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.

Lovely setting and equally lovely people. Birds galore and Steve, the resident bird expert, is a kind and knowledgeable guide to the wonders of the jungle, as well to the local Mayan culture.

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.

We booked this place for one night last minute. It was fantastic. Our other nights’ accommodations had been modest, more DIY places. This place is not DIY. They are there to carry your stuff and bring your requests and they really don’t take no for an answer. (It was great; this is NOT a complaint. My friend and I are usually staying in some shack, happily, where we have to drag all of our wet clothes in and dry them on the window sill. This is not that type of place.) We had dinner brought to our room because we were exhausted from the day. The orange ginger sorbet was my favorite part. Breakfast was excellent. They sent us off with maps and directions and to-go food wrapped in foil. I would advise packing some bug spray. The natural thatch roofs are so cool. But a few of the bugs are smarter than the roof. We sprayed our sheets and outer blankets down and did fine. Would absolutely stay here again and I will be in-person reviewing this place to anyone coming to Belize that wants my opinion.

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.

It was a beautiful experience. You can book lots of excursions, like chocolate making, spice farm, and a day at the falls also Maya ruins. It offers a bird watching paradise, I saw so many beautiful colourful birds. It boasts 250 different bird species, when the total country has 600 different species so that was a pleasant surprise.

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.

The overall cleanliness of the place on a whole was top notch,didn't realize there was no tv and wifi didn't work in room but i realized this was a blessing as our family had the best time we've had in years with our teenagers playing boardgames talking and getting back to connecting with each other as we did when they were kids we will definitely be returning absolutely 💯 ❤️

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.