If you are looking for a small inn for a romatic getaway in the forests and hills of inner Belize, this is the place to go!

Hidden Valley is a small inn (only 12 bungalows, 24 people) that is nestled in the waterfall region outside of San Ignacio. The staff here (from the GM Karen and the mgr Misael to the wait staff and bar tenders) are superb: fun and funny, attentive without being cloying, and excellent at their jobs.

The bungalows are sizable, clean (not a bug in sight inside), and comfortable (albeit not air conditioned, but there's a great mountain breeze at night).

There's a nice pool for afternoon dips and a hot tub (which was nice and hot, but the blower was broken) to soothe away any aching muscles from a day hiking the innumerable trails.

There are a number of spectacular waterfalls to visit (on foot or they'll take you). But the very best is doing the private waterfalls lunch at Orchid Falls. For this, they take you for a jeep ride for 20 minutes or so along a single lane dirt road. Ten minutes into the ride you encounter a gate which is unlocked and driven through. You finally arrive at this mountain stream, along which you walk for 507 mnutes or so until you turn a corner and see a gorgeous waterfall. At the base of the pool is another bungalow...which is all yours (and only yours) for the day. The drivers then leave you, drive out, and lock the gate behind them so that no one (and I mean no one!) will visit, disturb, or peek at you ;-)

Upon entering the bungalow, you find white linen table-clothed tables, iced champagng (that was delivered just ahead of your arrival), a huge cooler full of an incredibly tasty lunch, and a hammock. When you step outside the other end of the bungalow, you find a nice deck for sunning, with steps that lead down into the water for a swin in the stream and up to the falls (so make sure to bring your bathing suit...or don't ;-)

The hours fly by at Orchid Falls as you while away the day floating in inner tubes, hiking up the falls, or just sleeping in the hammock. It's a home run! (so much so that we decided to cancel a day of exploring ruins and went back to Orchid Falls again!).

We also spent a day on a horseback ride through the jungles and mountains, including a visit down into an old Mayan cave (which was really cool!). The owner of the ride/cave, Joe and his dogs Princess and Champion, take great care of you and you end up at yet another spectacular waterfall for lunch!

If you're looking for a true Belizean experience (not just beach), good food, great service, fun people, and good lodgings, I HIGHLY recommend visiting Hidden Valley!

We just returned from Belize 2 days ago on a trip split between a stay at Hidden Valley Inn and The Victoria House on Ambergris Caye. Its hard to capture the incredible experiences we had on paper - but I'll try.

Mountain Pine Ridge Reserve has landscapes that seem as though they have been picked from th epages of a beautiful outdoor magazine. It's easy to imagine the jungle paradise that surrounded the Maya as the roamed these mountainsides thousands of years ago. True, that as mentioned in many other reviews, the beetles have done quite a bit of damage to the trees, but the dmage did little in my opinion to impact the appreciation of the region's natural wonders.

Hidden Valley Inn is about 20 miles off the beaten (read paved) track in Western Belize. My husband and I rented a car at the Int'l airport and drove the route to the Inn ourselves. We stopped at the Belize zoo along the way and grabed lunch at a little roadside stand. The ride was enjoyable - until we hit Chiquibil road (the unpaved portion). I anticipated a bumpy ride - but the road really barely qualifies as a means of pass through the jungle - its VERY VERY bumpy - but once you get up to Hidden Valley - I thought it was all worth it. The inn is gorgeous with beautiful grounds and the most welcoming pool and hottub (dont underestimate the need for the pool - - it was about 85 degrees and 80% humidity when we arrived last week). The staff is so helpful and friendly - and by the end of the three day stay were greeting us by name.

We stayed in casa #6 - a great room - well appointed and immaculately kept. They stock the bathroom with skin so soft to help you fight the bugs - I applied it religiously and had absolutely no issue with the critters. The fireplace was great - we retired to the casa after dinner with a few glasses of wine and enjoyed the fireplace - it really does cool down quite a bit at night - - so no ac was no problem.

The food was very good. breakfast is continental - with a choice of hot entrees as well - we ate the bagged lunch 2x and thought it was great. Dinner---well it was very good - but not the best meals we had on teh trip - - my husband found the portions small, and didn't love the meat (used to cornfed american beef)

Outtings - we did ATM, Caracol and hikes to Butterfly and Sacred Pools. ATM was unbelievable - a word to the wise - - you have to squeeze through some tight quarters and will be wading through water the whole time in the dark - I loved it - - but a few in our group were a bit anxious. The cave was CROWDED when we were there - and there is word that reguation will be handed down soon regarding roping areas off etc as recently pottery has been breaking from human encounters. Also - - bring socks - the last part of the hike is around pottery and human remains and you will need to take your shoes off - - the socks were a big help in protecting my feet. Caracol - awe inspiring - - they have only excavated about 6% of the ruins - GO WITH A GUIDE - it makes all the difference in comprehending the scale of the city and the daily activities and influences impacting the people that lived there. We went with Rick - he's a great guy to spend the day with and was incredibly knowledgeable on the Mayan Culture.

Butterfly Falls and Sacred Pools - these waterfalls are exclusive to hotel guests and we had both to ourselves. The hikes are abit steep - but well worth it. Enjoy!

I booked at Hidden Valley after reading the rave reviews on line and in Fodors, anticipating a great finish to a two-week adventure in Belize. As we drove along the rutted road, winding through the hills up to the property, we started to see signs of extreme deforestation. The voracious beetles did their job well, to the detriment of the much-vaunted pine forest. While the hikes to the falls and lower regions were lovely because one escapes the pine forest and heads to the broadleaf forest in the gulleys, the property itself is surrounded by dead pine poles.

When we first arrived, we sat for lunch and watched those who'd been at Hidden Valley a couple of days come in for their meals. To a person, they were covered in awful looking hives. The black fly attacks the moment you leave the protection of screened rooms, biting painlessly but leaving itching, painful wounds that last far beyond the time of the trip. No canopy and few birds means lots of bugs. For a simple hike, bike ride or bird-watching/seeking expedition, it takes full Deet coverage to endure. For the price, which is expensive, I was profoundly disappointed, having expected a spectacular setting. In another 10 to 15 years, which the locals say is what it will take for the pine forest to recover, this may be a lovely place to visit. But in the meantime don't go expecting a gorgeous or picturesque setting. We were very disappointed.

Unlike Black Rock Lodge (see review), Hidden Valley does it right from the moment you arrive- a welcome with cold towels and freshly made juice, while the property and tour options are explained in a genuine and non-imposing manner. Accomodations are top notch- your own fireplace for cool nights, beautifully appointed rooms with comfortable beds and linens, and immaculately clean. Dining is not to be missed- several selections of some of the best meals we have had anywhere- they even sell their own cookbook.

The resort offers incredible on-site hiking opportunities to hidden falls and pools to swim, with incredible scenery. But for us what makes Hidden Valley special are the management and staff, who are always welcoming and genuinely appreciative of your choosing to stay at their property.

Road is a challenge, but also an experience.