guests or by us.
EK' TUN AND THE SURROUNDING CAYO AREA
Overlooking the Macal River at the edge of the Vaca Plateau
Although all of Belize is beautiful, the western interior Cayo District is especially well-known for its spectacular geological and ecological diversity.
Ek' Tun is a 200-acre, neotropical rainforest retreat bordering the country's largest contiguous area of jungle and reserves, which rise majestically from the northern edge of the Vaca Plateau and encompass Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve, Vaca Plateau Reserve, the Chiquibul Rainforest, Maya Mountains, Cockscomb Basin Jaguar Preserve, Bladen Nature Reserve and Columbia Rainforest.
Ek' Tun is located approximately twelve miles upstream from San Ignacio on the Macal River, within easy hiking distance of Vaca Falls. There is no road to the property, but by the end of your half-hour LandRover ride from San Ignacio and scenic boat trip upriver, you come to realize you have, indeed, reached the very edge of civilization.
Ek' Tun also lies just beyond what was once the thriving, ancient Mayan city, Tipu. Archaeologists have determined that this city was the furthest southern penetration of the Spaniards during the conquest, so more than likely, Ek' Tun was never under Spanish domination. Dozens of other ancient cities lie within a fifty mile radius, most notably Caracol, Belize's largest discovery to date, less than twenty miles south "as the crow flies." Xunantunich is seven miles northwest, and Pacbitun is the same distance to the northeast. Many smaller sites lie hidden beneath the jungle canopy, and these reminders of the ancient, mysterious civilization ignite the imagination with possibilities and clues to the riddle of their past....
....and perhaps to our future....
Exceptional limestone caves are found throughout the area as well. Most caves were used by the Maya for ceremonial purposes, and many of these are open to the public as archaeological attractions. Numerous others are yet to be explored. A glimpse of the Maya's sacred underworld is always a highlight, and for many guests is a deeply spiritual experience as well as an adventure.
CARACOL
"...Neither the descriptions of friends nor the website presentation can really capture the magic of the setting or the warm hospitality. We have had a wonderful time exploring, adventuring, riding, eating and just plain relaxing at the most picturesque pool any of us has ever seen."
(David P & family, NJ)
MAYAN CAVE
Clear, cool, mineral pool, with water straight from the Mayan Underworld
Enjoy excellent birding from your cottage steps!
Caught in the act...this tayra (bush dog) is robbing the nest of a Ferruginous Pygmy Owl.
The Ek' Tun grounds resemble a garden oasis in the midst of a tropical rainforest. We have miles of hiking trails, and hundreds of acres of lush, undisturbed habitat providing unsurpassed birding, hiking, and exploring. This section of the Macal River has beautiful, secluded, sandy beaches interspersed with black slate formations, and small rapids for exciting river activities. The mineral pool is also a favorite attraction
Our bird list continues to grow, and includes several rare and endangered species. Even the most seasoned birders are thrilled to see rare orange breasted falcons soaring in the valley..... one of only six documented pairs in the entire country. Spectacled owls, three species of toucans, parrots, trogons, mot mots and dozens of other species nest here and are easily seen on a walk through the grounds. Over 250 species are found in the surrounding area....
Several troupes of howler monkeys (lone male in the above photo) now frequent the area, and are heard claiming their territory both during the day and at night. Other interesting wildlife abounds as well, and with such rich diversity of flora and fauna, careful observers are generally well rewarded.
While most of our guests spend the first few days of their stay enjoying the numerous activities here on the premises, during a longer stay there are opportunities to take tours and excursions to a variety of attractions and activities in the surrounding area.
OUR ACCOMMODATIONS
Our spacious, rustically elegant cottages are furnished with a combination of mahogany, wicker and hand-hewn hardwood furniture. Each has a table and chairs, sitting area and double bed downstairs, and another double and single bed in the upstairs sleeping loft. An interesting assortment of artwork, displays and reading material from and about the region add to your enjoyment. They can each comfortably sleep up to five family members. The bathrooms are equally spacious and modern, with hot and cold water in both showers and lavatories. Numerous windows provide scenic views and a bright, breezy ambiance, with lighting provided by oil lamps in the evening hours. The cottages are situated for privacy and constructed primarily with native materials found here on the land. Built in the traditional Mayan style with the help of Mayan craftsmen from the nearby villages, they, and their surrounding gardens, are designed to harmonize with the pre-existing jungle environment.
FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO MAKE RESERVATIONS,
email: info@ektunbelize.com
Please Note: If you do not receive an e-mail reply within 48 hours, it may be due to e-mail network problems. Please resend your message and we will be in touch as soon as possible.
LAST MINUTE TRAVELERS ONLY, PLEASE CALL 011-501-820-3002 BEFORE 7:00 AM OR AFTER 7:00 PM CST.
PLEASE REVIEW OUR NEW DEPOSIT/PAYMENT POLICY
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info@ektunbelize.com phyllis@ektunbelize.com
Copyright ©1999, 2000, 2001 by Phyllis Dart and Ek' Tun™. All rights reserved.