GAÏA Riverlodge

Made by Mother Nature: an eco-luxury rainforest retreat perched atop Belize’s Five Sisters Waterfalls

Wake to the sound of cascading waterfalls and tropical birds. Watch the sunset turn the skies crimson and gold over the mountains. The unspoilt natural beauty of Belize flows through GAÏA Riverlodge, a recharging retreat that blends effortlessly with its surroundings. In fact, it’s little wonder the Lodge was named after the Greek goddess of the Earth. Whether you spend your time swinging in a hammock with butterflies overhead or plunging into freshwater pools, fed by the Five Sisters Waterfalls, a stay here is a true escape from the ordinary.
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Part of the tucked-away Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve, GAÏA Riverlodge gives guests private access to the breath-taking Falls. Many of the tranquil and technology-free bedrooms, created in the style of rainforest cabanas, come with views (and sounds) of the falls – while others look across at the mountains. Whichever one you call home, expect thatched roofs, tropical hardwood furnishings and back-to-nature luxury.

From sunrise jungle walks set to birdsong to night time bonfires with storytelling and marshmallow roasting, GAÏA Riverlodge invites guests to immerse themselves in this stunning setting. Guided tours could see you exploring the hotel’s own organic garden while further afield there are Mayan treasures to uncover. Tour Caracol, the Macal River, Tikal or Xibalba. The GAÏA Riverlodge Spa will be on hand the next day to soothe the hiking-weary with sunset massages, and banana and papaya facials.

Enjoy your stay!

16 Rooms | 1 Floor | 1 Restaurant |

5 /5

375 reviews

Considerate Collection

Adults Only

Adventure and Activity

Lake or Waterfront

Considerate Collection

Actively sustainable luxury hotels

Environmentally Conscious

The casitas at GAÏA Riverlodge have been sympathetically built to blend into their environment, with thatched roofs, sustainably harvested palmetto sticks, and locally sourced stone and wood. As an off-grid property, GAÏA has harnessed the natural flow of Privasson Creek to generate hydroelectric power to sustain the resort’s energy needs, while the cool rainforest microclimate means there’s no need for heaters or air conditioning. Every eco-friendly detail has been thought of, from biodegradable sugar cane straws to a crop rotation schedule created by the Head Gardener.

Cultural Custodians

GAÏA Riverlodge not only provides complimentary mountain bikes for guests to explore Big Rock Falls, a nearby national attraction, but offers an array of educational excursions with the preservation of Belizean culture at their core. These include visits to ancient Mayan archaeological sites and cultural centres, where guests are introduced to traditional Mayan farming, baking, and cooking techniques, and artisanal practices from chocolate making to pottery. Another of GAÏA’s tours takes you to a women’s collective, where modern Mayan women teach tortilla making from scratch.

Community Minded

For a remote rainforest retreat, GAÏA Riverlodge still manages to keep its local community close at heart. The current menu is the product of countless visits to local farms, vanilla and cocoa plantations, closely collaborating with local farmers and fishermen to highlight authentic flavours and ingredients (like the Cashew Punch, a drink made with cashew wine – a Belizean specialty). Local guides are recruited to take guests on horse-riding tours and immersive cultural day trips, stopping off at a market in San Ignacio to mingle with the locals and purchase their crafts.

Our Hotel

Gaïa Riverlodge Landscape
Gaïa Aerial View Sunset
Gaïa Landscape and Garden
Gaïa Resort Entrance
Gaïa Main Lodge
Gaïa Front Desk
Gaïa Riverside Villa Jacuzzi
Gaïa Riverside Villa Bedroom Seating Area
Gaïa Riverside Villa Bedroom
Gaïa Waterfall Islet
Gaïa Islet Hammock Area
Gaïa Waterfall Gazebo
Gaïa Waterfall Suite Balcony
Waterfall View Room
Waterfall View Cabana
Mountain View Cabana
Gaïa Cabana Entrance
Gaïa Cabana Living Room
Gaïa Bar & Reception
Gaïa Restaurant
Gaïa Restaurant Patio with Waterfall View
Gaïa Tram to Waterfall Area
Gaïa Riverlodge Waterfall Access
Five Sisters Waterfalls
Gaïa Waterfall Sunset
Barton Creek Cave & Ruins Canoeing
Xunantunich Maya Ruin Tour

Garden-grown menus

With a farm-to-fork philosophy, the GAÏA Riverlodge restaurant doesn’t have to go far for its ingredients. In fact, many of the fruit and vegetables served here are grown and harvested at the hotel’s Mayan organic garden. Anything not sourced on-site comes from local growers, makers and farmers from neighbouring communities. Look forward to dishes such as sea-fresh snapper and sweet-savoury barbecues, accompanied by plenty of plantains, fresh herbs and spices.

Perfectly private pampering

Housed in a private rainforest cabana, the GAÏA Riverlodge Spa lays claim to its own corner of paradise. It’s fitting that the natural world is all around you, as treatments make use of locally-sourced ingredients. Banana and papaya facials give skin a taste of the tropics, while the sunset aromatherapy massage is decadence at dusk. Leave the real world behind and experience bliss in its purest form.

The call of the wild

Experiencing the colour and music of the jungle is all down to timing. Embark on a just-after-dawn jungle or bird-watching stroll with the hotel’s nationally certified guide. At the tail end of the day, a nocturnal walk brings the other side of the rainforest to light – in the dark. Outside GAÏA Riverlodge, curated day tours can take you from the Caracol ruins, deep in the Chiquibul Rainforest, to Rio Frio’s ancient ritual sites and on to a refreshing dip in the Rio On pools. Or search for the gateway to the Mayan Underworld within the hidden caves at Xibalba. The hotel can also arrange everything from canoe rides down the Macal River to horse-riding to enigmatically named Skeleton Cave and Big Rock Falls.

Our rooms

Waterfall View Room

Waterfall View Room - Queen Beds

Sleeps 3

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Mountain View Cabana
Gaia Bathroom

Mountain View Cabana

Sleeps 2

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Gaïa Waterfall View Cabana

Waterfall View Cabana

Sleeps 2

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Ga_a Waterfall View Suite

Waterfall View Suite

Sleeps 3

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Gaïa Riverside Villa Jacuzzi
Gaïa Riverside Villa Bedroom
Gaïa Shower

River Suite Villa

Sleeps 4

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Waterfall View Room
Gaia Bathroom

Waterfall View Room

Sleeps 2

King

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Ratings

Quality Assured

Mystery Inspected

Global Rating

5 /5

375 reviews

INVITED Rating

5 /5

2 reviews

5 /5

589 reviews

INVITED Reviews

100 %

of reviewers would recommend this hotel

Incredibly location, the waterfall, the view, the birds, the guides! Everything!

The guided tour of Caracol ruins was incredible. The night walk through the jungle was a surprise and completely unforgettable. The staff was wonderful and the remoteness was deeply relaxing.

By Theodore Mar ’24 Trip Type Couple

Peaceful and relaxing

The first thing to mention is the service - from the moment We were picked up at the airport to being dropped back, every single staff member was friendly and helpful and used our names when taking to us. Coco, the resident dog, was also a highlight, accompanying us on walks and saying hi when coming Read more[SPLIT]Read lessand going from the main lodge. the food was also a winner with fresh produce coming straight from the on site organic garden which you can also get a tour of.

By Beau Dec ’23 Trip Type Couple