Punta Gorda

Travelers' Takes

Getting There

Machaca Hill Lodge

More Photos
  • Add to Trip Check Rates
  • P.O. Box 135
     Punta Gorda, Belize
    +501 (7) 22-0050 Website
  • Not quite right? Change PhotoUpdate Address
eviet
eviet
First Reviewer
5 out of 5
Avg. Member Rating
1
Review
6
Photos
Editor Pick

Machaca Hill Lodge

  • October 21, 2006
  • Rated 5 of 5 by eviet from Brooklyn, New York
Machaca Hill Lodge

Living in New York, nature is not part of my everyday life. Vacations are for extracting you from the familiar, though, as did sitting on my verandah, surrounded by wilds. Sure, I had a plain view of rooms 4 and 6, but if I leaned against the railing and stared ahead, there were only rustling leaves and palm fronds. The first day I was greeted by the not-so-distant image of two black howlers effortlessly, silently swinging through the branches. Within minutes, the trees had consumed them.

Machaca Hill Lodge, formerly El Pescador, had changed ownership hands months before, renovating their way to an official December opening. Yet, nothing seemed amiss as our van climbed the foliage-rich hill. Greeting us, bright and smiling, was the creator of this wildlife sanctuary, Jim. His Mayan sidekick, who they simply call “Ranger,” exuded an equal amount of cheerfulness.

Birds of paradise, overflowing in Punta Gorda, and an old canoe-turned-bookshelf comprised the exotic elements of the sitting room. But more importantly after a day of international travel, a heaping plate of un-requested sandwiches beckoned our stomachs. We munched away as Jim, who first came to Belize with the Peace Corps., introduced us to the lodge and its surroundings. As he talked of the rainforest and indigenous people, this former Michigan boy grew animated, infectious with his passion. And he had a surprise for us: a canoe ride down the river that meanders its way past the lodge.

Satiated, we were first guided to our rooms for a bit of much-needed R&R. I collapsed into one of the firm but comfortable beds, even though I wanted to melt into a verandah “clam” chair to witness the moseying wildlife. That time did come, repeatedly, over the following 3 days. From the verandah, I heard distant bird calls alongside those feet from my body. Bugs crawled across the planks as I observed from my wooden perch. Sometimes the odd leaf would fall, brushing through the jungle. But mostly there was a cacophony of insects buzzing, accompanied by the smell of my DEET-soaked skin.

As is apt to occur in the rainforest, particularly in the rainy season, we were privy to storms with pounding rain. The second night, I awoke not from howler screams, but the cabin vibrating in the midst of a thunderous roar. I noted this somewhat disturbing development, rolled over, and fell into the black hole of jungle sleep.


Expect to pay around US$200/night in the high season, November to March. Management is currently searching for an international chef to revamp dining menus, in addition to updating the lodge and rooms, from the linens to the décor. A triathlon competitor and scuba diver, Jim can recommend outdoor activities for your forays into the jungle.

From journal The Jungle Haven of Punta Gorda

Compare Punta Gorda Rates

1. Enter travel information

City

2. Select websites to compare rates

Each selected website will open a new window.

Punta Gorda Travel Deals