It's nearly impossible not to feel at one with nature at Chaa Creek Resort, located off a long dirt road near San Ignacio, Belize. The Cayo area is about 2 hours away from Belize Airport. Perhaps it will start as soon as you arrive. A perfectly green butterfly chrysalis will be sitting in your room (with instructions to release the amazingly blue creature when it appears within a day or two). Or maybe it becomes obvious when you fall asleep later that night because you hear howler monkeys.
During a recent stay at this luxurious jungle retreat, I wandered the peaceful grounds set on 365 acres of lush, rolling grounds, set against the backdrop of the placid Macal River, and gazed upon the palm-fringed, white-painted cabins nestled quietly among the trees. . (There are a total of 23 cottages, suites and villas, including the Tree Top Villas, which feature a high canopy and their own plunge pool and outdoor shower.) Many of the wooden furniture may have been made on site in a lumber shop. , from a mahogany tree growing nearby.
Welcoming guests since 1981, the resort features stables with 24 incredibly gentle horses, well-marked trails to explore (including a rainforest medicine trail), a butterfly farm, natural history center and an organic farm (where native plants are grown). There is a place where it grows. The resort's fresh produce appears on the menu daily. Of course, there's also the Hilltop Spa, which overlooks it all.
Aside from the guest rooms, Chaa Creek has very few completely indoor spaces. The bar, lounge and dining area are all unenclosed, but well covered and protected from sunlight, and we didn't get any mosquito bites during our four-day stay. . The effect is that you feel completely at home in a lush environment, rather than isolated in a sterile space. Even in spas, treatment areas are entirely private, but often not behind closed doors. All you need is gently swaying curtains to feel the breeze and hear the birds as you relax.
You can adventure on a guided canoe paddle downstream to the village of San Ignacio. Intrepid cave tubing or cave kayaking; Guests can enjoy leisurely ATV or horseback riding around the property. Early morning bird watching and wildlife tours after dark; Explore Mayan ruins at Xunantunich, just a few miles from the Guatemalan border.
But you don't have to go anywhere to feel like you're in exactly the right place. I spent afternoons after hours in the saltwater infinity pool overlooking the treetops and carefully manicured grounds. This was an opportunity to spot and hear birds such as the keel-billed toucan (aka Belize's national bird) and other wildlife. . (Keep an eye out for iguanas, tapirs, agoutis, as well as a variety of friendly dogs owned by the property's owners.) At the end of my stay, there was only one thing I wanted. I wanted to know when I could come. In the back. chaacreek.com