We stayed for 3 nights at Crystal Paradise and didn't want to leave. The Tut family was very friendly and made us feel very welcome. Carolita makes absolutely delicious food and it was so fun to sit down to breakfast and dinner without knowing what feast awaited us each time. The dining room is communal, so we also had the opportunity to meet others that were staying there at the same time. We also recommend birding with one of the sons, as they have extensive knowlege of not only the various species, but also provided us with a great deal of information about the culture and the area around San Ignacio. Mr. & Mrs. Tut also were there and we had the chance to chat with them after dinner.

The rooms are basic but very clean, also there is no air conditioning but a large ceiling fan which was fine for us. If you are looking for a 5-star resort, this isn't the place. If you are looking for a lovely natural setting, great food, meeting other folks, and great outdoor excursions, then this is a wonderful place. It is about 15min outside of San Ignacio on the Macal River. We had a great time taking the public bus home one evening from San Ignacio. The Tut family also offers many different tours and transportation to Belize City for a very reasonable fee, with a stop by the Belize Zoo, as we were then moving on to Ambergris Caye.

We have many fond memories from our stay and hope to stay there again soon.

I stayed here for about a week for a school trip, and while we did not spend much time at the actual resort (we were out doing tours and excursions all day usually), the time we did have there was great. The Tut family is very knowledgeable and hospitable. The surrounding forest was beautiful and we saw some great birds. The river and rope swing were great for cooling off after a long day. The cooking was also fabulous! I would definitely stay here again!

I have used Crystal Paradise for two years for college study abroad programs. It works unbelizeably well! They can put together a program that includes natural history, Mayan ruins, reefs, traditional medicine and healing, homestays and cimmunity service. He is easy to work with, reliable, orgainized, and on budget. The staff is amazing at accommodating student dietary needs. It is the only way I would consider taking 20 students abroad for 2 weeks! Feel free to contact me if yu have any questions ---
Susan Allen-Gil
Ithaca College

This is our second stay (the first was in 12/99) with the Tut family (Belizeans who own and operate it) at their beautiful resort. YOU CAN TRUST THEM: they will make all the arrangements you will need for fun in Western Belize (& Guatemala). Their vehicles are late models (reliable) and their guides are friendly and knowledgeable. Every thing we arranged with them occured without a hitch and they are quite flexible about tour arrangements in the area. Your tasty family-style breakfast and dinner will be amply served in clean facilities and they can accomodate a variety of dietary needs (e.g. vegeterian), with an unique "honor system," bar. The cabanas are also very clean and beautiful (with thatched roofs that are tight and screened) as are the grounds. You will get to see a variety of toucans, mutt-muts and plenty of other exotic birds and can consult with family members about all the flora and fuana. The relaxed atmosphere is conducive to making new friends or enjoying your time with your group. You can enjoy this mountain resort and still have easy access to San Ignacio Town. Prices are fair and we didn't encounter any hidden charges. Go to their website to see how beautiful it really is. You can believe what you read.