Vanilla Hills Resort
Top rated by guests

9.6Outstanding
(114 Ratings)
"Vanilla Hills Resort was an outstanding place to stay in the hills just a few miles outside of San Ignacio!! From our initial contact with the resort until the day we left we had nothing but a wonderf..."
Verified guestDon't miss out! Price and availability may change
2 guests · 1 bedroom · 1 bath
Guests love it hereGuests give this property a top rating
High-end valueWell priced for this area
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Vanilla Hills Resort offers spacious bungalows located in the lush tropical jungle outside of San Ignacio. It is a short walk from the Mopan River and offers free Wi-Fi and parking.
Free WiFi/internet
Free Parking
Air conditioning
Pool
Non-smoking
Balcony/Terrace
WiFi/Internet
Garden
Laundry services
Family friendly
Safe
Key access
Contactless check-in/out
Housekeeping available
Fire alarm
Fire extinguisher
Cleaning products
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Top rated by guests
9.6Outstanding
(114 Ratings)
"Vanilla Hills Resort was an outstanding place to stay in the hills just a few miles outside of San Ignacio!! From our initial contact with the resort until the day we left we had nothing but a wonderf..."
Verified guestDon't miss out! Price and availability may change
Ratings and reviews
9.0 / 10.0
Staff were exceptional, the pool was spacious, the grounds were well taken of and maintained
A little far from town, the restaurant food was good but expensive
10.0 / 10.0
Vanilla Hills Resort was an outstanding place to stay in the hills just a few miles outside of San Ignacio!! From our initial contact with the resort until the day we left we had nothing but a wonderful experience there. Claudia and her husband have created a magical retreat in the forest and have paid attention to every last detail from the gorgeous and comfortable treehouses to the amazing food served in the beautiful open air dining area! We slept well every night and were awakened by birdsong in our private treehouse before walking down to a wonderful breakfast each morning and being entertained by the tropical birds and coatimundis eating the fruit in the trees. The pool area was just gorgeous and we spent a couple of lazy afternoons relaxing there and watching the monkeys play in the trees. The 3 Senses bar is also visually stunning and had fabulous cocktails! Claudia and staff (especially Reina) arranged our amazing tours to Tikal, Xuanatunich and Barton Creek canoeing with wonderful guides as well as rides into San Ignacio whenever we needed. Our pickup from Belize City airport and return to the ferry was comfortable and smooth as well with entertaining and informative drivers. We could not have picked a better place to stay in the San Ignacio area and will definitely be returning to this paradise in the future!
Nothing!
10.0 / 10.0
Jungle gem. Beautiful property and wonderful restaurant (we especially loved the breakfast). We stayed in the villa with our two toddlers which was great. We saw several iguanas and howler monkeys! The staff is very friendly and welcoming. Would stay here again.
Ongoing construction of new rooms close to ours made the villa feel a bit less private or secluded. But this is temporary.
9.0 / 10.0
NIce unit in the middle of the jungle! Beautiful surroundings, friendly owner who assisted with arranging tours, transportation, etc.
It's a bit remote. Cannot walk to the center of town, which is a 10 minute taxi ride.
8.0 / 10.0
Really nice surroundings (jungle) and facilities (the pool is amazing). The room designed like a tree house is really nice, quiet and comfortable.
A lot of amazing wildlife around (birds, nose bears, monkeys…). All the staff was super friendly.
It’s really expensive when you add activities, transfer and food. Even if it is nice, 25USD for a main course is a lot in this region.
The restaurant could serve local food, and more affordable options for the dinner. As the hotel is not in town, it’s difficult to eat somewhere else.
9.0 / 10.0
Beautiful surroundings
Distance from town—you will need a taxi or rental
8.0 / 10.0
Vanilla Hills is like a little private jungle oasis. There are only a few cabins, so it is very quiet (besides the howler monkeys) and not overrun with people. I liked that you got your own private cabin. The restaurant, bar, and pool area were beautifully designed, and completely surrounded by plants and exotic wildlife. The food was absolutely phenomenal, and the staff were extremely polite, helpful, and accommodating. They were all very personable and made an effort to actually talk to us, which made us feel very welcome.
We stayed in the Orchid cabin, and although there was AC in the bedrooms, there was not AC in the main living space or bathroom. It was very hot and unpleasant to take a shower or try to relax in that part of the cabin. If they would add another AC unit in the main living space, it would have been perfect!
10.0 / 10.0
In the middle of the jungle and it’s so private
Ants! But what can you do? You’re in the jungle.
10.0 / 10.0
This is a small, beautifully done resort. The cabins feel very private yet are not that far apart. You feel like you're staying in the forest though the other facilities are close at hand.
Signage to the resort could be more obvious, as it can be a bit tricky to find.
10.0 / 10.0
Great resort, great location, great staff.
10.0 / 10.0
This place is the perfect jungle oasis ! Definitely exceeded expectations in all aspects . The staff was so nice and welcoming . All the ladies at the front . Thank you Carmina, Alex & William ! The guys who came down to tackle the spider in the bathroom ! I will miss my little tree house surrounded by all the nature and animals ! Will be back for sure
Nothing ! Everything was so beautiful
9.0 / 10.0
Tucked away and private, close to SI, wonderful staff, meandering paths and birds!
The shower in the cottage felt a bit outdated in comparison to everything else
9.0 / 10.0
Amazing jungle area, surounded by bird and all types of fauna/flora
If you dont have car it might be more complicated to get there
10.0 / 10.0
Tranquility! The staff were fabulous.
10.0 / 10.0
Wonderful setting nestled in the hills of San Ignacio. Wildlife on the property was active in the mornings which was fun to watch.
9.0 / 10.0
Located near xunantunich which meant we could have an early start and arrival to the ruins. Lots of wildlife and birds on property. We enjoyed the pool and the jungle setting!
9.0 / 10.0
Food onsite was excellent. The tree houses were nestled in nature, but not isolated. Wildlife all around, especially coati and various birds. Staff was attentive but not intrusive. It was out of town, but not so far that you couldn't easily get a taxi in. There is also a pool with plenty of shady spots. Indoor/outdoor shower was amazing and a/c worked wel. Wonderful experience.
Obviously it wasn't cheap, but that was known up front. Wifi was spotty in our tree house.
10.0 / 10.0
Loved the setting, the staff and the food. Our trip to the ATM cave was a incredible. We were so happy to experience wild caving with great guiding at an advanced age.
Nothing
10.0 / 10.0
Staying in one of the tree houses was unique and fun, although be sure to keep your bathroom door closed at night. Bugs will be attracted to the light in the room! Beautiful woodwork! The on-site restaurant was excellent and the staff were equally as good. It was fun to watch the birds and animals at breakfast! All arrangements for transportation and tours were made by the hotel and all drivers were excellent. Great boutique resort a bit off the beaten path and nice for a 3 night stay.
Pool was a bit cool and then under repair while we were there. Excursions from the resort were a pretty pricey as the resort is in a central location but not really close to any major attractions. Excellent guides and nice to not have to drive, especially to get to the caves, which would have been hard/impossible to drive to on our own. We never felt unsafe had we chose to drive. If you choose to drive, watch out for the frequent, large speed bumps!
10.0 / 10.0
Absolutely every detail has been thought of. Incredible stay. Good was incredible @ 3 Senses (onsite restaurant). New lounge is perfect!
Nothing
9.0 / 10.0
Nice house with enough space. So friendly people. Arranged the ATM tour for us.
The fourth bed was a sofa bed; not so comfortable.
10.0 / 10.0
Beautiful hotel with so amazing cottages. Extremely clean and well built cabins, also very private. Beautiful and cozy landscaping all over with nice light and wildlife sounds. So cool outdoor showers in the cabins. Big beautiful pool and cozy sitting area. Very kind and personal service.
I would have wished for at least some Belizean dishes in the restaurant menu, not only European / international cuisine. When in Belize I want to experience local flavours and not the same thing I can eat at home every day. Plus, honestly, no matter how well tarte flambee is done in Belize it will never surpass the real one from Alsace.
10.0 / 10.0
This resort is absolutely gorgeous and it was probably the most personalized service I’ve experienced at a hotel. For example, one morning I asked the front desk to help me call a cab to Xunantunich and when they saw me come back that evening they immediately asked “how was Xunantunich?” I was traveling solo and the owners kindly extended invitations to join other groups for meals or at the lounge to make sure I felt included. The food at the restaurant was also exceptional and beautifully presented, and the cocktails at the bar were amazing, including the yummy welcome drink on arrival. I loved all the thoughtful little touches in the room like the cute towel art that was left every day on my bed. It was also really helpful to have the filtered water dispenser up at the front.
One thing to note is the resort is pretty far out of town so you have to either take a cab into town and back or eat at the hotel restaurant every meal (delicious but adds up). If you have a rental car this would be no problem! Also, there were a good number of insects that made their way into the room despite my best efforts (mostly ants, a variety of beetles, small spiders, a few mosquitoes and one firefly) but what can you expect in the jungle!
10.0 / 10.0
The food was delicious and how it was presented was absolutely stunning. The tour of the facilities was great and I truly felt welcomed after a long trip.
I truly can’t think of anything that I didn’t like during my stay at the resort.
10.0 / 10.0
Beautiful grounds. Very well maintained and situated units. Excellent restaurant.
I will have to get back to you on that. We found nothing we did not like.
10.0 / 10.0
Beautiful hotel! Stayed in one of the treehouse rooms (Superior King on booking) and it was exceptional - comfortable room, small kitchen supplies, cool outdoor shower, just enough A/C for a 95 deg day. Felt really secluded. The restaurant really exceeded expectations, with several good vegetarian options. Staff was friendly and helpful. Pool was a great surprise. Would definitely recommend.
It's probably ten minutes out of town, but we had a rental car and didn't have much need to be in San Ignacio so not a problem for us.
10.0 / 10.0
Everything!!
- beautiful jungle setting
- spacious room
- kitchen in room
- super friendly staff
- safe in room
- air conditioning
- ceiling fan
- shampoo and soap provided
- incredible restaurant on site called 3 Senses
- pool
- Wildlife! We saw so many types of birds, including toucans. A family of coatimundi were also around. The staff put fruit in the trees near the dining area, which is outdoors. You can see the animals while eating your meal. Such a special experience.
n/a
10.0 / 10.0
Clean, comfortable lodging surrounded by beautiful jungle. Delicious food in on-site restaurant. Regularly observed birds, coatimundi, and agouti coming around which was great. The pool was fantastic, too!
Everything was wonderful! Be prepared though if you want to go into San Ignacio town you need a taxi (it's way too far to walk).
10.0 / 10.0
Claudia and staff were extremely helpful in helping to decide on local activities. Staff even made suggestions on things to consider while visiting San Ignacio.
10.0 / 10.0
This was a beautiful property with exquisite food. The cabin was very comfortable with all the amenities and we loved sitting on the deck watching nature all around us. Sunsets at the infinity pool were exceptional. The owners and staff were so friendly and always went above and beyond.
10.0 / 10.0
Friendly and accommodating staff, great pool and restaurant, peaceful atmosphere, outdoor shower was unique. Beautiful landscaping. Water cooler. Guided walk to the river. Lots of birds. Free fruit. Laundry services. Floral arrangements.
The occasional spider in the cabin, but the staff helped us remove them very promptly. Seems like part of the cabin experience and expected. The road leading to the property was rough in our taxis and your shuttles. A/C was not strong enough on 90 degree days in our unit.
9.0 / 10.0
We loved everything about this place. The place was beautiful and secluded. Plenty of beautiful birds. Then rooms were very comfortable and clean. The service was exceptional. My kids particularly liked the pool. The food was also delicious.
10.0 / 10.0
The treehouse bungalo was the coolest place we've ever stayed. We felt we were in the middle of the jungle in a room with all of the "creature comforts"! We loved the indoor/outdoor shower, the hammock, the sounds of tropical birds, the towel formations on our bed each evening - the infinity pool AND the spectacularly delicious food (with amazing presentation) in the kitchen served by very professional staff! EVERY detail was perfect!!!
Nothing
10.0 / 10.0
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 Karina, Jess, Jose, 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.
Food:
Our hats go off to the chef! Claudia and her head chef have a lot of pride in the 3 Senses restaurant, as they should!
Nothing worth posting here.
10.0 / 10.0
Incredible attractive place! Beautiful restaurant quiet with great view of jungle forest. Swimming poll clean and professionally managed. We could see a lot of wild life while sitting at the table. Quality of food is excellent with wide choice of drinks and desserts. The cabin was well designed clean, good shower everything working as promised. The host and stuff were very helpful and friendly. Great nature spot away from heat of the city (San Ignacio). I would highly recommend this place if you want to enjoy nature, see birds while also having luxury of comfortable living.
All was perfect !
9.0 / 10.0
The very best thing about our stay was the restaurant!! The chefs were FANTASTIC! Such amazing gourmet food! We loved it all so much! It was also fun to have so much birds and wildlife around us to watch as we ate. The owner and workers were SO nice provided such great service too! It was located in a good spot, near San Ignacio but remote to feel like a jungle! Cute housing units too.
The beds could have been a little more comfortable, and king size would have been nice. Also the walls were a bit too thin and not at all sound proof.
9.0 / 10.0
The lush setting was unique, wonderful waking up in a charming bungalow to the sounds of exotic birds and seeing aracari toucans from breakfast table. The staff was great and helped book all our adventures, and meals were delicious.
The pillows, that’s it.
FAQs
Does this property follow enhanced cleaning procedures?
Yes, this nature lodge has implemented enhanced cleaning procedures and processes to keep you healthy and safe.
Is parking included with this nature lodge?
Parking is not specified as an available amenity at Vanilla Hills Resort. For more information, we encourage you to contact the property about where to park.
Is there a pool at this nature lodge?
Yes, a swimming pool is available for use at Vanilla Hills Resort. Enjoy the water!
Is Vanilla Hills Resort pet friendly?
Unfortunately, this nature lodge is not pet-friendly. Try searching again and filter for "Pets Allowed"
What amenities are available at Vanilla Hills Resort?
We found 17 amenities for this rental. This includes free wifi/internet, free parking, air conditioning, pool, and non-smoking.
