Of course, it’s a top-range jungle lodge and one of the best we’ve ever stayed at. Our guide – the older Gilberto – was very knowledgeable about birds could identify them by sound. However, the wildlife is somewhat less abundant than advertised though still better than anywhere else in Belize’s jungle,. Our cabana itself was near-perfect, the pool wonderful and the food was better than the average hotel meal. At first sight, the menu card seemed to offer sufficient selections – but since the card didn’t change, the choice was actually quite limited (except for breakfast where the options were exhausting). If you plan to stay more than 3 nights, you may well have to repeat your choice – though you can always order the special of the day. Gee, aren’t we spoilt! But – unless you’re always hungry and can eat 3 times a day a 3-course cooked meal, save your money and don’t take a meal package. It’s more economical to order only the quantity you can eat. Perhaps the only false note (which has nothing to do with the lodge itself) is they are mainly prepared for fly-in customers, taking tours to get around. We arrived here with our own transport and thought the absence of signposts to Laguna Seca, Laguna Verde, the Escarpment and Punta Cacao was a way of discouraging independent travellers of getting around on their own – perhaps with good reason.

We had a fantastic trip to Chan Chich! The facilities are great, the food good, the staff expert and the jungle awesome. We were incredibly fortunate to see jaguars (twice!). Don't go expecting to see big cats, but know that this is a place where magic can happen and does!

Unless specifically noted otherwise, all monies mentioned are in US dollars. The Belizean dollar is tied to the USD at a 1:2 ratio. One USD equals two BZD.

Chan Chich was our first destination on our relatively short visit to Belize. I’d been to Chan Chich just a few years after it opened in the late 80’s and considered it the most memorable place I’d visited in all my trips to this country. In planning this vacation, I also looked at Blancaneaux, which didn’t exist when I first visited Chan Chich. Influential in the decision to stay with Chan Chich was the fact that their website pointed out that although tips were appreciated they weren’t included in the bill. Management felt that this should be at the discretion of the traveler. I agree. The Blancaneaux website pointed out that 19% (!) would be added to the bill to cover gratuities for the staff. If it’s added to the bill, it’s not a gratuity as far as I’m concerned. We later learned that although the Blancaneaux grounds were quite nice, the surrounding area had been decimated by some kind of pine beetle. So the right decision was made.
The trip to the Gallon Jug landing strip from the international airport was only 20 to 25 minutes in a single-engine Cessna 172. The appearance of the plane could only be described as “rough”. Our altitude varied between 1,000 and 1,500 feet and was fairly smooth for the most part. As we flew over dense jungle I considered the prospects for an emergency landing. I’d prefer to ditch at sea.
An air-conditioned van was waiting for us when we landed. Luggage loaded, we were off to the lodge. I believe the distance was only four miles but the travel time made it seem much longer. The lodge is situated on 150,000 acres and adjoins another 250,000 of protected land. Nothing in Belize is more isolated, and that’s part of the draw. This is one of the very best places to spot a big cat, but the actual chance is still relatively low. It’s also the best spot for finding the largest variety of birds, my companion’s main interest.
Arriving at the lodge I found everything pretty much as I remembered it from 15 years earlier, except there were a few more cabanas now. Ocellated turkeys still roamed freely, and a tree that was full of Montezuma Oropendula nests was still there, still full of the raucous birds’ nests.
We had been preregistered, so-to-speak, so as soon as we arrived we were invited to take a table a have lunch. We started with a nice margarita. Perusing the menu, I immediately realized that the food offerings had expanded considerably. There was now a choice of 4 or 5 appetizers and that many entrees, including a special of the day. There were two dessert offerings which changed daily, a homemade ice cream always among the choices. I can’t be sure, but it seems as if there were two entrée choices back then. I also remember leaving the table a bit hungry 15 years ago. Not anymore. The portions are more than adequate for any reasonable person.
After a couple of margaritas and perhaps a bit too much to eat we went to check out our cabana. We opted for the “deluxe” for just a few dollars more, the difference being primarily the size of the bathroom. These cabanas are made from local materials found in the surrounding area. In fact, the original six cabanas were made from the trees that were cleared from the Mayan plaza on which the lodge now sits. Each cabana is a single unit and there are twelve total. It would be rare to find more that a couple dozen people here at any given time. A crowded condition simply cannot exist. When we visited in mid May there were never more than six guests, including ourselves, on the property. We liked it!
Back to the cabanas ….. we found a nice, wide porch wrapped around three sides of the structure. The porch was equipped with a hammock (an Arawak Indian invention, btw), a sort of large reclining wooden chair with mattress under a mosquito net, suitable for outdoor sleeping apparently, and a couple chairs at either end of a table, suitable for taking in the scenery while sipping on a glass of wine. Nice, and we haven’t even been inside yet!
Stepping inside you just know that you made the right decision in coming here. Describing the room as elegant rustic seems like a contradiction, but it isn’t. The local hardwood walls and floors are gorgeous. Windows are on every bit of wall space that will accommodate a window. The louvered windows are made entirely of local wood, no hardware is used unless you count the screen, which is fastened to a site-made frame. I remember noting this on my first visit and continue to admire the design. Higher up the walls are more screened windows, these without louvers, to maximize ventilation. The king size bed turned out to be as comfortable as any we had ever slept in. The room is equipped with its own filtered water dispenser, a refrigerator, stocked minibar, coffee maker and supplies, an umbrella and rain ponchos.
But the bathroom, oh, the bathroom! Bathroom suite is more like it! A double sink vanity runs the entire length of the left wall, probably twelve feet or more. On the left is a room with a commode and bidet. Next to that is what I would call a double double shower. Two shower positions, each with two shower heads. And it’s actually big enough for two people, being just under 6 ft square!
The lodging was just about as complete as it could have possibly been.

This was my companions first and last trip to Belize. She died of ovarian cancer in June of 2007. She made it a point to travel as much as she could with her time remaining. Belize was one of her favorite destinations. Granted, she saw only premier properties. See also reviews of Lamanai Outpost Lodge and Crooked Tree in Belize.

Chan Chich was beautiful! We recommend the tour up the river to Lamanai. It was great! The lodge has wonderful guides and lots of wildlife. We saw very little on the night tours. The birding was terrific. The rooms were gorgeous and the staff was fantastic!