Tanager RainForest Lodge

We loved everything about Tanager Rainforest Lodge, the accommodations, the staff, the food, the grounds, and the wildlife. We flew on Tropic Air from BZE to Punta Gorda and were picked up at the airport in town and driven a short distance to the lodge. We were greeted by several members of the staff and given a delicious welcome drink while we discussed our plans for our stay. We ate most of our meals at the lodge, and everything we had was excellent. Dinners were a choice between a couple of entrees, while breakfast and lunch had a variety of menu choices. The waitstaff was very attentive and we enjoyed having our breakfast outside on the porch. We were in Aracari cabin, along the river. Everything was beautiful in our little cabin. We enjoyed sitting on our porch watching the river. If you are not a fan of unexpected visitors in your cabin, I would not recommend the thatch roof cabins. We weren’t bothered by it, and the mosquito net around the bed kept everything out. We also enjoyed a swim in the pool every day and had lunch there one afternoon. We didn’t have a chance to do the river tubing on the grounds, but it looked fun. We’ll have to make time for it on our next visit. All the tours we did were excellent. We did a full day of birding with Steve Choco, one of the top birding guides in Belize. We saw a good variety of birds on the lodge grounds, at Blue Creek, and at nearby rice fields. Steve was able to find us several elusive life-birds to add to our list. We would also recommend a night drive if you like owls. Steve was able to find us two different species of owl and got us good photographs. We also did a morning tour of a Maya site at Nim Li Punit with Nate, a community local. The site isn’t large, but the numerous stelle are fascinating. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Tanager Lodge and can’t wait to return in the future.

Staff is friendly, helpful, and accommodating. On our extended stay, we interacted with all of them in a personal way. The lodge grounds are well maintained, the cabanas are traditional construction with a palm thatch roof and minimal but comfortable furnishings. Walking trails and the Rio Grande River are availabke to explore on your own. The reason to visit was the “Chocolate and Nature Lovers” package … and that was amazing: guided bird walks, spice farm, Mayan site, manatee and howler monkey day at Monkey Creek, cacao farm, and making lunch with a mayan family. Breakfasts were variations on eggs and bacon for a hearty start to the day. Dinners on site were like those that mom would make - fresh, nutritious, and tasty. Tanager is more rustic in its accommodations than a luxury resort but exquisite in its delivery of a Southern Belize experience.

We just returned from a relaxing week a the Tanager Lodge. The property itself is nestled in the jungle, offering a very serene location perfect for relaxing and trying to unplug. The grounds are forested and surrounded by a river, with lots of wildlife all around. We stayed in a thatched room and it was perfect. The rooms do not have air conditioning, but we were very comfortable the entire time. Rooms do not have wifi and cellphone service is limited, so be prepared to unplug and enjoy the nature that’s all around you. The food and bar were lovely the whole week as well. The dinner menu changed each night and often followed a theme. They had options for various dietary restrictions and the chef was willing to accommodate special requests as well. The bar was a nice option to have on property where we were able to have nice cocktails, some made with local products. It was a good space to chat with other guests and the staff as well. The highlight of the trip were our adventures with Steve, the resident guide. Steve is an expert birder, so if you are looking to see tropical birds, he is definitely your guy. We did a 5 day tour that focused on nature and the Mayan communities. We visited a chocolate farm, mayan sites, the Rio Blanco national park and ate lots of delicious local cuisine. Tanager and Steve are able to recommend or create tours based on your interests and will go the extra mile to make it as enjoyable as possible. The property is under new ownership and the team has a lot of new enhancements coming it sounds like, so the property will only get better! Falling asleep and waking up to the sounds of birds in their habitat was a great experience, making the week very relaxing. We weren’t sure what we were getting into on this trip, but it ended up being just what the doctor ordered and we hope to be able to visit again and unplug in the beautiful Belizean nature.