Hacienda Tropical Guest House

We stayed at Hacienda Tropical Guest House for 5 nights, and don't usually write reviews, but we wanted to this time, as the stay made our first trip to Belize so pleasurable. I heard someone say that the first place you stay in a new country can affect the rest of your experience there, and if that's the case, then make Hacienda your first place to stay - the location is perfect for getting to some of the really beautiful parts of Belize (just drive down the Hummingbird Highway, so much to see!). But more than that, Martha, Joe and Chris are so hospitable, and really go out of their way to make you feel at home, and give all the advice you need for anything you want to do there. You'll mainly deal with Chris, he's there every day, super friendly guy, I imagine all the reviews will say how great he was, as we saw during our time there how he looked out for everyone who stayed with the same level of care and attention he gave us. The room was super clean and comfortable - every room has its own kitchenette where you can cook for yourself, the shower was excellent, nice double bed, and spacious. We ended up staying in the local area for food and day to day things - there's an ATM and a great bakery at the end of the road, supermarket across the street, and fantastic local food cafes and restaurants serving Belizean cuisine and more (apparently there's a really good Chinese restaurant nearby as well, worth a look). We went to Betty's, Chris's recommendation, they do different specials every day alongside a set menu. The first night we arrived late, so ate at the cevicheria just up the road, Chef K - shout out to the chef, Elsa - great food! All in all, couldn't recommend the place more - we shall definitely be back! Alan and Ezgi xxx

2-3/2/24 We three middle aged guys from London were making our way down south in Belize. We booked this a day ahead on Abnb. We arrived at the coach station in the centre and walked in the heat with our bags across the town through the civic centre with all its new buildings to run the country. Arriving at around 14:55 we had no easy way of contacting the owners to say we were there (no data or SIM). A fellow traveller was also waiting inside the sliding drive gate. He said the guy (who had let him drop his bag early to wander round town) would return at 3 or 4 to let him in. It was hot, we were tired and bothered. Luckily there was a shop opposite so I bought a round of beers for us all to chat and pass the time. The garden was quite pleasant and we watched the butterflies and the woodpecker feed its chick at the top of the telegraph pole! Time went on, the drinks and conversation went down well and after a time enquiring with neighbours and eventually paying a lot of money for roaming we managed to contact the number which was Marta's. Within a few minutes (at 16:03) she arrived and welcomed us, having checked out of her work early. She apologised profusely about the delay and let us three into the end apartment and our travelling friend into his. We chatted and she gave is lots of tips about where to go. Eventually she resigned herself to not returning to work so we invited her for a drink along the road in Chefk Cevicheria where we four had a snack (of Conche and Shrimp Ceviche (25), Shrimp diablo (25) and tasty Micheladas with thick spicy tamarind paste on a straw (12)). After that snack at about she then took us to her favourite food stall (Deisy's Pupuseria) run by Equadorian refugees serving frijol, ayote and mora (2-2:50 each) which were very tasty (we regretted later not buying some for breakfast the next day). She was very hospitable indeed and made up for the awkward wait earlier. She bought some of the delights as takeaway and left us to go home. We returned back at 19:10 to base to end up having some more beers chatting to our new travelling friend. It was not worth the trek back into town to check out their evening life! In our two bed apartment we had a kitchenette by the double bed in the first room and a bedroom with another double bed at the back. In the kitchen was a brand new large fridge freezer, gas cooker, big floor standing fan, kitchen cabinet with crockery and cutlery sink and diaphanous curtains which let the morning light in. The bedroom had a TV (untested) with an efficient a/c unit. Real paintings of animals on the wall had contact details for their being sold. The shower-room had a single central ceiling light (I brought my own plug in lamp for shaving) and was quite social and clean. Marta has very high standards in this regard. The walk in shower was big and hot water was fine. The water pressure was good for flushing out razors. The electric socket for the tv was high up on wall under ceiling. I