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Ronnie Y

My heart is still in Chan Chich! Enchanting, amazing wildlife viewing!

5.0 of 5 bubblesReviewed May 6, 2023
We had the most amazing time at Chan Chich Lodge. It is hard to describe just how magical it is here. If you are someone who loves nature it just doesn't get any better than this. We took a small private plane to Gallon Jug airstrip and then were picked up by a lodge employee and brought to this remote lodge. The food is absolutely delicious and so fresh- clearly prepared with love. The grounds are teeming with wildlife.... howler monkeys, spider monkeys, hummingbirds flitting around everywhere. At night it is otherworldly to wake to the sounds of the howlers calling back and forth to one another.

The guided tours that the lodge offers are outstanding. We are a family of 4 with 2 teenagers and all of us were in awe by all we saw and learned; how to survive in the jungle off termites, where to find fresh water (inside a type of vine), how to cure various infections and ailments with roots and leaves of particular plants, how to suture a wound with ant heads! The guides were enthusiastic and so knowledgeable and clearly loved nature and conservation. To top all of this off we also got to see a puma jump from the jungle out into a clearing and take down a deer in front of us. It was about 10 minutes while the puma held the deer down by the neck and then dragged her off into the jungle pausing to look at us. Absolutely unforgettable!
We also went on a day trip to the ATM caves- this was an amazing experience as well.

Truly, if you are a nature lover/conservationist this is your place. You simply can't get better as far as wildlife viewing and conservation efforts than this place that sits amidst 30,000 acres of preserved rainforest and borders other preserved land in Guatemala and elsewhere in Belize. We would absolutely return and we have travelled far and wide. To say my teens were awed would even be an understatement. They will never forget Chan Chich. It is a place that will always be in my heart.
Date of stay: April 2023
Room Tip: The guides are amazing! Go on as many of the tours as you are able (night safari, medicinal plant...
5.0 of 5 bubblesValue
5.0 of 5 bubblesLocation
5.0 of 5 bubblesService
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lodge Manager, Guest Services / Front Office at Chan Chich Lodge, responded to this review
Responded May 22, 2023
Hi Ronniey964, We are delighted to read your kind review- thank you! Experiencing the Chan Chich magic is special particularly with such a unique sighting! We are happy you and your family have taken fond memories with you.
Hope we can welcome you back in near future!
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
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      26 - 31 of 366 reviews
      Reviewed April 10, 2023

      Everything about Chan Chich Lodge was excellent. The location, accommodation and food was excellent, staff were very friendly and helpful and the guides were extremely knowledgeable about the wildlife, birds, plants and the history of the Mayan peoples and their culture.

      Date of stay: March 2023
      Trip type: Traveled as a couple
      Thank S5274DHsuea
      This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
      Lodge Manager, Guest Services / Front Office at Chan Chich Lodge, responded to this reviewResponded April 11, 2023

      Hi S5274DHsuea, Thank you for your high praises! The location gives us an upper hand indeed as you can't make this paradise up! We are happy to hear you enjoyed our food and our services. Our staff is highly passionate and love sharing our corner in Belize. Hope to see you back!

      Report response as inappropriate
      This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
      Reviewed March 9, 2023

      Already longing for the day I get to return to Chan Chich. I had a truly magical stay inside the Maya rainforest while here: the fog covering the trees at dawn, the sounds of Howler Monkeys at dusk, it was all quite refreshing and definitely memorable. The employees, like our Server Emil, were beyond welcoming and the guides definitely knew their stuff. There's tons to do and see here - so much that you probably won't get to see it all in one trip, though I suppose that's a good problem to have.

      We enjoyed delicious, farm fresh meals throughout our stay and had fun seeing where most of the ingredients for our food (including our coffee) came from.

      The highlight of my trip was the night safari. Riding in an expedition truck through the forest at night in search of jaguars and other nocturnal creatures makes for a pretty enjoyable experience. And the stars - oh, boy the stars. A truly magnificent property.

      Date of stay: January 2023
      • Trip type: Traveled on business
        • Value
        • Sleep Quality
        • Service
      Thank Khaila G
      This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
      Malcolm Robinson, General Manager at Chan Chich Lodge, responded to this reviewResponded December 4, 2024

      Thank you for your feedback we love hearing from our guests and sharing our paradise with you. We too look forward to your return visit.

      Report response as inappropriate
      This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
      Reviewed March 4, 2023

      Here are two examples of the outstanding customer service at Chan Chich Lodge. Every evening the Turn-Down Service at our cottage included treats left on a plate next to a typed up bedtime story featuring Mayan lore. One morning Emile from the dining room came to our table because he was hearing a laughing falcon. He escorted us to a tree near the lodge so that we could photograph this amazing bird.
      From the early-morning bird walks with expert guides Luis and Levy to afternoon excursions on an open-topped four-wheel-drive truck our four-night stay at Chan Chich Lodge was a jungle adventure we will never forget. The weather in mid-February was perfect…no rain! We recommend the Discovery Package with the three daily meals and more than enough birding walks and other excursions. We especially enjoyed the tour of Gallon Jug Farm, which provides all of the meat, produce, eggs, and even the coffee served at the lodge. The archaeology walking tour and canoe ride on a nearby lake were equally enjoyable. We traveled with another couple, so we shared The Luxury Cottage. There were two very spacious bedrooms with king beds and soft sheets, and the cottage had screened-in windows with plantation shutters and air-conditioning. The best time of day was the last hour of daylight when we sat on the cottage’s secluded front porch watching for birds and spider monkeys. One of the nature guides described Belize as “peaceful and calm,” and we would use those words to describe this magical place.

      Room tip: The Luxury Cottage is extremely comfortable, spacious and quiet.
      Date of stay: February 2023
        • Location
        • Sleep Quality
        • Service
      Thank rick64g
      This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
      Lodge Manager, Guest Services / Front Office at Chan Chich Lodge, responded to this reviewResponded March 12, 2023

      Hi rick64g, Thank you so much for your review. We loved sharing our peaceful and calm paradise with you, from the wonderful wildlife to our cultural patrimony. We are so glad you and your friends enjoyed your experience with us. We hope to have you back!

      Report response as inappropriate
      This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
      Reviewed February 2, 2023

      Chan Chich is the kind of place you'd think was imaginary. A giant, remote reserve virtually cut off from the rest of civlization? With vast swaths of rainforest, and a working ranch and farm? And it's own private landing strip? And set in the main plaza of an ancient Mayan city? Oh, and tons of birds and wildilfe? Oh, and a screened pool and bidets in the rooms? Locally grown coffee, food and hot sauces served for every meal? Two private lakes on the estate? As I said, who'd believe such a place exists without seeing it?

      As to the more conventional aspects of the stay, the service was consistently excellent, the beds were very comfortable, and the food was delicious. It got very, very hot during the day (use that pool, folks), but a very nice sleeping temperature at night (we wound up turning the fan off during the night because it got a bit cool).

      Room tip: First two weeks is a perfect time to visit--lower rates, hot days, cool nights.
      Date of stay: May 2022
      • Trip type: Traveled as a couple
        • Value
        • Location
        • Service
      Thank Ryan C
      This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
      Lodge Manager, Guest Services / Front Office at Chan Chich Lodge, responded to this reviewResponded February 7, 2023

      Hi Ryan,
      We are glad we are a real place and also glad we are able to share it with you all!
      Thank you for your review and kind words. Let us know when you are ready for a next visit!

      Report response as inappropriate
      This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
      Reviewed January 24, 2023 via mobile

      Chan Chich is a magical place to experience the rainforest of Belize and its stunning array of wildlife. We are keen wildlife photographers and there was so much to photograph. The bird life is incredible. Every meal on the sumptuous main veranda of the lodge was accompanied by humming birds swooping around. Howler monkeys were the soundtrack to our days. The lodge gardens were beautiful. The cabanas stylish and very well kitted out. There was even a very pleasant pool to have a swim on hot afternoons. We went on early morning trips with a guide every day and saw new wildlife every time. The guides were wonderfully knowledgeable. The food served was delicious. Beyond the wildlife and the beauty of the setting, I cannot praise the staff enough. Everyone was so professional, friendly and rightly proud of their beautiful country. I cannot recommend Chan Chich more highly.

      Date of stay: January 2023
      Trip type: Traveled with friends
      Thank Janet5195
      This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
      Lodge Manager, Guest Services / Front Office at Chan Chich Lodge, responded to this reviewResponded January 30, 2023

      Hi Janet, we appreciate the high praise! We are certainly proud of our country and our Lodge. We are so lucky with our location as it makes for the perfect jungle immersion and for this we are grateful. Thank you for the recommendation as it means the world to us. Hope you make it back to Gallon Jug Estate for more wildlife.

      Report response as inappropriate
      This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
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