Mountains to Mangroves

Ah, Belize. A Central American paradise on the Caribbean Sea. No matter where you stay, this little country with big soul will make its mark.

But hey, sometimes you wanna Treat Yo Self. That’s what my family and I did for my husband’s 40th-birthday bash. We happily called Groovy Gecko in Maya Beach our home for 10 nights starting in late March, 2025.

I could, (and will, upon request!) go on about the layout, amenities, location, etc., but you can find all that here. The rental was more than amazing . It takes a team, though, and I’d like to give big props to Villa Groovy Gecko’s people.

Arriving from around the U.S., we were greeted by an onsite crew that welcomed us with open arms. Mabel, our helpful host, provided the initial lowdown on the home. From then on she was available via What’s App throughout our stay.

Then, there was the cleaning and laundry team, who offered daily service. I’ll just go ahead and admit I’m still deep-inhale sniffing my clothes from this trip days after returning to Montana. The clean-yet beach-y scent lingers and keeps my memories as fresh as my tank tops. (Which are now stored back in the “summer use only” drawer in my closet…)

To me, travel is all about the food. Usually that means leaving my rental. This time was a little different, in a very good way. Included in the rental rate is a personal chef!! Ours was Manuel. The villa’s initial concierge – Geri – set up our meals plans in advance. This included accommodating food allergies, culminating on a day-by-day, meal-by-meal menu. It was perfection. Think fresh-made Belizian breakfasts of fry jacks and beans. Fresh, juicy melons and pineapple. Lunches of salads, fruits, and even chicken tenders for the young-ins. Mmmm, mmmmm, mmmm. Then the dinners, which included classic stew chicken and rice, perfectly cooked local coconut curry fish, and OMG the desserts. Yum.

Ahhh, now to the fabulous villa. I can still hear the wind, waves and nighttime gecko chirps. (Love those little guys!) With two levels and 5 en-suite bedrooms, sleeping up to 12, it was just right for our large gathering.

The upper level is completely enclosed – ideal for meals, movies, and game nights. Off the upstairs kitchen is the balcony dreams are made of. In fact – one f my dreams in fact did come true there. I spotted manatees! Yes, I love manatees. The sea grass growing offshore from the sandy beach proved perfect for attracting this amazing sea beasts.

Downstairs there’s a really cool open-air scenario. It’s got a full kitchen with grill, walk-up bar, three bedrooms and a laundry room. This level also leads to a picture perfect pool – backdrop being the Caribbean Sea with its unparalleled Belizian-blues. We spent so much time cooling off and relaxing in and around the pool.

But if, you’re like me, a sandy beach and the salty sea are more your speed. For this, Groovy Gecko did not disappoint. The property provided a private little oasis with lush mangroves as a border to the north and south. There is a vacation home on either side, but still felt secluded! Paddle boards, kayaks and access to the pier were assuredly put to well use during our stay.

Beyond the beach, the property has beautiful landscaping. My 5-year-old son and I had daily “safaris,” searching for lizards, crabs and other fauna and flora. We found blue land crabs, lizards galore, geckos of course, blue land crabs, a plethora of pelicans…. I could go on!

And I will go on. My next plan ? To share info and photos of some of the awesome creatures and plants we encountered along our adventure.

Until then, keep on adventuring!