Located close to Punta Gorda in Toledo, southern Belize, the Lodge at Big Falls is the district's premier inland resort. Offering not only elegant accommodation, fine food and drink, the lodge will introduce you to eco-tours of the local Mayan people and culture through easy access to the natural wonder and archaeological history of the area.
Being a small, family run lodge, six thatched cottage style cabanas are suitable for either single or family accommodations. Each cabana has a queen size double and either an extra single bed or full size bunks. The Lodge also has a full service restaurant and bar. Lodge meals offer a range of local and international dishes, with vegetarian, vegan, kashrut, and children's alternatives.
The lodge is also a licensed tour operator offering a wide range of tours and activities within its packages and all of them include a mix of natural history as well as cultural encounters with local people.
Birding
The Lodge at Big Falls provides an exciting environment for birding and birders. The property includes a variety of habitats which attract many different species. From sungrebes, herons and kingfishers on the river to oropendolas, woodpeckers and orioles in the orchard. The relative silence of the pre-dawn is broken by the calls of chachalacas, melodious blackbirds, parrots and parakeets among many others.
Birding Facts:
- 490 species recorded in Toledo district
- 350 species recorded within five miles of the lodge
- 300 species have been observed by Lodge staff
Family Adventures
Most of the lodge's day tours include adventures that can be enjoyed by all the family from the children to the grandparents. When the older folk need some relaxation there is plenty to safely ocupy the children around the lodge property. The Lodge offers badminton, horse shoes, table tennis, bocce ball (petanques) and frisbees for guests to enjoy the meadows surrounduing the lodge and cabanas.
Organic Cacao Farming
Visit Miguel Choco�s house and kitchen garden where he grows dozens of species of exotic fruit and vegetable as a well as cocoa. Enjoy a home cooked vegetarian meal and sample the traditional cacao and corn drink.
Blue Creek Cave
Hike to the cave entrance and swim upstream inside the cave through tall caverns. Adventure for every generation.
Monkey River
Explore the banks of Monkey River and see crocodiles, turtles and birds. Try food free from the forest with Percy Gordon �King of the Howlers� who will call the monkeys to you.
Rio Blanco River
Kayak the Rio Grande from San Miguel village downstream to the lodge. See iguanas, coatimundi, river otters, white-tailed deer and many species of heron, kingfisher and other birds. Or, enjoy the Rio Blanco National Park with its wonderful deep bathing pool below the waterfall. Take the hike to the cable suspension bridge on a mile and half jungle loop trail.
This was our first trip to South America and we were a little nervous. But Adventure Life made things so easy! All our questions were answered before we left, and our guide, Vidal, was amazing! He gave us enough space to explore without rushing us along. He also knew where the best picture taking opportunities were, which was great.