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About
5.0
#4 of 21 hotels in San Ignacio
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Value
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Vanilla Hills Resort is situated in the rolling hills of Cayo on 45 acres next to the banks of the Mopan river. Although only five minutes from San Ignacio Town, the tourist center of Western Belize, the Resort is surrounded by peaceful nature. Vanilla Hills Resort is your ideal starting point for a multitude of tours. From here you are within easy reach of famous Maya Sites, impressive cave labyrinths, the tropical jungle and many more day tours. Our on site restaurant 3 Senses has it's focus on fusion cuisine. International dishes with a local twist.
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Nestled in a jungle paradise, Vanilla Hills Resort delights guests with its tranquil and charming atmosphere, complemented by tastefully lit outdoor areas. Its prime location is lauded for facilitating easy trip arrangements. The resort's service stands out, with a staff committed to providing a warm and attentive experience.
Rooms are spacious, comfortable, and well-appointed, contributing to the property's exceptional value. Travelers enjoy top-notch amenities like the inviting infinity pool and outdoor dining with wildlife views, all underscored by an unwavering commitment to cleanliness.
Location
Convenient
Atmosphere
Charming
Rooms
Comfortable
Value
Reasonable
Cleanliness
Immaculate
Service
Attentive
Amenities
Relaxing
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We really enjoyed the property and the bungalow we stayed in for five nights. Cabin was well equipped (coffee maker, pots/pans, dishes, etc.) and we made some of our own meals in the kitchen. We also had breakfast made for us and it was excellent. Also options for fancy coffees which I loved! The infinity pool is very beautiful, I spent a full day relaxing, reading, and enjoying the forest view with the birds and the butterflies. The owners were really exceptional folks and assisted us in planning our days including recommended sites to visit as well as restaurants and booked the ATM cave tour for my husband. There are many accommodations in/around San Ignacio but for the price, location, and amenities it was exactly what we were looking for. We had also rented a car and had no issues locating the property in the dark as we had driven there straight from the Belize City airport (with Claudia's directions). It was really quick to drive to surrounding attractions from this location, we got to know San Ignacio very well by the end of our stay here. Parking for your vehicle is also secure.
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Date of stay: December 2019
Location
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip:We had one of the chalets but they all looked nice, they even have a treehouse.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Was so excited to be able to travel to Belize in 2020 and felt that they are very careful with COVID precautions and safety. Was expecting it to take an hour to more to get through customs, but breezed through in just 30 minutes (had proof of a negative COVID test. There was sanitizer everywhere I went throughout Belize. The car service that Claudia at Vanilla Hills Lodge had arranged to pick me up was also very careful with sanitizing and about mask-wearing (99% of people wear them all the time - even outside walking around). Vanilla Hills Lodge was like an oasis in the jungle with beautiful woodwork (great job Franklin), birds, two friendly cats, hammocks, wonderful service, and the bungalow my friend and I stayed in had everything we need. I enjoyed taking a swim in the pool in the stunning setting. Claudia (and Franklin) are amazing hosts ensuring I had everything I needed and made sure I knew what to expect and how to prepare for the ATM cave tour Cauldia arraigned for me. As well, she gave great tips on things to do (Caracol Mayan Ruins tour, exploring San Ignacia, and the AMT cave). On top of arranging the tours, she got me a taxi to San Ignacio, and arraigned a shuttle to take me to Maya Beach for the second part of the trip, and added a private tour of the zoo which was great! Ate most of my meals at the Caffe and they were all excellent (Claudia is a great chef) and I really enjoyed watching the hummingbirds, squirrels, and listening for the monkeys while enjoying breakfast. All the tours and places to visit were very empty because of COVID and felt like an exclusive private tour. Vanilla Hills Lodge was the perfect place to stay (the towel animals creations brighter each day) on this trip and I cannot wait to go back! I would encourage everyone to stay at Vanilla Hills Lodge. Thank you Claudia and Franklin for making me feel like part of your family with such amazing hospitality!
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Date of stay: December 2020
Rooms
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Everything about Vanilla Hills Lodge from the booking, to the check in, the food, the grounds, the staff, and the especially the hosts were amazing!
My wife and I traveled to Belize for two weeks in September during a tumultuous time. There was a 7pm curfew (9pm in some high trafficked tourist locations such as San Pedro), restaurants only allowed take out, and Sunday’s were “no move” days meaning everything from tours to restaurants were closed. That being said Claudia and Franklin, the owners of the property, made our one week stay the highlight of our trip.
We stayed in the new treehouse for three nights and the two bedroom for three nights. The tree house is the newest unit on their property as of this post. They are like a spacious studio room for two people with a king bed, air conditioning, a small kind of kitchenette area (no sink/fridge but they have a microwave, plates, bowls, utensils, coffee maker), a deck with chairs and a hammock, and a very nice bathroom with an outdoor rain shower. The highlight of the treehouse is floor to ceiling windows that allow to you wake up to sun bursting through the foliage and a jungle full of birds (sometimes howler monkeys) getting an early start to the day. The design and modern feel to the tree house give it an ornate design that heightens the experience and gives travelers the “creature comforts” they often desire.
The two bedroom (one bedroom upstairs and one downstairs and both with air conditioning) has more amenities including a wrap around deck with two hammocks as well as a table and chairs for outside eating, a sitting area and full kitchen on the main floor, and two bathrooms. This could work better for a family or two couples. A previous reviewer posted an in-depth write-up of the two bedroom rental if you want more details.
The infinity pool was one of the nicest we have been privileged to access. Warm, good size, great view, and fun design features including built in stools in the pool that allow you to sit on the waters edge and lounge chairs that sit in shallow water you you can keep your feet in the pool while staying dry and soaking up some rays.
The grounds are immaculate with wildlife running around all over. The grounds are so clean that I am pretty sure whenever a single leaf falls on the floor they have someone hiding in the bushes to pick it up immediately.
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Date of stay: September 2021
Cleanliness
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The location could not be better. It’s very close to San Ignacio and all the restaurants and attractions, yet it’s away from the noise of the town. We stayed at a gorgeous air conditioned villa tastefully decorated with an incredible attention to detail. There are other beautiful houses on the property - all surrounded by trees and gardens. Everything is pristinely clean. The infinity pool is incredible. The owner, Claudia, is an accomplished chef. I highly recommend ordering food here at the patio where you can watch the humming birds and listen to the water fountain. Claudia was extremely welcoming and provided a ton of information about the area and the attractions. Thank you so very much, Claudia! I wish we could stay longer!
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Date of stay: February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Claudia and her staff at Vanilla Hills Lodge are outstanding and the best of the best. Our first experience in Belize is unforgettable because of Vanilla Hills. She booked all of our tours and the guides for those were phenomenal and so knowledgeable. We lucked out and got Nas the day we explored Xunantunich and Cahal Pech. Nas had helped to do the archeological dig so he knew so much history and information about the sites we were seeing. Claudia and the chef at Vanilla Hills are 5 star! Every meal we had was AMAZING and you could tell they pay attention to every detail to make it perfect. Jessica, Mark and Corrina (sorry if I misspelled) were so accommodating, genuinely nice and were a pleasure to interact with each meal we had with them. Nori, Noelle and Judith took such great care of our treehouse. Everyday we would return from our daily adventure to a spotless room with adorable towels that had been folded to look like animals. I accidentally left my rain jacket in the van of a tour and Claudia tracked it down and the next day when we returned to our room, there was my jacket waiting for me. After the ATM tour our clothes were soaked and not drying out fast enough so I was so happy when Claudia told me the provide laundry service. They picked up our laundry while we went on that day’s adventure and when we got back our clothes were washed, dried and folded in a basket in our room. What a relief to have clean dry clothes :) The BEST part of Vanilla Hills are all the beautiful and enchanting wild animals. Claudia has set up a safe haven for the animals to enjoy fresh fruits everyday and it was such a joy to see them every time we came to eat a meal. Mr. Balls, Ms. Greedy and the baby coatimundis came every morning for their helping of bananas. What a site to see and experience! The dining area is an outdoor covered pavilion so you can see, hear and feel the nature and it’s wildlife right next to you. Tom and Jerry, the Vanilla Hills cats were funny companions always eager for a pet or a nap on your bed. We loved getting to meet the other guests during breakfast and dinner service. We would trade stories of what we did that day for jungle adventures and that would give us ideas of what we would want to do the following days. We went to Caye Caulker after departing our stay in the jungle and I must say, Claudia spoiled us and I wish we had spent our whole vacation in the jungle at Vanilla Hills. When we come back, there’s no other place we’d rather stay. Thank you Claudia and staff for being so amazing!
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Date of stay: January 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:We visited in January and it was PERFECT weather. No bugs, no rain, not too hot and not too cold....
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We love this place so much that it’s easier to make a list of what we love rather than type it all out: ⁃Claudia and Karina are so helpful and kind. Karina booked our excursion tours and got us a better deal than we could have on our own. Claudia was SO welcoming and hospitable and went above and beyond to meet our needs. ⁃The food. Was. Amazing. We had no idea hotel food could be this good. They will soon open their restaurant to the public, and we highly recommend anyone in the area check it out; the chef who previously worked at a Michelin star restaurant in Germany is definitely worth the investment. ⁃We love Claudia and Karina. ⁃Housekeeping staff did a wonderful job keeping our room clean, helping us celebrate our honeymoon with complementary champagne, flowers and petals on the bed, and adorable towel sculptures. ⁃Claudia really did go above and beyond to help us out, offering us her bottle of bug spray and helping us to find medication that we thought we lost. ⁃Highly personalized accommodation. Belizians know hospitality. My spouse and I were talking about how we felt like the staff particularly liked us, but this is just how kind and hospitable they are to everyone. ⁃Breakfast in the open air cafe felt like eating in a wildlife sanctuary. We got to help feed the monkeys and various gorgeous birds in the area. ⁃Claudia and Karina are the best. Seriously, go stay there and meet them, and they will treat you like royalty.
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Date of stay: November 2022
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Room Tip:Request the tree house. And have Carina book your trips (she'll get better deals than you will)
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
My wife and I stayed here for the first four nights of our honeymoon and without question will stay here again WHEN we return to Belize! Claudia and Franklin were so helpful and kind as every single need was met with the detail and professionalism expected at the highest-rated resorts but with such a personal atmosphere we felt like guests in their home. One or both greeted us every morning to make sure all of our needs were being met. The staff was incredibly friendly and you could always see Daniel's (waiter) smile through his mask it was so big. The rooms were gorgeous and immaculately clean with new towels creatively waiting for us on our bed in new animal shapes every morning. The food was something out of the master chef tv program, delicious and always masterfully presented on the plate. My wife took pictures of every dish because they were so gorgeous. We got to see wildlife every morning during breakfast as the crew put out food in select places to bring in birds and other friendly animals for our viewing. Every tour was scheduled on our behalf and Claudia only used the most professional tour groups and our guides were incredibly friendly and knowledgeable. I cannot say enough about this resort and its people. I never leave reviews (EVER) but had to after our stay here. We just loved this place so much! Please book your stay here if you travel to Belize, you will not regret it!
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Date of stay: January 2021
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip:The Tree house room was AMAZING! Outdoor shower!
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This is one of those very special finds where, as a traveler, you are torn between wanting to shout it from the mountaintops and wanting to keep it a secret all for yourself. A family run boutique resort focused on personal, warm connection from a staff of fabulous, talented locals. The tree house rooms are very special, the pool beautiful and everything is extremely clean. The chef takes great pride in his yummy creations and the mastermind behind it all, owner Claudia goes way above and beyond to ensure each and every guest has a wonderful experience. Never before have I stayed somewhere that the owner did such a great job of coordinating activities for me, using local companies that help support the community and all at a value. That's a huge added amenity. The location of the lodge is just out of town and is the perfect combination of jungle experience and convenience. It's only 7 minutes to run into town for exploration or a meal. Shining staff member, Mark, was a superstar both at the lodge and helping to introduce us to the local community. Daniel, Chef and the rest of the crew put their hearts into their work and it shows. I've traveled a lot and this is a standout, warm and wonderful place to visit. I can't wait to return.
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Date of stay: July 2021
Value
Cleanliness
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
My stay at Vanilla Hills was amazing! Claudia and Franklin are clearly personally invested in their property and it shows. The lodging was perfect and exactly as described in the text. However, the photos do NOT do this property justice! The entire property, from the cafe to the pool to the bungalows and treehouses are better in person than in pictures! Claudia treats you like family and is so knowledgable of Belize. Staying here was the perfect getaway. It was relaxing, beautiful and all the trees around the property and the individual bungalows provided a lot of privacy. The meals were also delicious! Although meals do not come included in the costs of the nightly rate, it was affordable and well worth the price.
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Date of stay: February 2020
Rooms
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
From the moment we arrived until we sadly left, it was beyond our wildest dreams. The treehouse was a dream. Beautiful in design, original in layout, and delightfully nestled in the forest. It was a real adventure the moment we arrived. We were greeted by our hosted and settled into a yummy dinner, followed by a personal tour of the grounds and unit by the treehouse designer and builder Franklin. All the other guests at the lodge were just as delighted and super fun to share dinner and drinks within the dining area and pool. It was super intimate, and I think we spoke and shared adventured with every guest at the site; it was unlike any other location we visited during the rest of our trip. We didn’t want to leave and offered to stay longer, but another lucky couple had already booked the unit. Anyone lucky enough to secure a room/tree a the lodge will be thrilled they found this gem.
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Date of stay: November 2021
Location
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip:One of a kind experience staying in a custom-built, amazing, Treehouse
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Missouri City, Texas1,659 contribution367 helpful votes
Are you wanting to cook your own meals? They do have some units (at least 1) that has kitchen facilities so should be an option. The owner is an amazing chef! I would think she could/would accommodate dietary restrictions. I would contact her and ask. Certainly wouldn’t cross this place off your list of options before talking with her.
I emailed them -
they keep up a pretty active Facebook page as well. We are very excited to go there!
It won’t let me type the email address in this msg but I also used Facebook messenger to contact them. Feel free to send me a msg and u can send the email contact I have for them
Dear Tia,
All of our guest houses have a fridge and a coffee maker. Wifi is available in all guest houses.
A private cap to town is between BZ$ 12.00 and 15.00 (US$ 6.00 and 7.50). If you walk 5 minutes to the main road, you can catch a "collectivo" to town for BZ$ 2.00 (US$ 1.00) per person.
The temperature in October is usually between 70°F (at night) to 85°F (during the day) in the mainland.
There are more places to choose from in the San Ignacio area.
PRICE RANGE
C$276 - C$367 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
LOCATION
BelizeCayoSan Ignacio
NUMBER OF ROOMS
6
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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