Exciting Adventure at Dupooly's Jungle Lodge

Exceptional food, great setting for birding, canoeing,

tubing, horseback riding, and great day trips available to include Mayan ruins, and caving. Super nice support staff and management. Clean spacious rooms. Botanical garden was outstanding.

Loved it-Can't wait to get back

duPlooys is absolutely charming; I spent a week there just over a year ago and can't wait for my trip there this Fall.

There are countless activities available in and around the resort-canoeing, kayaking, horseback riding, hiking, bird watching, etc. The staff is absolutely competent & attentive; I traveled there alone and they expertly took care of all my arrangements including many offsite day trips. The location just outside the town of San Ignacio is convenient to several impressive Mayan sites including Tikal which can be toured from the resort as a day trip (a much safer alternative than staying in Guatemala).

I absolutely disagree with the reviewer that said that this place is rundown. duPlooys is a beautiful property with comfortable, ample rooms and handcrafted cottages, all connected by paths and boardwalks surrounded by lush vegetation.

The jungle top bar is a magical spot all day long with coffee & birdwatching in the morning and cocktails and cheery conversation in the evening. I did not notice any particular problem with pests, however, this is a jungle. I'm pretty sure anyone who is scared of bugs and rodents best stay away from traveling to central America in general. My room was thoroughly cleaned daily and laundry services are available for a nominal fee. The food is fresh & delicious and is served in a charming and intimate dining room.

The adjacent Belize Botanical Gardens are tranquil & beautiful with an impressive variety of plants, trees and flowers - a wonderful place to take a stroll in addition to being a place of learning.

Overall, my impression of duPlooys is that it is homey & rustic, yet luxurious. I left here with my desire for adventure travel fulfilled, but also feeling pampered and rested.

The attached photos were taken by me on the duPlooys resort. I have hundreds more of the resort and the numerous attractions in the area, but I chose these because I think they show the picturesque qualities of the gardens, paths & cottages of duPlooys.

Disappointed

DuPlooys has changed day-to-day management in recent months abd that may explain the disappointment that we and fellow travellers have experienced recently.

Our cabin was not at all what we expect, especially at the price of $500 a day package. The worst of all was the food, and the hygiene standards. We too saw a mouse or rat in the dining area - not the kind of wildlife you expect.

The tour groups there were another downer. It spoils the quiet of the jungle, and if you're there as a couple or family seeking peace and quiet, well you might find that a tad unnerving.

On the plus side, their guides they contract with are excellent.

If I was visiting Belize again, I would give another place a try before going back. We travel extensively and this place was a letdown, sorry to say.

Best Ever

The accomodations were more than expected, clean and well maintained. Service was excellent. Food was local, fresh and expertely prepared.

All empoyees were smiling and helpful.

Management went out of the way to make sure our stay was the best.

All guides were very informed and genuine.

We cannot wait to get back

A nice jungle lodge

We found DuPlooy's to be a great jungle lodge. You are really immersed in the jungle, and it is a true jungle, not a jungle created for the lodge itself (such as at Maruba). The staff was friendly and knowledgeable. Even the cleaning staff was pointing out the different birds. The atmosphere is very relaxed and there were no expectations of us.

The rooms were spacious and ours included a coffee maker and fridge. We had toucans outside our door and a kinkajou came visiting the bar every night. (A kinkajou also entered our neighbor's cabin during the night.) We took a horse back riding and river tubing tour which was very nice and reasonably priced. The staff will help you create a tour that pretty much fits your specific desires. It was obvious this lodge was a good choice for families with kids, but it was good for those of us without kids also.

The lodge should invest in new, tighter fitting screens on the windows. The bugs had free roam of our room and at night the ceiling was covered in bugs that were attracted to our reading lights. That could be easily lessened by using screens that fit the windows more snuggly.

There are no locks on the doors. You can lock yourself in at night, but while you are away from your room, you cannot lock the door. This may seem quaint, but I'd rather be able to lock the door.

There was always a vegetarian option for dinner, but they weren't very substantial. The vegetarian lunch on our tour was good and filling, and the breakfast options were good as well. The dining room is very loud.

We would highly recommend this lodge for anyone staying in this region. We have not stayed at Chaa Creek, so we don't know how it compares.

Loved the river

I just want to comment on the river, slightingly referred to in a review. I live on this river and swim in it every day - bliss to swim in and clean, despite the Chalillo dam which has muddied it up a bit. We have tested the water. A. llewellyn

Wonderful jungle stay

We just returned from 4 days at duPlooy's and it was the highlight of our trip to Belize. We enjoyed it more than our beach visit to Placencia. We travled with our 9 and 7 yr old. They loved it. it is very easy to get to San Igancio by car from Belize City. Once you arrive, the staff are so welcoming and accomodating. (Luis, Anniver, Abner, Guillermo and Isaiah) Plenty of help with your luggage. We were upgraded to have a connecting jungle lodge room. which is like stone/log cabin meets hacienda style. Very clean and spacious. Hot water, screened porch. and we were right there on the canopy with the birds every morning. Wonerful coffee on the deck in the morning. Meal plan seems the way to go for adults. For the kids, the will accomodate fussy eaters - as that is what we have. Dinners were fabulous, low key , but good quality. EAch day we had a wonderful adventure, and the lodge was totally on top of every detail for the horses, canoe, picnics and knowledgeable guides. In the evening the kinkajou comes out to greet the guests and eat bananas. I developed a taste for the nice drink, the cheeky toucan. There is so much to do here.. don't be lured by too much beach time. Speand atleast 5 days. 4 was too short. In comparison, I checked out Chaa Creek, next door which is a bit more money, and I don't think as natural and accessible to nature as duPlooy's. Chaa creek looks more like thatch cabanas on a golf course. and you don't have the screened porches and close canopy walk. So, if you are deciding between the 2, choose duPlooy's. We had lunch one day at clarissa Falls... try the soup. The ruins in the area are great, and duPlooy's location is perfect and easy for accessing most sights in 20 minutes, except the Mtn. Pine Ridge. We never actually went into the Mtn Pine ridge... so If you want to explore that area... stay there at Five Sisters Lodge or something, because driving or tour times to various places is long and exhasuting. After dinner you will just crash from the adventures and hot sun. it isn't that chilly in the mountains, only a little bit at night. So go to duPlooy's and relax and have fun. We will be back

Great Jungle Adventure

We spent a three-day weekend at duPlooy's in the height of low-season, taking advantage of a 50% off deal. The rooms were clean and comfortable, very simply decorated as is the restaurant and bar. For our first night we were the only guests which made for excellent customer service! The staff is very congenial, knowledgeable, and gracious. We enjoyed a well-organized trip to Xuanantunich as well as a day at the Belize Botanical Gardens which is connected to the property by a 20 minute hike along the Mopan river or a swift jaunt down the driveway. I would reccommend a rental car if you want to explore, unless you have time for hitchhiking (which is very safe). A one-way taxi ride between the main town and the lodge will cost somewhere between $25-40BZE. duPlooy's flaunts--and seems to adhere to--a great environmental credo, but this unfortunately includes shutting off the generator in the night and thus eliminating fans.

Going back again!

My husband and I are going back for the second time to Belize and the only repeat on our trip is Duplooy's! We stayed there 2 years ago and loved the simple casual, comfort of the lodgings and dining facilities. We even swam in the river! The staff was freindly and informative. The Botanical Garden was very interesting--can't wait to see how the Orchid House has grown!!

Cute & friendly - wildlife at your front door! - loved it!

My husband and i stayed at duPlooy's for a portion of our honeymoon. It was a recommendation from a co-worker - we really enjoyed ourselves. The staff was very friendly - every side trip we took was informative and fun. The food in the restaurant is amazing, always a vegetarian option and always delicious. The bar is right in the jungle on the deck. Birds and wildlife practically come to you. It was a real treat sipping our rum punch and relaxing with the staff or other vacationers. The hotel is on a lovely property with a botanical garden. The river is right below, but the water didn't look too good to swim in. It is peaceful and worth every penny.