Howler house and the people that support it are very special! The few short days we stayed were full of adventure, history and hospitality. Kenny and Shana are great guides and will make sure you have everything you need and then some! Please take them up on their offers to stop by local restaurants (street food), artists, wine makers, etc, each has a story to tell and you will get a unique perspective on the country of Belize. Staying here is WAY better than staying at any resort! It was the perfect way to start our vacation and we are so glad we took time to visit the jungle before heading to the beach for scuba.
Highlights -
Porch sitting - eat local fruit, drink a beer, read a book - slow down and watch the wildlife right on the river, it will entertain you all day long. The house was nice and bug free; outside the house we saw howler monkeys, lots of iguanas, parrots, a toucan, crocodile, tarantulas, lizards, frogs and lightening bugs.
Canoe - paddle down to Black Orchid, have a drink and take a dip in the pool.
Tours! - We LOVED the river boat to Lamani, it was breezy and refreshing to travel by boat. The guides are very knowledgeable and don't rush through. The Lamani ruins are incredible. We also went zip-lining and cave tubing which were great jungle activities, the cave systems are so cool!
Locals!
Dawson lives across the river and has a big personality. He will share fresh coconut water and some great stories, be sure to enjoy both.
Elvis shares his beautiful woodworking craft and also has many good stories. Hospitality is a Belizian strong point. We were fortunate to share fresh mangos from his tree, try our first cashew fruit (we'll stick to the nut), and enjoy a beer while exchanging stories on his porch.
Cashew wine maker - this was a quick stop but still a good one. Cashew wine is not for us but we did take some blackberry wine and fresh roasted cashew nuts with us.
Roadside food is where it's at! BBQ, tamales, tacos, stew chicken, and of course rice & beans. Belize knows how to do street food, don't miss out.
Belize is magic, Howler House is beautiful, Kenny and Shana are fantastic.