My husband and I stayed at Ek' Tun for the last four days of our honeymoon in Belize. It was everything we hoped for and more!

Driving to Ek' Tun from San Ignacio, we followed the directions to the lodge driving through citrus groves, cattle farms, and teak plantations to a spot by the river (near a few waterfalls) where we parked our car and where Phyllis, the warm inn keeper, picked us up to take us across the river to the lodge.

There are two cottages on this breathtakingly property. The one we stayed in was furnished with furniture beautifully handmade by the innkeeper herself using wood from her property. Pieces of Mayan pottery, found in a cave behind the cottage, lined shelves on the wall. The thatched roof and screened windows made us feel like part of the jungle while keep enough critters out to make us feel comfortable and safe. There is no electricity in the guest cottages, so every night around 4 o'clock the kerosene lanterns are lit and cast a luminous glow. It was so secluded and romantic. The perfect honeymoon hideaway.

A short walk from our cottage, there is an amazing natural pool where Phyllis somehow channeled a waterfall to flow into a wading pool that looks like a tropical oasis.

Phyllis was so gracious and welcoming it truly felt like we were guests in her home. The food was exceptional (I believe I suggested she make a cookbook after nearly every meal). She cooked Belizean and international cuisine. Everything was fresh and flavorful. Phyllis ate with us every night and the easy, intelligent conversation made us feel like each night we were having dinner with an old friend.

I recommend Ek' Tun without reservation. It was a once in a lifetime experience.

Phyllis' beautiful world is inviting, comforting, fun and absolutely delicious. We realize now, after being home for a few weeks, that our stay at Ek' Tun is indescribable. It is impossible to articulate the numerous ways my wife and I were positively affected by the experience. Ek' Tun is a place that will consistently remind us of peace and happiness and a place we will look forward to revisiting in the future. With an open mind and a good attitude Ek' Tun offers limitless possibilities.

From the moment we turned off the Western Highway we started leaving the rest of the world behind. Ek'Tun is truly a magical place away from everything. From the first landing on the banks of the Macal River and up the path to the cabana, we fell completely under Ek'Tun's spell. This is a very special place. Phyllis is the perfect host, and we were totally spoiled. We spent everyday with a new adventure either on the hundreds of acres of the property, or exploring archealogical sites in Belize. Phyllis knows the best of the guides and we had superb trips out. Meals are perfect, and we began looking forward to each breakfast and dinner with great expectation. We were never disappointed! We cannot wait to return and experience this special place all over again.

P.S. The Howler monkey is gone to live with it's tribe in the jungle and we never heard them!

It has been a few years since my wife and I stayed at EkTun and I would like to mirror the positive reviews.
We stayed there for three nights in April 2004, the only guests, so we had the place to ourselves.
Absolutely beautiful, in a genuinely interesting area.
We spent our evenings , after delicious fresh home cooked dinners talking local politics, world affairs and anything else that popped up until late with Phyllis (who had opinions about everything much to my delight ) and awoke each morning to the delightful aroma of fresh coffee by our door.
During the day we kayaked into San Ignacio and hiked into the mountans but only after Phyllis gave us a "machete just in case" which seemed odd but on second thought made sense.
The gardens, property, spring fed pool, guest palapas, and all the complementing infrastructure was so well managed that it was hard to believe she took care of it all with only the help of a few very industrious workers. I could not even begin to understand how they hauled all the materials across the river and managed to build the place in such a short time, especially the swimming pool... I guessed magic.
At that time Phyllis had two dogs a few cats and the monkey which was still a baby. The monkey, like most pets , was adorable then, she ignored me but loved Samantha. Phyllis treated the staff and the animals like family.

If we were to visit the area again, EkTun would be our first choice for lodging.