We are located in the heart of Cristo Rey Village which is uniquely located between San Ignacio and the Mountain Pine Ridge area of the Cayo District. Cristo Rey was settled initially by the Mayans and much of that cultural influence still exists. In fact, there is a genuine Mayan Mound on our property. We find Mayan pottery every time we look! And you will find some too (but it can't go with you).
Cristo Rey is nestled in the foothills of the jungle directly on the Macal River. And while we are in the jungle, we are still in a village - so there are quite a few amenities available within walking distance, including local cuisine, food shops, gift shop, and bus/shuttle service. There is no other lodging on the Macal River that is as conveniently located as we are!
Belize Tourism Board has implemented COVID related restrictions for all properties in Belize. Our lodge has received the Gold Standard designation to host guests in a safe environment. Please inquire and look at tourism travel to Belize for more information. Some information may change due to Government restrictions due to COVID.
NEW BELIZE TRAVEL REQUIREMENT: For arrivals on and after February 15th 2022, Belize requires specific travel health insurance that can only be purchased via them, either online or upon arrival. The cost is $18 U.S. per person and is valid for 21 days. After booking I will send you the link to purchase the insurance in advance.
Our bungalow is furnished with a custom built mahogany king bed, and has a private bath with hot water, electricity & free unlimited wifi. A large covered private deck with a view of the jungle and river provides a relaxing respite after a day of tours & adventures!
There is a separate outdoor kitchen/dining area for the use of our guests. The kitchen is a shared area with guests that book the Belize Bungalow. It is not inside the cabin - as just boiling water would heat the entire room! Even our own kitchen is 'outside.'
We provide coffee grinds, sugar, powdered cream, salt, pepper, garlic powder, season all, a variety of hot sauces, and many other condiments/cooking ingredients. The shared outdoor kitchen is well-stocked with pots/pans, mixing bowls, dishes flatware, cups, etc. We also have items such as aluminum foil, plastic wrap, non-stick spray, cooking oil, etc.
We also provide a 5 gallon jug of filtered water for the use of guests (which we replace as needed). We recommend bringing refillable/lidded bottles to take advantage of the water and to avoid buying bottled water while here. We also keep one gallon of water in the frig, and have ice packs and ice cubes available for guest use.
Guests have access to the 1.5 acre property, which includes a genuine Mayan mound (yes, you WILL find Mayan pottery, guaranteed!) but you have to leave it behind.
Other features include an outdoor dining area/kitchen with a full-size frig and charcoal grill. There is also a double sink and 6-burner gas stove and oven - and lots of countertop space.
We grow fruits, herbs and vegetables. You are welcome to anything ready to harvest! Depending on the time of year herbs include, basil, parsley, oregano, garlic chives, catnip, sage, rosemary & mint! Veggies include tomatoes, onions, lettuce, hot peppers, and more! Fruits include bananas, pineapples, mangos, soursop, dragon fruit, avocado, raspberries, nuts, and more!
There is a 2-person kayak available at no extra charge, as well as two inner tubes for use on the Macal River - which is in our backyard! We recommend guests that want to take out the kayak, paddle up river only in the morning and then casually float back to our property. Pick-up service for the kayak is not available. There are places to stop upriver where you can safely dock our kayak. There are no secure places downriver to dock (other than the Belize Raptor Center). San Ignacio is down river and therefore it is not feasible to kayak to San Ignacio. There are dams on the river, so in the afternoon the river rises and flows quicker - that's why we recommend kayaking only in the morning.
Please note that the bicycles are available to use within our village. They are 'used' bikes and would not fare well on the roads outside of our village.
We have a second bungalow on the property that sleeps 4, if you are looking for something a little bigger.
There are also lots of jungle sounds, including Howler Monkeys, chakalakas (type of bird), parrots, parakeets, toucans and any other number of local inhabitants.