Incredible Stay with The Belize Collection Resorts

The Sleeping Giant Rainforest Lodge

I started this amazing journey at The Sleeping Giant Rainforest Lodge, which is about an hour and a half from the airport. The drive is scenic, and there are great views of the lush jungle. The property is located at the foot of the Maya Mountains, in the middle of the rainforest.

Upon arrival, I was greeted with a delicious welcome drink of local rum and fresh fruit juice in the beautiful open-air lobby. After checking in, I headed to my room, a mountain view suite. The room was gorgeous, spacious and comfortable, with a huge deck complete with a hammock and plunge pool to take in the most unbelievable views of the mountains and jungle. Huge bonus: the rooms have AC, which is unusual for the area. The rooms perfectly match the jungle setting and have a rustic luxury vibe.

The amenities at the hotel are wonderful. I enjoyed exploring the property’s special features, like an elevated gazebo that offers sweeping views of the rainforest; the tree house, which is a huge net built into the trees, where you can relax in nature; or the ropes bridges, which are built over the area’s beautiful streams. The pool is also great, and it’s the perfect spot to relax after a day of adventure. I’d recommend a roasted pineapple colada at the pool for the perfect post-activity experience.

The property has a great mix of activities, both onsite and off-property. These include hiking, kayaking, rope bridges, bicycling, horseback riding, cave tours, night safaris, cooking classes and a spa. The tours are run by hotel staff, who are super friendly. Most of the employees I spoke with had been with the hotel for years.

I participated in the Mayan cooking class, where I learned about the culture, traditions and cooking techniques from direct descendants of the ancient Maya using fresh, local ingredients. We also made our own tortillas. The experience was a wonderful opportunity to learn more about the rich history of Belize and its people.

I also took a tour of Xunantunich, an ancient Mayan archaeological site. It's about an hour and a half from the resort, and our friendly guide explained the history and culture of the area. After exploring the area, and hiking up the ancient temples, we stopped at a local restaurant for a delicious lunch.

The hotel also has two open-air restaurants. One is the Grove House, where you can enjoy fresh and local options. The other is Don Tonito’s Pizzeria, which features delicious wood fired specialties. I really enjoyed my meals and drinks at both restaurants.

I highly enjoyed everything about Sleeping Giant — the grounds, the rooms, the amenities, the activities and the service. It was all 10/10.

The Lodge at Jaguar Reef

After the jungle, it was time to explore the beach. The Lodge at Jaguar Reef is located in Hopkins, about an hour and 15 minutes from Sleeping Giant, and the hotel can arrange transfers.

I was greeted with another beautiful welcome drink in another beautiful open-air lobby before I checked into my two-bedroom sea villa. The villa is gorgeous and huge. It includes a kitchen and living room — it would be perfect for a family or group. All rooms at the property come with private plunge pools. Like Sleeping Giant, the rooms perfectly match the beach vibe and are airy and bright. They also have AC.

The amenities here were also stellar. Onsite activities include kayaking, paddle boarding, cooking classes and drumming lessons. Tours and excursions include bioluminescent tours, snorkeling, fishing, boat rides, tubing, zip lining, waterfall adventures, chocolate tours and island hopping. All tours are operated by the hotel's staff, who are so genuine and helpful, you're always in great hands. You can also enjoy the beautiful ocean setting and relax at the pool or on the beach and enjoy a Belikin — a Belizean beer.

I participated in the Garifuna cooking class on property. We learned about the history of the Garifuna people while we made hudut, which is a fish coconut stew served with plantain. It was so much fun, and delicious.

I also took a day trip to Rhythm Reef Caye. The island used to be owned by Ringo Starr, but now it’s owned by The Belize Collection. I highly recommend spending a day here. It’s the ultimate Caribbean island experience. I took a 40-minute boat ride to the island and then spent the day swimming, snorkeling, paddle boarding and relaxing. The day trip includes fruit, ceviche, fresh juices, water, coconut water in coconuts, lunch and dessert. It was a highlight of the trip for sure.

I took a Mayan Chocolate tour, which was about 25 minutes from the property. It was a fun way to learn more about the culture and the production of chocolate — plus, we got to try it. After the tour, I went to see a gorgeous waterfall where you can swim, hike and take in the beauty of Belize.

The food was great here! Paddle House is the property’s beachfront restaurant offering fresh and local options — all the seafood dishes were tops. They also have a Don Tonita’s Pizzeria, serving delish wood fired options. The Big Dock Ceviche Bar is an overwater ceviche and cocktail bar that serves incredible seafood and fun drinks with an expansive 360-degree view of the Caribbean Sea. Bonus: There’s a happy hour here from four to six pm every day.

My stay at Jaguar Reef was truly special. The hotel is amazing, the rooms are incredible, the activities are entertaining and the staff is wonderful.

The mix of jungle and beach is the perfect getaway for people who want to explore and relax. Belize is a great option for everyone — couples, families and group trips. There's something for everyone. The Belize Collection hotels feel luxurious, but in a more rustic and authentic way that felt very welcoming.

This trip report is part of our ongoing series on travel to Belize. In need of further inspiration? Check out Claire Ruscitti’s guide, Treasured Towns and World Class Wines: 3 Days in Southern Piedmont.