Black Rock Lodge, San Ignacio, Belize

Location:

This unique eco-lodge is nestled in the dense rainforest above the Macal River in the Mayan Mountains of Belize. It offers peace and relaxation due to its beautiful natural Belizean surroundings. Its location is great for bird watching and doing outdoor activities, such as canoeing, hiking, horseback riding, and so on. Specifically, the lodge is located in the San Ignacio area which is about a 30-minute drive to the Guatemalan border. A 4 x 4 vehicle is required to reach the lodge as it is in a secluded area and you are required to drive over a short stretch of a dirt path to reach the lodge. Alternatively, you can arrange for transportation through the lodge. We rented our own transportation and enjoyed the adventurous drive to the lodge.

Room Comfort:

The rooms are actually fairly large and comfortable detached cabins. There are 13 cabins in total, ranging from waterfall deluxe to cliff view cabins. All cabins have a private bath and a private porch. Each cabin has windows on all sides which allowed a lot of natural light to enter throughout the day, but also allowed the beautiful sounds of the river and rainforest to enter as we fell asleep. The cabins are also very sturdy and well made so the bugs stayed on the outside, giving us a nice place to retreat to from the surrounding nature. The cabins do not have air conditioning, but contain ceiling fans and are designed in such a way that allows a nice breeze to enter, cooling them off at night.  We stayed in the River View Cabin and really enjoyed the cabin and location.

Cleanliness:

The cabins and lodge were very clean and well maintained.

Service:

The service was excellent. We received quick replies to our email inquires and were greeted with a warm welcome upon arrival. Check-in and check-out were simple and hassle-free. Although check-out was a bit more problematic since we didn't have exact change to pay for the cabin and it was difficult for the staff to find change, eventually that staff did find the change we needed. The staff is very friendly and professional. The staff can arrange for a number of on site activities and tours to surrounding areas.

Food:

The food at the on-site restaurant was good. They provided fresh and organic fruits and vegetables; however, we felt the breakfast was a little overpriced  and was not included with the booking of the accommodation.

Overall Value:

We truly enjoyed our stay here. The cabins and lodge are very nice and the surrounding rainforest is beautiful. It is a great place to spend some time to enjoy nature. We would recommend this lodge to those looking for a quiet, comfortable and peaceful place to relax or to get in touch with nature. If you are driving to Tikal, Guatemala, this is a great place to spend a couple of nights at. Despite its isolated location, it's about half way to Tikal from the coast of Belize. We will certainly stay here again when we visit Belize.

Other Notes:

This lodge is an eco-friendly resort and is working hard to minimize their environmental footprint. Great job!

Our Rating: 4.5/5   Year Reviewed: 2008

For the best possible price, please visit Expedia.ca or Hotels.com. You can also visit the hotel's website at: www.blackrocklodge.com

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