My boyfriend and I spent 4 days at Black Rock Lodge this past August and could not have had a more enjoyable experience! Black Rock, located in a Belizian Rainforest, is unlike any place I had ever visited. The atmosphere is wonderful - from the cabins to the dining area to the staff, and especially the location! The sights are breathtaking, and it is incredible to see and hear exotic birds, creatures, and insects in their natural habitat. We spent our days full of activities: hiking throughout Black Rock's property, horseback riding (twice), canoeing down the Macal River, tubing, and zip lining.
One of the most enjoyable aspects of our stay was the "family style" dinner every night at 7. Since August tends to be the wet season in Belize (though we lucked out with gorgeous weather and sunshine for an entire week) the lodge was only filled to half capacity and we could all fit at one long table for dinner. It was great to meet and chat with other visitors from around the world about their travels and adventures earlier that day. The food is also DELICIOUS. Menus are offered for breakfast and lunch and everything is freshly prepared on site. My favorite breakfast was the yogurt, fresh tropical fruit, and homemade granola with colombian coffee and fresh juice! I believe dinner was a flat rate each night, and guests were given a choice of a meat of vegetarian entree option. Dinner always involved some type of bread, soup, salad, entree, and dessert. There were also alcoholic beverages available for purchase at the bar in the main lodge.
When our 4 days were up we were so sad to leave. The staff had been so wonderful towards us and incredibly welcoming. It was an amazing trip and an experience I will never forget.
* I should note that this is not a luxurious, resort-like vacation. While the facilities are very clean and well kept, it is still in the midst of the rainforest! This is a perfect destination for outdoor and adventure enthusiasts, and ideal for individuals interested in bird watching and nature. The scenery is completely authentic and can't be beat, but don't expect to come here and be pampered!

The outstanding thing about Black Rock Lodge is the atmosphere created by the staff.

When we arrived we were greeted by Giovanni and Jesse, both of whom are responsible for the staff of the lodge. Their introduction of themselves and the introduction to the Lodge's layout, activities available at the location and offsite, and the guides available to assist, made us feel right away that we had made the right choice.

The impression that we could do what we wanted, when we wanted, made us feel that we could relax and be at home in much different surroundings.

This feeling stayed with us during our 3 day stay. The rest of the staff made us feel welcome all the time and the central Palapa was a nice place to hang out. We could view birds anytime with a skilled bird guide identifying the different birds. We also met some two legged birds and had fun talking to them about their travels and adventures.

We did a nice canoe ride down the river with our guide Elvis, and hiked by ourselves to the top of the hill on a well marked trail. The hike was moderately difficult for an older person but entirely doable. Beautiful surroundings in the jungle and wonderful views of the valley.

It was a nice restful place with plenty of opportunities to do what you like best.
We would stay there whenever we decide to visit Belize again.

We stayed at BRL for five nights and had a great time. The staff here was amazing, especially Giovanni and Rojilio (sp), who were always ready to offer advice and any assistance that was needed. We knew the place was top notch when we needed air in the tire of our rental vehicle (we had gotten a flat the previous day and though we had gotten it fixed the tire seemed to have lost a little bit more air on the way back to the lodge) and the staff immediately filled it for us. One thing that we did not like so much was that the food, while amazing, was on the expensive side. Since we had a rental car and were going to town for guided tours on most days anyway, we chose to eat most of our meals in San Ignacio. Another thing that surprised us was that the water temperature in the shower was not reliable. Sometimes it would be scalding hot no matter what way you turned the knob and other times it would be freezing. Lastly, if you choose this resort, you need to know that it is about 8-10 miles outside of San Ignacio. It's not ffar distance wise but 6 of miles are up an unimproved, bumpy, and often narrow road. We're from Montana and are used to driving on dirt roads but the dirt roads in Belize take it to a new level. If you stay at BRL you will either be at their mercy for activities and food (which are good, just pricey) or you will need to rent a vehicle so that you can get back and forth to the lodge. We highly recommend renting a car as it worked really well for us. Renting a car in Belize is expensive but when we calculated how much we saved by choosing our own tour companies and eating at different restaurants in San Ignacio instead of relying on the lodge for everything, we came out ahead by a few hundred dollars. The location of the lodge is far but the setting is beautiful and offers a true jungle experience. It was worth the trip for us. Overall, we had a great stay and would highly recommend BRL.

Stayed four nights on a group trip and agree with prior reviewers -- this is a topnotch destination. I liked the food, the staff and the resort facilities very much. Everything is done with what I can only describe as a keen and intelligent eye for what a tourist wants from an eco-lodge experience. Do not miss the cave tubing -- not strenuous but nonetheless a very rewarding outdoor adventure.
The only negative was that dripping condensation from the foliage on the metal roof, along with occasional scampering creatures, woke me up from time to time. So next time I'll bring earplugs.