West Belize
Pooks Hill Jungle Lodge
A small, friendly, unpretentious jungle lodge – one of our clients’ most popular – adjacent to the strict Tapir Mountain Reserve and owned and run by the same family for over 20 years. It retains its original low-key ambience and enjoys a spectacular position on a ridge above Roaring Creek river. The lodge is built in an ancient Maya plaza which has been lovingly restored.
The lodge’s own 300 acre private rainforest reserve is listed with the Belize Association of Private Protected Areas and is a natural extension of the neighbouring 6,700 acre Tapir Mountain Reserve strict reserve, expanding an important widlife coridor connecting the reserves of the south of Belize.
There are private trails leading to the river where you can enjoy river tubing. The reserve is home to over 300 species of bird as well as many of Belize’s mammals with tapirs and jaguars being occasional visitors.
Facilities
Eleven thatched cottages including two Birdwalk cabanas (No.10 & 11) accessed by walkway below the main lodge, which are the largest and most private of the rooms. The others are standard cabanas dotted around the grounds. Restaurant, bar/lounge area with small library; on-site naturalist birding guide; private reserve with trails; hot water; PC available free in the office.
Local Wildlife
Mainly birds, including rare hummingbirds which feed on the flowering trees in the gardens. Excellent birding can be had in the lodge grounds during the early mornings.
Optional Activities
Canoeing; butterfly farm; Tikal (Guatemala) excursion; Xunantunich Maya ruins; zip-lining; horse riding; excursion to nearby ATM cave – a real adventure with three hours of swimming, wading and walking through a remarkable cave system revealing many weird stalactites and, at the end, a spooky Maya ceremonial chamber with pottery shards and petrified skeletons.
Jonathan Morris
Area Specialist
At night hundreds of fireflies flash their mysterious coded messages and, when you shine your torch onto the grassed areas, thousands of reflective wolf spider eyes glisten back at you. On night walks you can find tarantulas peeping out from their ground nests and kinkajous, related to coatis and racoons, amongst the tree branches.
If you have any questions regarding our Belize tours, please feel free to contact me on +44 (0)1803 866965
If you are looking for great location, character and ambiance; excellent guides; good home cooked food; and above all excellent birding then Pook's Hill should definitely be on your list. Accommodation was absolutely fine and full of character. We really enjoyed the communal dining and were happy to have the owner join us in the evenings. We have no hesitation in recommending Pook's.
