3rd-10th april
 

Booked our tickets and will arrive at Belize on 3rd evening. My wife is into photography (birds,wildlife etc). Want to enjoy the scenery but no plans for beach. Have arranged point to point transfer.
We will fly out on the 10th/11th evening to Houston
Plan is as follows

3 nights at Crooked Tree &2 nights at Du Plooys are confirmed.

For the other 2 days looking Chan Chi Lodge or Hidden Valley Inn.

Looking for suggestion on the 3rd lodge and and any other activity.

If it was my trip (and I didn't want beach, which wouldn't be the case since I'm a diver) I would just choose 2 stops with 7 nights. Arriving late you'll only have 2 full days at Crooked Tree and surrounds - maybe 1 for day/night tours there and one for the boat trip from Orange Walk up the New River to the Lamanai Maya site. The next day you'll be transitioning, maybe stop at the Belize Zoo? It's very unique, all indigenous animals, lots of birds including jabiru storks and harpy eagles. www.belizezoo.org

You'll arrive latish in the day at duPlooy's and 2 nights = only 1 day there; when I was there with friends a few months ago we made the trip to the Caracol Maya site one day and split the next between birding in their Botanical Garden and a visit to Barton Creek Cave. 3 nights there seemed pretty short to me - 2 nights wouldn't have been sufficient.

Chan Chich sounds amazing but will take some time to get to. Hidden Valley Inn would be closer. But still, if it was my trip I'd pick 2 stops to avoid spending so much time in transition. Just my 2 cents' worth.

My photos with blog, travelogue, and review links on the main page of each collection are below in case you're interested - all my recommendations are embedded there. Happy trails!

www.flickr.com/photos/staceyholeman/collections

Thanks. Crooked tree plan is exactly what you have suggested. Will look at extending duPlooy's by a night.

Then you'd have 1 night left - you could add to either or maybe add a night at the zoo? Another option would be to overnight in the park at Tikal in Guatemala - likely your best wildlife/birding opportunity of the trip. Archaeologist/naturalist Roxy Ortiz is amazing, although she's really busy so tough to get hold of.
www.tikalroxy.blogspot.com

Marlon Díaz is a good guide, too, responds quickly.
www.emguatemalatravel.com

Chan Chich is excellent for birding and offers the best odds of seeing cats but I wouldn't go for one night.

If birding and wildlife are your top priority, I would actually go to Chan Chich over duPlooy's.