Tanager Rainforest Lodge

We stayed at the Tanager Rainforest Lodge in January 2025 to celebrate our 10th year wedding anniversary and had a fantastic time! We enjoyed being close to nature, rafting on the river that winds around the lodge, and visiting surrounding attractions like Mayan historical sites, cacao and spice farms, Mayan cooking and crafting experience, bird watching, and swimming by a nearby waterfall. Everyone at the lodge was very friendly and the food was great with local ingredients.

On arrival to this slice of eco-paradise in Southern Belize, I was shown to a rustic, beautifully furnished, air-conditioned cabana surrounded by lovely grounds. A pleasant pool area and flavorful meals that were thoughtfully prepared added to my enjoyment of this quiet nature resort. The welcoming and accommodating staff were a highlight of my visit.

Tanager Rainforest Lodge was everything we hoped for and more! From the moment we arrived, the staff made us feel genuinely welcome—so warm, attentive, and went above and beyond to make sure our trip stay was amazing. The entire property is stunning, with beautifully maintained grounds and a peaceful, relaxing vibe. Adrian set up bird feeders so we could bird watch while sipping our coffee. The pool area was a highlight: crystal clear water, a hammock, and just the perfect spot to unwind. And the food… wow! Every meal was fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. Whether it was breakfast with a view or dinner under the stars, we were impressed every time. Can’t wait to come back!|- Chiarna & Ajamu

We loved everything about Tanager Rainforest Lodge, the accommodations, the staff, the food, the grounds, and the wildlife. ||We flew on Tropic Air from BZE to Punta Gorda and were picked up at the airport in town and driven a short distance to the lodge. We were greeted by several members of the staff and given a delicious welcome drink while we discussed our plans for our stay. ||We ate most of our meals at the lodge, and everything we had was excellent. Dinners were a choice between a couple of entrees, while breakfast and lunch had a variety of menu choices. The waitstaff was very attentive and we enjoyed having our breakfast outside on the porch. ||We were in Aracari cabin, along the river. Everything was beautiful in our little cabin. We enjoyed sitting on our porch watching the river. If you are not a fan of unexpected visitors in your cabin, I would not recommend the thatch roof cabins. We weren’t bothered by it, and the mosquito net around the bed kept everything out. We also enjoyed a swim in the pool every day and had lunch there one afternoon. We didn’t have a chance to do the river tubing on the grounds, but it looked fun. We’ll have to make time for it on our next visit. ||All the tours we did were excellent. We did a full day of birding with Steve Choco, one of the top birding guides in Belize. We saw a good variety of birds on the lodge grounds, at Blue Creek, and at nearby rice fields. Steve was able to find us several elusive life-birds to add to our list. We would also recommend a night drive if you like owls. Steve was able to find us two different species of owl and got us good photographs. We also did a morning tour of a Maya site at Nim Li Punit with Nate, a community local. The site isn’t large, but the numerous stelle are fascinating. ||We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Tanager Lodge and can’t wait to return in the future.

Amazing setting with the river nearby, feels very off the beaten path. Yet wifi is available and can use in your room and public area. Our room did not have air-conditioning but we were quite comfortable with a ceiling fan and a powerful stand up fan. There are lots of birds to see and the onsite birding expert Steve took us on walk one morning to help us spot birds. There is a feeder that many bird come to so you don't have to walk far if you don't want to! Our breakfast server, Vince was also knowledgeable about the birds and helped us id them. |There is a Swimming pool that was perfect for cooling off in the afternoon.|The Staff looks after your every need. We had the most contact with Vince, Sarah and Mona. All exceptional. |They have a restaurant and the food was outstanding. They were able to accommodate our vegan eating habits. The food is all fresh. Don't miss out on the fry jack! | Lovely hot water showers. Ours had a garden view.

What a wonderful time we had here! My wife and I spent five incredible days at this beautiful and well kept eco lodge. Our thatched cabin was beautiful and had both a big overhead fan and an AC unit to keep us cool in the warm humid evenings.||The pool was basic, but very refreshing and we spent an hour or so in it each day cooling off before dinner. There was no bar at the pool, but I think that's something that they are working on remodeling and reopening in the future as they are recently under new ownership.||The food was fantastic, and I say this as someone who often lets my stomach arrange our next travel destination. The staff were also very kind and helpful in the dining room and Adran was a very good and friendly bartender for us. He even offered to give us a little ice chest with some Belican beers to enjoy on the porch of our cabana.||Steve, our guide during our stay, is incredibly knowledgeable about the people, culture, and wildlife in the area and also just a great guy to spend the day with. He is a very enthusiastic bird watcher and nature lover and was a delight all around. In fact, when we finished our stay at Tanager and spent a few days on the beach in Placencia, the locals we talked to knew him as well! A travelling merchant said "Oh you were in Big Falls? You must know Steve Choco!" Well we do and we are happy to know him as he gave us daily tours that we will never forget.||If you want to experience the people, the culture, and the incredible biodiversity of the Toledo district in a fun and relaxed way (and you should!) then this is the place to do it. We are so grateful we were able to make this trip and hope to do it again one day.

We spent 3 happy nights here in March in a hardwood cabana.||The lodge is situated close to Punta Garda, in large grounds, surrounded by the rainforest, close to the Rio Grande.||We took the kayak out one day, and had a fantastic time observing the beautiful surrounds on a peaceful journey down the Rio Grande. We walked a couple of the trails that have been set out and also discovered the small gym, set in the grounds with a horse keeping guard!||The gardens surrounding the lodge are kept in pristine condition, and the bird feeders attract beautiful birds. The swimming pool is small, but refreshing and clean. When we were there, it was also very quiet.||The staff absolutely make this place very special. Everyone was warm and welcoming, and very keen to share their knowledge with us. One of their newer members of staff, Andrew, was exceptional. He has a lovely, quiet demeanour and very good knowledge of local birds, animals and flora. He drew our attention to many birds we would otherwise have missed, not being knowledgable birders ourselves||The food was good, but very pricey. It is simple, local fare, prepared with love. Understandably, there is a limited choice, which wasn’t a problem for us, although shrimp in various guises was offered on all 3 nights! Lucky we enjoy shrimp! The price of the food really adds to the cost of staying here.||The incomparable Steve Choco more than lived up to all the great reviews he has on here. He made time to understand what we were interested in, and tailored all our pre booked adventures accordingly, even squeezing in a morning at the market in Punta Garda for us. While he is an expert birder, used to very knowledgable guests, he was prepared to take 2 novices out and share his considerable wisdom at a level that made us excited and engaged. Thank you Steve for your patience!||We would thoroughly recommend a stay here. It is delightful.

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.