Ian Anderson's Caves Branch Adventure Co

Great family jungle adrenalin experience. We were 2 adults and 2 teenagers (age 13 and 15). Room: we had a jungle suite which was a great size - we had a double bed (with AC just over the bed) and the kids had bunkbeds in the lounge space. Plenty of room on the floor to keep bags which was helpful as we lived out of our bags this trip. Mozzie nets on all windows and no shutters meant we really did feel like we were in the middle of the jungle (and the howler monkeys in the middle of the night helped with that!). General / staff: we'd been at very quiet places before we arrived at Caves Branch - and when we arrived here it was busy (Saturday night end of season, buffet style dinner with tables called up in order because there were lots of guests) so it was a bit of an assault on our senses and it look us a day to adjust (we were all inclusive, so I personally found the painkiller cocktail helped!). The staff were very friendly, but it did feel just a little less personal than other places we had stayed (although special shout out to Indira, Edgar and Kathryn who were especially lovely). Food was fine - I read somewhere that they don't claim to be gourmet and that's right, but it was still good. Pool is good to have (although it's also right on the river too so the kids took some tubes out and swam there as well). Activities: we had various guides for different activities. We couldn't do the 7 mile tubing trip as the water level wasn't high enough, but we did the cave exploring and river tubing with Telma and Junior who were great - good fun, knowledgable - it was a great day. On our second day the boys (my husband and 15 yo son) did the waterfalls trip (which they said was amazing - basically climbing and jumping off waterfalls in the caves) while my 13 yo daughter and I went horse riding - stunning scenery, just the 2 of us with our guide who was also friendly and knowledgeable (there is a theme in Belize - everyone is friendly and all the guides know their stuff!). My daughter hadn't been in a horse in 5 yrs and never without being led, but by the end of the 90 mins she was cantering along! The Caves Branch driver told us about the Blue Hole national park so we walked there from the lodge - it's only a 15 min walk (although for us Brits in 30 degrees 85% humidity at 1 pm this felt like quite a long way!) and it was totally worth it - gorgeous clear natural swimming pool just off the highway. Recommendation: this place didn't quite sing to my soul like the 3 other places we stayed in Belize (largely because it was busier and a little less personal), but it was really convenient for some of the action stuff which we're all glad we did. Like other jungle places in Belize you def need mozzie spray (they sell it if you don't have it); plenty of drinking water available (take a refillable water bottle each - saves plastic), tap water is fine to clean your teeth.

Before I get into everything we loved about this amazing resort for our honeymoon, we want to ask that if this review was helpful, please write down Andy & Angela on the referral section when making your reservation! For each referral we get, they credit us with a percentage of the cost of your trip to help us get back there sooner - because it was seriously awesome and we really want to go back! Okay now let's get into it! My wife and I just did the 6-night/4-adventure all-inclusive package for our honeymoon! We wanted to get a true jungle/rainforest experience and this did not disappoint! We stayed in a jungle cabana and it was quite lovely. The AC over the bed is necessary, although the temps got down into the low 70s overnight. None of the accommodations have glass windows here, so be prepared to deal with the humidity. We only realized that fact when we got there, and we were nervous about it at first, but it honestly ended up being perfectly fine. It was very cool getting to hear all the sounds of jungle each night, and we slept like babies after all the adventures we went on during many of the days. Another thing we didn't realize until we got there was that the WiFi doesn't extend to the rooms - it's only available at the lodge and around the pool area. Again, we were nervous because we like to watch movies at night and generally be connected 24/7, but it ended up being perfectly fine. We used hotspots when necessary but enjoyed being unplugged for those hours, too. Mosquitos were not an issue in the cabana, but anytime we went outside we typically sprayed ourselves with bug spray. The pool was really nice for the days off from the adventures. It had several nooks and sections to swim in and claim your lounge chairs, so it made it feel a little more private than it actually was. The lodge was awesome, too. We highly recommend the buffets for breakfasts and dinners. The food was so tasty, the servers were amazingly attentive, and we loved how they sat you with different groups for each dinner to help you get to know more people. These servers and bar staff were particularly awesome: Winder, Logan, Edgar, and Indie were our absolute favorites! Everyone on their staff seriously has their hospitality process/culture down pat. The adventures were the best part of each day, though. The four we chose were Xunantunich/Cahal Pech Mayan Ruins, Black Hole Drop, Waterfall Caves, and Horseback Riding. Their guides were absolutely unmatched. We had the pleasure of having Marvin, Telma, Jeison, Melanie, and Hector for our excursions. They were so knowledgable, kind, funny, and kept us safe. The Waterfall Caves was our favorite adventure by far! It was a strenuous hike upstream over 7 waterfalls, before we turned around and jumped our way back down each waterfall. Then we had lunch before heading out of the cave. It was physically difficult all while being one of the coolest things we'd ever done. Highly recommend! Overall, this resort, the adve

One of the best highlights of our vacation in Belize. Instead of doing one of the packages we just booked the accommodation and paid separately for the adventures. We didn't eat the food too often because we were out and about, though what we saw always looked good. I can personally attest to the quality of the Pina coladas, best enjoyed from the charming hot tub. The pool is large and fun, though a bit cold (it rained heavily before we arrived which may be why). The accommodations we had were like staying on our own cabin. Comfortable and clean with available bottled water. Each cabin has an air conditioner though it really only keeps the bed cool. The staff were all incredibly helpful and responsive the whole time we were there. I'm terms of activities, we did the free botanical garden tour, zoo and ziplining, and cave tubing. I don't even know where to start, the activities were effortless on our part and another the best things I've ever done. We didn't even plan on advance, you just make the choices the night before. Our daughter turned 6 while we were there and the guides went above and beyond keeping her engaged and also safe. The location was also convenient for us. We had a rental car and nearby sites include Lamanai chocolate and Blue Hole park. One day when the river was too high to tube on we drove to Hopkins which was just over an hour. After we left we drove to San Ignacio which was also around an hour. And the drive is about as pretty as any I've ever seen. The only downside was an ongoing issue with the hot water in our room, but it was resolved out last night.

I truly cannot recommend this place enough. We went as a family of three with my husband and my daughter who is almost 12. The staff was so welcoming and kind. Two people that stood out for me was Lisa who helped me plan the trip and Edgar who was one of our servers. The buffet style breakfast lunch and dinner was excellent and I liked how we moved around to different tables to get to talk with different people every night. The grounds were gorgeous and well kept the rooms were unparalleled and very clean. We actually stayed in the canopy one night and that view was unbelievable. Not only did the staff have some of the best customer service I have ever experienced, but they were very kind and welcoming. We chose to do the all inclusive package so that we could have drinks and food and all our exclusions in one. It made the trip so much easier for us. The excursions that we did were cave tubing, which was so amazing and we also saw the Mayan ruins which were also mind blowing. I only wish we had more time to do more of the excursions. The guides were super knowledgeable. I hear that they have to go through three years training in order to be a guide for ANDERSONs caves branch . We also met Ian Anderson at our table and he was very kind and friendly. What an amazing experience place what a gem of a find. You know, you found a good place when it is hard to leave. ❤️

Our family of 3 (5 year old) visited in July. From arrival to departure everything was amazing. Our daughter loved the grounds and we were so welcomed. We came in late due to a delay and they had dinner ready for us, and a special birthday dessert for our daughter. We went to the zoo, zip lining, to Tikal, and horseback riding, everything was organized by the lovely guides at Caves Branch, and everything ran smooth. We loved the communal dining and the food was great. It really allowed us to meet many new people and make connections with others, something we really look for when we travel. Indira was amazing with our daughter, it was honestly hard to leave! We could not recommend this place enough.

Where else can you stay in a treehouse! This place was great and definitely adventure-oriented! The staff really felt like family by the time we left. They took such amazing care of us and went above and beyond. They took care of all our adventures and we felt like we had the best experience - more than other groups doing the same adventure (ATM Cave and Tikal) because our group size was small and the guides were incredible. The treehouse was fun and we enjoyed meeting and talking with other guests at meals. The hidden gem on property is their botanical garden: not to be missed! You will 100% go home with stories to tell! Highly recommend!

We did one of the tours offered by the resort, but stayed elsewhere. When we arrived we were greeted by Rosa who immediately started out our day in the best way with her infectious smile and amazing customer service. The tour we did was the Cave Branch tour and our guide was Telma Telma has to be one of the most incredible people I've ever met. Her knowledge of the cave and Mayan history was incredible. One of my favorite things was that she never told us what to expect. So many tour guides will tell you, "Ok and around the corner you're going to see such-and-such, and if we climb up to that spot you'll see such-and-such". Telma allowed everything to be a surprise which made the tour constantly exciting. She is incredibly observant and takes the safety of her guests very seriously, but allows total freedom to explore and have a unique experience. She taught us all about the history and purpose of the cave For any experience at Ian Anderson, you definitely want to request Telma. I cannot say "thank you" enough for the amazing experience she gave us

Phenomenal experience! We’re a family of 5 (3 daughters ages 17, 19, 21). We had 2 treehouse cabins and they were very comfortable. There is air conditioning over the bed and additional fans to keep you comfortable in your room. The outdoor shower was a nice surprise! The housekeeping staff were amazing and artfully created a different towel animal every day. The food was delicious…the fish serre was an absolute favorite! We did the river tubing, and Mayan temples as a family and did other experiences separately. My husband and 2 daughters did the black hole (the loved it), while I and our oldest went horseback riding (fully enjoyed). The next day I did the waterfall hike with our two youngest (highly recommend!) while my husband and oldest enjoyed the 7 mile tubing. The guides are top notch, very knowledgeable, professional, patient and fun to be with. Every adventure we did was highly enjoyed by all. We’re definitely planning to return!

This place was perfect for our family. Rooms were very comfortable and is the perfect mix of jungle and comfort. The tours are perfect for the whole family. Super professional and loaded with interesting information, all the guides were helpful and willing. We will definitely be back!!!