Tanager RainForest Lodge

We stayed at Tanager Lodge last weekend January12th through the14th. The grounds were well kept with numerous trees and plants with signs naming them. Staff put out fruit and attracted many birds. Not only a variety of Tanagers, also Orioles, Woodpecker and many others. Steve was extremely helpful, knowledgeable and enthusiastic about birding. Our Cabana was well kept with a comfortable bed and a nice bathroom and shower design. Staff was extremely helpful doing whatever anyone required. No Baileys for one guests morning coffee was rectified by the following morning. The meals were all very good with a nice selection. River tubing and Hot Springs were fun. Will return for Kayak trip with Steve and birding.

Staff is friendly, helpful, and accommodating. On our extended stay, we interacted with all of them in a personal way. The lodge grounds are well maintained, the cabanas are traditional construction with a palm thatch roof and minimal but comfortable furnishings. Walking trails and the Rio Grande River are availabke to explore on your own. The reason to visit was the “Chocolate and Nature Lovers” package … and that was amazing: guided bird walks, spice farm, Mayan site, manatee and howler monkey day at Monkey Creek, cacao farm, and making lunch with a mayan family. Breakfasts were variations on eggs and bacon for a hearty start to the day. Dinners on site were like those that mom would make - fresh, nutritious, and tasty. Tanager is more rustic in its accommodations than a luxury resort but exquisite in its delivery of a Southern Belize experience.

Belize has more to offer than just beaches. The Lodge is tucked away in the beauty of the rainforest along the Rio Grande. Accommodations are comfortable and offer a view into a way of living in harmony with the world around us. We stayed in one of the thatched roof cabanas right at the river's edge. Highly recommended. Authentic Belizean cuisine is served daily and exceeded our expectations. Fresh, local and exotic ingredients make each meal a new experience. Morning bird watching with coffee on the patio was amazing. Steve was an incredibly knowledgeable and easy going guide. A consummate professional and true naturalist, Steve led us on a journey that truly opened our eyes to the beauty of southern Belize. Excursions to Mayan archeological sites gave us some insight into a fascinating culture. Visits to a spice farm, butterfly preserve, cacao farm and chocolatier, swimming under a waterfall as well as a boat ride up the Monkey River and into the jungle gave us a better understanding of the Mayan people's close relationship to the world around them. Our trip included a package of excursions, which gave us an organized schedule with plenty of down-time for relaxing. All of the staff at Tanager Rainforest Lodge were attentive, professional and made every effort to insure that we had a great visit. We left feeling like a part of the family.

Talk about overpriced meals! And, they beat you up if you decide to eat off-site. We paid for a river-view room that did not have a river view, and the staff was extremely unfriendly. For the price-point of this lodge, it was very disappointing. The lodge felt like it was being remodeled, and our room was marginal at best. Will not be returning.

We just returned from a relaxing week a the Tanager Lodge. The property itself is nestled in the jungle, offering a very serene location perfect for relaxing and trying to unplug. The grounds are forested and surrounded by a river, with lots of wildlife all around. We stayed in a thatched room and it was perfect. The rooms do not have air conditioning, but we were very comfortable the entire time. Rooms do not have wifi and cellphone service is limited, so be prepared to unplug and enjoy the nature that’s all around you. The food and bar were lovely the whole week as well. The dinner menu changed each night and often followed a theme. They had options for various dietary restrictions and the chef was willing to accommodate special requests as well. The bar was a nice option to have on property where we were able to have nice cocktails, some made with local products. It was a good space to chat with other guests and the staff as well. The highlight of the trip were our adventures with Steve, the resident guide. Steve is an expert birder, so if you are looking to see tropical birds, he is definitely your guy. We did a 5 day tour that focused on nature and the Mayan communities. We visited a chocolate farm, mayan sites, the Rio Blanco national park and ate lots of delicious local cuisine. Tanager and Steve are able to recommend or create tours based on your interests and will go the extra mile to make it as enjoyable as possible. The property is under new ownership and the team has a lot of new enhancements coming it sounds like, so the property will only get better! Falling asleep and waking up to the sounds of birds in their habitat was a great experience, making the week very relaxing. We weren’t sure what we were getting into on this trip, but it ended up being just what the doctor ordered and we hope to be able to visit again and unplug in the beautiful Belizean nature.

The word is ‘phenomenal’! Everything from the food/drinks to the accomodations to the excursions were phenomenal. But most of all the PEOPLE! They couldn’t be more lovely or kind! Highly recommend a visit.

Fantastic place to stay, off the beaten track about 30 mins west of Punta Gorda. Very comfortable cabins and excellent food. Stephen and his colleagues run an excellent lodge with many attractions nearby. We visited Lubaantum ruins and we were the only visitors there! Also the visit to Xcaocao chocolate farm/ producer was amazingly interesting - and tasty!! The highlight for us was Stephen's early morning guided bird walk in the jungle around the lodge. We saw so many different birds which we wouldn't have seen without his expert eye. This is a great place to stay for birdwatchers and anyone interested in peace and quiet. We also enjoyed the swimming pool and the rubber ring drift down the Rio Grande river! Thank you Stephen and all the staff.

We had a delightful stay at this peaceful, well appointed lodge. The staff was friendly and helpful in every way. The food delicious. Our cabana very comfortable. We were there for the birding, and Steven proved one of the best guides we’ve had any where, enthusiastic, very knowledgeable and intent that we get the best experience of bird life in that part of Belize as well as sampling the culture of the area. The lodge was, for us, first rate in every way.

I'm a little jaded because I grew up in Big Falls and enjoy going back to visit and explore new fun things to do. I have brought several large groups as well as little "honeymoon" stays with my wife. every time we stayed with Rob we had zero incidents. Rob and his wonderful staff greeted us and made all of our guests feel welcomed and took care of our every need. The Lodge is located in a bend of the Rio Grand River. the river is very clean and is great for swimming, fishing or just meditating by the calm deliberate flow of the water. there are unique species of insects and animals by the river. Jesus lizards run across the water and little spiders walk across the surface. The expansive lawn areas have native animals feeding on nuts and insects. Hummingbirds are plentiful as well as a vast collection of other avian species. We had our morning and evening meals on site where the food was AMAZING! The local Mayan staff were a pleasure to get to know. I would recommend having lunch at a staff member's home to get the real feel for the culture. The traditional Mayan soup called "Caldo" has lots of home grown veggies, chicken from the yard and a steamed corn cake called Potch. I have stayed in the wooden cabanas as well as the river front cottages. both were excellent. Hot water was no issue and the internet was good. Rob is a wealth of information! Please take his advice on touring local Mayan Archeological Sites and fun things to do. All of the locals are very friendly and EVERYONE speaks English.