5 Best Hotels in The Deep South, Belize

Just a mile (1½ km) from downtown Punta Gorda, this delightful small lodge has bright, lovely Caribbean-style cottages with zinc roofs and private verandas; it's nestled in lush jungle foliage where you'll hear howler monkeys and see a wide variety of birds. The cottages are beautifully outfitted with locally made furniture and hardwood floors. There's a small splash pool and a botanical garden and nature area. A special treat: once a week you can go with the co-owner to visit the nearby Fallen Stones butterfly farm, which he manages.

A 1938 British colonial–era home painted coral serves as one of the most pleasant small guesthouses in the country, with breezy views of the Bay of Honduras and warm hospitality from owners and staff. The six guest rooms have tile floors, comfortable beds, air-conditioning, cable TV, and Wi-Fi. There's a swimming pool, honor bar, and complimentary bikes. A continental breakfast is included in the reasonable rates. Just in front of the inn is a historic small cemetery with the graves of ex-Confederates who moved to Toledo after the U.S. Civil War.

If you want something more private, inquire about the two-story house with two large self-catering suites. Families or groups can rent the entire house.

In a restored century-old colonial home on a 775-acre farm near Punta Gorda, this bed-and-breakfast is among the most appealing small lodgings in Belize, but it's more like visiting a friend's home in the country than a hotel. The two-story, white-wood home enjoys a gorgeous site on a low knoll, cooled by natural breezes and ceiling fans and surrounded by several acres of lawn, flowering trees, and wildflowers. You enter the grounds via a graceful winding driveway lined by royal palms, passing the remains of a rum factory. You'll feel like a houseguest of the owners, enjoying access to the home's elegant living room and lovely swimming pool. You'll sleep in one of two charming bedrooms, both with hardwood floors and 12-foot ceilings. They share a bath, making this ideal for a family or group needing a two-room suite. A full breakfast is included.

From the verandas on the second- or third-floor rooftop terrace of this bright pink, waterfront hotel (beya means beachfront in the Garifuna language, although it isn't much of a beach here) within moderate walking distance of downtown Punta Gorda, you have expansive views of the sea. Despite the name, the hotel has mostly rooms rather than true suites, but they're modern, with tile floors, plaster walls, cable TV, and air-conditioning.

At this pleasant small spot overlooking the water, you can settle in and do your own thing in one of the six attractive self-catering flats, with kitchens or kitchenettes, spacious bedrooms, TVs, and verandas with hammocks. Complimentary bicycle use is included in the rate, as is a continental breakfast. If you don't feel like cooking, the guesthouse is within a short walk of several of Punta Gorda's best restaurants.