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Black Rock Lodge

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Nestled in the dense rainforest above the Macal River in the Maya mountains of western Belize you’ll feel completely immersed in nature at Black Rock Lodge.

This lodge has a beautiful setting above a river canyon, just 40 minutes’ drive from San Ignacio and the Guatemalan border.

Spacious cabins are simply decorated with fans and private bathrooms, and each has a patio. A few small cabins also have air-con, and some have hammocks and views towards the Black Rock Canyon and the pristine tropical forest of the Elijio Panti National Park.

Perhaps the best view is saved for main deck – where you’ll find the restaurant – perched over the canyon and which also doubles up as one of the lodge’s best spots for birding. The restaurant serves up delicious fare that blends local and international influences, including a set menu four-course dinner.

For a refreshing dip there is a small spring-fed pool and guests are offered complimentary use of the lodge’s river tubes. The lodge is proud of its strong commitment to environmental sustainability which is evident during your stay; from the solar power practices through to the knowledgeable staff who come from the surrounding communities.

Onsite activities available include hikes in the National Park, birding walks and kayaking expeditions accompanied by local guides. Black Rock Lodge can also be used as base for outings in the wider Cayo District such as Xunantunich, Caracol or even Tikal in Guatemala but being at the end of a long and winding jungle track we recommend giving yourself at least a day here to discover your immediate surroundings.

Given the precipitous setting there are plenty of steps between the river, cabins, restaurant and other facilities. We recommend you let us know if your mobility is restricted and also please note the River Suite (which is suitable for families) is also the furthest unit from the main areas of the lodge.

Bartolome, Galápagos

What our clients say

  • Most memorable experiences: "Tubing down river at Chaa Creek. Howler monkeys above us at night, and avocados dropping onto our hut."

    LBM, Woking Aug 2014
  • Very impressed with the quality of 3 of the hotels we were staying in. We went mainly for the scuba diving in Belize which didn't fail to impress - truly…

    AA, Market Harborough Jul 2012
  • We saw a massive variety of animals, insects and fish between the rainforest and the reef and exploring these environments with knowledgeable guides was a pleasure. Whether it was hummingbirds…

    RW, Usk May 2014
  • We knew nothing about Guatemala and Belize before our trip and had not visited Central America.  We relied on JLA understanding our interests and the resulting recommendations proved very successful.

    NW, Wells Apr 2011
  • There were so many highlights, but undoubtedly the most memorable part was seeing jaguars near Chan Chich on two consecutive days, and even being able to take photos of the…

    CT, Crowthorne Feb 2015
  • Local flights were amazing enabling us to really see and appreciate the country....The diversity of the local cultures and cuisine were a wonderful surprise and experience.

    CT, Hortley Jun 2013
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Our Expert's Opinion

Juliet
Juliet Ellwood - Travel Expert

After graduating with a degree in Anthropology and History and having been fascinated by Latin America since childhood by the book featuring photos of Nazca, Juliet first visited the region in 2003. Since then, Juliet has visited the majority of countries in Latin America but has particularly extensive experience with Peru, a country she loves for many reasons but not least, its incredible archaeological richness and delicious food!

Papagaio

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Bartolome, Galápagos

Meet our team

Real Latin american experts

  • Sallly
    Sally Dodge - Travel Expert

    A former Journey Latin America tour leader, Sally spent 7 years working, travelling and living throughout Latin America before returning to the UK to help people arrange their own adventures to this wonderful destination.

  • Paul Winrow Giffin
    Paul Winrow-Giffin - Travel Expert

    After graduating in Computer Science, Paul spent seven months travelling from Colombia to Argentina and came home hooked on Latin America.

  • Finn Clennett
    Finn Clennett - Travel Expert

  • Alex
    Alex Walker - Travel Expert

    A globetrotter since her childhood, Alex spent a year studying abroad in Guadalajara and has returned to Latin America countless times since then.

  • Maggie
    Maggie Wilson - Travel Expert

    Maggie visited Latin America on her first backpacking trip when she was 19. Since then, she has taken every opportunity to travel, and has managed to explore a lot of the region in subsequent trips.

  • Chris
    Chris Rendell-Dunn - Travel Expert

    Anglo-Peruvian Chris grew up in Lima and spent much of his adult life in between London and Cusco as a tour leader, before settling permanently in our London-based Tailor-made and Group Tours sales team.

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