| The Lodge at Chaa Creek Adventure Centre, Rainforest Reserve and Spa near San Ignacio, Belize, Central America | |
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Belize is a country teeming with life. My visit to Belize took me to three very different ecosystems - the low jungle at Maruba Resort Jungle Spa, the undersea world at Soulshine Resort & Spa and the mountain rainforest at The Lodge at Chaa Creek Adventure Centre, Rainforest Reserve and Spa. Over 250 species of birds have been sighted within the Chaa Creek reserve alone. And if you miss anything, you can see rescued animals native to the country in the Belize Zoo. The variety is exciting and, because the country is small, very accessible. There are now a number of airlines flying into Belize from the US, making the price of airfare much more affordable than it was a few years ago and making this country very accessible.
Chaa Creek is a private, well-groomed, 330-acre eco-resort on the banks of the Macal River in the foothills of the Maya Mountains of western Belize. The activities at the resort have been designed to stimulate interest in the environment, culture and archaeology of Belize. Guests can interact with nature by exploring the river and miles of well-maintained trails, Mayan sites, and through activities such as hiking, canoeing, horseback riding, mountain biking and bird watching.
After we arrived, we walked for less than an hour around the resort then past bucolic horse pastures and through thickly wooded hills. In that short time, we saw a huge iridescent blue butterfly (the kind Chaa Creek raises at The Blue Morpho Butterfly Farm), something we thought was a spider monkey (but probably wasn't, since they are not found in that part of Belize), bold toucans, a large assortment of flowers, a Mayan Chultun (underground rooms) and ruins of a small Mayan house. We wished that we had more time to explore, but spa treatments were waiting.
Later in the visit we took a canoe trip down the Macal River to San Ignacio on market day. The canoe trip was easy - no rapids at all. We saw birds, otters and brilliant orange iguanas. The town was busy with locals, backpackers and tourists.
We also took a trip to the nearby Mayan ruins of Xunantunich, some of the tallest in Belize. Our guide, Philip Burns of Yute Expeditions, was extremely knowledgeable, and we learned so much. It was a privilege being there.
Chaa Creek has been the recipient of many awards including Conde Nast Traveler's Ecotourism Award, The American Society of Travel Agent's Environmental Award and American Express / Caribbean's Green Hotel of the Year Environmental Award.
Guest Accommodations and Dining at Chaa Creek
The lodge is comprised of 19 comfortable palm-thatched cottage rooms and two luxury suites nestled along the riverside. Each cottage is constructed from local hardwoods and thatched with bay leaf palm, has Mexican tile floors, large mahogany beds, original artwork and private bathrooms with hot showers. The large verandah is the perfect place to relax in the hammocks provided.
Also available is the Macal River Jungle Camp, a half-mile down river from the lodge, featuring ten fully-screened casitas, each having two comfortable beds with fresh linens and a private sheltered porch for quiet relaxation and peaceful views in the undisturbed jungle habitat.
Meals are served in the large, airy Dining Room. Much to our delight, there was always a selection of local Belizean cuisine on the menu.
The Spa at Chaa Creek
My first reaction on seeing The Spa at Chaa Creek was appreciation and awe. Here's why... Chaa Creek is on the far western side of Belize, only a few miles from Guatemala. I can only image how much of an effort it must have been to get the most modern spa equipment to Chaa Creek. There's a vichy shower, pedicure throne chair, and a great, big hydrotherapy tub in addition to the usual massage tables and various equipment and supplies a spa uses. So here I was, in the middle of a mountain rainforest, standing in a spa facility as modern as any in the US. Bravo to spa owner, Bryony Fleming!
What about the treatments? Being so remote, could this spa deliver treatments as top-rate as the facility? I will answer with a resounding yes! My husband and I both had massages on our first evening. At twilight, we walked from the lodge up the steep hill to the spa. We checked in at the reception desk, were given sarongs and were offered a bathroom to shower in. We showered and waited on the verandah. The view from the hilltop was just amazing! Pretty soon, Jeff's therapist, Eva, appeared and escorted him to his treatment room which opened up to another verandah with a massage table where Vince escorted me. We both got Full Body Therapeutic Massages. Vince gave an excellent massage while I listened to Celestial Winds and the creatures of the surrounding forest. It was particularly relaxing. When we were done, we immediately made appointments for the following night for the same thing. After all, how often do we get a chance to be massaged on a mountaintop in Belize with such skilled therapists? The second time was just as good as the first. One word of caution, be sure to ask for a flashlight for the return walk down the hill to the lodge. We didn't, but the moon was full so there wasn't a problem.
In addition to massage therapy, The Spa at Chaa Creek offers cellulite treatments, a variety of facials, tropical body wraps and scrubs, massaging vichy shower, hydrotherapy massage, aromatherapy, spa manicures and spa pedicures.
Chaa Creek offers a number of overnight spa packages including:
One Night Spa Package: Includes Cottage accommodation, Dinner and Breakfast, Massage, Facial, Manicure or Pedicure.
Two Night Spa Package: Includes Cottage accommodation, Dinner and Breakfast, Massage, Facial, Manicure and Pedicure, Guided Nature Walk, Canoeing or Horseback Riding or Mountain Biking.Three Night Spa Package: Includes Cottage accommodation, Dinner and Breakfast, Massage, Facial, Hydrotherapy, Pedicure, Body Wrap, Horseback Riding or Mountain Biking, Canoeing, and a Guided Nature Walk.
Four Night Spa Package: Includes Cottage accommodation, Dinner and Breakfast, Hydrotherapy, Body Wrap, Specialty Facial, Massage, Manicure & Pedicure, Canoeing, Horseback Riding or Mountain Biking, 2 Nature Walks or 1/2 day Jungle Walk About, Natural History Center and Butterfly Farm and a Sunset Canoe tour.
Five Night Spa Package: Includes Cottage accommodation, Dinner and Breakfast, Hydrotherapy, Body Wrap, Specialty Facial, Massage, Eye Treatment, Manicure and Pedicure, Canoeing, Horseback Riding or Mountain Biking, 2 Nature Walks or 1/2 day Jungle Walk About, Natural History Center & Butterfly Farm and a Sunset Canoe tour.Seven Night Spa Package: Includes Cottage accommodation, Dinner and Breakfast, Hydrotherapy, Body Wrap, Specialty Facial, Two Massages, Eye Treatment, Manicure and Pedicure, Canoe Trip, Horseback Riding or Mountain Biking, Chaa Creek Jungle Walk About, 2 Nature Walks, Natural History Center & Butterfly Farm and a Sunset Canoe tour.
For the romantic, there's the Honeymoon Spa Adventure: Includes: Accommodations, Breakfast and Dinner, Flowers/Wine, Romantic Canoe Trip, Horseback Ride or Mountain Biking, 2 Nature Walks or 1/2 Day Jungle Walk, Natural History Center & Butterfly Farm, Sunset Canoe Trip and Spa Treatments (Hydrotherapy, Facial (Special Mask), Body Wrap, Massage, Manicure & Pedicure). At the time of our visit, the package price per person was
4 Nights.....$1185.00US or 5 Nights.....$1355.00US. These prices included an additional Spa Treatment, Eye Treatment. 7 nights.....$1723.00US. This price includes an additional Eye Treatment and Massage. The Honeymoon Spa Adventure options included upgrades to the Luxury Jacuzzi Suite for an additional $18.00 per person per night (highly recommended!). The spa activities could be individually tailored to meet individual desires. Be sure to check with Chaa Creek for current package prices.
Day Spa Packages include:
A Day at the Spa: Includes Massage, Facial, Manicure and Pedicure or Body Polish, plus Lunch.
A Day at the Spa Deluxe: Hydrotherapy or Body Wrap Massage, Facial, Manicure and Pedicure or Body Scrub, plus Lunch.
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