We picked Hickatee because of the rave reviews. . .and were rewarded! Ian and Kate could not be nicer hosts, just the kind of people you hope you'll find. GREAT food (breakfast AND dinner are available) , comfortable, very clean rooms, and lots of little extras like extra fluffy towels, insulated water bottles available to take on trips, lots of nice, big umbrellas, and two trails cut through the jungle right behind the cottages. Visitors are serenaded by howler monkeys, chukalukas (sp?), parrots, toucans, woodpeckers etc etc. Ian and Kate really know the area and people, and went the extra mile to set up tours, special events (like visits to the butterfly farm), and knowing where to eat (and not). Sitting on the veranda of the lodge, listening to local music CDs, sharing beers with other guests is a great way to end the day. For those of us older than 18 who don't sleep on the floor anymore, but still want to experience something other than a swingin' resort full of Americans, this is a great option. We really enjoyed the other guests, too, and suspect Kate and Ian's "karma" tends to draw nice people.

Kate and Ian own and operate wonderful cottages located in the jungle just outside of Punta Gorda Town in Toledo District, Belize. They have carved out a small piece of paradise, removing only enough flora to make room for their quaint, tasteful, and reasonably priced cottages. They know the landscape, are actively involved in the Punta Gorda community, and can answer any question you have about the region - from where the best night life is to the names of indigenous plants.

Although we stayed just one night at Hickatee Cottages during our 2 week vacation in Belize, we wish in hindsight that we had planned to stay for several days or more (and tried to, but they were all booked up!). Everything about Hickatee is warm and welcoming, from the deluxe towels to the amazing food prepared by Kate using locally grown and organic ingredients. They went out of their way to make sure we made the most of our time in the Punta Gorda area, even several days after we had stayed at their cottages.

Perhaps the highlight of our time at Hickatee was borrowing the bicycles Kate and Ian have available for their guests and riding on the dirt road through the jungle to Punta Gorda Town. We highly recommend staying at their place - you will not regret it! Just be sure to make reservations far in advance - particulary if visiting during high season.

Belize is beautiful, Toledo charming, Punta Gorda - laid back Caribbean charm, Hickatee Cottages - home from home with none of the hard work, Kate - the best roaster of chickens ever and provider of the sweetest smelling linen, Ian - an absolute mine of information to bring the jungle alive . Together they make Hickatee a place of calm, comfort, adventure and discovery. An unmissable experience which I would like to keep a secret for selfish reasons. And also to stop Ian and Kate from working so hard. They really are the reason why it Hickatee is such a dream .

PS. I am writing this to the 'Sounds of Belize' - just to keep the good vibes flowing.

Hickatee is absolutely perfect. The cottages are gorgeous, the beds are exceptional, and everything is outstandingly comfortable. The jungle just near the cottages makes a nice hike and there are innumerable creatures to keep you company: In a couple of hours, I saw a beautiful tucan and assorted other birds, a snake, and several adorable lizards. That's all fantastic, but by far the best bit is Ian & Kate. Along with their amazing staff, they are truly among the most friendly, kind, charming, and helpful people I've ever met. Kate is lovely to chat with, makes delicious food, and even packed some delicious banana muffins (at 5.30 in the morning, no less) the day I left. Ian is an incredible font of knowledge about, well, an inordinate number of things, especially the local flora. Besides providing a great welcome for my first trip to Belize and helping tirelessly with arranging things for me, Ian & Kate really provided fascinating perspective and insight into the goings on -- they are very much conscientious of the impact that they make on both the environment and people around them: They make every effort to support local businesses & people and to maintain the cottages in as ecologically-friendly a way as possible. I look very much forward to my next visit with them.