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Backpackers trekking through the jungle highlands of Belize a few years ago occasionally stumbled onto a rustic place called Blancaneaux Lodge - then a row of thatched huts above an idyllic valley, where waterfalls drop into granite pools lined with tiger ferns while parrots roost in the palmettos. Francis Ford Coppola himself stumbled upon this same enchanted retreat in the Mountain Pine Ridge reserve in 1981. "I'd been looking for some kind of tropical utopia," Coppola says. "This was the paradise hideaway I was looking for." The rest is history... Welcome to Blancaneaux Lodge.
Blancaneaux Lodge
Mountain Pine Ridge Reserve
Cayo District, Belize
Cayo District, Belize
Nearest Airport: BZE
I don’t know how I got so lucky to visit this beautiful place, but I’m so grateful. From the moment we arrived the service was spectacular. Porters took our luggage to the room, and manager Diego gave us a comprehensive overview of the property, amenities, and activities. The room was so gorgeous and comfortable - I want to find their pillows for my home. Anything we needed we just had to ask and the staff always accommodated our needs (of which there were many, as I was with my 4 year old!). Accident in the bed? Immediately cleaned (in addition to morning cleaning and turn-down service at night). She’s not eating all of her meal? We’ll refrigerate it for you and reheat it for her next meal. Can’t make your dinner reservation because you’re tired after a long day? No worries. Want to go to kid camp and play with chickens, ride ponies, and paint? We’ll make it happen and work with your schedule. Want to take your bug-obsessed kid on a bug walk? Let’s do it! Everything was relaxing and supportive. And of course every view was beautiful and the pools were fantastic and the food was insanely good. We went to the Guatemalan restaurant one night and were blown away. Ernesto made fabulous cocktails (mojito with lemongrass really stood out). We visited Caracol one day and learned so much about Maya history and culture. Blancaneaux packed us a massive delicious picnic so we had plenty to eat and lots of energy during the day. I can’t recommend Blancaneaux enough. I hope to be back one day soon ☺️.
Amy G
Our family of four had the most wonderful five-night stay at Blancaneaux. The property is peaceful, the villas gorgeously decorated with Guatemalan carvings and textiles, and the food delicious. The best part, though, was the staff, who were incredibly warm, friendly, and helpful. I highly recommend scheduling a tour of one of the nearby Mayan ruins. Our guide, Geronimo, made it a highlight of our trip. We hope to be back in the not-too-distant future!
OlySilver - Olympia, Washington
I could honestly write a short story about all the things that make Blancaneaux such an amazing and unique place, but I'll spare you the 30,000 words and just say that if you're reading this review because you're going to be in Belize and are considering staying at the Blancaneaux you should just stop here, book it now, and enjoy the fruits of your wise decision. This is a one-of-a-kind experience that would almost be a crime for someone to skip over, and this is coming from a couple that is relatively well-traveled with some pretty awesome experiences under our collective belt. This one at the Blancaneaux was special, however. The blend of secluded tropical rainforest with immaculately-clean resort space is difficult to describe and really something that has to be seen in person to be appreciated. Kinda mind-blowing how they've managed to combine the two so perfectly, like it didn't feel weird or unnatural or "why is there a luxury resort in the middle of the jungle" kinda thing. It's like the lodge was just always there, in the jungle, at one with the wild nature it's enveloped in. Rugged and adventurous, yet somehow clean and luxurious at the same time. There were no individual highlights of our stay here..because literally everything was a highlight. All of it, from start to finish. Our riverfront cabana, every meal we had, every interaction with every single staff member, every guided tour or activity, even the driver who shuttled us back to the airport - all exceptional, polished, and unique. Blancaneaux has clearly spent a wild (pun intended) amount of time refining every aspect of this unique experience, and we are so, so grateful we had the opportunity to enjoy it. Pro tip: while we did see one or two small families here this place really shines as a couples experience, the naturally-romantic vibes here are undeniable.
xenmds - Nashville, Davidson County, Tennessee
Blown away! Blancaneaux Lodge is absolutely beautiful! The grounds, the flora and fauna, the serenity, and the activities are all fantastic! We did sunrise bird watching, horseback riding, multiple walks around the grounds, and a trio to Caracol, which were all spectacular, especially Caracol! Every activity guide was better than the last and so incredibly knowledgeable. The staff were all so warm attentive and friendly. You can tell they are genuinely excited to help you at the front desk, serve you food and drinks, share their knowledge of the country, the landscape, and animals. Take every opportunity you have to experience the activities at the Lodge! We ate at the Guatemalan restaurant one night, the Garden Restaurant (vegetarian) one night (which was such a fantastic experience complete with a garden tour), and the main restaurant the rest of our 5 day stay. A staff member told us that 70% of the food at the Lodge is grown on the grounds and all of the food at the Garden restaurant is grown in the garden! Such a treat! I thought for a second that maybe we'd be bored with the restaurants because there was literally nothing else around (we are accostomed to venturing around and going off resort on vacations), but no way! The food was excellent and never fell short! I cannot say enough wonderful things about the Lodge. Our room was enormous and so incredibly relaxing and beautiful inside and outside. The landscape and surrounding area were like nothing I have experienced before and I learned so much about the ecosystem, history of Belize and the Mayan civilization. Staying here uplifted my spirit and mind! I wholeheartedly would recommend this place to friends, couples or families!
buttercup525 - New York City
Stayed here with my family, to include children ages 13, 10, 7. What a fun and unique lodging experience. Book all of your tours and transfers with them so that things are seamless, and by all means take the cooking class in the garden. It's charming!
TravelinGal3360 - Highland Falls, New York, USA
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We stayed at the Turtle Inn and Blancaneaux Lodge for a week in October, and it was the best vacation we have ever taken. The cabanas and cottages were lovely, the staff was incredible, and the food was outstanding. It's rare that you come home from vacation without a single negative thing to say - our only criticism is that we couldn't stay longer! It was truly an amazing experience.
-M. Royer