Recognized as having the longest barrier reef in the northern hemisphere, Belize flaunts hundreds of green islands, snorkeling spots, diving locations, jungles, ancient Mayan sites, and tropical birds and plants. Set between Mexico and Guatemala on Central America's Caribbean coast, travelers to Belize easily find accommodations right on the ocean with unobstructed views of blue water and islands in the distance. Cabanas hotels--hotels that offer satellite accommodations in an authentic thatched-roof cabana on the beach--feature excellent views and a genuine tropical experience.
A luxury resort hotel on Ambergris Caye, in the Belize district near the tropical city of San Pedro, is a 17-room cabana-style hotel right on the beach. Located six miles north of San Pedro, the Ambergris Caye is mostly accessible by boat.
Each beach cabana is located on the sand and measures 12 feet by 24 feet and features fully furnished bedrooms with Caribbean sea views. The resort also offers three Tree-Top suites, on stilts 10 feet up in the air, offering beautiful views over the Caribbean and a backyard lagoon. All accommodations include a queen-size bed draped with a linen mosquito net and set with cotton sheets. Eighteen-foot ceilings show off the beams. Bathrooms include a sink, toilet and small shower, adorned with Mexican tiles and mirrors. As of April 2010, rates per night start from $220 in low season to $340 in high summer season.
Portofino Beach Resort
PO Box 36
San Pedro, Ambergris Caye
Belize
+501 678 5096 or 1 888 240 1923
portofinobelize.com
Marketed as a private island vacation, Cayo Espanto offers travelers to Belize authentic island accommodations. The five-star hotel and resort is three miles from San Pedro and features authentic cabana accommodations along the Western Caribbean. Offering a total of five cabanas around the small island, guests enjoy private sea-front views, a freshwater splash pool for each luxurious cabana, romantic dining on a private veranda and outdoor showers.
Cabanas include a king-size bed, Egyptian cotton sheets, draped mosquito netting, and fully stocked kitchens with hardwood cabinets. Rates per night, per couple, per cabana as of April 2010 start at $1,195. This price includes personal butler service, three tailored meals per day, snacks, rack bar drinks, beer and sodas, and fruit juice and bottled water. You'll also get San Pedro airport pickup and dropoff service, scheduled daytime boat launch to and from San Pedro and full use of Cayo Espanto sea kayaks and sail boats.
One can also rent the entire island, with a maximum 18 guests, for $13,000 per night.
Cayo Espanto
Cayo Espanto Island
San Pedro, Ambergris Caye
Belize
aprivateisland.com
A World Heritage Site and Marine Reserve, Glovers Atoll Island resort rests on a privately owned nine-acre beach in Belize City. White sand, coral and coconut trees encircle the island and the resort's beach accommodations. Glovers offers dormitory-style rooms or individual thatched cabanas for affordable rates. More rustic than other cabana resorts, the Glovers cabanas do not provide electricity, and guests share bathrooms and outdoor showers with other residents. Each cabin includes a double bed or up to four beds for families and groups. The cabanas come with sheets, kitchen supplies, hammocks, and the option to order occasional meals or all meals from the hotel's restaurant. As of April 2010, house-cooked meals, served in a cabana-style open-air restaurant, range from $12 to $18 and $22 for fresh seafood dishes. Nightly rates for cabana accommodations start at $30; weekly rates for cabanas on the beach start from $249.
Glover's Atoll Resort
Northeast Cay
P.O. Box 2215
Belize City 78583
Belize
011-501-520-5016
glovers.com.bz
In the Cayo District of Belize, the Table Rock Jungle Lodge, a sustainable lodge set in the jungle, introduces guests to the 100-acre Macal River reserve. The lodge features accommodations in small, thatched cabanas close to major Mayan archaeological sites. The lodge also offers a restaurant, outdoor activities and guest services.
Accommodations include thatched-roof cabanas, which each come with a locally handcrafted four-poster queen-size bed, private bath with hot water, a ceiling fan, and 24-hour electricity. The Kiskadee Room includes a sundeck overlooking a tropical flower garden. As of April 2010, cabana accommodations start from $95 per night. This price includes all on-site activities like swimming, hiking, canoeing, tubing, and bird-watching, and Wi-Fi Internet access. The hotel recommends that instead of calling for information, as phone lines can be unreliable in the jungle, interested guests email questions or concerns to [email protected].
Table Rock Jungle Lodge
P.O. Box 179
San Ignacio Town, Cayo District
Belize, Central America
011-501-670-4910
tablerockbelize.com
