We joined some friends in Ambergris Caye, Belize over Spring Break but due to our last minute decision to actually go we were not able to stay on the same property as them. So we did some searching and found Mata Rocks.
We had a terrific time and really enjoyed this property. It's got a great vibe and has a cool, modern look to it. Many properties on Ambergris Caye in this price range are old but Mata Rocks is either relatively new or has been refreshed recently. It feels like a boutique hotel.
The bar area outside (where you can get breakfast, lunch, or dinner) is setup well with your options of bar seating or tables and chairs (or out on the beach). The bartenders are all super nice and friendly. They were quick to get our drinks or food but just as quick with suggestions on where to dine in town. We even saw locals (girls from a nearby dive shop) after work and non-guests-but-clearly-tourists quietly having drinks there so, in the evening, there is a small "buzz" about the place. It's a nice place to chill out, have a drink, and enjoy the sea breeze.
The hotel serves free breakfast at the bar so guests would gather in the morning for coffee and whatever was on the free menu. You can also buy breakfast items or get the free breakfast and pay for something additional if you wanted.
Our room was great and had a balcony with a view over the pool and out over the ocean. In addition to curtains that let in diffuse light through the balcony slider, there was a shade that you could drop down to ensure your room stayed dark and had absolute privacy.
The room came with a (I think) king bed with two nightstands. Tip: if the plug next to your bed doesn't seem to work, it could be controlled by a light switch next to the sliding door. This is notable in case you are trying to charge your phone and are wondering why it's not charging.
The bed was comfortable with good pillows. We also had a bunk in our room that could accommodate another person but we just used it to lay out clothes. Housekeeping refills a plastic bottle/jug of water in your room fridge everyday so you have free water if you don't want to take a chance with the local water.
The bathroom was not huge but plenty big for one person to use at a time. It was clean, updated, and the shower had GREAT hot water. It was hot and it stayed hot.
The location is a bit south of San Pedro but you can walk to town on the beach or on the road. We would generally walk into town for dinner to meet our friends but take a taxi back to the hotel. Taxis were consistently $5 US from town back to the hotel (but always ask the driver first).
Overall, we really liked this place. It was priced reasonably for the location and the quality of the rooms/property/amenities, it had a cool look and vibe (i.e. not dated or old), and everyone was super nice and responsive.
One nitpick was the fact that Wi-Fi was spotty in our room. It worked great just outside the room and at the bar. I understand that the management is working on making sure Wi-Fi is solid in all the rooms. The other nitpick was the fact that they apparently have courtesy bikes available for guests. We were never informed of this and only knew because we passed by them and inquired about them in the office. If you are so inclined, it seems you could ride a bike into town and save the walk and/or the taxi ride.
Overall, we enjoyed our stay and would happily stay there again.
