Belize

Location: Toledo

Set in the jungle, yet only one mile from Punta Gorda Town (PG) in Toledo, Southern Belize, Hickatee Cottages is an ideal location for an adventure holiday, with great access to the World Heritage Site Sapodilla Cayes, Port Honduras Marine Reserve and Toledo's many inland attractions.

Accommodation

This family-run accommodation provides charming Caribbean-style cottage accommodation in a jungle setting. Here you can wake up to the sounds of the jungle, take coffee delivered to your verandah, cool off in the plunge pool, walk the nature trails, or take a self-guided bike tour on one of the Cottages' free bikes. Explore Boom Creek Village and take a trip on the Moho River in a traditional dug-out canoe or visit further afield on one of the Cottages’ range of tours of the District.
Service is friendly and personal, the atmosphere is comfortable and relaxed, and plentiful home-cooked meals are available on-site at Charlie's Bar, prepared with ingredients grown on the Cottages’ farm and seasonal produce from the local market.

Eco Policies

Eco-Design - Only a small portion of the land (15%) has been re-developed, which was cleared some years earlier for small-scale farming. This area was cleared entirely by hand so as to retain the maximum number of trees which had re-grown over the 5+ year period.
The gardens have been landscaped with local plants hardy enough to withstand the dry season and therefore do not require irrigation.

Energy – This eco-friendly accommodation’s power system is a combination of three sources - solar panels, a battery-inverter system and a generator (required by Belize hotel legislation). The generator is run for a minimum number of hours each day - usually around five hours in the evening, at which time the Cottages’ endeavour to carry out all 'power-hungry' tasks, so as to maximise its use and minimise fuel consumption.
Additionally, whilst running, the generator charges up a bank of deep-cycle batteries, and it is this battery bank that supplies power to the site for the majority of each day, with additional charge supplied from solar panels.
Also, as they burnt out, the majority of light bulbs have now been replaced with 'energy saving' bulbs.
Guests are asked to help conserve battery power by switching off fans and lights when they are not in their cottages and by using hairdryers and other 'power-hungry' items only when the generator is running.
Bikes are provided for guests to use, for free.

Conservation - The majority of the grounds at Hickatee Cottages remains in its original natural state and no logging, hunting, or fishing is allowed. In addition, the Cottages’ night-watchman deters poachers on adjoining land.
Trees are being grown for re-planting both on the Cottages’s land and neighbouring land to maintain a wildlife 'corridor', including rosewood, marimba tree, swamp cauwey and other butterfly food plants such as the 'hot lips' found on the jungle trails.

Ecological sustainability - To conserve water, water heaters, efficiency-tested shower heads and hot taps are sited as close together as possible, and water heaters are switched off when the cottages are not occupied. The cottages’ policy is to change linen and towels every three days, unless otherwise requested. Guests are asked to be mindful of their water consumption, to turn off taps when not required and to report any leaks immediately.
The cottages, bar-restaurant and the owners’ own house each have their own water treatment systems, with grey water being filtered through a leach field planted with bananas, and the black water treated in a rotoplas 'biodigestor' septic system.
A minimum of agricultural and horticultural chemicals are used on the farm. Garden and appropriate kitchen waste is composted and additional organic matter is provided by rice waste from the local mill. The exceptionally acidic forest soil is corrected through the use of 'Punta Gorda dolomite', allowing vital nutrients to be released to the plants.
Where possible, waste is recycled or re-used e.g. the majority of our glass bottles are recyclable in Belize, newspaper is donated to the Peter Claver Indianville School Extension for their papier mache and other craft projects and plastic bags are re-used where possible and the Cottages are working with a local grocer to implement a bag re-cycling scheme.

Community – Staff training is considered an integral element in ensuring long-term sustainability of the tourism industry in Toledo, and Hickatee Cottages are committed to training, empowering and supporting their staff in all aspects of their work. The Cottages employ four local permanent members of staff - one of whom is in a management capacity. Staff are involved in both the day to day running of the business and the longer term development, and those who wish to further their education or training are supported wherever possible. All staff receive training in the areas of resource conservation and environmental impact.
Hickatee Cottages are committed to raising awareness and educating their guests in the different local cultures and the impact that their presence may have. Garifuna music nights are featured at Hickatee Cottages, as part of an effort to help preserve the culture in 'Peini' (the Garifuna name for their original settlement of 'Punta Gorda') and raise awareness of their rich heritage. Traditional cultural events are not 'staged' however, and should our guests be privileged enough to be invited to attend a local Dugu ceremony, or to view the Mayan Deer Dance, they are advised of their expected behaviour and especially not to take photos or videos of these events.
The Cottages have established a small but growing library of books on Belizean and Toledo history and culture, both fiction and non-fiction, and feature local and Belizean art in the cottages and Charlie's Bar.

Facilities

Charlie's Bar is at the heart of Hickatee Cottages and serves as the bar, restaurant, reception and information centre.
There are comfortable locally-made couches both inside the bar and on the deck, from which to watch the hummingbirds feeding from the hibiscus flowers, or read from a selection of books on local history, culture, folklore, fiction and the plentiful wildlife.
The bar also houses a small gift-shop, with a selection of products from Toledo, including Maya bags, hand-made ocarinas which are replicas of those found at the local Mayan site of Lubaantun and Garifuna Arts&Crafts products.
The small bar is stocked with local and imported beers, spirits and wines, as well as the 'juice of the day' which could be anything from watermelon to tamarind and banana. Plentiful home-cooked breakfasts and dinners (except for Wednesday evenings) are served either inside the bar, or out on the deck, using ingredients grown on the farm and fresh seasonal produce from the market in Punta Gorda. Special diets (including diabetic and celiac), as well as personal 'likes' and 'dislikes' can easily be catered for, with advance notice.

Things To See And Do

Hickatee Cottages have over a mile of wide, well-maintained jungle trails through the land, which is home to a surprising array of wildlife. As you follow the trails winding through the trees, you may spot toucans, butterflies and quash, or watch the iguanas dropping into the small creek. It’s not guaranteed, but you're likely to hear the roar of the howler monkeys at some point during your stay. Keep an eye out for animal tracks - tracks of both jaguar and tapir have been recorded here, or take a look at the farm to see if you can spot the deer nibbling the crops.
Alternatively, relax in the hammock on your verandah and watch the birds as they come to you, or cool off in the plunge pool

You will also have complimentary use of well-maintained bikes to give you the freedom to explore the local area at your leisure. Learn about the history of Punta Gorda with a self-guided bike tour, or visit Cerro Hill with its many tropical birds and great views of Punta Gorda. Cycle to Boom Creek and meet the friendly villagers as they go about their daily activities and relax at the beautiful Moho River. They may even give you a short trip in one of their traditional dories - a hand-made canoe, crafted from a hollowed out tree trunk.

There are also a range of activities available in the area, such as snorkeling and diving at the World Heritage Site Sapodilla Cayes (including diving packages through Reef CI) and the Port Honduras Marine Reserve, caving at Blue Creek, exploring the District’s national parks, visiting the award-winning Fallen Stones Butterfly Farm (only available to guests of Hickatee Cottages, in conjunction with IBTM Tours), or stepping back in time at the Mayan ruins of Lubaantun and Niim Li Punit.

Room Description

There are three bedrooms in Caribbean-style buildings: choose from a detached cottage, or one of the two rooms in the 'duplex' unit - each with its own separate entrance and facilities, but sharing a common deck. The duplex unit affords privacy to single travellers, but adapts well for friends and family travelling together.
All three rooms are furnished with locally made hardwood furniture, with both a double and single bed, ceiling fans and en-suite bathroom facilities.. Relax in the small sitting area, or on your verandah where you can enjoy the tropical gardens and view the wildlife, and use the Cottages' 'night-sight' for nocturnal viewing, or use the bat detector to listen to the night-time activity.

Prices & Booking Policies

Currency: US dollar ($)
Prices and inclusions: The price for 2 or 3 people sharing a Duplex Cottage room is US$70 (approx £35) per night, reducing to US$50 (approx £25) per night for sole occupancy. The price for 2 or 3 people sharing the stand-alone cottage is US$85 (approx £43) per night, reducing to US$65 for sole occupancy.
Prices include your transfer to and from the airstrip, boat dock, or bus station, the use of bikes, morning tea or coffee delivered to your verandah and a light continental breakfast (toasted homemade bread rolls with local jams and honey and freshly squeezed juice). Prices do not include 9% taxes.
Child prices: There is a maximum occupancy of 3 people in each cottage i.e. 1 adult plus 2 children or 2 adults and 1 child can fit in each room. As the prices per cottage include 2 or 3 people, there are no special child prices.
Extra adult prices: The price per cottage includes 2 or 3 people.
Special offers: A free visit to Fallen Stones Butterfly Farm is included for guests staying on a Wednesday or Saturday.
Check-in / Check-out times: 3.00pm and 11.00am, or by special arrangement.
Opening dates: Hickatee Cottages is open all year round. Bookings are currently being taken until 31st October 2008.
Restrictions: From December to May there is a minimum stay of 3 nights.
Deposit: There is a deposit of 20% of your total accommodation value payable to secure your reservation. This will be taken from your credit card (MasterCard or Visa only) using the details you provide at the time of booking. Your booking will not be fully confirmed until this deposit has been received.
Cancellation policy: Cancellations have a large impact on this size of operation, so please provide as much notice as possible. For cancellations made within 48 hours of your arrival date, or no-shows, Hickatee Cottages reserve the right to charge you for your first night’s stay.
Payment methods: The balance is payable on departure, by credit card (VISA or Mastercard), travellers’ cheques, or cash (US or Belize dollars)

Getting There And Around

Punta Gorda is the southernmost town in Belize. Once an outpost reachable only by boat, it is today easily accessible by car on the Southern Highway - probably the best road in Belize - or by commuter flights on the one-hour trip from Belize City.

Belize is served by a number of airlines, with direct international flights from both the US and Central America, including American Airlines (Miami and Dallas), Continental Airlines (Houston and Newark), Delta (Atlanta), TACA (Oakland, Houston and El Salvador), US Air (Charlotte). For flights from Europe, take a look at TACA's flight from Houston for a possible 'same-day' connection, or American Airlines weekend departures from Heathrow via Miami available during the winter months An alternative is to fly to Cancun, and travel south overland.

Punta Gorda is served by several daily commuter flights with both Tropic Air and Maya Island Air. The Cottages can help you with flights via Tropic Air – request more details on your booking notes.

For those that prefer the freedom of a hire car to explore the District at leisure, your four-hour journey from Belize City will take you along probably the best paved road in Belize - the Southern Highway - with only a nine-mile stretch through the Golden Stream Corridor Preserve unpaved. Hire cars are readily available for collection at Belize City Airport and are also available locally in Punta Gorda.

If you are travelling to or from Guatemala, there are three daily boat crossings between Punta Gorda and Puerto Barrios, with onward connections to the Honduran border. There is also a twice-weekly water taxi service to and from Livingston, Guatemala, which operates on Tuesdays and Fridays.