Ian Anderson's Caves Branch Adventure Co

Amazing immersive experience in culture, ecosystems and adventure! Caves Branch far surpassed our expectations for exploration and learning. Ella and Ian are wonderful hosts and have chosen a very talented team to make your visit exceptional.

We came to Belize to celebrate our parents 50th wedding anniversary, and we were lucky enough to find Caves Branch to visit. This place is EXCEPTIONAL!! From the minute you pull in you feel like you’re in paradise! They have adventures for every level, delicious food, and beautiful rooms! Leo completely pampered us and even prepared a special desert to honor our parents. Listening to the howler monkeys while lying in bed is something I’ll never forget. Just be prepared for really warm nights:)

I cannot say enough great things about Caves Branch. We wanted to have a trip full of adventure and new experiences vs laying on a beach with our kids and this place delivered big time. From the minute we arrived, every staff member, tour guide, etc was beyond helpful and went out of there to make sure we had everything we needed. We splurged and went with the canopy view treehouse, which is a good hike up 100+ steps, but that made it another fun part of the overall experience as we got to see wildlife on the walk every time. Amazing views and falling asleep to the sounds of the jungle was something none of us had experienced and was incredibly relaxing. Every meal was fantastic, and we actually really enjoyed the random table assignments because it really pushed a lot of interaction with fellow travelers and sharing tips and excursion stories. One of the coolest parts is that we would give our kids and flashlights and let them go explore the beautiful botanical gardens after sundown and never once were concerned about their whereabouts as they were always without shouting distance if needed but were able to explore on their own. As for the excursions, it is safe to say none of us will every forget those adventures. When we got back from excursions by 3pm, we would go change, and the kids could not get down to the river right next to the lodge fast enough to kayak and tube. Our kids were on the younger side (7 & 9) so we did the River Cave Expedition first to test their hiking ability and endurance, and had an absolute blast. . It is 4+ hours in a cave, but not once did we get bored. Amazing sights, artifacts and critters to really keep the kids engaged. They really enjoyed getting to jump off the cliff into the river once we left the cave to cap it off. Their favorite day was a day of horseback riding in the morning, followed by lunch back at the lodge, and ziplining in the afternoon. Each one of these excursions lasted around 2 hours so perfect amount of time to keep them loving every minute. We did also venture out and do a full day of snorkeling, which personally I was not as excited about, but it ended up being incredible. I quickly learned where the reef gets its reputation. We saw sea turtles, nurse sharks, thousands of different fish, and got to see a spotted eagle ray which was awesome. Last but not least, if your kids are able to do the waterfall cave...DO IT!!! You have to work for it that is for sure, but it was such an amazing and unique experience. Whether you are 7 or 70, you will have a blast at this place and wont regret a single minute!!

Caves Branch is one of those magical places I worry about capturing in a brief review. The setting is incredible: in the middle of the jungle and on a a river. Everywhere you are surrounded by the jungle, partly managed and partly wild. All of the accommodations seemed nice, but if you can swing it, opt for a canopy treehouse. The view from up there is amazing: over the tops of the trees and into the valley beyond. Do realize that it's a long climb up--126 steps to #25--but you're climbing through the jungle! Other reviews have mentioned amazing, talented, knowledgeable guides, and I can't say enough about them. Most of the guides lead most of the adventures, and they seem to know about everything, from Mayan history to geology to local flora and fauna. Since they are all employees of Caves Branch, you're likely to go on more than one adventure with them, and so you get to know them well. And of course the adventures are the centerpiece of Caves Branch. The lodge is very quiet from late morning to early afternoon because most people are off cave tubing or climbing waterfalls or exploring Mayan ruins. Even when everyone is back, the pool and the grounds are relatively quiet. We welcomed the chance to sit with different people every day; besides just meeting people from all over, it was a chance to hear about their experiences with adventures we were considering. I think that the food at this lodge has been undervalued in the reviews I read before we went. It has been made to sound just adequate, as if it will keep you alive, but is nothing to look forward to. We couldn't disagree more. Both the breakfast and dinner buffets always offered a wide variety of interesting, well-prepared dishes. We thoroughly enjoyed all of our meals. Because so few people are around for lunch, the lodge offers two choices of entree, rather than a buffet, and the two that we had were very good too. Our only suggestion would be to include more Belizean dishes and spices. Our canopy treehouse was spacious and luxurious. It included a big bedroom with mahogany floors and carved headboard and woodwork, a big bathroom with a giant shower, as well as a giant outdoor shower, a big screened-in sitting area, an outdoor deck, and even a rooftop deck with table, chairs, and a tub. A tub with a view! The adventures were so fun. We're in our 70's and our favorite experience was river tubing, paddling our tubes down the river and pausing to scramble up to see caves and Mayan artifacts. If you're concerned about the intensity of a certain adventure, talk to the the guy who comes around at dinnertime to sign guests up for the next day's adventures. There's no rush or pressure to decide right away. It's also true that some adventures can be tailored to the group going. My partner opted not to do one of the climbs in the caves, and I know that another group opted not to do any climbs at all. Our other adventures were horseback riding, the Belize zoo (really a rescue cente

Can’t say enough about Caves Branch. Perfect for our kids, ages 17 x 2 and 15. They took advantage of the survivalist overnight and plenty of cave tours. Excellent guides - so knowledgeable about Maya history and the topography. Great food and excellent service, thanks Leo and Cali. Stayed 5 days, plenty of time to relax. We added on a day trip to Tikal - highly recommend!

The Cave’s branch did not disappoint. We stayed in the canopy, treehouse overlooking the beautiful jungle. The staff was amazing. Samantha and Leo in the dining area were wonderful. The chefs were phenomenal super friendly. The staff on a hole was off the charts. Amazing if you are looking for a great family place all inclusive here in Belize you definitely need to make this stop. Our kids were 10 and nine and had a blast and we were able to enjoy many adventures. My husband and I also enjoyed great deep tissue massages and were able to relax as well we would highly recommend and hope to visit again soon :)