Welcome to our Rainforest Lodge in Belize
Welcome to our rainforest lodge in Belize
. . . your ultimate destination for an unforgettable adventure. Nestled in the heart of the lush Belizean jungle, our lodge offers a serene escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. To ensure your journey is as smooth as possible, we’ve provided detailed directions to guide you to our doorstep. Whether you’re traveling by car, bus, or plane, you’ll find everything you need to know right here to reach our rainforest lodge in Belize with ease.
You have many transportation options once you land in Belize.
Ground Transportation
We recommend two different ground transportation companies for longer distances (to/from Belize City, Hopkins, Placencia, Orange Walk or even Chetumal or Tikal/Flores):
- BelizeCaving.com
- BelizeTaxis.com – which can be booked through belizetaxis@gmail.com or via WhatsApp
Public Bus Service
Public buses are the least expensive option, but also the most time consuming and least comfortable. The majority of the buses are retired U.S. school buses (no A/C, no frills). It can take 3-4 hours for the ride from Belize City to San Ignacio. Also, to get to the bus station requires a taxi ride from the airport or water taxi dock.
Please note the taxi fare from the airport to the water taxi dock or the bus terminal is @ $30.00 U.S. + $1 tip per bag (expected).
Taxi Service
You can catch a taxi from the airport to our lodge for @ $125 U.S. We don’t recommend this because many of the Airport-based taxi drivers are TOTALLY unfamiliar with our jungle area, but they will tell you they know exactly where we are. Don’t believe them! 🙂
Group Shuttle Service
Group Shuttle Transportation is @ $100 U.S. (for 2 people) – but usually only if there are more than 2 people on the shuttle. In addition, they will drop you off in San Ignacio, and you would then take a bus/shuttle or taxi from there to our lodge (for an additional $15 U.S.). But be careful, as shuttle companies charge per person.
Commuter Flight
When flights are available, you can fly via TropicAir to San Ignacio (for the price of an airline ticket) and then catch a $25 U.S. taxi ride from there to our lodge.
Car Rental
Renting a car is an option. If you do, previous guests have been extremely happy with Crystal Auto Please be aware that fuel prices have recently exceeded $8 U.S. per gallon, and cars here get about half of the estimated mileage due to poor road conditions. Also, rental car companies require you to purchase their insurance or they will put a hold on your credit card (even if your credit card company or auto insurance covers rental cars). Four wheel drive vehicles are also highly recommended (some rental car companies require it) for this area of Belize. And they will charge you extra if you return the car dirty (it WILL be dirty).
SPECIAL NOTE: If you plan to drive across the Guatemala Border, let the car rental company know. Many of them will not allow you to drive across the Belize borders. If they do, you will need to pay an extra fee. Upon pickup verify that there is a sticker on the vehicle that authorizes border crossings. Additionally TRIPLE check the paperwork they give you and be sure the VIN# on the paperwork matches the VIN# on the vehicle.
Directions
Please note there are not many road/street signs in Belize. There are few street lights. So, it is recommended to arrive before dusk, which is usually between 5-6pm year round.
Lucky Dreamer Lodge is 3.5 miles up Cristo Rey Road, from San Ignacio/Santa Elena turnoff, toward Mountain Pine Ridge. Our GPS coordinates are: 17.1302° N, 89.0593° W. We do not have a physical address (we’re in the jungle 🙂
We are about a 1 1/2 hour drive from Belize City. First, ask for directions from the rental car company for which way to head toward San Ignacio. [If you are arriving from somewhere else, ask the same thing…. with one exception. If you will be arriving from the Mountain Pine Ridge area, please let us know – as the directions will be very different!]
About 75-80 minutes into your trip [If arriving via Belize City area], look for the Santa Elena roundabout.
Go straight through – Heading to Santa Elena
(note the sign may be painted, and the flags removed)
Do NOT turn right toward San Ignacio.
Once you get out of the roundabout, you’ll almost immediately go over a cement speedbump/pedestrian crossing area. You will go over one more cement speedbump next to the Uno gas station on the right). [NOTE: Do not count the yellow bump-pod speed bumps. Only count the cement speed bumps]
Go another block or so and start looking to your right for the Puma gas station.
Once you pass the Puma gas station, look to your left for a turn-off that heads up the hill (There is a small covered bus stop area with a bunch of resort signs – see photo) – that is Cristo Rey Rd. (Just to make things even more interesting this road is also known as San Antonio Rd, or Chiquibil Rd, depending on different online map services!)
Turn left, but then stay to the far right of the left turn. You’ll go over another cement speedbump as you head up the hill. You’ll go over another cement speedbump further up the hill.
At approximately 2-2.5 miles you will start entering Cristo Rey Village.
Start counting the speedbumps again at this point.
After the 4th speed bump go approximately 1/10th mile more (You’re almost there!) You will pass a sign advertising a liquor store on the left.
The next thing you’ll see on the left is a cement fenced-in yard (an aqua-green color). Slow down once you see that cement wall on the left. Our driveway is on the right, EXACTLY opposite of the cement-fenced property driveway.
There is a big green sign “Lucky Dreamer Lodge” in our driveway entrance. If you pass the end of the cement-fenced property, and head up the hill, you passed us.
Let us know a timeframe for your arrival, so the gate will be open. If it isn’t open, please ring the Doorbell on the sign and we’ll be there shortly to let you in.
Once you enter the property, veer right towards the carport, but then turn left and head toward the parking sign with the name of your bungalow (either Banana Bungalow or Belize Bungalow) and park in front of the appropriate sign.
Map of Cristo Rey Village
Mile 3.5 Cristo Rey Road
Cristo Rey Village, Cayo Belize
Call Us
(+832) 317.6915 ~ U.S.
(+011) 501.671.1515 ~ WhatsApp