Blancaneaux Lodge: A Review

I’ve just returned from a vacation in Belize. We spent several days at Blancaneaux Lodge, a small resort (only 17 rooms) situated amid the western rain forest. While we had a few problems, the hotel was beautiful. Here’s my photo journal, in three parts, of our stay.

The Grounds and the Public Spaces of Blancaneaux

We drove from the airport in Belize City, to the Lodge in a little 4 x 4, passing tiny villages along the way.

The last 25 miles consisted of a bone crunching drive along very rough road. Not a problem! We’re adventurous. Fortunately for me, a massage was awaiting me the next day.

The entrance to Blancaneaux was lovely. All the landscaping was beautiful.

The reception area was small, and became a gathering place for everyone. There are no TVs in the room, but Wifi was available here. The lovely fire, the bar, and the carved Guatemalan tables and wall decor set the scene for a casual vacation.

The cabanas and villas are set along a meandering path, so you feel like you’re in a little world by yourself. Some of them were a bit of a walk to the dining room and reception.

The pool could be viewed from the dining room. Again, it was beautiful. (I just wish it had been heated – no one swam in it.)

The tiles were laid in a particularly interesting way. They reflected the local textile patterns and colors. They also gave a visual cue to the steps and the changing depth of the water.

Fortunately, the Lodge had a splendid hot tub placed in a perfect setting. It wound around in a horseshoe shape and overlooked the river. Ahh, my hip loved this pool. The margaritas didn’t hurt either.

The waterfall is just up the river from the hot tub. I took this shot from the Honeymoon Cabana, which we spent most of our stay in. Many of the cabanas have river views. There isn’t any difference between the Honeymoon and the others, except for a private little lawn.

Be prepared to climb! The rambling nature of the resort requires some stamina. But we were all working on our New Year’s resolutions, right? I was amazed at how well I climbed these stairs with my hip only 3 weeks away from the trash heap. I guess it was the massage, the hot tub, oh and I guess the margaritas.

The pool is right behind those shrubs on the left. This is the view from the dining room.

The dining room! Hmmm. It was rustic. A bit too rustic for my taste. It had the feeling more of a camp than a resort. That itty bitty rug needs to go. (In my humble opinion that is).

I did like the locally made textiles. These placemats look bright. But they were softer than the more garish colors we saw in some souvenir shops outside Tikal. Lovely.

I suppose you’re wondering where that tarantula was. Well, it wasn’t under the bed. We saw it during our day trip to Tikal, the Mayan city in Guatemala. That’s in Part 3. Next up, my review of the cabanas at Blancaneaux Lodge.

• Posted by Jennifer at 12:52 pm
• 4 Comments
• Tagged: Garden & Outdoor, Home Tours