Please Help! We have it narrowed down to these 3 Lodges and can't make a decision. Which one has the most beautiful nature setting, nicest cabanas and best food?

No one place has the best in all the categories you ask about:

Chaa Creek has by far the nicest cabanas especially their newer garden suites. The regular cabanas are duplex units and sometimes you can hear your neighbors.

Best food? That really depends on when you're there and who's cooking. All are good most of the time, not gourmet but well-prepared and filling. But I'd probably say Ian Anderson's..

Setting? Another tough question. Chaa Creek has by far the nicest grounds (manicured, well-maintained, large staff takes there care of them), but Ian Anderson's and Pook's Hill have more of a "real jungle" setting.

--Lan Sluder
Belize First Magazine http://www.turq.com/belizefirst/

Lan! Thank you so much for all your great info. Ian Anderson's will be featured on Temptation Island and we will make sure we watch it and make a decision after that. Okay, at least now I narrowed it down to Pook's Hill and Ian's because we want it real Jungly.

Speaking of Temptation Island, does anyone know where "off the coast of Belize" they did the coastal shoots? To tell you the truth, I will only tune into this show to catch some glimpses of Belize before we go next month...it's pretty bad in my view...

Munichchick--no one mentioned to you so far that I can see that Chaa Creek has a "jungle camp" lodge that is one mile away from the main resort. They call it "luxury camping" cause you sleep in perma-tents that are up on stilts. It''s apparently right by the river and lit by kerosene lamps. Bathroom facilities not far away, but they are definitely not in your tent! The charge is all-inclusive for the "tent" and two meals. We are staying there next month and think it should be great fun. We also wanted "jungly", so we'll see!!

Chaa Creek's safari camp used to have "real" tents on permanent platforms, but they got rid of the tents and now have little "cabinettes" on the platforms. Better, I think. And the food at the camp is very good.

--Lan Sluder
Belize First Magazine

Does one bring their own sleeping bags/beds or are they provided?

You don't need to bring anything -- it's all provided. You are supposed to help out with cleaning the dishes after meals.

--Lan Sluder

The Safari Camp sounds great but I don't want to do dishes on vacation especially not if I am a paying guest.

Temptation Island was filmed on Ambergris Caye, the girls at Mata Chica and the guys at Captains Morgans, or something like that

Okay! We decided on Pook's Hill and will be making reservations there. The price was right and the location looks beautiful on their website. They also seem nice and have been answering all my questions. Cave Branch Lodge was very nice via email as well so. Was a hard decision to make.

Does anyone have a website for Ian Anderson's place, and where is it located?

I have the website for Ian's place, but its in my office and I won't be there until Tuesday. His email address is caves@pobox.com If you email him, he can give it to you. To get to his place you travel on the western highway, then onto the Hummingbird Highway, past Belmopan( the capital). Appararently the road is really good now. It is a beautiful drive, surrounded by orange groves and the mountains, very lush. His sign is on the Hummingbird Highway, I think it is after the cave ( I think St. Herman's) and before the Interior Blue Hole. It is really in the thick of the jungle. His accomodations use to be very rustic, but he has made alot of improvements and has built some nicer cabanas. The River Cave trip is an amazing and unique experience.

Re: Ian Anderson's cave tubing, is this a better experience than the cave tubing at Jaguar Paw that is offered?

Thanks!

Lori

Ian's web site is www.cavesbranch.com -- it's a wonderful place. The setting is beautiful, the cave tubing is awesome. We also did the Black Hole Drop and that is a huge adrenaline rush. It's quite a hike, but everyone who it while we were there LOVED it.

muninchick
where did you stay in thr end and how was it? also want jungel feeling to aa stay in Cayo and also am exploring same reorts as you- pelase let me knwo your experiecne

We stayed at Pook's Hill and liked it a lot.
The owners Vicky and Ray are wonderful and so interesting to talk to. The food was good and we sure got the total jungle experience. The drive alone to Pook's was great. Not a luxury jungle lodge but very comfortable surrounded by beautiful dense jungle. Within the first 10 minutes we got there we saw 2 Tucans and 2 green parrots all on the same tree. Watching the fog coming like a wave over the jungle in the morning from your bed is amazing. Thunderstorms over the Rainforest was also very amazing.There was an excavation going on of the mayan ruins that are all around Pook's Hill. Very cool. Ray took us on a nice evening jungle walk down to the river with bugs making noises like chain saws and hundreds of light bugs. If you are at least semi sporty and not afraid of heights or tight spaces I highly recommend the Actun Tunichichil Muknal Cave Expedition which is only offered by 2 guides. You can book it at the lodge as they are friends with one of the guides. Lots of Mayan artifacts and a creepy surprise I don't want to give away. If you are not looking for the luxury pampered Lodge experience and love nature this is the place for you. Don't worry it is still comfortable with nice hot showers, nice beds and good food.

We went to Pooks hill
what a gem
a jungle paradise
fantastic
also went to Aktun Tunachil cave- a lifetime experiecne not to be missed
Vicki and Ray are wonderful hosts
strongely recommend this to anyone

Georgi! How did you like the creepy surprise in the cave???? I thought it was way creepy and so interesting.