Tanager Rainforest Lodge offers the best of a Belize jungle adventure with an authentic Maya experience. The lodge is located on the banks of the Rio Grande, the gateway to the Maya Mountains. Learn about Maya culture with local families in the villages, while trying your hand at making an authentic Belizean lunch and homemade chocolates, and taking a Garifuna drumming lesson. You'll also have the opportunity to go kayaking, cave tubing, birding, zip-lining, and more. Spend your evenings relaxing at the lodge and sharing stories of the day with your fellow travelers.
Highlights
Visit a local market to purchase the ingredients for your traditional lunch
Visit the Warasa Garifuna Drum School and participate in a class
Meet Maya villagers as they teach you their craft
Choose from a variety of activities offered at the lodge
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
Upon arrival at the Belize International Airport you will be escorted to Tropic Air and fly to Punta Gorda, a one hour flight with two stops along the way. In Punta Gorda, you will meet your guide and drive 20 miles to the lodge, located on the banks of the Rio Grande River. Enjoy dinner and a relaxing evening at the lodge.
This morning your guide will take you 18 miles past the Maya villages of San Antonio and Santa Cruz to Rio Blanco National Park. Along the way you will stop to visit Lubaantun, an archaeological site dating from 700-900 AD, nestled in the magical Maya jungle. Lubaantun is best known for its large collection of miniature ceramic objects found during excavations. These are thought to have been used as amulets in rituals.
Continue on to Rio Blanco National Park, where you'll explore with your guide. This park was declared an "Indigenous People's Park" in 1992. The reserve is managed by the surrounding Maya villages who are dedicated to its preservation. Enjoy a guided hike, a picnic, and a swim in one of the waterfalls before returning to the lodge this evening.
After breakfast, take a short hike to the Maya House on the lodge grounds, where Norma and Erwin will demonstrate handicrafts made from materials gathered from the surrounding jungle. With Erwin's guidance, you will try your hand at making Maya crafts. This tour fosters a deep appreciation for the artistry involved in making baskets, shoulder bags, palm fans, and calabash carvings.
Later in the afternoon, choose from a variety of activities offered at the lodge: relax in the swimming pool, go kayaking, tubing on the river, zip-lining, or take a nature walk around the property.
After a full day of activities, enjoy dinner and a free evening at the lodge.
This morning you have the option of getting up early for a guided bird walk around the lodge grounds. Your guide is an expert birder who will help you spot and identify the local woodpeckers, trogons, parakeets, and toucans.
Later in the morning you will visit the Ixcacao Maya Belizean Chocolate facility in the nearby San Felipe village. Ixcacao is a boutique factory owned by a Maya family of chocolatiers and is known for its delectable, sustainably produced, environmentally conscious chocolate. Enjoy a lunch that will delight your palate with its unique chocolate flavors, courtesy of Ixcacao.
After lunch, head to Punta Gorda to visit the Warasa Garifuna Drum School, founded by master drummer and teacher, Ronald "Ray" McDonald. Experience the vibrancy of Belizean culture through the unique Garifuna rhythms as you participate in a lively drumming lesson.
The evening is yours for dinner and relaxation at the lodge.
Day 5: Maya Culinary Experience and Kayaking or Caving
Today your guide will drive you to Blue Creek Village, where Yona and Vince Maya will welcome you into their home. They will share their knowledge of the organic fruits, vegetables, and spices that grow around their home. Together, you will roll up your sleeves and prepare an authentic Belizean lunch.
This afternoon you can choose between two activities:
- Kayaking on the Rio Grande: You'll be transported 5 miles upstream to San Miguel Village, where you'll be outfitted with a Hobie (sit-on-top) kayak, and then float downstream back to the lodge. Along the way you can enjoy the river scenery and even have a chance to spot some local wildlife.
- Blue Creek Cave Swim: You'll be transported 15 miles south to Blue Creek Cave, where you'll hike 30 minutes to the mouth of the cave, then swim upstream inside the cave to a point where the river cascades from a fissure in the cavern wall.
Return to the lodge for dinner.
Day 6: Depart Tanager Rainforest Lodge
1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch
Enjoy your last morning at the lodge before returning to the international airport or continuing your journey in Belize.
Apologies for the inconvenience. Prices for not yet published. Below per person rate based on previous season. Contact us to confirm upcoming season pricing.
Prices for are estimated based on inflation. Contact us to confirm pricing and availability for your desired departure date.
Initial deposit is $400, and most travelers will call our office and pay the deposit with a credit card.
Final payment is due 70 days (10 weeks) prior to departure by bank transfer, check or credit card. All final payments by credit card may be subject to a surcharge and maximum of $20,000 charge
Our guide and driver were very good with their knowledge and were very helpful with our questions. It was a very pleasant visit that would have been impossible to do on our own. Hotels and restaurants were fantastic. The special places we got to go to, like the kitchens, were great. Enjoyed the entire trip!
