Here's information on Lamanai Outpost Lodge reservations, etc. from my new book, Belize First Guide to Mainland Belize. We give Lamanai Outpost four stars out of a possible five.
--Lan Sluder
Belize First Magazine
http://www.turq.com/belizefirst/ [Four Stars] Lamanai Outpost Lodge. Lamanai Outpost is another extraordinary jungle lodge. One of the reasons it’s so special is the setting. Built by the late Colin Howells, a legend in hospitality circles in Belize, Lamanai Outpost perches on a low hillside with a view of the beautiful New River Lagoon. The lodge has 17 rooms, recently refurbished, in thatch cabañas set among hillside gardens. The lodge is closely involved with archeological and nature study programs through the Lamanai Field Research Center. The center has resident naturalists, archeologists, ornithologists and biologists. On one visit here, my children enjoyed meeting grad students from the University of Texas who were doing crocodile research in the New River Lagoon. We went along on a night trip to catch crocs (fortunately, that night they didn’t catch any.) Managers Mark and Monique Howells, Colin Howells’ son and daughter-in-law, do a terrific job with the lodge, in everything from supervising the housekeeping to providing security. Many guests here are from Elderhostel programs, but kids love Lamanai, as there always seem to be monkeys, parrots and other creatures around. Monique takes in injured or abandoned animals and cares for them until they can be returned to their natural homes. For adults, next to the new open-air dining room, in what was the former restaurant, there’s now a bar and lounge, The Digger’s Roost, with archaeological memorabilia and a full-size reproduction of a Lamanai stela showing Lord Smoking Shell. A new dock extends 130 feet into the lagoon and is good place for star gazing and swimming — just keep an eye out for Ol’ Mister Croc. Birding is superb in this area, with at least 370 species identified within a two-mile radius of the lodge. The Lamanai ruins and archeological reserve are within walking distance, as is a small community butterfly education center, Xochil Ku. Indian Church village is also within walking distance, and near the village are the ruins of two Spanish churches. Don’t miss taking a night-spotting tour (US$36 per person) — the New River Lagoon and New River are fascinating at night. Rates: US$125 double Nov. 1-Apr. 30, US$99 the rest of year. Meals per person cost US$8 for breakfast, US$12 lunch and US$22 dinner. All-inclusive packages (covering room, meals, transfers from Belize City, tax and tours) are US$440 per person double occupancy in-season, US$400 off-season, for two nights, and US$580 in-season, US$520 off-season for three nights. AE, MC, V accepted. In Belize, tel. 501-2-33578, fax 2-12061; e-mail lamanai@btl.net; or contact Ellen Howell in the U.S., tel. 888-733-7864, fax 727-864-4062, e-mail reefsruins@aol.com;
www.lamanai.com.
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