Crystal Paradise Resort

My slightly ambulatory, handicapped husband and I stayed at Crystal Paradise for a week. I had sent them a list of activities we wanted to do, and they sent me a proposed itinerary, all-inclusive, including driver, guides, entrance fees, an overnight trip to Tikal, and transportation from the airport and to our next adventure. This was very convenient and relaxing. Because birds are more my interest, while my husband prefers Mayan Ruins, we did not have the same guide daily, as birders often do. The owners of Crystal Paradise are a large family, and several brothers and a nephew were our primary guides. Every guide and driver was great. Knowledgeable, polite, helpful, etc. On a rainy day, he suggested car birding with an eventual walk down. to Laguna Aguacate. I saw 65 species of birds on that half-day trip. The rooms are comfortable, with air conditioning and fans. The food was great, esp their homemade tortillas, both corn and wheat. Other than one packed lunch, we stopped at restaurants for lunch, The best was a small place where we ate the prepared food of the day: tamalitos--sweet corn, not stuffed--and stewed chicken. The bird deck was remarkable: at least 7 different tanagers, motmots, Euphonia, daily toucans, and even a gorgeous red-legged honeycreeper. Most importantly, the people were very hospitable and kind. We arrived a day late due to a plane issue, neither our fault nor theirs. After a brief discussion, he reduced the cost by half for that day. (We had squeezed 2 activities into one day My husband walks 50-100 yards max and uses a portable travel wheelchair. They lent us their mother's walker to use at the resort. They arranged special permission to drive up to the main plazas of Mayan sites so that my husband could see them well. Re Accessibility: There's a cement walkway from the rooms/cabins to the main lodge and dining room. However, there are several sets of 2-3 stairs along the way. It would be difficult for anyone completely unable to walk. One could swim in the river but I did not. My only critique was That I recommend more lunches at holes in the wall with a plate del dia.

Excellent basic accommodations. The staff is great; owner Alba is like a drill sergeant with a warm, welcoming heart. She arranged our tours and arranged for us to have Jonathan Urbina as our guide; he is an exceptional birder, able to identify each and every tweet and chirp. The food is well-prepared and nicely presented. The grounds are lovely with easy access to the cabanas. When I return to Belize, I will definitely stay at Crystal Paradise. Five stars!

Local hosts make this a genuine travel lodging experience. Their lodge is comfortable and basically focused on being a relaxed and restful launching point to many outdoor adventures from birding to caving, hiking and cultural activities. Alba’s selection of guides and activity arrangements were excellent and catered to our needs- no big buses. Carolita took care in accommodating my gluten free diet while sticking with her specialties of Belizean dishes. Friendly conversations, hot showers, comfortable beds and an honestly bar made this a perfect stay for us in the San Ignacio area.

Wonderful family owned resort. We loved it here. Food was excellent, authentic Belizian meal. The service was personalized. Alba was on top of all our tours and did not miss a thing. Abi was our guide for Caracol and was knowledgeable. Birds here are amazing with all sorts of birds coming to eat in the feeders all day long. This is a must if you are looking to stay at a family owned resort.

Fully enjoyed our 3 nights stay at this amazing place. They go out of their way to make sure to meet our need. Booking Day trip was easy and they would coordinate drop-off and pick-un if needed outside the resort. Good spot for ATM cave or if planning to go to Tikal.

The staff at Crystal Paradise worked very hard to ensure our stay with them went smoothly and our needs were all met. They can manage special dietary needs gracefully which was important to us. Our room was nicely prepared and tended to daily, and any outings we chose were arranged for us seamlessly by Alba so we could just relax and truly enjoy our time in Belize. The guides provided for us were all very personable and knowledgeable and our special interest in birding was accommodated. We would definitely like to return and can recommend Crystal Paradise for other travelers.