this was my 2nd time staying here and the 2nd was just as awesome as the 1st. I love Cha'a. The service, the villas, the property, the food, all of it is phenomenal! It was my mom's birthday while we were there and I pre-arranged a cake, they set us up a private dinner service under the palapa by the pool with flowers and candles, they really went above and beyond! I would stay there a million more times and recommend it to anyone!
Stayed a couple of days there and really enjoyed every second. The bar was just perfect, the pool, the service, horse-riding, everything was lovable. Not one thing to criticize. We'll be back one day. If you got the possibility to do so, you should experience the Macal River Camp for at least one night.
We booked our trip months in advance having read all of the wonderful reviews, and had high expectations. The trip not only met, but exceeded everything we had hoped for. The staff was absolutely amazing, talk about having the right people in the right places! Ricky was our tour guide taking us to the Belize Zoo, Xunantunich and Cahal Pech. He obviously loves what he does and it shows. We learned so much about the historical sites and the birds and animals of Belize. The restaurant staff was friendly and attentive, and the bartenders were amazing. We had one of the treetop suites and the room was wonderful. The spa was closed while we were there, so we had the tough time of having massages in the room (talk about being spoiled!). The food was also amazing, even the pack lunch we got on our full day excursions! Thank you to the staff, and to the Flemings for being such amazing hosts. We will be back!
-Scott and Nicole
Incredible! What a phenomenal way to experience beautiful Belize. Chaa Creek has it all, at this luxurious ecolodge in the middle of the rain forest. It was a long drive from the airport but the gracious a funny driver made stops along the way. We were so impressed with the knowledge and humor of all the guides. We arrived to the lodge after dark but were instantly enchanted by the romantic lighting and the gorgeous premises. We stayed in the Spa Villa. A gorgeous house at the top of the hill with three bedrooms and enough space for several couples or a large family. The view over the rainforest from the villa seemed to go on forever. Breathtaking. The walk to the main restaurant requires a series of steep stair but it is very easy to go up and down regardless of level of fitness. The food was fair during the evenings but the breakfasts were wonderful. The best part of Chaa Creek is the extensive educational activities on site that are deigned to inspire and educate! The Blue Morpho butterfly breeding center is exceptional and it sits next to a natural history museum. The blue Morpho butterflies are a fluorescent blue and are stunning in the backdrop of the green lush rainforest. Wake up early one morning for the am bird walk! The amount of birds on the grounds are immense. Mishca was the guide and he is so knowledgeable and passionate about the birds he spots high in the treetops. Also stay up late for the Night Crawler Hike. Those shiny sparkles in the grass at night look like glitter, but they are really spider eyes! We learned so much and Allen is exceptional. Much praise is extended to Allen. He was also our guide for the Xuantanich Tour which is a definite must. Beware of the howler monkeys in the trees greeting you as you enter the park. Be sure to climb to the top of the main Temple. The views from this vantage point leave you speechless. Allen was also our guide for the Medicinal Trail Walk. It teaches you that "for Every Ailment or Difficulty on Earth, the Spirits have provided a Cure, you just have to find it" in the rainforest. The cure frequently grows right next to the cause. Fascinating Tour. One of the most relaxing adventures of our stay was the self guided canoe trip down the Macal River. It was so peaceful and lovely. There was only one spot that there was a heavy current but overall a very easy canoe trip. The grounds at Chaa were beautiful. The accommodations were great, but the staff made our stay memorable. The other thatched roof jungle huts on the grounds were very authentic, but we were happy to have the Air conditioning of the spa villa that the other rooms did not have. Belize was very hot during late June when we traveled. Go to Chaa Creek and you will leave with treasured memories that will last a lifetime!
Wow! My husband and I wanted an adventurous yet luxurious experience for our honeymoon and wow, did this place deliver! Every time I think back to our time there I cannot believe how lucky we were to have experienced something so unique.
Our cottage looked out onto the mountains and sitting in our hammocks of an evening after a day of activities was so relaxing. To top it off with some of the delicious cocktails made for a perfect location. We had the most basic of cottages but it still had the largest bed I have ever stayed in, an amazing double bathroom and outdoor shower in our own private garden.
Lying by the pool reading after a long day was just idyllic. However even more special was the night we decided to make the most of the 24 hour opening and swam under the stars - peaceful, romantic, and breath-taking!
Staff were fantastic, especially the tour guides (we did Xunantunich and the ATM – separate reviews completed!) - we had booked private tours and it was well worth it. I highly recommend Ricky, who was so knowledgeable and passionate about Belize and its culture and history that it really ignited our interest even more!
The Coma Massage (a lovely gift from my husband) – at the Hilltop Spa, was exceptional.
The food was expensive but good quality and a nice variety. I have to say we enjoyed the pool side/day time meals as much, if not more, than some of the evening ones.
One of the most unbelievable things is how at home we felt here even during a three night stay. We were so sad to leave, though very lucky that we went on to enjoy yet another Belizean adventure at Matachica.
Do not visit Belize without experiencing this Lodge and the trips which you can go on from it!
Chaa creek review:
I stayed in the Chaa creek lodge with two girlfriends at the end of June. We wanted to have a more rustic but comfortable experience and we got just what we wanted!
Lodging: It was off season so we were often the only ones at our lodge site. Though it is a 'camp site' it is very clean! The showers and bathrooms are cleaned daily and we had no issues with amenities. Since you're surrounded by a rainforest it's not uncommon to see spiders, small reptiles, moths, and even bats (had a few scares in the bathroom). It's all part of the experience though and nothing we were not anticipating. Also, as female travellers, safety was important to us. We felt very safe and comfortable at Chaa. Mosquitos are not that bad but we did come away with 5 or so bites each.
Food: a-mazing. We feel very fortunate to have chosen the lodging option and have breakfast and dinner included with our lodging. In our opinion, the quality and quantity of our meals at the lodge were just as good as a $13 lunch you'd pay for at the resort!
Location: we were certainly in a rainforest! We woke up to sounds of birds and howler monkeys at around 630am every morning. FYI ear plugs and eye masks are handy to bring. The location is great for the ATM (cave excursion) but it is very far from snorkelling. We ended up trekking (by public transportation and cab) 4 hours to the other side of Belize to snorkel because it was something we couldn't pass up. Otherwise, snorkelling from Chaa would cost $300 US each!
Overall experience: fantastic. The staff are wonderful and kind. The manager is also amazing and will do what she can to make sure you enjoy your stay. It really is a getaway ideal for some down time and a chance to reconnect with the simple things. If you're looking for night life or any daytime programs you won't find it here (as you might with other resorts). My friends and I were satisfied with our excursions and spending our time in the infinity pool when we were back at the resort.
I personally think 3 days is an ideal time frame to stay here. Otherwise you may get bored unless you are able to afford many excursions (very pricey but worth every penny).
Finally, Dosio and his family made our experience at the lodge a memorable one. He is so kind and genuinely cares that you enjoy your stay here. He is also a great source of info, whether it be about excursions or Belizean culture. His wife and sister in law prepare the meals and they do a phenomenal job.
Without him and his family, I think it would be an entirely different experience. If you're reading this, management, we think he deserves a promotion :)
Ps. There is a list on their website for handy things to bring. It was a very helpful list- the orientation to excursions is limited or non existent. Just prepare well and use your instincts and you'll have a great time!
