La Milpa Lodge

The food was on point and the accommodations were comfortable. Birding around the Lodge and a visit to the La Milpa site made for a wonderful stay. On the way to La Milpa, I got a lifer, an Ornate Hawk-Eagle. Even the non-birders were amazed! I came in early August 2023 as a birthday birding treat, and it was such a treat. We were the only guests, so we had the whole place to ourselves. The privacy, wildlife, and awesome staff were an added bonus. Special thanks to Mauricio. We took the night tour and saw frogs, spiders, moths, and more. This is one of my favorite birding destinations.

After six days of hard travel, this was just the break I needed. We had the whole place to ourselves, and I spent nearly all day in the grounds. I only went out briefly toward the archaeological site to see the Mealy Amazon Parrots, though there are several trails to explore. It felt like an oasis after the barren cattle-ranching land we’d traveled through. We arrived mid-afternoon and spent a couple of hours watching the feeding station from the shade of an old mango tree. Seeing the spectacular Ocealated Turkey and a Great Curassow with its mate wandering through the gardens was thrilling. The Honeycreepers are superb, and we also saw Howler and Spider Monkeys. The main Lodge and cabins are wooden with palm thatch. My cabin had two separate bedrooms on the ground floor and a third upstairs in the roof, reached by stairs. The shared bathroom was perfectly adequate, if a little dated. Electricity was pretty reliable, and so was the internet, though it was limited at times. The staff were pleasant and the service excellent. Tea and coffee were available on a help-yourself basis in the main building, which also has a covered bar area open at the sides. Hummingbird feeders bring the birds buzzing around there.

A stunning, quiet, authentic place in Belize’s largest national park. The staff were beyond amazing. Special thanks to the best guide, Mauricio! 💯

We really enjoyed our stay: it was quiet and private, with great wildlife and an amazing staff. Thanks, Mauricio, for the great teaching and tours!