I was super fortunate to be hosted by the Cotton Tree Lodge during my stay. As always, all experiences, photos, thoughts and opinions are all my own!
When I stayed in an island cabana amidst the jungles of Thailand, I thought it couldn’t get any better. Boy, was I wrong! The Cotton Tree Lodge is an eco-adventure resort located on the Moho River in the southern jungles of Belize. Paving the way for accommodations of their kind, it features farm to table food, traditional Mayan cabanas and daily adventure tours, all the while sitting in the most picturesque jungle atmosphere.
Here’s Staying at the Cotton Tree Lodge in Belize:
Getting to the Cotton Tree Lodge in Belize
Tucked away in the rainforest jungles of southern Belize, the Cotton Tree Lodge is located in the Toledo District, about 15 miles from Punta Gorda and the Caribbean coast.
Read More: The Toledo District of Southern Belize: Where, What & Why You Should Visit
I flew with United Airlines on a direct flight from Chicago to the Phillip Goldson International Airport (BZE). The easiest way to get to the Cotton Tree Lodge is to then fly one of the domestic airlines (Tropic Air or Maya Island Air) to Punta Gorda. The lodge can pick you up from there.
Another way to get to the Cotton Tree Lodge is to take the bus service. While it’s fairly cheap (about $12)m there’s no air-con and the ride will take no less than 6 hours. Check the bus schedule here.
We went the more convenient (but not cheaper!) route and rented a car from the BZE Airport through Dollar Rental. The drive takes around 5 – 5 1/2 hours in total to the lodge. Getting further south in Belize, the roads transition into dirt pathways filled completely with pot-holes. Winding around old villages and through the mountains, the scenery is absolutely breathtaking!
Read More: Renting a Car in Belize: Costs + Tips
The Cabanas at the Cotton Tree Lodge
The Cotton Tree Lodge offers a variety of cabana accommodations to suit the needs of their guests. As a couple, try out the honeymoon cabana or take your family into the 2 bedroom suite. Lodge among the jungle in the garden vista or adventure onto the water in the boat cabana. Soak in those Moho River views in the waterfront cabana, where I was lucky enough to stay!
The cabanas are designed to masque the traditional Mayan-thatched homes located in this district of Southern Belize. All of the accommodations include the most comfortable hammock to lounge in!
Beautiful rosewood decorate the windows and doors as the local sapodilla and Santa Maria woods make up the flooring and boardwalks. The hand-sewn bedspreads and pillowcases are made by local Mayan women and the furniture is constructed by a local carpenter.
To maintain the eco-friendly environment, the bathrooms have a UV-triple filtered shower that pumps from the Moho River. Toilets flush into a composting system where the wastewater flows into a septic, then emptying into a field. Roots of banana trees absorb the water and nutrients to ensure that the land and river are waste-free. Electricity is ran off a combination of solar panels, batteries and diesel generators.
How To Spend a Day at the Cotton Tree Lodge
Adventure tours depart daily from the lodge, which can be prearranged the day before. If you purchase an all-inclusive package through Cotton Tree, your daily adventures are included. Activities range from chocolate-making to fishing on the Caribbean. Sunset cruises on the Moho River is a popular option, as well as shopping at the local markets.
During our stay at Cotton Tree, we explored the Nim Li Punit Mayan Ruins and then headed on to Lubaantun where we talked with a Mayan descendant about the history of the site.
Read More: Nim Li Punit Mayan Ruins / Lubaantun Mayan Ruins
If you want to spend a full day at the lodge, let me show you the perfect way to do so:
Wake up at 6 am to enjoy the beautiful sunrise over the Moho River.
Walk over to the Gazebo at 7 am to catch a yoga session. Classes are held Tuesday through Saturday with mats available to use anytime.
Grab a bite to eat from the breakfast buffet then take your coffee down by the river to enjoy a peaceful atmosphere.
The dock is also an awesome place to lay for sunbathing and the rope swing offers the ideal adventure to cool-down on a hot day.
After a dip in the river, grab some kayaks and explore down the winding waterway.
Be sure to stop by the massive 100+ year old Cotton Tree of which the lodge gets its name!
Waltz around the pristinely-maintained grounds of Cotton Tree and relish in the lush greenery, a breath of fresh air after flying in from the snowy midwest!
Next on the list is visiting Cotton Tree’s organic garden. Most of the ingredients used in the meals prepared for the guests come directly from this area. If you visit before 4 PM, the gardener can show you around!
Snag some rubber boots from the front desk and rub on the bug spray to hike the grounds surrounding the Cotton Tree Lodge. The mountainous jungle environment is like something out of a Jurassic Park movie!
After that long hike, head on down to a massage at the spa to the right of the Gazebo. A 10 minute complimentary massage is offered after check-in and you can extend that by purchasing from a menu of various services.
By this time, the sun may be setting over the River and what a beautiful sight it is over that crystal clear water.
If you’re lucky enough, you may catch a glimpse of a family of howler monkeys in the trees!
Once the sun goes down, walk up the pathway to the Main Lodge and have a drink at the bar to wind down before dinner
Farm to Table Food
Cotton Tree Lodge offers breakfast, lunch and dinner every day with ingredients directly from their organic garden. Operating as a small farm, the lodge features free-range chickens, goats for meat and dairy and pigs.
I’m a very light eater so I actually only ate dinner during our stay but it was definitely unique! The four-course meal starts off with soup, then a salad, the main course and dessert. Mostly everything served at the Cotton Tree Lodge comes from within a 10 mile radius.
After spending the most glorious and relaxing, retreat back to your cabana and fall asleep to the soothing sounds of the jungle bugs and tropical birds singing their tunes.
Sound On!
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This looks like the absolute perfect place to stay!!! These pics are absolutely fabulous, I’m so ready to hop a plane right now!
Oh Elisa thank you so much! It’s seriously one of those places you don’t even know you need to visit until you’re there soaking it up. Pure serenity in this paradise jungle! Thank you for giving it a read!