The moment we arrived at Vanilla Hills we were blown away. The facilities were extraordinary: durable, pristine, fit into the jungle aesthetic flawlessly. The owners and staff are engaging, kind, knowledgeable and thoughtful. Claudia would be checking a guest in one moment (offering the perfect itinerary) and then skillfully creating culinary art the next. The location was perfect, close enough to San Ignacio to be able to pop over to see the town but far enough that you got an authentic jungle experience. I can not recommend Vanilla Hills enough and we look forward to returning!

It was an absolutely fantastic stay. The property was GORGEOUS, the staff were so incredibly friendly and helpful. They made sure we set up with great tours, great restaurant recommendations and more. The food onsite was to die for! I’m only sad I can’t stay longer to try everything on the menu but we got pretty close! If you are looking for a peaceful, nature filled stay with a taste of luxury, this is your place! If you’re not looking for that, you should be and should come stay at Vanilla Hills. One of the coolest and best places I’ve ever stayed.

Absolutely INCREDIBLE stay. The staff were so friendly and accommodating, the food was delicious (portions are HUGE!), and the room was BEAUTIFUL!!! Claudia has a gem in San Ignacio. We definitely want to return!

This lodge is basically heaven on earth. Our group of eight had a delightful time during our three night stay, we didn't want to leave!!! The food and service are unrivaled. Every couple stayed in their own little cabin with private walkways, hammocks and outdoor showers. Claudia is super helpful in setting up tours with the best guides in Belize and she conveniently adds everything to one bill that is settled at the end of your stay. The grounds are well kept and private with ample wild life watching and birds singing. The food is top notch, fresh, locally sourced with elegant finishing touches. I can not say enough great things about Vanilla Hills Lodge it was truly a life changing stay. ❤

Wow! We can't say enough good things about Vanilla Hills Lodge! This small and quiet property is stunning and pictures do not do it justice whatsoever. From the moment we arrived and got out of the car, we were awestruck. You hear bird calls and running water from the fountains and ponds around the property and you feel immediately relaxed and at peace. We loved that there are only a few lodges here. It can be completely booked and you won't feel like it's overrun by people. We had the pool to ourselves quite a bit and it was very relaxing looking over the orange grove. This place is paradise! The love and consideration that Claudia and Frank have put into this property and business emanates from every detail, and we will be recommending Vanilla Hills to ALL of our friends and family. We spent half of our honeymoon here, and also had our wedding pictures here. Claudia and Frank and all of their staff were fantastic hosts! We especially appreciated Jess, Jose, Karina, and Miguel and the great service they provided. We had an amazing and worry-free stay, every detail was handled for us. They made us feel welcome. Also, when the coatimundis came to eat the bananas that Claudia feeds them each day, she let us join in and experience the adorable animals! Claudia also made all the arrangements for our trips in advance. She booked our shuttle, run by Elias (who runs his own small tour company) which stopped at Belize Zoo, our trip to Tikal (also led by Elias) and our trip to ATM cave (led by Ben), and our shuttle onward to our stay in Placencia. She made everything simple, as we only had to book it through email. They pay the tour companies up front and then we settled on our bill at the end. I felt absolutely spoiled being able to do it this way.

We stayed two nights here to start our vacation and it was great. The staff was very helpful and the service was amazing. They helped plan a tour for us to see ruins and a jungle pontoon boat ride and it was a great time. Food was great. Accommodations were nice and clean. And it truly feels like you’re in the heart of the jungle.

Found out about the restaurant from my massage therapist. Excellent atmosphere, food was great, quiet, secluded. That's what I love about Belize, you NEVER know what to find down a dirt road. It's usually something great.

We have now stayed at Vanilla Hills twice in the past year and are already looking forward to what we hope will be our third visit in the near future. The location and setting are beautiful, the accommodations are very comfortable, but it is truly the staff that make it stand out! This time we brought our children, and everyone took the time to make them feel special and that they were valuable guests. The wildlife was definitely a highlight and the pool is always beautiful and clean. Cannot recommend staying here enough!

My husband and I stayed here for the first 3 nights of our Belizean honeymoon and loved every bit of it. The treehouses are quaint and perfect for everything you need. We were welcomed with sweet towel animals and beautiful bouquets every day. The staff was 10/10. Everyone was very friendly and got to know us and our preferences during our stay. Miss Claudia greeted us at every meal making sure that we were taken care of and gave us over the top customer service. She made sure that all accommodations and expeditions were scheduled and met our expectations. The food was quite amazing as well. I tried a few different dishes during our stay and was blown away by each one of them. Then there is the actual facilities! You will get so much out of your stay here, from walks through the jungle, birdwatching, beautiful sunsets, all feeling so intimate and private at this beautiful place. We got to know a few other guests on their honeymoon as well, but never felt like we were on top of each other and invading their privacy. Each lodge/cabin has its own “yard” so you don’t feel like you have to share space at all. I would highly recommend staying here at Vanilla Hills. It’s perfect for a couples getaway - and even families with kids were here enjoying all that it has to offer!

Spending 3 nights here and it is one of the best place we have ever been on holiday. Everyone is so nice in the lodge. A ton of advise that made our experience memorable. It is good to be out of town to be in the calm and see wildlife. The tree house top line is perfect and when you wake up you have 360 view of nature. Breakfast is already good but improve with all birds and coatis eating 2 meters away. Diner also good (praline ice cream was yummy) Do not miss the place

We went for Sunday Brunch. Food was excellent, not your traditional Belizean fare. The grounds are gorgeous. The owners were actively attentive to their guests.

V.H.L. is a wonderful place to stay! We had a nice cosy cabin with AC, a small kitchen and a comfortable bed. We never used the kitchen because you get so delicious food in the restaurant! The kitchen team is doing an extraordinary job! So does the staff keeping the whole area nice and tidy with it's pool, trees, palms and cabins. The best stay we had on our journey! Don't miss visiting Xunantunich and AJAW chocolate site in San Ignacio!

I LOVE this hotel and genuinely hope to return. Our superior treehouse room was so lovely, with floor-to-ceiling windows on three sides, hardwood floors, a small kitchenette, and an indoor/outdoor bathroom. The infinity pool was gorgeous and an inviting temperature. The food and service in the restaurant were wonderful, and we had some nice options as vegetarians. Every hotel employee we interacted with was warm and friendly. We enjoyed the resort so much that we didn't venture into town - maybe we will on our next visit. My only criticism is that the bed was a bit firm for my taste, but I know that's highly subjective. Thank you, Vanilla Hills team, for a wonderful stay!

A lovely place. Little touches add to the luxury, while having the jungle and a secluded experience. Food is fantastic. Prices reasonable for food and drinks.

Occasion dinner with friends at this new Hidden gem. Surpassed expectations. I can't recommend this new innovative dinning experience enough. To find such refined gastronomy anywhere globally is a treat, to find it in Belize is extraordinary. I had the fish risotto with lemongrass foam. Large portion of fish beautifully presented. Every morsel delicious . Unexpected amouse bouche. Friendly server, gracious owner, Claudia and amazing chef. Outstanding.

We recently stayed at Vanilla Hills Lodge and had an exceptional experience. The service was super friendly and the food at the restaurant was great. The pool was also very nice and it was a great opportunity to see all kinds of jungle animals. I would highly recommend Vanilla Hills Lodge to anyone looking for a great stay in the jungle. Thank you Claudia and your fantastic staff

The last five minutes of the drive to Vanilla Hills starts framing the experience you'll have when you get there. It's no ordinary road -- it's a picturesque stone lane that hints there's something special to look forward to. What a nice facility! The reception area is brand new and we were lucky to get a tour of the huge, new, sparkling clean kitchen. A new lounge area is in the works and we'll definitely make use of that on our next visit. The food is exceptional with a menu co-created by Claudia (an owner) and Felix, a hot young chef with loads of talent. Restaurant staff were cheerful, efficient and made great recommendations. We stayed in the 2-bedroom Villa which had great views out toward the river. It was spotless, presented nicely, and very private. I appreciate the way Vanilla Hills focuses on quality -- quality everything -- without making pretentious claims and promises. And without a pretentious price tag. It's charming, welcoming, relaxed, well designed, and well maintained. In the hills between San Ignacio and Bullet Tree Falls, this would be a great central base for touring Cayo. Or do what we did, and just vegetate.

Vanilla Hills Lodge is the type of place you would like to get stranded. Quiet, beautiful, well run. I feel like I could write a book about how much we liked this place, but in the interest of brevity, I'll keep it short and sweet. Claudia and her staff should be so proud of the multi-faceted experience they offer to their guests. We had pleasant and numerous interactions with her, and staff members Carina, Mark and Robin, and every time we were left with a smile on our faces. Our treehouse (Coconut) was perfect in every way, so private, so cozy, so comfortable. The outdoor shower is wonderful. We ate two breakfasts and two dinners in the restaurant, everything was delicious with great attention to detail. The pool (which never closes) was a fantastic way to either start or finish our days. Resident cats Tom and Jerry ("the true owners" according to Claudia) were lovely. There are abundant birds and other animals that either visit or live on the property. My fondest wish is that we will be able to visit again.

An absolutely amazing Lodge. A stones throw from San Ignacio, while still feeling private and in the jungle. Claudia is an amazing host with a wealth of knowledge about Belize and the surrounding area. Don't skip breakfast, the coffee was A+. I'd give it 6 stars if I could.

The absolute peacefulness of the lodge was heaven. This time I stayed for the weekend. I stayed in the Coconut tree house. Literally a tree house. I needed to recharge. The sounds at night was a bit disconcerting but nonetheless did not deter me from enjoying my stay. The staff, Cortina, and Mark were very pleasant and showed the utmost professionalism. To Ms. Claudia who took time to speak to me when I dined in the restaurant. And to introducing me to Joanna Flip (named after Ms. Claudia's Mom). If you are into sweet alcoholic drinks this is the one and only. Thank you for making my stay enjoyable! Renee

Wow, what an amazing place to stay! Claudia and Franklin go out of their way to make you feel like family. They are so helpful with recommending and arranging all activities for your trip. All of their recommendations were wonderful. The lodge itself is in such a beautiful setting. You feel away from it all with a fantastic infinity pool in the jungle, but you are just a short taxi into town. The outdoor shower was so nice after a long day! Claudia leaves no detail untouched. Everything is just perfect-especially the amazing food!! Do not hesitate to stay here-just book it now. You will not regret! I will be back any time I find myself in Belize.

What can we say about Vanilla Hills Lodge that hasn’t already been posted? It is EXCEPTIONAL in all respects: lodging, pool, grounds, food, and most of all – Claudia, Franklin, and the entire Vanilla Hills team. Everyone was incredibly gracious and ensured we wanted for nothing. No detail was overlooked. We travel frequently, and have stayed at many, many lovely places around the world – but the lodging and hospitality at Vanilla Hills was on a completely different level. We were treated as treasured friends from the very first moment and it only got better from there. We stayed in one of the two gorgeous “treehouses” nestled in the jungle. What a romantic place! Our treehouse had floor-to-ceiling glass on 3 sides (with adjustable louvers & drapes), a comfortable king bed, glowing hardwood floors, air conditioning, ceiling fan, microwave, refrigerator, stoneware, coffee station, ample electrical outlets, room-sized safe, hammock, fresh flowers…and a very private luxurious open-air shower. Birds and butterflies were constant companions. There are additional delights, but I’ll let you be happily surprised. The stunning infinity edge pool and grounds were pristine. So was our treehouse and the beautiful open-air Vanilla Hills café. Daily housekeeping allowed us to return to an immaculate suite after long hot days of travel, hiking, and caving. The food is incredible – and incredibly healthy. Everything is made fresh, including the bread. There is no need to eat anywhere else – and you will not want to. Everything was perfectly prepared and exquisitely presented. On our last night I wasn’t feeling well after a too-hot trip to Guatemala’s Tikal. Our server, always kind, thoughtfully had a bland dish specially prepared that I was able to enjoy. A few hints: Don’t trust Google Maps! At the time of this writing, routes the unwary traveler is routed down what can most diplomatically be described as a cow path. The “magenta line” will eventually take you to Vanilla Hills – but call or write ahead for the best directions (they are easy). Don’t trust Google in San Ignacio, either – it will send you the wrong direction down one-way streets and bridges! Book directly with Vanilla Hills via their website or another channel and not via a third-party site such as Expedia. Expedia works – we did it -- but booking directly with Claudia is superior. Allow an extra day during your adventures to simply relax at Vanilla Hills, including around the pool. We made the mistake of not doing this and remain regretful. However, we did make some fun friends during our limited pool time and remain in touch with them. In summary, I selected Vanilla Hills based on the stellar reviews. Those reviews were not exaggerating. Now, because of our experience, we are already planning to return as soon as possible and to stay longer. Vanilla Hills has our very highest recommendation – stay there, and you’ll see for yourself what everyone is raving about.

Unreal -- best place I've ever stayed! My husband and I stayed in one of the private treehouses for part of our honeymoon, and we never wanted to leave. It's only a few miles from San Ignacio (and the owner, Claudia, has wonderful recommendations for what to do in town), while still feeling like you're in the middle of the rainforest. In addition to being a stunning property, there's incredible attention to detail from the owners and staff: we came back every day to different towel art on the bed; fruit artfully placed in the trees for ideal animal watching; and most of the restaurant food - including all of the bread - is made from scratch and beyond delicious. Coming back from day tours, taking a dip in the stunning infinity pool, and then enjoying fresh homemade food can't be beat. Claudia was always incredibly quick to respond, a wealth of knowledge, and seemed like she genuinely wanted our all of her guests to have the best time. And bathroom was beautiful with a shower that was outdoors overlooking the trees! I highly recommend staying here and in one of the treehouse rooms if you're in Belize.