We just returned from a week's stay at the Mariposa Jungle Lodge, and our first trip to Belize. The reviews on Trip Advisor are totally on the mark. This place is a real gem!

We are a 30 something couple and wanted to spend 7 nights in the Cayo to do a combination of outdoor activities and Mayan culture/sightseeing. The lodge is perfectly situated to take advantage of all that the region has to offer. Highlights for us were the ATM cave (a must do!) and a day at Tikal in Guatemala. Also great were happy hour at the butterfly farm (sounds crazy but at dusk thousands of incredible butterflies are active), horseback riding, Caracol, river canoeing, Mountain biking, Xunantinich, and zip lining.

What makes this place special, however, is the very personal care from the owner, Sharyn, and her great staff that feels more like family (thank you Clara, Nelmarie, Damien, Esau). When we arrived, one of us had a banged-up toe and Sharyn quickly re-arranged our activities. She checked in with us every evening, asked about our guides/impressions of the day, and suggested activities that we might enjoy. We were treated to delicious meals (they accomodate a range of preferences and send out a detailed food questionnaire in advance of your stay), an immaculate and comfortable cabana, and knowledgeable and fluent English-speaking guides. We felt very lucky to always have a guide to ourselves (with the exception of ATM where we were with another couple), especially when we saw the large groups from other lodges.

If you are considering a combination of jungle and beach, we recommend staying in the jungle first, and then going to the coast to relax after all of the activities...

No matter what, stay at Mariposa Jungle Lodge. It's an unforgettable experience.

We just returned from Mariposa Jungle Lodge, a place we chose based on Trip Advisor reviews. Our purposes for going to Belize were birding and Mayan ruins of Belize and Guatemala, and by staying in the Cayo region, all that is possible. Our cabana was very clean and comfortable; meals were fashioned to meet our tastes by Esau; Nelmarie is a very attentive host: all of the wait staff were anxious to please; Augusto's knowledge of the history of the Mayan ruins at Caracol made the visit a great experience and Sharyn makes things happen.

We are young seniors (one of us with joint replacements), and, at first, Sharyn felt Tikal would be too difficult for me to manage. But she looked into it further and found out that there are accommodations at Tikal to make the trip doable - and it was. When I told Sharyn that I was amazed at the success of the large Mennonite community in the area and would like to see it, she arranged for a tour guide, Louis, a birder, to take us there to see the community and bird.

We extend our thanks to all of the above, especially Augusto for his tour of the Zoo and his excellent driving. If you are looking for a quiet jungle base, good food, cleanliness and a staff that tries to meet all needs, go to Mariposa Jungle Lodge.
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Having traveled extensively, it is a rare treat when I find a resort or location that offers something new that exceeds my expectations. The jungle setting of the resort allows you to experience nature at its finest. The thatched cabins blend into the environment, si I was pleasantly surprised by the well-appointed interior, with a very comfortable king bed, a generous sitting area, great screened in porch with hammock and unbeatable jungle view. The tiled bathroom was spacious, modern and immaculate. Although the guest rooms are built under the jungle canopy, the pool is situated in an open area and you can sunbathe by day or swim under the stars at night. The jungle birdwatch tower offered another unique opportunity for stargazing without ambient light. The bar and dining area are nice and completely appropriate for the jungle location. The new chef focused on what I would call a gourmet level of Belizean offerings. The food was excellent overall, but the coconut and pineapple shrimp dinner and the delicious soups stand out in my memory.
The Mariposa experience was enhanced by the excellent stewardship of Sharyn, the proprietor. Based on her advice I was able to use my limited time more efficiently. I enjoyed a highly informative and interesting visit to Caracol, the great Mayan ruin of Belize, and an amazing visit to ATM, a spectacular ceremonial cave that is reached by hiking, wading and swimming. After two active days, an easy hike and river tubing offered, peace, relaxation and wonderful scenery at nearby Macaw Bank Jungle Lodge where Ron and Al, the proprietors, provided an excellent meal and fun company. Sharyn also introduced me to Happy Hour with the Butterflies at the Green Hills Butterfly Ranch where I sipped wine and watched thousands of butterflies engage in a ritual pre-slumber dance at sunset.Jan and Tineke, the gracious proprietors of Green Hills, were most engaging in their descriptions of the butterflies, humming birds, local lightning bugs that emit enough light to read in the dark, and tarantulas, including the Meerman Tarantula, a species that was discovered and identified by Jan.
My jungle trip was actually a too brief adjunct to a week -long diving cruise around the Belize Cayes. At the end of my Belize experience I realized that my time at Mariposa Jungle Lodge was the highlight of my trip. Mariposa delivers what it offers - "Adventure by Day and Comfort by Night". I plan to return to more Mariposa magic.

My family of 4 (2 adults, 2 children -- 13 and almost 12) has just returned from a fabulous trip to Belize for 2 weeks. We were at the Mariposa Jungle Lodge 12/17 - 12/21. We chose the Lodge because of its wonderful reviews and it definitely met or exceeded all of our expectations.

The planning part of the trip was so easy and both Sharyn and Clara were wonderful. They answered all my questions, planned our excursions and Clara even booked in the remaining part of our trip on Ambergris Caye. She also gave us a wonderful referral for excursions while at Ambergris Caye. (that will be posted under Coco Beach Resort).

First of all, my family can't say enough wonderful things about Sharyn and her staff. What an exceptional group of people. Ever member of her team is polite, hard working and just a pleasure to be around. The people there alone would have made the trip worthwhile. However, I would be remiss if I didn't tell you how beautiful her property is. The cabanas are terrific. We have not slept on a more comfortable mattress, and to wake to the sounds of the jungle each morning was amazing.

Our food was delicious and Eso is a fabulous chef. I couldn't wait to see what he prepared each night for dinner and every morning for breakfast. While we are not picky eaters, there are a few things that we don't eat and through their food survey, they were extremely accommodating. One night they served an entire fish for dinner, and my daughter was a bit squimish about having the head still on. Sharyn took it away and Eso graciously removed the head and all bones from her fish.....my son on the other hand had a ball picking and eating around the head and bones :) While most nights we ate in the lodge, one night we had a dinner of pork, chicken and shrimp served buffet style by the pool. It was amazing!!!

The first two nights Sharyn joined us for a glass of wine after dinner and on our last night there, we asked her to join us for dinner and she pulled up a chair and did just that. We loved hearing the stories of her travels and how the Lodge came about. Nellmarie, Sharyn's manager, was also available and I loved talking with her about her two beautiful children and recent wedding to the chef, Eso :)

Our bartender, Asad, was an absolute joy....always with a smile on his face. He challenged both my children to arm wrestling matches....quite comical, given his size, but my kids tried hard! Sharyn even joined in a game of cards with my kids and another guest on our last night there.

Another employee, Damien, was our tour guide and transportation to and from the airport. What a remarkable man! So proud of his heritage and so adept at telling us all about it! We truly enjoyed our time with him. He definitely made each excursion even more memorable.

The excursions we went on were the ATM (not for the faint of heart but well worth the effort), the zip lining (most beautiful zip lining we've done thus far), Caracol (amazing ruins), Happy Hour at the Butterfly Farm (must do), and the Belize Zoo (great way to see the animals of Belize).

If there is anything negative to say, it would be regarding the roads, but that is something that unfortunately can't be fixed. While it may have been a bumpy ride to the resort (last 9 miles), it added to the experience and really let my children see what it's like living in other countries and what the people have vs need. Not once did we hear any complaints from the Belizeans. They are proud of their country and thankful for what they have.

I could go on and on about all the wonderful things we experienced while at Mariposa. It was definitely the highlight of our trip. In hindsight, it would have been nice to have more time there. We got to know the other families/couples staying there and even saw one of them in Ambergris Caye :)

Thank you Sharyn, Clara, Nellmarie, Eso, Asad, Damien and all the other staff for making this a fabulous trip! Keep doing what your doing, cause you're doing it Great!!!!!