🌴Bliss and Bellyaches in Belize🌴

Relaxing in paradise: soaking up the serene ambiance at Naia Resort and Spa's lush spa pool.

October might be off-season for some destinations, but thanks to Way to Go Tours, my husband and I discovered it’s the perfect time to experience the vibrant heart of Belize! We just returned from a trip we won (yes, won!), and I can honestly say that Way to Go Tours arranged the most seamless and amazing adventure, covering every transfer detail, stay, and tour- we didn't lift a finger! Please check out my Instagram and YouTube for videos I made with more content of this special trip!

Part I: The Magic of the Mainland

Our journey began in the lush Cayo District at The Rainforest Lodge at Sleeping Giant. For three glorious days, we made Creekside Cottage 9 our jungle home. Waking up to the sounds of the river with my husband was pure magic. We loved using our in room espresso maker to enjoy a cup of magical caffeine to kickstart each day on our beautiful back porch. This place isn't just a hotel; it's an experience!

• Action-Packed Days: We loved hiking the miles of onsite trails, wading in the refreshing river, kayaking, and cruising around on the property's bikes. One of our favorite adventures was locating The Nest, which is a really cool treehouse on the resorts grounds. The staff even gave us a wonderful property tour, sharing the story of the lodge and showcasing the different types of stays they offer.

• A Taste of Belize: We took a phenomenal Mayan Cooking Class and learned how to make soft tortillas, a traditional chicken and vegetable soup, and special cocoa and corn cookie treat in a open air kitchen. Our host also made us a special Mayan drink called atole, a unique spiced corn drink. We loved connecting with the sweet couple who ran the class. It was a really special experience and real treat for this roving baker : )

  

  

  

  

  

  

• Dining: We happily dined at the onsite restaurants for three meals a day, and the food was consistently incredible. Dining in Belize has honestly messed up eating out for me back home. The restaurants on site were all open air, breezy, and so beautiful. Every night we walked to dinner down a beautiful candlelit path. It was a dream. The other thing I noted was just how incredibly fresh everything was, and the fact that it was never over salted. One night we ventured over to the nearby Banks Resort and had dinner at Humo. The Tomahawk steak there? Seriously, it was so good it almost ruined me for all other steaks. And it was such a good price compared to the states. A must-try!

🍫 The Sweet, Sickly Lesson of Cacao

Then came the tour that tested the limits of our stomachs: Lámanai Chocolate and Tours.

We were fascinated by the process of turning the humble cacao bean into glorious chocolate. We learned, we tasted, and then... we got overly ambitious. You see, when they offer you the delightful roasted, and partially processed cocoa beans to sample, the correct answer is moderation.

We went full-on cocoa bandits, grazing handful after handful of pure, unadulterated bean goodness. I'd like to add Matt ate WAY more than I did. We essentially pre-gamed the experience with 10,000 calories of raw, fibrous material. By the time the actual chocolate tasting began, we had no idea what we had already done to ourselves.

The ride back was... great. We were on a Cacao high before the crash. Let’s just say that the rich, creamy, beautiful chocolate we had just witnessed being made was suddenly our archenemy. When we got back we geared up for our next property hike. Our goal was to see each of the 4 rope bridges on site. As we hiked we both started to feel worse, and worse. We were sweating and having terrible stomach pains. Later my husband and I looked at each other with the shared realization: We had over-bean-ed it. We spent the evening in Cottage 9 after a dinner we miraculously kept down alternating between laughing at ourselves and quietly contemplating our life choices. Pro Tip: Cacao beans are potent. Respect the bean and eat in moderation.

Part II: Peace and Pampering in Placencia

We sadly had to leave the jungle, but were not upset to be whisked away to the coast. Our transfer was interrupted by a fantastic pit stop at Sanctuary Ice Cream at the Country Barn, an unexpected gem featuring homemade Amish-made ice cream. The perfect palette cleanser before coastal bliss!

Our final two short days were spent at the luxurious Naia Resort and Spa in Placencia, where we stayed in a gorgeous studio beachfront house. We had a lovely view each morning right from our bed, and could use our porch to enjoy our coffee we made in our kitchenette. Our stay was so peaceful and comfortable. We loved the comfortable bed, outdoor shower and luxurious bathroom amenities!

• Coastal Calm: The beach was practically private and so incredibly peaceful this time of year—perfect for a quiet retreat. There were plenty of chairs and hammocks for guests. They had yard games on the beach, a beautiful pool, bikes, kayaks, and paddleboards on site for resort guests to enjoy as well. Every night we tried to make it a point to notice how many stars we could see after dinner. It was truly otherworldly.

• Indulgence: We happily enjoyed the onsite dining daily and amenities, but the highlight was the spa. A relaxing spa treatment followed by a dip in the spa pool was exactly what we needed to recover from our brief, self-inflicted cacao crisis and days spent hiking.

Our amazing journey concluded with a comfortable transfer to Tropical Air. The scenic flight back to the main airport was a final, beautiful goodbye to Belize, giving us one last look at the stunning landscape we had just explored.

It was a short, food-filled, incredibly beautiful trip, all made possible by the flawless planning of Way to Go Tours! We are so happy to have them as a partner of Red Wolf Travel! I'd love to help you plan a trip to Belize. Just let me know when you are ready to go!

Have you ever accidentally eaten too much of something on vacation? Tell me your funniest food-related travel mishap below!