My husband and I are mature travelers who enjoy new experiences and adventure, but we like our creature comforts too. All our standards were met during a week at Mariposa Jungle Lodge in the Cayo area of Belize. The proprietors, Jim and Sharyn, convey their enthusiasm about nature and jungle life, Mayan ruins and culture, and the opportunities to explore this beautiful country. Following their recommendations, we visited caves by foot, canoe and tube. With the outstanding guides they employ, we compared Caracol to Tikal and learned about local flora, medicinal plants and fauna in the process. The food was great at the Lodge and Sharyn prepared a lovely picnic lunch for us to eat on our outing to Caracol and the Mountain Pine Ridge sights. The highlight of the trip was the unique “Culture Tour” in which we not only learned about the nearby villages, but were invited into several homes to meet the local people and learn about their lifestyle, customs and beliefs. We learned how to make a delicious bean dip and fresh tortillas, which we sampled along with other typical Belizean food items. Our spacious cabaña was surrounded by natural jungle flora, including the Black Orchid which we learned is the national flower of Belize. The king-size canopy bed was very comfortable and the mosquito netting reduced our concern about jungle life joining us in bed. The thatch roof and screened-in porch gave us the jungle ambiance we’d hoped for, while the extensive tiling assured cleanliness. We were glad we stayed at Mariposa Jungle Lodge and recommend it highly.
Rita & Bjorn, Kew Gardens, NY

We stayed at the Mariposa over the holidays and had a wonderful stay.

The cabins are beautiful and the food is good. The lodge is located in the Mountain Pine Ridge area which is definitely worth seeing but be prepared for the bumpy dirt roads.

Sharyn is a wonderful host and made sure that our trip was well organized. She took the time to email us with advice on things to do and not do. She also salvaged our overnight trip to Tikal when we found we could not drive our rental car over the border (some rental car companies allow this but others do not)

All in all, I strongly recommend the Mariposa. It is still a new property so it is not as well know as some others. . .but with experiences like we had I am sure they will build a great reputation.