Pine Ridge Lodge

If you go to Belize and want an amazing and stunning place to stay where everyone makes you feel like family, including the resident dogs, Maggie and Morgan, you must go to Pine Ridge Lodge located outside of San Ignacio. The cabanas, food, lush landscape, people, including Benoni, Oscar, Kevin and the many other people are all absolutely amazing. I cannot say enough good things about them. Please, look to them for the next visit to inland Belize area. They will take care of you, you will want for nothing, and they will treat you like family. When we left, it was like saying goodbye to family. It was a bit sad but we will definitely be back!! Benoni can arrange all tours for you, our guides were nothing short of perfect. Amin, Darwin, Pedro and even Benoni himself provided us the best time. We went into San Antonio village for dinner with the locals and also to another village where we ate brick oven pizza with the locals. Words can’t express how much we loved this place.

Simply put, our experience at Pine Ridge Lodge was something special. From the moment of our arrival, we were made to feel like exclusive guests at this family-operated lodge. Our family of three stayed in VIP1, a beautifully decorated jungle bungalow complete with hammock, screened-in porch, a large and luxurious bathroom, and a loft—accessible by stairs—with plenty of space to spread out and feel immersed in the natural landscape — sights and sounds included. The property itself is one of only a handful that rests within the Pine Ridge Reserve. Nested atop the mountain ridge, the weather is noticeably cooler, a welcome relief from the heat and humidity of the mainland or Cayes. Well manicured gardens, a natural steam, and all the wildlife that comes with the property felt like ours to enjoy. Throughout our stay, the staff ensured that every need was met — from fresh water at night to recommendations for our 4 day itinerary. We were us with the best tour operators in the area (we were part of intimate tours of ATM Cave, Caracol and Tikal archeological reserves, and enjoyed nearby “freebies” such as Big Rock Falls and Rio Frío river), The home cooked “traditional Belizean” meals we ate at the lodge itself were the best of our 10 day stay in the country. Within the newly renovated screened in porch, one feels as though they are joining for family dinner. We enjoyed traditional Mayan breakfasts as well as Stew Chicken with Rice and Beans served family style — all made personally by the local staff. An unexpected surprise was the wood fired pizza (baked in a homemade oven and lays claim to be the best in Belize). As native New Yorkers, we can attest that it does indeed hold up. We normally live hectic lives, but the exclusive service and atmosphere here erased the stress of our daily grind and made our trip one we will remember for years to come. Thank you Neil, Marcia, Benoni, and the entire staff for sharing your special place with our family.

We stayed at 5 different lodges in the Cayo district of Belize and this was by far the worst. The room was about a quarter size of the other places we stayed at and looked shabby but was priced around the same as the others. At 5am I was woken up by roosters and they continued crowing for hours so I could not sleep. In addition, they use the fact that you are far away from any city and upcharge you for everything. This was the only place that did not offer complimentary distilled water (like all other lodges did) and charged $2 USD per bottle. Even their beer was double the price of any other lodge and 4 times the price you pay in a store in San Ignacio. While they claim to offer transfers at a reasonable price, the manager Benino asked for $50 USD to pick us up from the Hidden Valley lodge, which was only 10 mins away. In contrast, when asked about the cost of transfer the Hidden Valley Lodge offered to move us to Pine Ridge free of charge. I read good things about the previous owner Neil but he is gone now and the place is owned by someone else. The only reason I am giving any stars at all is for the chef. He is such a nice person and a very experienced chef - worked for years at a nearby luxurious lodge owned by an American filmmaker. The chef made amazing 3 course meals for my daughter who is vegan. He is very talented and the only good thing about this lodge.

Our stay at Pine Ridge Lodge was nothing short of spectacular! From the cozy and well-appointed accommodations to the delicious food, every aspect exceeded our expectations. The real stars of our experience, though, were Benino and Marcia, whose exceptional hospitality truly stood out. Benino went above and beyond, dedicating an entire day to personally drive and guide us on unforgettable excursions, including a butterfly garden, a coffee farm, and breathtaking local waterfalls. Their warmth, attentiveness, and genuine care made this the best customer service we experienced during our entire trip to Belize. Pine Ridge Lodge is a hidden gem that delivers a perfect blend of adventure, relaxation, and outstanding service. It’s an easy 10/10, and we’d return in a heartbeat!

Thank you so much to Benoni and Marcia for making our stay at Pine Ridge Lodge the most magical and memorable time! This is truly a gem - beautiful grounds, well decorated spaces with all the amenities you need to unwind and disconnect, and plenty of attractions in the nearby area. Benoni went above and beyond to make sure we had everything we needed. He helped organize so many unique activities and experiences. At the end of the day we could always look forward to a home cooked meal by Marcia which was delicious and healthy. We would without a doubt stay here again. It was the perfect retreat from our everyday busy lives.

This Lodge outside San Ignacio and close to the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve is managed in a very committed way by Neil and his style also affects the staff like Marcia in the service or the drivers George and Nadir. There is a very personal touch to it, where guests are greeted by name, and where one tries to do the best for any personal wishes. The location is ideal for outdoor activities, which can get organized through the accommodation. Thus we visited Caracol on our own with a driver from the Lodge or took together with other guests a tour to Xunantunich and Cahal Pech Maya ruins. Before arrival Neil offered us for our transfer from the airport to the Lodge a stop for free at the very worthwhile Belize Zoo with local animals in very natural surroundings. Our traditionally decorated room was quite basic with no outdoor seating and no WiFi, with no bed lamps and just one socket, so we used it mainly for sleeping and a shower. But one can take a nice walk on the grounds to a small river and waterfall. It can be that sometimes traffic noice is heard from the nearby road, especially with big vehicles used for the works on the road to Caracol. A place to be is the quite big hall (with WiFi), where on one side reception is located and where breakfast and dinner is served. The food was a highlight here, a mixture of Belizean and English specialities, mostly prepared by Neil himself, who cannot deny his background. So besides Garnaches or Fry Jack for breakfast or Bollos and Tamales on Banana Leaf as starters for dinner we also had Yorkshire Pudding, Roast Beef and Mashed Potatoes. My wife and me left this place with very fond memories.