I met up with a friend from college, and we had the most amazing experience! We had a shuttle service from the lodge meet us, and he was prompt, friendly, & ready to help us with our bags. When we got to the resort, we felt very safe with the COVID precautions. Check in was easy - they had welcome drinks for us! Rhoda took us to our lodging and made sure we were well-acquainted and comfortable with everything. All of the food and service was incredible! The pool, hot tub, and grounds were great to hang out at during the mid-afternoon. The best part was definitely the excursions! We were lucky enough to have incredible guides - a huge shoutout to Arnold, Hector, Julio, and Pablo!! They were all very professional, knowledgeable, made us feel safe, and overall just fun! Caves Branch was by far the best part of our stay in Belize!…
When planning a family vacation for my husband, 8-yo girl & 10-yo boy, I searched hard to find an adventurous place, an outdoor jungle experience & suitable for our kid’s ages. I didn’t want SUPER fancy, but I wanted a nice, family friendly & somewhat all-inclusive. I was hesitant about an all-inclusive for my picky kids, but I also didn’t want to search for places to eat in an unfamiliar county. Ian Anderson’s Caves Branch HAD IT ALL!! Reuben was waiting for us at the airport & was informative during our drive to Caves Branch. We were greeted by Janet with a welcome drink & then taken to our Canopy Tree Lodge by Lisa. Lisa was amazing & ensured we had everything we needed. Our IMPRESSIVE tree lodge was screened in but wide open to the jungle with STUNNING VIEWS. We woke up to these views and along with the sounds of the jungle. We loved the outdoor shower with a jungle view. The small AC above the bed was perfect & would even make us chilly at night. The fans on the kid’s bunk beds were all they needed. Day 1 - Ian Anderson’s Original Cave Tubing for a fun day of tubing & cave exploring. We got to jump off a cliff then onto the Caves with our guides Justo & Ivan who kept us safe & ensured we had a fantastic day. We explored the caves learning so much along the way finishing with a white tablecloth picnic inside the cave. Day 2- Belize Zoo with our fantastic guide Christian. We enjoyed a few close-up experiences with the Tapir, Jaguar & Toucan which were so much fun & worth the money. We had a Belizean lunch and spent the rest of the day ziplining through the jungle. The views were out of this world. Day 3- Ruben took us to John Carr’s Banana Bank for horseback riding. We arrived & took a short boat ride then onto our horses for a guided jungle tour of the. We had a great lunch there before we left. Day 4 - Carlos, Jesus & Majelio took us on an exhilarating experience at the Black Hole Drop. We hiked 1.5+ miles in the Mountains to a sink hole sitting 200 ft above the rainforest canopy. We rappelled to the bottom, had a picnic lunch, enjoyed more exploring & hiked back. We were super proud of our 8- & 10-yo. Thanks to our guides for your encouragement…we would not have done it without you. The pool/hot tub were a perfect ending to our day. We loved our cocktails from Chenille & playing games with the kids. We enjoyed the Cheese Tasting & the beautiful Botanical Gardens. The massage overlooking the river listening to the sounds of the jungle was to die for. We had coffee & fresh delicious pastries in our room each morning. It doesn’t get much better than drinking coffee overlooking the jungle. The laundry service was great after the activities which sometimes left you sweaty & wet. Only having Wi-Fi in the dining was perfect! Our kids ran around & played games & didn’t use an electronic device the whole trip & neither did the adults. I was hesitant about family style meals, but this was one of our favorite. It was SO MUCH MORE than a typical buffet. The covered outdoor seating was quaint. Each night we sat with a new family allowing us to meet so many people from all over the world. The Belizean food was FANTASTIC offering a little bit of everything & it didn’t disappoint. Fresh bread, fruits, salad, pasta, cheese, main course, dessert & much more. Our servers Janet & Tania were excellent & made mealtime special for us. The staff was accommodating ensured we all had it all. A bottle of wine or a fun cocktail was always a treat for the adults & the endless soft drinks for the kids was a great vacation perk. You are treated like family at Caves Branch…they know your name & you know theirs. Ian & Ella were always mingling & enjoying the guests. They are compassionate people who absolutely love Belize. The Howler Monkey’s appearance was one of the many highlights of our trip. I HIGHLY recommend Ian Anderson’s Caves Branch for a family vacation. This was a PERFECT trip my family will NEVER forget. I have not one bad thing to say about it.…
So this is one of those rare situations in which pictures just cannot capture the beauty of a place. This resort is rustic and luxurious at the same time. Everything is carved out of beautiful hardwoods and the grounds are unbelievably lush. Sleeping in a treehouse in the jungle is like something out of a fairytale. The cave expeditions were truly once in a lifetime experiences. My kids (aged 10-14) loved every second of our visit). After the first day here I knew I would never stay at a large impersonal resort again. The staff here made an effort to get to know us and genuinely cared if we were having a good time. They were consistently available without being intrusive or inauthentic. The staff took covid precautions very seriously. Mask wearing and hand washing was enforced for all staff and guests. Our cave expeditions were private (no other groups) which was awesome and it let us get to know the guides better. We also had our own dining table for the duration of the trip. …
Caves Branch Lodge is truly an amazing paradise! First and most importantly we felt so safe there as they are vigilant about Covid safety and medically supported recommended procedures. But on top of that the grounds, the staff ( a huge shoutout to Marco), the room (we had a gorgeous canopy tree top room), and the adventure guides ( Auner, Ivan, Pablo, and Hector) were all 5 plus stars! After meeting Ian, the owner, and hearing the passion in his voice for the resort and staff we could see why this was such a hidden gem! Meals were also amazing here and even our vegetarian daughter loved all the variety and options she was provided. We will definitely return and recommend Caves Branch to all ( for at least 4 nights if you can!). Also make sure you do the Waterfall Tour!!! Thank you Caves Branch for making our first time really leaving home in 9 months magical.…
I've been traveling around Belize since 2007 and I have been to almost all the populated Cayes and almost every town and village. I've been to all the currently available Mayan ruins except one. It's fair to say that of all the top jungle lodges in Belize and there are several nothing can beat Ian Anderson's. Each lodge, resort, or hotel has something unique to offer but Ian Anderson's has everything you could wish for. All I can say is book a stay now, you can thank me later.
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