Changing directions from a possible late summer Caribbean romantic get away to something relaxing and quiet but with a nature/wildlife twist.

Instead of going for a long weekend we can now accommodate a longer trips (7 days-ish).

Stumbled upon Chan Chich then came here and saw Chaacreek. I'm afraid to keep looking. Having comfortable accommodations are important but rustic and bugs don't frighten me. Sleeping in a tent, not so much my gig. We live in ATL so can get to the country easily but don't want to have to spend another day traveling to our destination. I saw that Chan Chich (or was in Chaacreek?) offered a driver with some stops en route and that's fine. I just hate feeling like I do nothing but travel on a day coming and going.

So, I hate to put this out there to make things more confusing for me, but any other suggestions for a reasonably priced (not budget but I don't want to break the bank) where we can spend part of the day enjoying the country but won't feel guilty spending a few hours sitting on a porch, reading etc.

PS, this all started with Tiamo in Bahamas that looked great and was on MSNBC as a top eco lodge. But they are closing for renovations . Probably will increase the price when they open, but I really hope not since it looked like a wonderful place as it was.

Both highly rated resorts, though spendy. You might want to consider splitting your time and spending a few days inland and a few days on an island at the end. Keep us posted!

I think that your description of the trip you want would be best served by splitting your time.

I too have to have a little lazy and little activity. We stayed very busy in Belize, but I felt guilty for being so lazy on some of the days.

The journey from the airport to the Cayo area is not an all day trip. Now, some of the tours from there are all day. However both of the resorts you mention offer lots to keep you busy and you have a couple of Mayan Ruins very nearby to visit for say a half day.

On our return trip to fly over to Ambergris, we stopped at the Belize Zoo. Well worth the stop.

Have not stayed at the resorts you are looking at, thought about it, but it did not fit into my budget in 2007. We stayed at Cahal Pech Village in San Ignacio and at Caribbean Villas on Ambergris.

We really enjoyed Belize. We had thought about it for years, but were hooked on Costa Rica and continued to go back.

Trip to Chaa Creek only takes 2-3 hrs. Instead of stopping at the Zoo (which gets good reviews) we went to the Xunatunich (sp?)...Mayan Ruin. We loved Chaa Creek (though a bit pricy) and thoroughly enjoyed Xunatunich. We spent 3 nts at Chaa Creek and 7 on Ambergris Caye. Enjoy!

Chaa Creek is 2 hrs from Intl airport by road. Chan Chich is a 30 min charter flight from Intl, about 4.5 hrs by road. Both are wonderful lodges, Chaa Creek has more active trips close by. Chan Chich is better for birders and hikers. Also look at duPlooys, Hidden Valley Inn and Blancaneaux Lodges also in Cayo.

Katie V helped us make our reservations / itinerary and I would recommend her if you need help.

You guys are great. Thanks for all the info and responses. I was feeling a bit stressed trying to find a non-mega all inclusive in the Caribbean but feel better looking into Belize with your help.

Now that I found Chaa Creek I really want a Tree Top suite, but can't find an open week before the end of October. Drats! There might be something with fewer days or different dates that I haven't hit but i might need to call.

I'm sure either will be fine (but why do we put pressure to making each trip exactly what we want instead of going with the flow when choices are limited!?).

Thanks for the info Katie. I gather you can help with acommodations etc. I might be emailing you.

Shame the tree tops are not available. Ask about the skyroom or look at Blancaneaux Lodge, in the same area, in pine forest and accessible to the same tours and activites as Chaa Creek.

OHHHH, this is so hard to make a decision!

I think I might be leaning a bit more towards Chaa Creek based on comments that there is more to do in the area. So much for a kick back kind of vacation I guess.

Both have room for us the week we want to go in August.

Has anyone done any of the packages that are listed on the Chaa Creek website? Now I'm wondering if we should (take the easy way) and split time. Part of me wants to so we don't grow bored, but the packing and hauling and relocating sounds tiring right now. We spent a week in Punta Islita during the "green" season and did things in the AM, then relaxed the rest of the day and didn't grow bored.

I like vacations. I hate planning!

Hmmm, and after looking at the photos it looks like the cottages don't have an area to sprawl out in to enjoy part of the day. I was hoping for some comfy chairs or hammocks.

This is about where I decide to not take a vacation!

I was just at Chaa Creek a few weeks ago and had the Inland Adventure package.
I had a really good time, and felt the package was a good value. It was important to me to have the airport transport and a guarantee that I'd get to do all the tours I wanted, as I was travelling alone. They ask you to choose your tours ahead of time, but once you're there, you can choose each evening what you want to do the next day. This means that even if no one else wants to go-to Xunantunich, for example- you will have a guide/driver and a private tour. All of the guides were FANTASTIC. As a single traveller, I did change my schedule a little so I was not always on a private tour. Chaa Creek even refunded me the difference when two people decideed to join me on an overnight to Tikal.
Also, I chose to spend one day on the property, to do all the things it has to offer; I rode a horse, took a sunset canoe tour, visited the butterfly museum and natural history museum. There's also morning bird watching, canoes you can take out any time, and a spa that everyone raved about. Staff were friendly but not obsequious, and the food was fantastic.
One warning about the Treetop suites; they are at the very top of a long uphill climb. Manageable, but exhausting as the dining room and bar (only sources for food, wine and ice) are at the base of the hill and in June it will still be hot. I don't know how many you are, but my cottage, #15, was isolated all by itself-no outdoor shower, but a lovely screened porch to watch the sunset and listen to the birds and howler monkeys.
There's no pool-they are closing in September to build one where my cottage is now-you can walk down to the river and swim there. I spent 4 nights there, one at Tikal, then three at Jaguar Reef in Hopkins-Chaa Creek transported me door to door.
Warning: you will fall in love with Belize!

Susan, tell me about the cottage! Is there some sort of a lounging/seating area? I can't find good photos of one on line. Sounds silly but that's important to us.

i would love a tree top suite and wouldn't care about the trek. The room looks like someplace we could relax for part of the day and we like to spread out. Well, in actuality my SO can trash a room with all his stuff somehow.

I was getting pretty excited until I realized we didn't want to spend our entire day out and about. i've had a rough patch and this really started as a sittin gon the beach vacation until I couldn't find a private cottage like facility . So monkeys and nature win!

If you go to the Chaa Creek website; under accomodations. click "Cottage Collection". The top two pictures on the left are "my" cottage,#"15.
There is a queen and a single bed, a bench and dresser in the main room and a beautiful tiled bathroom. There is a largish screened porch, a sunroom or 3 season room we would call it in the north. It has a settee type thing and two chairs and huge screened windows facing the mountains.
No phone, no TV, no cell phone reception, no glass in the windows. Dark, dark, dark at night-no nightlife whatsoever. Early to bed early to rise.
the only neagtives are that drinks, alcoholic or no, are not included, but they're not outrageous, and it is a little lonely for singles. Other than the bar, there is no real common area, like a pool or beach, to hang out and read a book and talk to people. There is a "business center" with two computers and internet, but it's usually empty. A lot of families were there, and I imagine with a pool they'll also outnumber the singles, but I spoke with one single traveller (from England, a week into a holiday throughout Guatemala and Belize) who actually left a day early because of this. It was lovely, and the people were great, but if I had to do it again I might go someplace, like Mopan River resort, that seats family style and really encourages travellers to interact. With a S.O., this won't be an issue for you.
I'm very bug phobic, and I
was alone, but I felt really comfortable the very first night. After a few days, I was more relaxed, and I might try the Macal River Campat Chaa Creek. The couple I met who was staying there had a blast, and said the food there-all cooked over a fire by a dedicated chef-was great.

I hate to disagree with the poster above, but the tree top suites are at the bottom of the hill. Unless they've added more, there are two and they are wonderful! Ours had a hot tub on the deck, though it was so hot in the summer we filled it with cold water and used it as cold tub. We actually liked swimming in the river (very clean) and are disappointed to hear they're putting in a pool. Regardless, it's a great spot and you will thoroughyly enjoy your stay!

Aw, sure SiteCR, rub it in whydoncha? .

Yes, we'd love a tree top suite, or at least I would. But the cottage sounds basic and fine and I'm sure it could be much much worse.

I never get the appeal of community pools. I love plunge pools so I can jump in and get out. But I don't really enjoy hanging around with other people and listen to their conversations. I am sure they've had requests though.

Susan, I've traveled a lot on my own. I always make a few friends along the way. When we were at a Hacienda in Ecuador for Xmas we had to eat family style. Oy. It was pretty awful and we couldn't NOT eat with everyone and there wasn't anything close by so we could avoid them. It was painful and we didn't look forward to the meals.

OTOH, when we got on board the boat in the Galapagos we had 2 tables and managed to push off the marrieds to one table and had they youngins at another. We were 10-20 years older than most of them but they didn't catch on .

Macal River Jungle Camp www.belizecamp.com was an amazing choice for us in 2003 - sweet tent cabins, lovely jungle setting (motmots, parrots, and toucans viewed from our hammocks), great hiking and canoing, friendly, helpful camp host (I hope Dolcio is still there) and really amazing food. I'm not a resort-type so this was as close as we've ever come to staying at one. Wouldn't recommend it for bug-phobics, though, or those who need a private bathroom or electricity.

Sorry I was mixed up about the suites-I know there were spome waaay up at the top of the hill and the family there was exhausted!
I'm not a big pool person either, but I get what my English acquaintance said. I think it was just the lack of a shared public area, and that families travelling together are pretty inward focused.
The owner of Chaa Creek herself is a little mystified by all the calls for a pool. She said she swims in the river everyday-as did I, and it was lovely. A little plunge pool of one's own-that would be perfect.
I appreciate the feedback about family-style, though, and I have no regrets whatever about my choices. I enjoy travelling alone, and was never lonely. I was happy to meet a few people just to not be one-on-one with a guide every day.

I will make sure to pack a swim suit, which isn't something I had thought about.


For this trip a lack of a shared common area is actually a positive, at least for my. My SO is a huge extrovert so he might not like that, but hey, I'm the one planning this trip so he can go chat up a monkey or two .

I really liked that Tiamo (I think it was them) didn't encourage young kids (<14 I think). As a kidless couple we appreciate that but since the accommodations are not attached it shouldn't be an issue.

While I appreciate those who like to rough it, electricity and a private bath are just considered part of the plan. I don't mind hiking all day and ending up a big muddy, sweaty, rainy mess, but I need my hot private shower and a hair dryer! Bad camp experiences as a kid I think.

You'll need a swimsuit, too, for tours that involve a stop at a waterfall or cave tubing.