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We were thrilled to find the following review on "Linked In" today. It was submitted by Craig Anderson, whose family stands among our all-time favorite guests.
"My family and I had the great fortune to stay at Sharyn's Mariposa Jungle Lodge resort during a vacation in Belize in December 2008. It was an extraordinary experience as Sharyn and her husband, Jim, provided a singular level of personal care and attention. Further, the Lodge's location, centrally situated between Caracol, Actun Tunichil Muknal, Xunantunich, and the Guatemalan border (gateway to Tikal) is ideally suited for these excursions.
From the moment that we were picked up at the Belize City Airport until the time that we were dropped off four days later at the Water Taxi terminal for a trip to Ambergris Caye, we felt that our well-being was the main focus of everyone at the Lodge. Jim and Sharyn greeted us as old friends upon our arrival, with cold Belikins and tropical drinks at the ready. The cabana ("Puma") was large and immaculately clean, with a spacious bathroom, and a hammock overlooking the jungle. All of the meals were outstanding, and Sharyn made it a point to provide us beautifully prepared lunch to take with us on our daily excursions. We visited Caracol, Tikal, and Actun Tunichil Muknal during our stay, and Sharyn planned each excursion to deliver the maximum experience to our family. The guides were knowledgeable and professional, and went out of their way to ensure a safe and educational experience.
There were many highlights that will stay with us for a long time. We saw constellations in the luminous night sky that we had previously only seen in books. A lodge employee guided us on a nature walk one morning through some of the 40 acres of jungle surrounding the Lodge and showed us many beautiful and interesting birds, plants, and trees. Sharyn arranged an extra evening visit to a local cave, Bol's Cave, that provided a true "Indiana Jones" experience for our boys who crawled through crevices to see Mayan pottery and tools. And always, the best part of the experience was reliving the day over a delicious meal with Jim and Sharyn, and other guests, in the main lodge dining room, regaling each other with tales of our Cayo adventures. We left the Mariposa Lodge with many new friendships, and with unforgettable memories."
Review available in:
Service Category: Accommodation
Year first hired: 2008
Top Qualities: Great Results, Personable, Good Value
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Deeply Discounted Packages
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The decline of the international economy has obviously taken its toll on Belize tourism. We've decide to waive the usual holiday surcharges and to offer deeply discounted packages for the holidays and 2010. Perhaps that will help some potential guests with budgetary constraints.
The decline of the international economy has obviously taken its toll on Belize tourism. We've decide to waive the usual holiday surcharges and to offer deeply discounted packages for the holidays and 2010. Perhaps that will help some potential guests with budgetary constraints.
Improvements
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With the close of our second season, we're so pleased to have hosted a variety of wonderful, interesting guests, some of whom have offered constructive advice for improvements. As a result, we now have a new reading lamp in the cabaña sitting area, additional wall decorations, shoe cleaners outside the door to allow removal of mud before entry, excursion details in each cabaña, (we learned that often the person who makes the reservations and selections does not offer all the options or details to the other guests in the party, and not everyone is able to study our website in advance), and upgraded flashlights.
We're also buying pillowtop covers for some of our custom mattresses, which some guests have found to be too firm. Our resort will always be a "Work in Process" to accommodate our guests.
With the close of our second season, we're so pleased to have hosted a variety of wonderful, interesting guests, some of whom have offered constructive advice for improvements. As a result, we now have a new reading lamp in the cabaña sitting area, additional wall decorations, shoe cleaners outside the door to allow removal of mud before entry, excursion details in each cabaña, (we learned that often the person who makes the reservations and selections does not offer all the options or details to the other guests in the party, and not everyone is able to study our website in advance), and upgraded flashlights.
We're also buying pillowtop covers for some of our custom mattresses, which some guests have found to be too firm. Our resort will always be a "Work in Process" to accommodate our guests.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Monday, June 15, 2009
Sleeping was a delightful challenge last night. First, a long period of howler monkeys advised us they were onsite. Then, this morning, an unusually diverse array of birds waged what sounded like an aviary world war. All this followed the sighting of an armadillo by our birdwatch tower and a coatimundi on the road. Then, we found the footprint of either a jaguar or puma outside our cabañas. Overall, it was a rather special jungle day.
Cat paw marks outside our cabañas
Sunday, May 3, 2009
The Mountain Pine Ridge Association
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April 24, 2009 – The Mountain Pine Ridge Association accomplished one of its initial goals. We raised funds to purchase a motorcycle for the San Antonio Police Department, where the resident police officer had no means of transportation. | ||
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April 2, 2009 – We recently added two puppies to our family. Buster is seven months old and his little sister Daphne is two months. Dixie, our seven-year-old Rottweiler, is learning to tolerate the, but they torment her with their playfulness. Sometimes the puppies play so rough, I fear for their safety. Like today. We were conducting a meeting of the Board of Directors of the Mountain Pine Ridge Association, a new organization organized by some members of the tourism industry in this area. We heard an overpowering, frightening sound and I thought the puppies were in big trouble. I ran to the back door only to find Buster sitting peacefully and looking up. Jim and I went outside, looked up and saw a large male howler monkey, kicking up a fuss. He was high up on a tree, just behind the Lodge. Jim grabbed his camera and captured what he could. Even the old jungle folks were excited!
March 19, 2009 – I am now a proud founding member of the Mountain Pine Ridge Association, a group of people in the tourism industry who want to advocate improvements and greater recognition of this area. Most of us are not actually “in” the Mountain Pine Ridge, but we’re on the roads approaching the area and we visit it with our guests regularly. We pass through the Mt. Pine Ridge to get to the archaeological site at Caracol and to visit the Rio Frio Cave, Rio On Pools and Big Rock Falls. Want to introduce visitors to other, lesser-known beautiful destinations in the area.
We’ve been lobbying vigorously for local road improvement and prospects of success are looking better than ever. The only complaint we ever get from our guests is about the poor road conditions once you leave the highways. To some, it’s part of the adventure. To others, it’s gratuitous discomfort. To us, it’s physical hardship and extremely high costs of vehicle maintenance. I’ve had to replace three shocks on our vans in the last month. And we’re closer to the highway than several of the most popular resorts in the area.
We’ve been lobbying vigorously for local road improvement and prospects of success are looking better than ever. The only complaint we ever get from our guests is about the poor road conditions once you leave the highways. To some, it’s part of the adventure. To others, it’s gratuitous discomfort. To us, it’s physical hardship and extremely high costs of vehicle maintenance. I’ve had to replace three shocks on our vans in the last month. And we’re closer to the highway than several of the most popular resorts in the area.
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