Hidden Valley Wilderness Resort Belize: Eco-Luxurious In Nature

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I’ve stayed in luxurious resorts around the globe and have cherished many, however my latest keep at Hidden Valley Wilderness Resort within the Maya Mountains of Belize launched me to a totally totally different type of luxurious—one I’d describe as deeply nourishing, each for physique and soul, in addition to for the setting and the neighborhood it sustains.

We stayed at Hidden Valley as company with no obligation to share—but it surely was just too good to maintain to ourselves.

This was a type of profound journey experiences that not solely fills you up but additionally offers again. Hidden Valley is a non-profit resort created to maintain its surrounding protect and native communities, which made it a straightforward and significant sure for us.

Right here’s our trustworthy assessment of Hidden Valley Wilderness Resort and what we appreciated about it…

Pristine wilderness setting

Tucked away on 7,200 acres of personal forest reserve in Belize’s picturesque Maya Mountains, Hidden Valley Resort in Belize actually lives as much as its identify.

As soon as hidden from my journey radar, it’s now one among my all-time favourite discoveries. This huge wilderness space, owned and lovingly stewarded by Belize’s Roe household for 4 generations, boasts over 100 miles of climbing trails, breathtaking non-public waterfalls, and an abundance of native wildlife.

Initially a logging space, the Roe household bought the Hidden Valley Reserve after a devastating pine beetle epidemic in 2001, reworking it right into a thriving conservation venture devoted to sustainable tourism and environmental preservation.

The reserve is without doubt one of the final remaining habitats for the endangered Orange-breasted Falcon and a primary birdwatching vacation spot, with over 300 species recorded on-site.

Different wildlife noticed in its protect are ocelots, howler monkeys, armadillos, and even jaguars –  however don’t fret, they’re not often seen and no assaults have been recorded in Belize. 

The very best factor concerning the protect is its nature – it’s additionally dwelling to breathtaking waterfalls, secluded forest trails, and scenic viewpoints stretching throughout to close by Guatemala.

As a visitor of the lodge, you get non-public entry to all of this to discover by yourself, or with one of many resort’s skilled guides.

Lovely climate

Belize has a year-round subtropical local weather, which suggests it’s at all times heat, sunny, and humid. Whereas it is a huge draw for folks to Belize, the stiffling warmth can get a bit a lot.

So, you’ll be completely happy to know that at 2,300 ft elevation, Hidden Valley enjoys a cool, refreshing local weather year-round, while nonetheless soaking in that Belize sunshine, making anytime the proper time to go to.

In the course of the “winter” months (excessive season), temperatures dip a bit of decrease, however cozy fireplaces within the villas and firepits across the property hold issues heat and welcoming.

We visited in July, Belize’s scorching and moist season, and had been pleasantly stunned. The warmth wasn’t overbearing, and we didn’t expertise any rain (the heaviest rains sometimes are available September and October).

For us, touring within the low season was good—fewer crowds, higher charges, and the identical unforgettable experiences.

Hidden Valley Wilderness Lodge is the last word in sustainability

I discussed earlier that Hidden Valley Wilderness Lodge has eco-friendly efforts and sustainability practices, and that is what units it aside from different lodges.

Let’s take a look at some info price praising Hidden Valley Wilderness Lodge for. Its dedication to nourishing land, tradition and neighborhood are one factor, and so they’re not faking it with their sustainable, eco-friendly labels.

• 100% plastic free from the villas to the kitchen and every thing in between
• 90% photo voltaic powered
• All picket furnishings made by native Mayan household
• All stone soured inside 15-mile radius
• All meals sourced inside a 15-mile radius. All the things you eat tells the story of native tradition and seasons.
• Cleaning soap merchandise and mosquito repellant are used, are made by locals and they’re divine with out nasty chemical compounds added in.
• The world is fastidiously managed to protect its fragile ecosystems, with low-impact tourism, reforestation efforts, and lively wildlife monitoring forming a part of the reserve’s mission
• When requested if we might fly the drone, we had been politely declined as a result of uncommon birds flying round that must be protected. Greatest drone rejection ever!

And, equally necessary for sustainability, workers listed below are paid dwelling wages and brought care of with lodging (when wanted) and meals.

Each workers member we encountered, authentically shared how a lot they cherished the reserve, the lodge, their job and the corporate’s mission.

It’s an ideal instance of how if you maintain folks, and contain them in necessary missions, they embody that mission and switch that pleasure and lightweight to the folks they arrive into contact with.

I do consider Hidden Valley Wilderness Lodge is THE instance of eco tourism finished proper. I really feel honored that life magically guided us to it, so we are able to share it with our neighborhood and additional afield. I get to decide on the phrases I write on this put up, and I might not say this if I didn’t consider it.

Lodging designed with genuine Maya Appeal

Regardless of your journey model or variety of folks in your journey occasion, Hidden Valley has an lodging kind to match, all of which replicate genuine Belizean craftsmanship and magnificence.

• Household Cottage: Thoughtfully designed on-room cottage for households, outfitted with queen mattress and elevated loft-style twin. This could have been good for us once we traveled with our ladies once they had been youthful. Rooms additionally include youngsters’ robes!
• Backyard Cottage: Supreme for 2, with just lately up to date bogs, spa facilities, wood-burning fireplaces and sitting space.
• Property Cottages: Spacious two-level lodgings with screened-in patios, hammocks, luxurious bogs that includes claw-foot tubs and out of doors waterfall showers. Excellent for connecting household rooms.

The next lodging sorts had been in-built 2023 and designed for final luxurious and connection to nature.

• Fireplace Tower: This distinctive grownup solely recreated fireplace tower retreat is ideal for love with gorgeous 360-degree views – howdy dawn and sundown in your non-public patio, and a kitchenette.  
• Valley View Villas: There are two villas each with spectacular views and personal facilities akin to non-public patio with jungle views and heated plunge pool, indoor/out of doors showers, screened in porch, and bedrooms open to the jungle. We had a two-bedroom one. See under.
• Wilderness Rooms: Set aside for privateness, these lodging include their very own property supervisor, non-public trails, butler kitchen, and one with a personal waterfall and swimming gap!!! 

Let’s take a look at our Valley View Villa

We fell in love with our Valley View Villa the second we stepped inside. The open-plan kitchen and lounge flowed onto a screened porch with sweeping jungle views and a hammock dividing the house.

Simply exterior: a personal patio with lounge chairs, a heated plunge pool, out of doors bathe, and people infinite Maya Mountain views all to your self.

The first bed room shared the identical views and featured a spa-like toilet with each indoor and out of doors showers. A second bed room wing—full with its personal entrance, luxurious toilet, and screened porch with hammock—was good for giving our teen ladies their very own retreat.

The villa additionally had wood-burning fireplaces, a totally stocked espresso station, a big, filtered water station, each day refilled cookie jar, and bottled sodas within the fridge (sure, Sprite in a glass bottle!). Whereas we by no means cooked due to the unbelievable on-site eating places, these little touches made the house really feel like dwelling.

We additionally cherished the flip down service, largely for the messages left on our pillows, which shared our a few of our attendant’s favourite just like the vanilla jungle spice latte and the Cascade Path, what to not neglect (bug oil) and what we needed to look ahead tomorrow, but additionally for the little bedtime story on the again that associated to Maya folklore. I’ve by no means encountered such a considerate and intentional housekeeping service earlier than.

A few of our favourite moments had been swimming within the plunge pool, meditating with the dawn, watching the birds flying overhead (and unsuccessfully trying to find jaguars) and having fun with breakfast from room service on our final morning. A non-public sundown dinner right here can be unforgettable too.

Distinctive eating that celebrates Belizean flavors

Farm-to-table eating just isn’t a development right here, it’s a life-style. The best way it’s at all times been. Hidden Valley will take you on a culinary journey by way of Maya tradition and custom, that has been elevated with extra trendy influences and international cooking strategies.

This can be a no-barcode expertise with each produce used organically sourced inside a 15-mile radius.

Depart the lobster on the Cayes; you gained’t miss it as you chunk into scrumptious native dishes created from hen, grass fed beef, pork, lamb and greens it’s possible you’ll by no means have heard of, however will quickly love.

Belizean superstar Chef Sean Kuylen, leads the kitchen and meals group, creating dishes that promotes using indigenous, wild and conventional meals which have been harvested and ready for generations, preserving ecological and cultural information

I really like how intentional every thing is at Hidden Valley to honor native custom and tales. You’ll discover that in all their culinary choices.

And since its Maya delicacies virtually each dish is gluten free or might be made so.

Sap: The lodge’s informal spot for breakfast & lunch

Sap, situated inside the principle lodge, is the resort’s go-to informal restaurant for breakfast and lunch. It’s named after the hardwood tree used all through the property, together with the countertop of the indoor rum bar.

Fittingly, the breakfast menu known as The Chachalaca’s after the native fowl recognized for its loud morning name.

Breakfast here’s a deal with. The ladies cherished the Belizean beignets, whereas I grew to become obsessive about the Pirix Pa’ak—a flavorful scramble of tomato, callaloo (just like spinach), and habanero, served with Maya corn tortillas, black beans, plantain, and crema.

I can’t even start to explain how good these tortillas and black beans are—utterly not like any you’ve had elsewhere.

Lunch affords loads of genuine decisions like enchiladas, garnaches, empanadas, and salbutes. My private favorites? The lamb salbutes and the cochinita pibil.

The ladies cherished their crispy, fried hen tortas! Contemporary, flavorful, and made with care—Sap is completely the place to be for daytime eating at Hidden Valley.

Slate: a night eating expertise to recollect

Folks will journey to Hidden Valley only for dinner at Slate, the resort’s extra formal lined out of doors restaurant surrounded by lush gardens and a comfy firepit (youngsters will love the post-dinner s’mores!).

The menu focuses on shareable tasting plates—good for sampling Belize’s various flavors. True to its identify, meals are served on domestically sourced slate, simply 15 miles from the property.

We dined right here twice—as soon as on the excessive tops with sweeping jungle views, and once more on the bar to observe Chef Jeshua and his group prepare dinner over a clay fogón crafted by Maya Yucatec girls of the San Antonio Girls’s Cooperative. Each dish felt like a narrative of Maya tradition and custom delivered to life.

Highlights for our household included:

• Tamalito with hen and charred cauliflower with uncooked honey – even Savannah, our choosy eater, devoured these.
• Pork rib bites with mango habanero sauce and the ever-present black bean hummus – Kalyra’s favorites. (We cherished the hummus a lot it grew to become a recurring favourite throughout meals.)
• Sticky ginger pudding – so good, Kalyra resisted sharing.
• Maja Blanca con dulce de papaya – my gluten-free deal with, a conventional rice pudding spiced and warming.
• Different standouts: pork ceviche (utilizing native meat since seafood isn’t close by) and a grilled tomahawk pork chop with papaya butter and candy potato.

What we missed (and can return for): the Maya shaman expertise, the place a pig is roasted underground within the conventional Hueco Pibil model for 15+ hours, accompanied by a blessing from an area shaman. It occurs solely on choose nights—and we missed it by two!

Slate isn’t simply dinner—it’s tradition, neighborhood, and culinary artistry woven into one unforgettable meal.

Chef’s Desk at La Cocina

Should you can, don’t miss the Chef’s Desk expertise at La Cocina, set beside a wood-burning fogón with views over the pool and foremost lodge.

This intimate dinner celebrates Yucatan Maya-inspired delicacies with dishes like garnaches, black recado salbutes, and hen mole with plantainsm – every dish ready in entrance of us with Chef Jeshua speaking us by way of every dish, its cultural significance, and the way it’s made.

We even realized concerning the playful debate between northern and southern Maya over whether or not ketchup belongs on garnaches. (My stance? NEVER destroy good meals with ketchup! #TeamSouth).

One of many highlights was getting hands-on—Chef Joshua guided me by way of making tortillas, sharing the normal suggestions and strategies handed down by way of generations.

We had been additionally handled to progressive creations, like Chef Jeshua’s entry for the upcoming Style of Belize competitors: a conventional Maya soup reimagined with shrimp and French affect, enriched with butter, olives, raisins, and capers launched by the Spanish. It was completely scrumptious.

Dessert was equally memorable—an elote brûlée topped with caramel popcorn, a playful fusion of French and Maya traditions.

One other standout was the chaya dip, effervescent scorching from a molcajete and topped with chorizo negro.

Consider it as a Maya twist on spinach dip however made with the native chaya leaf to honor native substances. The philosophy right here is obvious: rejoice Belizean flavors, not imported ones.

What actually elevated the night was Chef Jeshua himself—sharing tales of his childhood following his grandmother across the kitchen, and his mission to protect and unfold Maya culinary traditions worldwide.

His ardour shines by way of each dish. By the top of the evening, I had little doubt: Mayan delicacies belongs amongst my high 5 favourite cuisines on the planet.

La Cocina additionally doubles as a culinary classroom, the place company can be taught hands-on strategies with conventional instruments just like the mano y metate grinding stone. Past the Chef’s Desk, it’s a spot the place meals turns into a dwelling story of tradition, heritage, and connection.

Picnic by a personal waterfall

Sure, you learn that proper—your very personal non-public waterfall, roped off with a “reserved for lunch” signal.

Pure heaven.

After 26 years of touring by way of practically 60 nations, this was a primary for me—and I didn’t should arrange a factor or pack all of it away!

We arrived after a morning of exploring the reserve on a Wilderness Expertise tour (see under), climbing, and swimming in hidden falls. Beside the cascading water, a desk was superbly set with picnic fare, recent juices, and coconut water. A hammock was even strung up for optimum leisure.

We had pre-ordered our meals, and as soon as once more my gluten-free wants had been completely met. My standout was a mouthwatering Osso Buco torta, sandwiched between crisp plantains. We additionally loved recent salad, scones, salsa with tortillas, and our favourite—black bean hummus.

After indulging, we cooled off with a swim within the waterfall pool, its water crisp and refreshing. A small ladder led us as much as one other tier—a smaller jungle-draped waterfall and swimming gap with tree limbs hanging overhead, including to the magical, secluded really feel.

Beverage program & Morning Fog Cafe

Whether or not it’s a recent morning juice, a pre-dinner cocktail on the Rum Bar, or the proper pairing with dinner, Hidden Valley’s beverage program celebrates native flavors with inventive mocktails, cocktails, and Belizean beers.

Every drink tells a narrative. Take Mr. Ramsey’s Mul, named after a widely known character in Belize Metropolis who was at all times seen along with his mule. You possibly can take pleasure in it N/A or add a splash of native rum for a kick.

I cherished the Salty Potlicker—a Maya-inspired twist on a margarita—whereas Craig and I couldn’t get sufficient of the Smoked Rum Outdated Common, crafted with barrel-aged Belizean rum. The ladies loved the refreshing Blackberry Sorrel, a sober-friendly mix of hibiscus flower, lime, blackberry, and ginger.

In the course of the day, it’s possible you’ll need to take a break with an espresso of selection. The comfy Morning Fog Cafe has a espresso station arrange all day, included in your keep or you may improve with an espresso, together with signature blends akin to cinnamon spice, and smores. I opted for a – due to our housekeepers’ suggestion. By the best way this was the one place I noticed a jaguar!

Different resort facilities

In addition to all of the aforementioned experiences, company can take pleasure in:

• A gorgeous pool and scorching tub space surrounded by tropical gardens, lounge chairs, and egg chairs.
• Landscaped gardens: We had been stunned at how every thing was meticulously laid out and cared for. Birds of paradise greet you alongside virtually each winding path, gorgeous vine twisted bushes, and different vibrant flowers, akin to my favourite frangipanis. It felt like a good looking combination of untamed and manicured. 
• The Rum Bar, serving native drinks and Belizean Creole-infused rums.
• The Lounge Library affords native literature, video games, and a comfy retreat.
• Mountaineering trails: over 90 miles of climbing and biking trails of all totally different lengths and difficulties will information you thru medicinal plant trails, lush tropical forests, pine-covered ills, hidden waterfalls and extra. 

Hidden Valley Wilderness Lodge is protected

I really like how security and visitor care is a precedence. Employees will decide you up and drop you off to trails throughout the protect if wanted.

Should you hike out by yourself and wish it, they will provide you with walkie talkies and also you try when leaving with anticipated arrival time again.

They may cellphone you up you probably have not returned.

There are additionally inexperienced indicators in every single place serving to you keep on the paths and know the place to go. Even higher, be a part of a guided hike so you may be taught extra concerning the reserve as you stroll. I cherished not having to fret about the place we had been going and simply observe our information to hidden superior.

Unforgettable wilderness adventures

Hidden Valley curates unbelievable onsite and offsite experiences from guided hikes to cooking courses and guided excursions of historical Mayan ruins.

Listed below are the experiences we loved. On our subsequent go to, I’d like to take pleasure in an ATV journey by way of Maya villages, discover the well-known ATM Cave, and zipline above the jungle cover.

Wilderness expertise tour

We joined our information, Vian, for a improbable half-day 4WD exploration of the Mountain Pine Ridge Reserve, and it shortly grew to become one of many highlights of our keep.

Our journey started with sweeping views of two of the reserve’s most dramatic waterfalls—Tiger Creek Falls (750 ft) and King Vulture Falls (900 ft). Within the distance, we noticed the large king vultures perched excessive within the treetops, a uncommon and unforgettable sight.

From there, we climbed to an expansive viewpoint overlooking the valley and mountains stretching all the best way into Guatemala.

Vian instructed us they as soon as celebrated New 12 months’s Eve right here, watching fireworks burst throughout a number of cities within the distance. It’s additionally a favourite spot for weddings and personal picnics, due to its peaceable magnificence.

Subsequent got here a 25-minute hike by way of lush jungle to succeed in hidden cascades, together with Butterfly Falls, the place we paused for a refreshing swim. The water was crisp and funky—simply what we wanted after the hike.

To finish the day on a excessive notice, we had been whisked away to our non-public waterfall picnic (the one I shared above). Vian left us to take pleasure in 90 minutes of uninterrupted household time, with a radio in case we wanted extra. It was pure magic.

Vian himself was fantastic—easygoing, educated, and stuffed with insights concerning the reserve’s distinctive flora, fauna, and historical past. Because of him, we left with not solely stunning reminiscences, but additionally an extended record of causes to return and hold exploring.

Tiger Creek Swimming pools hike

For this property hike, we had been guided by the ever-cheerful Marvelous Marvin, whose identify actually fits him. Peaceable, educated, and endlessly entertaining, Marvin turned a easy hike into an expertise stuffed with marvel.

The 2-hour roundtrip path adopted a lush jungle path alongside the creek. We paused usually as Marvin identified medicinal vegetation, shared folklore, and even handed us his binoculars for birdwatching and learning funghi.

One among my favourite discoveries was the autograph tree—you may scratch a message onto the underside of a leaf, and although it’s invisible at first, the phrases magically seem about half-hour later.

The hike ultimately led us to Tiger Creek Falls—the identical waterfall we had admired from afar throughout our Wilderness Expertise Tour. This time, we stood safely above it, taking in sweeping views of close by cascades.

The very best half? Cooling off with a swim within the pure swimming pools beside a smaller waterfall, a refreshing finish to a path crammed with magnificence, tales, and connection.

Xunantunich Maya Ruins Tour

Hidden Valley affords a half-day guided tour to one among Belize’s most vital archaeological websites—Xunantunich.

Our information, Marvin, introduced the traditional metropolis to life along with his deep information of Maya historical past and tradition, weaving tales and insights that added layers of that means to the expertise. It’s the type of tour you merely couldn’t replicate by yourself.

We’ve written a full information to visiting the Xunantunich Archaeological Website, however I’ll say this: it’s completely price it.

Particularly should you’re touring with youngsters, as nothing compares to the ability of real-life experiences. Exploring temples they could in any other case solely examine at school is a reminiscence that sticks—and a enjoyable, hands-on option to join with Maya tradition.

Inexperienced Hills Butterfly Farm go to

On our means again to Belize Metropolis to catch our flight dwelling (boo hoo!), we made one final cease on the close by Inexperienced Hills Butterfly Farm, with Marvin as soon as once more as our information and driver.

The farm is dwelling to greater than 30 species of butterflies, together with the dazzling Blue Morpho, Gold-Edge Owl, and Mexican Bluewing.

Contained in the butterfly home, we had been surrounded by a kaleidoscope of wings—an unexpectedly magical expertise.

Our information then took us into the caterpillar nursery, the place we realized concerning the totally different levels of metamorphosis, watching these tiny creatures on their journey to changing into butterflies.

Outdoors, hummingbirds zipped out and in of sugar feeders, their wings beating so quick they appeared to hover in midair.

All of us loved this go to way over we anticipated—it was simply one of the best butterfly farm I’ve skilled in my travels. If in case you have extra time, the 250-acre property additionally affords rainforest trails, dwelling to round 300 fowl species and ample wildlife.

Instructional and enchanting, the butterfly farm was the proper option to spherical out our Belize journey.

Why select Hidden Valley Wilderness Resort?

Hidden Valley stands aside resulting from its unwavering dedication to conservation, sustainable tourism, and neighborhood assist.

Right here, luxurious meets authenticity in good concord, providing vacationers a deeply enriching and unforgettable Belizean expertise.

Should you search a trip that rejuvenates, conjures up, and makes a constructive influence, Hidden Valley Wilderness Resort needs to be on the high of your record.