Riverside Villa consists of two log and thatch cabañas connected by an open air deck. The cheerful sleeping cabana which holds the bedroom and bathroom is warmly furnished with a bamboo bed and Mayan fabrics and wall hangings. The full bath contains a fancifully tiled bathtub and beautiful hardwood furnishings. A screened in porch at one end of the bedroom has a hammock as well as two chairs. It is nestled into the trees and overlooks the garden with the river just beyond.
The larger cabaña contains a fully equipped kitchen, dining area, writing desk and a small library. It is surrounded on four sides with fully screened porches arranged into relaxed and comfortable living spaces. Hammocks and seating areas are situated to take advantage of the tropical gardens as well as the entrancing views of the river. All furnishings are locally made by Belizean craftsman. Colorful Mayan rugs, fabrics and wall hangings complete the cozy ambiance of the interior.
For those who prefer to dine outdoors, a beautiful picnic table faces the water with the pines and ferns across the river. It is an especially lovely spot under the full moon. The smaller “river deck” is an intimate spot to enjoy morning coffee or to watch the sun slip behind the pines in the evening. Nighttime brings a soothing chorus of tree frogs from the surrounding jungle, a perfect ending to the day.
Additional Guest Accommodations
Riverside Villa was designed as a spacious one bedroom home. Over the years we have had many requests from guests interested in traveling with a third or fourth party. Recent additions and upgrades have made it possible to accommodate adventurous guests in a delightful setting. One of our covered screened porches, the jungle deck, serves as a living area when the villa is rented by two. This couch in the sitting area is a trundle bed that can be converted to a king sized bed. Curtains can be used to provide privacy on all sides or left open to face the gardens and jungle. There is an adjacent full bath with an armoire for storage.
One additional guest can chose from several options. The king sized bed can be set up on the jungle deck as described above or the lower portion of the trundle (a single bed) can be moved around the corner to “the banana deck’’. The banana deck is also adjacent to the full bath and overlooks our banana trees (of course) as well as the river. The banana deck does not have privacy curtains facing out although the location is secluded and private. It can be closed off from the main living area with shutter doors.
There is a maximum occupancy of four and there is an additional per night fee for each guest beyond two.
Larger groups or those who prefer a full second bedroom can choose from the wonderfully designed cabanas at Gaia River Lodge.
The majority of visitors to the interior of Belize come to enjoy the beautiful natural surroundings as well as the abundance of bird and animal life. Riverside Villa was created to take advantage of the surroundings while protecting the environment. Water is gravity fed to the villa from a pure spring high above in the hills (providing abundant pressure) and then passed through a state of the art water filtration system. Electricity is provided by the hydro powered generator at Gaia Riverlodge and the eco-friendly septic system is designed to avoid polluting the pristine river.
The location of Riverside Villa is one of it's best features. It is accessed by a 4 wheel drive driveway (and most rental cars in Belize are 4 wheel drive) and a paved, lighted walkway to the villa. Luggage transfer is provided by the lodge for guests who do not have a rental car. Guests should be prepared with a light jacket or sweater in the evenings as the riverside location brings cooler temperatures in the evenings than in surrounding areas. Visits to Riverside Villa are intended to be a natural retreat. There are an abundance of screened in porch areas and open decks where guests can enjoy the view of the river as well as the birds and butterflies flitting through the gardens. The secluded and beautiful setting, the amenities of the villa, the proximity to the charming Gaia River Lodge and the many activities in the area will provide adventurous travelers with an unforgettable visit to Belize.
Travel to Riverside Villa a can be arranged in a number of ways. Gaia Riverlodge can meet your flight and provide van service directly to the lodge. Guests can rent a car at the airport and drive out to the Pine Ridge which is about a three hour drive. It is also possible to charter a small plane from the airport to a landing strip two miles from the villa. The staff at Gaia river Lodge will meet your plane.
eeking a quiet retreat. It is a truly unusual location on the banks of a gorgeous river where the Mountain Pine Ridge and the jungle meet. The villa is privately owned but managed by the friendly and capable staff of the adjacent Gaia River Lodge who can help visitors plan any of the many activities in the area. A full kitchen is provided but guests can also take all meals at the lodges lovely restaurant overlooking beautiful Five Sister's Falls.
Riverside Villa consists of two log and thatch cabanas connected by an open air deck. One contains the bedroom, full bath, and a porch. The other contains the kitchen, dining and living areas, wraparound screen porches, and a half bath. Both cabanas are cheerfully decorated with colorful Central American tiles, Mayan fabrics and weavings, and all furnishings are handmade by Belizean craftsman. Hammocks and seating areas are strategically placed for guests to enjoy the lovely views of the river and gardens. There is a lovely hand crafted table for outdoor dining and the cozy river deck is a perfect spot for morning coffee.
Riverside Villa is an eco-friendly home, with fully filtered gravity fed spring water, hydroelectric power, and a nonpolluting waste system. The remote location is one of the villa's best features but guests can drive to a parking area which is two minutes walk from the villa. Luggage transfer can be provided but the villa is not handicap accessible.
The fast flowing section of the creek in front of the villa has numerous small swimming holes and a large slow moving pool is just a minute's walk down stream. The base of Five Sister's Waterfall is a short walk up stream. This beautiful waterfall has a lovely white sand beach, excellent swimming, a shaded gazebo and a thatched palapa furnished with hammocks. The majority of visitors to the interior of Belize come to enjoy the beautiful natural surroundings as well as the abundance of bird and animal life. Riverside Villa was created to allow guests to take advantage of these surroundings.
