Lodge at Chaa Creek

Chaa Creek truly deserves all the five star reviews here - so I will add my voice to all the praise! My husband and I splurged for the Ix Chel villa for the first three nights, and since I booked last minute we had to switch to a different room the last night. It was all done seamlessly. The Ix Chel villa with the private plunge pool might have been the most luxurious accommodations we have ever stayed in (we have traveled a lot) It was stunning, with floor to ceiling windows facing the rainforest, huge outdoor area with dining table, comfy loungers, plunge pool and the sounds of the river floating up from below. We spent more time than we planned at the villa, because it was so inviting in every way. When you book the Ix Chel villa, you "also enjoy the unobtrusive yet attentive service of a personal butler..." We've not encountered that level of service before, we weren't sure what to expect, but then there was Candy! Oh what a lovely person - she really made our stay at Chaa Creek extra special. She set up romantic dinners for us, greeted us at breakfast each morning, brought us lunch to our villa, arranged tours, helped me procure some things I forgot to bring from home, really whatever we needed. She was so gracious and kind and we really enjoyed her company as well - thank you Candy!! On our last day there we did the day trip to Tikal - incredible and an absolute must in my opinion - when we returned Candy had arranged for all our bags to be moved into our new room so we didn't worry about a thing. Although not as large, the Macal Riverview Suite was beautiful as well, and we did not have a problem sleeping with the multiple fans in the room (Ix Chel does have AC) The grounds at Chaa Creek are beautiful and lovingly maintained, The entire staff is friendly and helpful, we enjoyed the constant sounds and sights of tropical birds, the butterfly house, and amazingly we did not have any issues with biting insects. And the food - Outstanding!! Some of the best food we have encountered while traveling (and we are from NYC and DC to boot!) I really don't have a single negative thing to say about Chaa Creek- just highly recommend!

We just returned from an absolutely magical stay at Chaa Creek! From the oldest (84) to the youngest (7), all 11 of us had a wonderful stay. The Chaa Creek reservation clerk, Christine, spent a lot of time helping us to figure out how to spend a few days at the beach (Chabil Mar) and a few days at Chaa Creek. She also arranged all of our transportation, which made everything easy. We stayed in several cottages as well as the Wright House. All were lovely and comfortable. The Wright House is a climb, but the staff was always willing to find an ATV to transport us at the end of the day. We did the Xunantunich tour - Ricky was great taking the kids off the trail to crack nuts open with rocks and explain how the Mayans used them for food, medicine, soap and glue. We did the Creatures of the Night Walk. Floated down the river in inner tubes. The dads and kids did the ATV tour while the moms snuck off to the spa for some wonderful massages. We checked out the butterfly house and wished we had more time to spend in the Natural History Museum. We stopped at the zoo on the way to the airport. The grounds are lovely. It’s like staying in a botanical garden. There is staff everywhere and they always greet you and ask how your stay is. The food is over-the-top delicious. We did the 4 course tasting menu every night. Breakfast and lunch were outstanding as well, and the bartenders were always ready to provide a tropical drink or load the kid’s juice up with fruit and extra cherries. The pool was a hit with everyone and we had lunch there one day. Chaa Creek is a perfect spot, whether you are looking for action or just want to relax. We cannot recommend it highly enough. It’s a splurge - and worth every penny.

We had 3 nights at the Lodge at Chaa Creek. This is located a 15-20 minute drive outside the nearest town. It is a comfortable resort type development. The bedrooms were enormous with very comfortable beds and effective air conditioning. Would have liked a door on the toilet area to give more privacy. The restaurant has an expensive and rather fancy set meal in the evening but if you ask they allow you to order off the lunch menu which is varied and more reasonably priced. The hotel organises a number of activities (most of them at an additional charge). We also enjoyed a visit to the local town. The botanical gardens which are a couple of miles away, were great and you can have a guide at a low cost. The staff and service was all very nice.

Had a lovely day. We had two different rooms: a Jacuzzi room and a renovated room. The renovated room was spacious and air-conditioned, but the Jacuzzi room essentially has no walls. All the walls are screens. There is no air conditioning. And you are in the middle of the jungle. So it will be quite warm and humid at night. Any wet clothing will not dry. Only one of the four nights was too hot, but be warned if you choose an unrenovated room especially at the height of the season when temperatures are even hotter. The food here is excellent. They even had gluten-free options, Which made my stay a lot easier. The staff is kind and helpful and friendly. The location is fantastic for doing excursions to the ATM cave, zip lining, and cave tubing. And exploring Mayan ruins.

We just returned from our third visit at Chaa Creek. It truly is a magical place. This time we were given a complementary upgrade to one of the Ix Chel Villas. Wow, it was beautiful, with a nice balcony overlooking the rainforest and a private hot tub. We did 2 wonderful tours, Xunantunich and Barton Creek Cave. Darren was our guide and he was excellent, so knowledgeable of Mayan History! The amenities at the resort are great, the gorgeous infinity pool, the butterfly exhibit, the various trails around the property and the lush surroundings, all make for a very relaxing stay. The staff here are so friendly and accommodating, they really make the resort a five star experience!