MACAL RIVER,
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*Mayan translation, "I am another yourself," an honoring of each other and statement of unity, and includes all species, all forms of matter and energy, rivers, stones, trees, plants etc., without separation. |
Please
note: Everything you see here is REAL! All photos, with the exception of the
Orange Breasted Falcon were taken by our guests or
by us right here at Ek' Tun
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GUIDE TO MAINLAND
"Here you seem to be able to move back and forth through the centuries, above and below the earth, following the river, attuned to the "present." (Susan & Arnie,
#4 in Top 10 Jungle Lodges Top 10 Most Romantic Places to Stay Top 4 Great Honeymoon Ideas- enjoying nature with creature comforts and privacy
"Ek' Tun is the most beautiful property we have seen in the country"
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Because of our remote location, only a few travel agents have visited Ek' Tun and are authorized to represent us.... for the most accurate information and best results, book direct! If you feel an agent is necessary, don't hesitate to ask us for the name of an authorized agent.
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Although all of Ek' Tun is a 200-acre, neotropical rainforest retreat on the Macal River, bordering the country's largest contiguous area of jungle and reserves which rises majestically from the northern edge of the Vaca Plateau and encompasses Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve, Vaca Plateau Reserve, the Chiquibul Rainforest, Maya Mountains, Cockscomb Basin Jaguar Preserve, Bladen Nature Reserve and Columbia Rainforest in the south.
Ek' Tun is located approximately twelve
miles up river or 15 miles by road from San Ignacio,
within easy hiking distance of
The Ek' Tun grounds resemble a garden oasis
in the midst of a tropical rainforest. We have miles of hiking trails, through hundreds of
acres of lush, undisturbed habitat providing unsurpassed birding, hiking, and
exploring. This section of the
Several troupes of howler monkeys travel through the area, and can sometimes be heard claiming their territory both during the day and at night. Other interesting wildlife abounds as well, and with such rich diversity of flora and fauna, careful observers are generally well rewarded. We also are fortunate to include a host of personable domestic animals as family members, to the added delight of guests who are animal lovers. While most of our guests spend the first few days of their stay enjoying the numerous activities and adventures here on the premises, during a longer stay there are also opportunities to take tours and excursions to a variety of attractions and activities in the surrounding area. We have a three-night minimum, but there's more than enough to keep you active and interested for longer.... and leaving with plans to return for more.
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Macal River at the edge of the Vaca Plateau - south view
Macal River - north view
Spring-fed mineral pool
Red-Eyed Tree Frog by the pool
Toucans feasting on palm seeds
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"Your property is spectacular, it's amazing to have so many natural wonders in one place...." (Karen & Jade, Evergreen, CO)
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Our spacious, rustically elegant cottages are furnished with a combination of mahogany, wicker and hand-hewn hardwood furniture. Each has a table and chairs, sitting area and double bed downstairs, and another double bed in the upstairs sleeping loft. They can each comfortably sleep up to 4 adults in a party. An interesting assortment of artwork, displays and reading material from and about the region add to your enjoyment. The bathrooms are equally spacious and modern, with hot and cold water in both showers and lavatories. Numerous windows provide scenic views and a bright, breezy ambiance, with lighting provided by oil lamps in the evening hours. The cottages are situated for privacy at a distance from both each other and from the main lodge, and are constructed primarily with native materials found here on the land. Built in the traditional Mayan style with the help of Mayan craftsmen from the nearby villages, they, and their surrounding gardens, are designed to harmonize with the pre-existing jungle environment. Outside, comfortable deck chairs allow you to enjoy morning coffee or tea with the birds or a nightcap under the stars. Meals on the premises, both breakfast and dinner, are served
at the main lodge "family style" with other guests, and with Phyllis as your
attentive hostess. Often acclaimed by guests as "the best food we had in
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FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO MAKE RESERVATIONS, email:
info@ektunbelize.com (must be typed in) Apologies to all whose correspondence bounced from Hughes spam blocker! Please Note: If you do not receive an e-mail reply within 48 hours, it may be due to local weather conditions or technical problems. Please resend your message and we will be in touch as soon as possible. LAST MINUTE TRAVELERS ONLY, PLEASE CALL 011-501-820-3002 BEFORE 8:00 AM OR AFTER 6:00 PM CST.
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"Thank you so much for sharing this place with us--it is rare to find a space so well cared for and respected. The hills are full of magic, the caves and trees hold a sacred strength we can all learn from. We see Earth's imagination and intelligence here in a way that seems harder to do at home.... I know I will take this with me and continue to discover & feel the depth of the Earth and all her gifts." (Kate, New York, NY) |
Your stay with us will be uniquely your own, not part of a group experience..... that means we provide a custom quote for every reservation, based on the standard price structure below. Often guests change their minds about tours and activities after arriving, so it's best to decide those after you arrive and can assess the terrain and weather conditions. Please don't hesitate to ask about any additional services you may want included for a special occasion! |
| "....Orchids and iguanas, full moons and orange blossoms, a magical cave, reading at night by kerosene lamp.....From this passing traveler, heartfelt thanks for your care, attentiveness to all that surrounds you, for your warmth and humor, and most of all, for showing the rest of us how to blend comfort and caring for the environment. Until the next time..." (Judith, Gramercy Park, NY) |
PLEASE NOTE: Due to our remote location, there is a "3-NIGHT MINIMUM" stay. Our new "ADULTS ONLY" policy has been implemented for both safety issues with children and for the benefit of our guests celebrating their honeymoon, special anniversary or are seeking a peaceful interlude away from their own children. We also regret that limited staff and safety precautions requiring the "buddy system" do not allow us to accommodate "SOLO TRAVELERS" With regard for our guests who do not smoke or have kicked the habit, "SMOKING" is not allowed inside the cottages or diningroom. |
| LODGING, per night: max 4 per cottage |
double occupancy
$190 each additional $ 55 |
| MEAL PLAN, per day: Breakfast and Dinner only |
per person $ 32 |
PLEASE NOTE: All prices are quoted in US dollars. The Government of Belize levies a 9% Room Tax and 10% Sales Tax on all goods and services. A service charge of 10% is also added in keeping with the industry average. Additional gratuities are not expected but welcome at the end of your stay, if you feel our service was above average. |
POLICIES
| PAYMENT - We respectfully request that payment is made by personal check. In the event that you do not have access to US$, or prefer to use a credit card, we can accept MasterCard or Visa, with a 5% processing fee. Please indicate your payment preference when you request a quote. |
RESERVATIONS/CANCELLATIONS/REFUNDS: We maintain irregular office hours for phone service, but you may still conveniently request reservations, ask general questions about weather, itineraries, etc., by email: info@ektunbelize.com (must be typed in) Please Note: If you do not receive an e-mail reply within 48 hours, please resend your message and we will be in touch as soon as possible. LAST MINUTE TRAVELERS ONLY, CALL 011-501-820-3002 BETWEEN 7:00- 8:00 AM OR 6:00-8:00 PM CST. A deposit of 30% of the total amount quoted is requested within 7 days from our verbal confirmation, with the balance due 45 days prior to arrival. Cancellations made more than 60 days in advance will receive a 50% refund of the deposit. Cancellations made from 45-60 days prior to arrival receive no refund of deposit. Cancellations made less than 45 days before the scheduled trip receive no refund of payment. Under special circumstances we will provide a voucher good for up to one year from the cancellation date. No refunds will be given for services or tours prepaid and not used, however substitutions are always happily made where possible. |
| "...For us, Ek' Tun will not only
symbolize the fact that people can be at peace with the environment, but will also remind
us that our dreams of making the world a better place can become a reality if we work hard
enough...." (Jim & Carrie - San Diego, CA)
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