The Lodge at Chaa Creek
The lodge at Chaa Creek Adventure Centre, Rainforest Reserve and Spa has pioneered natural history travel to Belize since 1981. A private 400-acre nature reserve set along the banks of the Macal River in the foothills of the Maya Mountains, the lodge provides a unique rainforest experience while maintaining an unspoiled ambiance. The Lodge at Chaa Creek has received substantial recognition including the World’s Top 50 Ecolodges awarded by National Geographic Adventure Magazine, TripAdvisor Travelers Choice Award and World’s Best Places to stay in Central and South America awarded by Conde Nast.
The Lodge at Chaa Creek Review
AdventureSmith Explorations’ The Lodge at Chaa Creek review includes a detailed description and photo gallery. Our adventure travel experts have stayed at The Lodge at Chaa Creek firsthand and can help compare The Lodge at Chaa Creek with other adventure lodging and Belize tours.
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Choose the Lodge at Chaa Creek for a secluded jungle getaway with myriad outdoor adventures and cultural experiences. This casually luxurious eco-lodge provides a true Belizean experience to relax in nature while enjoying modern amenities.
Sustainability at The Lodge at Chaa Creek
Chaa Creek seeks to instill a sense of environmental responsibility in guests and is committed to protecting the unique ecology and culture of Belize by supporting numerous community projects and social welfare programs. Community outreach programs include establishing the Belize Foundation for Conservation, the Eco-Kids Summer Camp teaching Belizean school children environmental responsibility and the Chaa Creek Scholarship Program providing local students with full board scholarships at secondary and tertiary levels.
Chaa Creek was the first lodge in Belize to have been environmentally certified by the internationally recognized “Green Globe” program. With the Chaa Creek Cares commitment, guests also join in contributing to protecting Belize with 10% of accommodation revenue going directly into environmental, educational and community programs. Additionally, Chaa Creek’s Pack-a-Pound initiative allows guests to share one pound of their luggage space for school materials that get donated to local schools.
Dining at The Lodge at Chaa Creek
Delicious cuisine features a mixture of Caribbean, Belizean and international dishes served under a large, open-air, thatch-roofed restaurant with its own temperature-controlled wine cellar. The dining room, bar and cottages are all constructed from local hardwoods and thatched with bay leaf palm, creating a rustic yet luxurious natural environment.
Freshly harvested organic produce from the on-site, 33-acre traditional Maya Organic Farm is complemented by hand-picked local ingredients to guarantee the best quality and create a distinct flavor of Caribbean and Belizean fusion, while supporting small local farmers. Mestizo Mondays, East-Indian Tuesdays, Creole Wednesdays, Garifuna Thursdays and Maya Fridays allow guests to fully sample the multicultural melting pot of Belizean cuisine. After visiting the organic farm, a hands-on cooking lesson offers the opportunity to create authentic dishes in the traditional Open Hearth “Bush Kitchen.”
Amenities at The Lodge at Chaa Creek
The Hilltop Spa at Chaa Creek is set above the winding Macal River with a panoramic view of the Maya Mountains and lush Caribbean Rainforest—a peaceful setting enhanced by the background music of tropical birds and gentle rustling of leaves. Professional therapists offer a range of treatments with a natural herbal-based approach to create a personalized and relaxing experience.
The eco-friendly, freshwater infinity swimming pool with jungle views features a bi-level configuration for both swimming and paddling, as well as generous lounging space for dining, sunbathing and relaxation. The woodworking shop provides opportunities to talk with the carpenters working on their projects. The horse stables and the Maya Organic Farm with its traditional Maya farming techniques both invite guests to experience and learn local customs.
Activities at The Lodge at Chaa Creek
The Lodge at Chaa Creek offers a wide variety of customizable options to explore and learn about the rainforest, local cultures and wildlife.
The 400-acre private rainforest reserve offers a picturesque trail network for independent or guided tours. The well-maintained trails are ideal for hiking, early-morning bird walks or nighttime walks with naturalist guides looking for ocelots, howler monkeys, jaguarundis and armadillos. Wildlife abounds, and some 250 species of birds have been sighted within the reserve. Alternatively, choose to explore by horseback or Rainforest RTV Safari tours.
The pristine Macal River offers a refreshing escape to explore in either direction from The Lodge at Chaa Creek. Paddle upstream and then leisurely drift back to Chaa Creek while birdwatching and swimming or choose to float downstream two hours to San Ignacio and take the shuttle back to Chaa Creek. Optional sites along the way include tours of the Belize Botanic Gardens, Black Rock Canyon and Clarissa Falls.
The Chaa Creek Natural History Center provides an introduction to the history and geography of Belize along with visual displays of archaeological artifacts, butterflies, moths, insects and amphibians. Guided and self-guided tours of the Belize Medicinal Plants Trail provide an introduction to many of the plants and herbs used in traditional Maya medicine. Continue learning about the local environment by touring the Blue Morpho Butterfly Farm to witness the “Belizean Blue” that can be observed during every stage of their lifecycle.
Families at The Lodge at Chaa Creek
The Lodge at Chaa Creek is family friendly and the Eco Kids Adventure program introduces children ages 6 to 15 to Belize’s tropical forest. Every family can enjoy their own butterfly hatchery, and hatch and release a blue morpho butterfly into the jungle. Kids can travel back in time on horseback to on-site ancient Maya temples and become junior archeologists, or canoe downstream on the Macal River to meet a family in Cristo Rey village and help prepare a traditional meal. Other activities include a “Nature Rules” treasure hunt and educational rainforest arts and crafts projects.
Accommodations at The Lodge at Chaa Creek
The lodge offers various levels of accommodation. For groups of two or three guests, 16 cottage rooms and 3 suites provide comfortable, thatched-roof buildings. For larger groups of four to six guests, 2 classic thatched-roof villas, 1 modern wooden-roofed villa and 2 contemporary luxury villas provide additional space. In any accommodation, enjoy Mexican tiled floors, large mahogany beds, original artwork and private bathrooms with hot showers. Plus spacious sundeck verandas welcome wildlife viewing and interaction with the surrounding nature.
Enjoy a setting of unmatched beauty and tranquility that includes lush tropical gardens nestled along the banks of the Macal River in the foothills of the Maya Mountains of Western Belize. Located within the Chaa Creek Nature Reserve, each accommodation provides both comfort and a true wilderness experience. WiFi internet access is available. Note that the Butterfly Cottage (#26) is not open to reservations by guests.
