We were a party of 8, not all into physical challenges, and traveling to Belize for the first time. We wanted a base to travel to the Mayan ruins in Belize for the first part of our vacation followed by time at the seashore for the second. Our travel agent selected Crystal Paradise resort. It was the perfect place for our group.

The time we spent at Crystal Paradise was busy and exciting.
Many of us did things here that we had never done before, from cave tubing, to swimming under a waterfall, to bird watching for toucans. And we were able to visit two spectacular Mayan sites.

The hospitality and friendliness of the Tut family was tremendous.

Eric sort of adopted us and was our guide on most of our trips and transfers. His knowledge of the region, history , and wildlife as well as his great sense of humor made the time we spent with him both fun and educational. His patience and personality enabled some people in our party to perform activities that they never would have without his help. Also, arrange a morning birdwatching walk around the grounds with Eric. He is amazing at spotting and identifying the many birds inhabiting this valley.

The trip to Tikal was a highlight. It is an amazing place. The arrangements made by Crystal Paradise for that trip were excellent. ( But, Guatemala roads are unbelievable. Also, since some of our group were reluctant to walk the whole site, it would be good if the available option to ride to the various sites is made more apparent.)
Xunantunich was a pleasant surprise and a very interesting site.

We substituted the cave tubing trip for the canoeing on Eric's recommendation, and it was a highlight of the trip.

The accommodations at Crystal Paradise were very comfortable and always clean. The family style eating area and honor bar promoted easy conversations and information exchanges with other guests and the food was comfortable (in the best sense) and more than plentiful. Jeronie and the rest of the family were welcoming and helpful with any and all requests we made.

I would, and already have recommended Crystal Paradise to anyone interested in traveling to Belize.

Lifetime memories. Awesome hosts. Idyllic setting. Spectacularly accommodating.

Our holiday at Crystal Paradise gave us significantly more than we expected. This is a family owned and run hospitality center, run by one of the kindest, most nurturing and honestly caring families you will ever encounter. Our airport pick up was flawless and the journey to the resort included a lunch stop at the 'famous' roadside restaurant near the Belize zoo. Once we arrived, Jeronie helped insure our accommodations met our families needs and that our excursions were well coordinated.

The hand-built thatch-roofed huts offer plenty of space for everyone. You are unplugged from the frenzied pace of life in the States without feeling isolated. While the offerings of excursions are varied and authentic, many guests opt to enjoy the peace and quiet of the jungle ranch with reading, siestas and nature walks. Our family was invited to explore the beautiful landscape around the ranch on horseback with youngest son Andy as guide.

Miss Teresa, the matriarch, expertly prepares (from scratch) all the meals. Tasteful and healthy, these authentic local dishes are served family style in an open air pavilion complete with stocked bar and refrigerated drinks. We were most impressed with the honor system used to tally drinks.

Our family includes small children and Mr. Viktor and Miss Teresa were keenly aware of our desire to expose them to the beauty of the region, while maintaining a comfortable level of security. On our daytrip to Tikal, we were escorted to the Guatemalan border, through passport control and received by a reputable guide. At the end of the adventure, again, we were escorted through the boarder and greeted by another member of the Tut family to return to Crystal Paradise.

Our time spent in the rainforest at Crystal Paradise and surrounding area was amazing! We will happily return, sadly not soon enough.

There is only one way to stay in Belize-with the Tut family! And not just stay but have them plan a trip for you. This is the perfect full service lodge for ecotourism. I have traveled with them 3 times and enjoyed it all.

Jeronine is an excellent naturalist and will help you see and identify many species of birds and animals you may see while staying there. If you are traveling with them to many of the close by natural destinations then they will make sure all your questions are answered. And they will take you to some beautiful spots and great cultural sites as you visit. her is not the only one that can help with the flora and fauna of the area, many members of the family have an expansive knowledge of what is in the area. And all the tours are well planned and well done.

The rooms are great! The are comfortable, open and have great facilities. You get to hear the sounds of wildlife around the area and have some great views. The hammocks out front are great for a mid day nap. And it is a good place to sip coffee and listen.

The food is fantastic and prepared by members of the family. It has fresh ingredients, is nicely spiced, and beats any restaurant you many go to. I only wish they would adopt me so I could eat there all the time.

The location of the lodge is both beautiful and close to where you need to be. There is swimming, canoing and places to visit close by for interesting presents.

Be smart, book with Crystal Paradise so you can truly enjoy Belize and all it has to offer. I think anything else would be a disappointment.

From my email exchanges with our hosts prior to our trip, to personal care extended by each member of the family, the Crystal Paradise Resort provided an excellent vacation adventure.

One aspect that surprised and pleased me were the interesting young travelers we met while excitedly discovering rare birds, sharing tasty
family style meals, getting first hand reports of each day's adventure
from those who just came back from one we planned to do the next day.

The package of Crystal Paradise Resort in the jungle and Singing Sands
Inn on the beach in Placencia worked very well for us, "The 4 Ladies",
as our hosts dubbed us. All arrangements were made for us, transportation was expertly arranged and included in the package, hosts in both venues were interesting and very hospitable, putting our
enjoyment first.

If you are looking for adventure in a clean, friendly enviroment with knowledgeable hosts,and interesting fellow guests. the Jungle and Sea Package is for you. A great way to become aquainted with a small section of Central America.