Jade Jungle Resort Review: 4 Nights in the Belize Jungle

Mayan culture. Exquisite Belize caves. Lush jungles. Delicious food. That’s what our four days at Jade Jungle Resort were filled with, leading to one heckuva trip and tons of memories.

After spending four days on the beach, we wrapped up our adventures in Belize by staying at the All-Inclusive Jade Jungle Resort. It’s a beautiful property, full of lush landscapes, hanging bridges, friendly staff, and some of the best food we’ve ever had.

If you’re looking for a truly unique experience in the Belize jungle, I think you’ll love your time here!

Jade Jungle Resort Review

What We Loved

• The meals were phenomenal! They were flavorful, filling, and nutritious. So good. 10/10.
• Being the first of the day to explore the ATM Cave. We didn’t realize how nice this was until the cave was packed with people.
• Very friendly and accommodating staff.
• Fun activities and excursions to see Belize
• 1,000+ year old Maya Ruins onsite
• The massage was PHENOMENAL.

What Do You Get with an All-Inclusive Package

The All-inclusive Package from Jade Jungle includes all your meals (either at the resort or at restaurants during tours), airport pick-ups and drop-offs, and the big kicker: almost all of your excursions (except a couple of very long days, such as Tikal).

It also includes local beers, juices, and water. Additionally, you can sign up for birdwatching, a night hike, and a cooking class onsite. Also, you have electricity, hot water in your rooms, and drinking water.

Check out the full list of adventures they offer.

What is NOT included in your All-Inclusive Package

The package does not include massages, tours to Guatemala and Tikal Mayan Ruins, or Caracol Mayan Ruins, Cockscomb Basin, or a beach day. It also doesn’t include liquor/cocktails/wine. (But you can bring yours.)

Furthermore, there is no bartender making drinks. If you want the liquor the resort has, you fill out a form basically saying how much you drank, and you’d be charged that when you leave.

What Were Our Slight Criticisms

It was really hot on our June visit to Jade Jungle, with temperatures at or above 90°F and high humidity. And with no AC and no pool, it made for some very hot afternoons once we got back from tours.

Even though each room has multiple fans, the rooms were really hot from 4 pm-8 pm. They are building a pool, which would alleviate some of the discomfort we felt.

Even though the afternoons and evenings were warm, we surprisingly slept fine, so it didn’t hinder us much. The main criticism is the lack of a place to go to cool off. But once the pool is built, that will change.

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How Much Does Staying At Jade Jungle Resort Cost Per Night?

The All-Inclusive Package Price starts at $750 per night (summer 2026) and goes up to around $1,100 per night in their busy season (winter 2026/2027). Spring/Summer 2027 prices look to be $900 per night.

We got to stay in both a Boardwalk Cabana and a Jungle View. The jungle tightly surrounds the Jungle View and is closer to the dining area. The Boardwalk Cabana is down some stairs and across a creek on an elevated platform. It’s better for night sky viewing, if that’s an interest.

The cabana options are:

• Boardwalk Cabanas (more expensive, two king beds)
• Jungle View Cabanas (one king bed, separated shower/bathroom)
• Standard Hillside Cabanas (smaller)
• Family Cabana (decent size for the family)

How We Spent Our Days at Jade Jungle Resort

Let’s dive into all of our days and the fun excursions we went on!

Day 1 – First Day at Jade Jungle Resort

After getting picked up at the Shaka Caye boat dock, we headed west to the next part of our Belize adventure! It was close to a two-hour drive, and we received a very hospitable welcome on arrival.

That afternoon, we explored the property and watched the hummingbirds zoom around the main sitting area. That evening, we got our first taste of the delicious food Jade Jungle makes. Mhmmm, it was so yummy. And for the next four days, nothing changed on that front.

Day 2 – ATM Cave (No cameras allowed)

One of the big selling points of staying at Jade Jungle is getting to the ATM Cave first. I didn’t really understand how big of a deal this was until I experienced it firsthand.

It was a pretty bumpy road to the trailhead, but, as they said, we were the first to hit the trail. From the trailhead, it’s a 1.5-2 mile walk. Mostly flat, though there are a couple of creek crossings. When we reached the end of the hike, we set our things down, hit the bathroom, put on our helmets and lifejackets, and walked to the mouth of the cave.

And then we jumped into the water! It felt soooo good. For the next hour-plus, we were inside of the ATM Cave, swimming, climbing, wading, and exploring the hidden Mayan underworld. It was incredible!

It’s billed as one of the best things to do in Belize, and it lived up to the hype. Seeing the pottery and relics, skulls, and skeletons was wild. Jaimie and I loved every second of it.

After we reached the Crystal Maiden and began to turn back, we heard the voices of other tours entering the main chambers. And as we hiked/swam back, the tours kept coming and coming. Instead of experiencing the cave in peace and quiet, everyone else heard echoes from other groups.

Staying at Jade Jungle paid off entirely by having a natural experience here!

Massage

The ATM Cave will get you back somewhere between 12-1pm, so we had a full afternoon free. We decided to each get a massage. While it was a little warm inside the massage hut, Jaimie and I both gave it A+’s. I’m pretty sure I almost fell asleep; I was so relaxed.

I highly recommend getting one while you’re at the resort.

Day 3 – Morning Bird Watching + Ziplining and Cave Tubing

Our day started with an early morning of bird watching around the property. I’d never been officially “birding” before, so this was new to me.

One thing to know is that most of the colorful birds are farther south, but that doesn’t mean you won’t see them on site. We actually saw a ton of birds, and our bird guide was incredibly knowledgeable.

The two highlights were motmots and finally nailing a toucan shot!

Ziplining

After fueling up with another delicious breakfast, we hopped into the van and headed east for a day of ziplining and cave tubing. Jaimie and I had little idea of what this day would hold – other than the obvious.

After 70 minutes in the vehicle, we hopped out and headed to the start of the zipline tour. Once we had all of our gear, the fun began. This is a popular spot for cruise ships, but thankfully, no cruises were operating, so the area was much quieter than it could have been.

The course has seven ziplines, with the first being a warm-up. Compared to our time in Costa Rica, these are on the shorter/slower level. But it was still a really fun way to spend the morning. I’d say the last two ziplines were the best as you fly over the river below.

Cave Tubing

Now, this was super cool. We walked through the jungle for a little over a mile, and at the river’s entrance we hopped onto the tubes. Everyone in the group is tied together, including with your guide.

For us, it was only three, so we were far more nimble than the larger groups. Soon after, we entered the cave and wouldn’t leave for at least a half hour. Getting to float through the cave and see its intricate, unique details was freaking awesome! Just getting to float through a cave is a wildly cool concept, and it was one of the best tours I’ve ever done.

Day 4 – Xunantunich Mayan Ruins and Canoeing Barton Creek Cave

The last day of our adventure in Belize! Xunantunich is one of the most impressive Mayan ruins in the area, and we were excited to explore it. It takes around 75 minutes to reach it, including a small ferry crossing a mile from the parking lot.

We ended up choosing this over Tikal because we didn’t want to sit in a car for four hours each way. Plus, it allowed us to do the Barton Creek Canoe later in the day.

Xunantunich

What a rad place! Over the course of 90 minutes, we explored as much of the complex as we could, including climbing to the top of El Castillo, the 130-foot pyramid that dominates the Xunantunich skyline. (Fun fact: It’s the second-highest structure in Belize!)

I loved how accessible everything is and the different vantage points you can reach. It’s hard to grasp how much effort it took to build these structures with 600AD technology. You gain a significant admiration for their work once you see it in person.

Canoeing Barton Creek Cave

With full bellies after a delicious lunch at a local eatery, we drove down the bumpy road towards the Barton Creek Cave. I honestly didn’t have much to go off of, other than a couple of photos. I somewhat figured we’d go in for a bit and then turn around.

But it was so much more! We ended up canoeing far deeper into the Barton Creek Cave than I realized was possible. Inside, I was blown away. This is one of the most beautiful caves I’ve ever seen, and the fact a creek flows through it is mesmerizing.

Afterward, after an hour of coming and going, the two of us jumped in to cool off, capping off a wonderful day in the Belize jungle.

Day 5 – Final Day at Jade Jungle Resort

On our final day at Jade Jungle Resort, we had a slow morning to sleep in and relax.

After another delicious breakfast, we took a stroll into the meadow to find the giant swing. (Walk down the hill past the massage/yoga huts, and past where the pool is/will be. Continue onto the trail for a short bit where you’ll enter into the meadow. 100 yards in front is the swing.)

At 10am, we loaded into the air-conditioned van (oh, it felt so good!) and began the 90-minute drive to the airport in Belize City.

Is Jade Jungle Worth It?

I do think Jade Jungle is worth it, but it does come down to the economics and how you would structure your trip. Basically, you’re front-loading your costs to Jade Jungle rather than paying for a hotel, three meals a day, airport transfers or car rentals, and then paying for tours.

This is geared towards adventure travel people. If you are going to be active and take 1-2 tours per day, the math checks out, and Jade Jungle makes sense. But if you are going to lay low, I don’t think this is the place to do it.

I do believe that the tours being included in your nightly fee are a really cool thing they do and sets them apart from other all-inclusive resorts in Belize. Most tours would likely cost a couple around $250-$300 per day, and when you add in food, that’s probably another $100 per day as well.

So, if you stay active, book your tours, and eat lots, you’ll come out of this feeling like it was money well spent!

More Photos from our trip into the jungle

Final Thoughts on Staying at Jade Jungle Resort in Belize

Jaimie and I had a great time at Jade Jungle Resort, but most of the fun was thanks to the tours and the delicious meals. The heat wave, coupled with no AC or area to cool off, did hinder the experience a bit.

That said, it’s an Eco-Lodge in the middle of the Belize Jungle, so we understand the limitations and constraints and rolled with the punches. Getting the opportunity to see the area, experience the culture, and learn more about the Mayan history was honestly amazing.

And that’s truly what this place is about. This is an adventure hub – not an uber-luxury resort. If you come with the mindset that the tours are the focus and the resort is in the background, it’s a wonderful place to be.

Until next time, adventurers, stay safe.

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