If you are intending to go to Belize for adventure or ecotourism, you will undoubtedly wind up staying in one of the lodges or jungle resorts in Cayo District. There are some stunning places to stay here, from the luxury to the more basic, and below we have listed the best of them.
The largest of Belize's provinces, Cayo is also one of the less populated — at least by humans. However this region teems with wildlife, from spectacular butterflies to a huge variety of bird life, in primeval rainforest and thick jungle surroundings. Twitchers and birders come from all over the globe to birdwatch in this stunning region of Belize.
Many centures ago the Mayan civilisation was here too, and one of the other highlights of Cayo district are the Mayan ruins — notably the Mayan city of Caracol — surrounded by thick jungle near the Guatemalan border. Originally housing a population of over 100,000, it's well worth the 2-3 hour drive from San Ignacio to get there.
Many of the lodges are located near the main town in Cayo District, San Ignacio, which is second only to Belize City. It's a great base from which to explore the Mayan ruins of Caracol and Xunantunich, as well as the forest reserves to the south — Chaa Creek Nature Reserve, for example, or the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve. There you will find a number of jungle lodges ready to welcome you and give you an authentic rainforest experience, though you can also visit on a day trip to go ziplining, or hike to see the spectacular waterfalls. Also popular among adventure travelers are the caves in this region — we recommend the cave canoeing!
If you're planning to visit in peak season between December and May, don't forget that the best places to stay in Cayo District are extremely popular. They're also quite small properties, so if you want to guarantee your room, get organised and book well ahead.
