Thatch Caye Resort, a Muy'Ono Resort — Hotel in Coco Plum Range

For context, I am an avid traveler to 4-5 stars beach resorts all over the world. ||I spent 9 days on the island and had a relaxing and wonderful stay but want to be transparent about my experience because if you’re an experienced international traveler who stays at 4 star resorts, you may be disappointed in the accommodations and food. ||First, the staff are amazing, specifically Shakira, Richie D, Jackson, & Daniel. It’s my assumption this resort gets 4+ star ratings because of the staff as the resort is rustic, very worn down, and basic. ||The overwater bungalows are small. Only big enough to fit a king bed, a few hooks on wall to hang clothes, 2 drawers under bed, but no where to put suitcases if you unpack. Bathroom is smaller than a gas station bathroom. You can sit on toilet and reach the sink and the corner shower. Not sure how 2 people stay in these small rooms. They have a deck & hammock but winds are so strong on that side, they push the hammock sideways so you can’t even get it. There is also a strong sulfur smell & very dirty questionable water surrounding the overwater bungalows so you can’t swim or get in the water outside your room. The sulfur smell is off putting and makes me wonder if there’s a leak in their septic system. There are no mini fridge in any of the rooms. You also cannot flush toilet paper down the toilet in the overwater bungalows. You gotta put your poopy toilet paper in trash can. Not ideal. There are no bedside tables, outlets, or side lamps near the bed. The only light is the very bright main light in the ceiling fan. Not ideal if you want to relax & read at night after a long day. Also, not safe because it’s very dark at night and unless you leave the bathroom light on when you go to dinner, you walk into a pitch black room. As a woman, this was concerning for me. Simple solution would be to install battery operated sconces next to the bed. You also cannot plug your phone or sleep pap machine next to the bed because there are no outlets or extension cords. The closest outlet is near the entry door to the overwater bungalows. I do not know the outlet options in the other type of rooms. ||There is no internet in the rooms & no way to contact the main lodge or staff in case of an emergency and the overwater bungalows are far from the main lodge so even if you screamed for help, no one would hear you. Doesn’t feel safe especially if you have any health conditions or are traveling solo. No room service. There are good working a/c in the rooms. ||The main lodge is old and worn down and when it rains, the roof leaks. It’s also very hot as there is no a/c. Not a place you really want to gather and hang out. ||The food is basic. I’m confused by other reviews stating how good the food is because it’s bland, little variety, every kind of meat served was terribly overcooked and so dry, it made you choke. Same exact salad every dinner: Lettuce, dry cucumbers, black olives, red onions, and feta cheese. Dinner was generally salad, overcooked meat, mashed potatoes, sautéed squash and onions, hot soup with dry, bland cake for dessert. Not sure why they don’t offer local cuisine which I imagine would be more delicious and cooked better than current options which I can only assume they serve to accommodate American tourists. |Breakfast is basic. Some fruit (watermelon and papaya), yogurt with toppings, toast, sausage or sometimes bacon, and an option for an omelette. |Lunch was small plated dishes that were good and seemed to be more local cuisine but small portions and if you asked for seconds, they’d have to check to see if there was anything left which was strange for an all inclusive resort. |No snacks between the set meal times except for some pecans and almonds or you could buy overpriced pringles ($6 usd for mini can) or single chip bags. For an all inclusive resort, I expect more variety for all meals and definitely unlimited snacks. Yes, I understand this is an island but for the price they charge, they need to level up. |Food is basic. It’s def not 4 star. Definitely doesn’t match the description on website. If you’re a foodie or expecting 4 star, you’ll be as disappointed as I was. |Happy Hour is 4-6pm with appetizers which I expected to be chips & salsa/pico, quesadillas, sliders, fries, bruschetta, chicken fingers. What they served were chicken wings which were actually very good and stale chips and dip and if you arrive at 5pm, generally most of the food was gone & they don’t replenish. There are also knats landing on all the food, sticking to it and in the dip. Unavoidable on an island and they put napkins over to help but still gross. The food is also on the edge of the small bar & if people are sitting at the bar, you have to push around them awkwardly to try and grab food before it’s gone. There aren’t many places to sit in the shade at the bar despite it having a roof so you’re standing around holding food & drink. Not ideal. I’d move the HH to the beach which has a larger area to mingle, many loungers, and a small bar. I’d also get the wire mesh done food covers to put over food to help with bugs. ||To get to the island is a very long travel day. Flight into BZE, then commuter flight on a very small prop plane that is stomach turning to fly in, then 30+ minute ride on partially paved roads to a boat dock, then 30-60 minute very bumpy speed boat ride to the island. If you get seasick, be warned, the waters are often choppy & rough and you definitely come out of your seat on the boat and land on a hard seat. Think of how your stomach feels on a roller coaster and that’s the experience. It’s not a relaxing way to ease into your vacation. ||When you arrive, the GM or Asst Mgr greet you at the dock with a fresh juice and shot but after that initial greeting, I didn’t see either mingling with the guests. They stayed in the main lodge at the desk. as a guest, you had to seek them out which is not what I expect from a 4 star resort. I expect a front desk person for general questions and then expect the GM and Asst Mgr to be proactively engaging with guests, checking on HH, greeting guests at dinner, saying hello on the beach. Smooshing with the guests essentially. None of that happened. Seemed odd to me. The rest of the staff is constantly hustling and engaging with guests. The rest of the staff make you feel like family, remember your name, and always greet you with a smile. They really do make your visit worthwhile. I along with several other guests encountered an attitude from the Asst Mgr when engaging with him. Very off putting and I had to bite my tongue to not be impolite. ||Overall, I’d categorize this resort as Glamping as opposed to a 4-star resort. It’s worn down and in desperate need of upgrades. I specifically mention this because a major corporation owns this resort along with many others in Belize and the quality of their other resorts is much higher quality overall- 180 degree difference - which is a reflection of the major corporation not doing necessary audits and inspections or caring about their older resorts or maybe it’s the GM not letting them know? Hard to really know. Most locals/staff never travel outside of Belize & likely can’t afford to stay at a true 4+ star resort so perhaps what they deem as 4 star is 4 star to them but I’ve stayed at another resort in Belize which was 4-5 star resort and exceeded my expectations in every way, so I think this resort is just leaning on the 4 star reviews from travelers who either don’t know what a 4-5 star resort is or give a 4 star review because they have a wonderful experience not withstanding the lack of 4 star accommodations and food. |I had many conversations with 5+ guests during my trip and they were all as disappointed in the overall quality based on the cost. If the cost was equivalent to the accommodations, etc., I wouldn’t have been as disappointed. ||The island is quiet especially after breakfast when many guests leave for fishing, diving, or snorkeling excursions. It really is peaceful and tranquil and there is a wonderful swimming beach with shallow water and long shelf where you can walk far into the water. The snorkeling around perimeter of island has small fish. |Beach has a small bar but no snacks. There is no natural shade on beach or beach umbrellas so unless you’re in the water, you’re baking in the sun. There is one palapa but unless you claim it by 7am, you have to constantly move around beach loungers looking for shade. And the sun is hot and brutal. You need shade even with 50+ spf. And I can’t stress this enough, wear 50+ spf with ZINC even if you easily tan because the sun is intense and you’ll burn. |There are paddle boards and kayaks but they’re not cleaned daily and are dirty and in need of repairs. However if you’re lucky, the island dogs Pico and Marley will hop on kayak or paddle board and join you for a little outing. ||The deck, stairs, and railings to the HH bar are dangerously in need of repairs. One of the railings literally falls to the side if you lean on it. The spaces between the railings are NOT safe for children or anyone drunk because they’re spaced too far between each rung and a child could easily fall through. The water isn’t very deep but it’s still not safe. Many railings around the resort also have nails or screws sticking through the wood where you could easily cut yourself. These may seem trivial complaints but again for the cost they charge, none of these issues should be overlooked or happen especially the stair railing that is falling off! ||I wouldn’t recommend any of the land excursions mostly because you spend more time in transit than you spend at the ruins or cave tubing. Any land excursion requires the same choppy boat ride to another resort then van ride to locations. For ruin/cave tubing, we spent over 5+ hours in transit and less than 2 hours at each location then the choppy boat ride back to Thatch Caye. I don’t find value spending that much time in transit for an excursion costing over $270 usd. Also feel like the cost is high considering that equates to 540 Belize dollars. ||Highly recommend snorkeling as it’s the largest Reef next to the Great Barrier Reef in the world and it’s the best snorkeling I’ve experienced and I’ve snorkeled in Hawaii, Mexico, Thailand, USVI, & BVI. I saw over 20 different tropical fish, sand sharks, stingrays, barracudas, and so much more. All resorts in Belize offer the same snorkeling excursions though so you don’t need to stay at this resort to get that experience. Those who went on diving excursions had rave reviews along with those who went on fishing excursions. ||Would I stay at Thatch Caye again? Probably despite the things I didn’t like. I wouldn’t recommend the underwater bungalows to anyone though. Don’t get fooled by their excellent marketing and videos. ||Level set your expectations that this will be more like Glamping than a 4 star resort and you’ll have a wonderful time especially if you love water, snorkeling, diving, or fishing and a very...

My partner treated me to 4 nights at Thatch Caye for a milestone birthday – and it was absolutely awesome. From the moment we arrived, we were completely blown away – not just by the stunning natural beauty of this private island, but by the incredible team who made everything feel so special and effortless.||||A Huge Shoutout to the Staff!||Junior at the bar is an absolute legend – totally in his element, mixing up cocktail after cocktail with a big smile and infectious energy. The drinks were dangerously delicious – my taste buds were thrilled, even if my willpower didn’t stand a chance… and yes, I’m still working off the calories (worth every one!). Shakira was another total standout – helpful, thoughtful, and absolutely hilarious. Her dry sense of humour had us in stitches.||||The whole team made us feel like part of the family, and the thoughtful touches (decorations and cake) for my birthday made the celebration so personal and unforgettable – especially sharing the dinner with newfound friends.||||Shout out to the duty manager (I wish I could remember your name!) – you were fantastic, clearly excellent at your job, and we hope your running training is going well!||||Everyone working on the island clearly puts their heart into making Thatch Caye the beautiful, welcoming place that it is. From front of house to behind the scenes, every single person plays a part in creating such a special experience. Kudos to each and every one of you – your hard work doesn’t go unnoticed and we really appreciated it.||||Eco-Luxury Done Right||Thatch Caye strikes the perfect balance between barefoot luxury and authentic sustainability. The overwater bungalows are a dream – private, peaceful, and made for true relaxation. We loved just laying on the hammock watching the baby rays below us. We had to switch rooms for our last night and honestly, the second was just as fantastic. All the accommodations are private, unique, and come with killer views. The air conditioning in both rooms worked perfectly, though we mostly opted for open windows to catch the sea breeze and fall asleep to the sound of the waves.||Just remember: this is a remote eco-island paradise. Yes, you might see an insect or two, and no, you won’t find marble floors or gold taps – and thank goodness for that. This is simplicity done right, and it’s all the better for it.||||The island has a wonderfully intimate feel – like your own little slice of paradise.||||Food, Island Life & Activities||We snorkeled and swam around the island nearly every day, often spotting rays and the amazing resident reef shark who made regular appearances. We also took out kayaks and explored at our own pace – highly recommend, especially at sunset. The cherry on top? The island dogs, Pico and Marley, often joined us. Honestly, I think they love island life even more than we did.||||There was never any scramble for a sunbed or a bite to eat – everything was abundant and effortlessly available, even when guests from their sister jungle lodge visited the island. You truly felt like you had the place to yourself. There was as much space and seclusion as you could possibly want, which really added to the relaxed, luxurious feel.||||Every meal was fresh, generous, beautifully presented, and absolutely delicious. There was always something to look forward to, and a great selection for vegetarians, which we really appreciated.||||Excursions – A Tale of Two Nights and One Awesome Day||We did two evening excursions: night snorkeling and stargazing.||||The stargazing tour was peaceful and romantic – a slow boat ride under the stars. It didn’t venture far from the island, and we actually knew more constellations than the guide, but lying back with a bottle of bubbles and gazing at the sky was still a beautiful way to spend the evening.||||The night snorkel, however, was epic – sharks, rays, squid, octopus, and a night sky full of stars above. If you’re choosing between the two, go for the snorkel. Hands down.||||We also went on a day diving trip organised through the island. As an Aussie who lives to be on, in, or under the water, this was a highlight I was really looking forward to – and it delivered. The dive master was knowledgeable and safety-conscious, the dives were fantastic, the crew were friendly and helpful, and yes – plenty of marine life and sharks (which made me very happy!). We stopped at a nearby island for a lovely lunch, too. Highly recommended.||||Final Thoughts||Thatch Caye isn’t just a holiday – it’s a full-on experience. With thoughtful design, a brilliant and kind-hearted team, and breathtaking natural surroundings, it’s the ideal place to unplug, reconnect, and celebrate.||||It was absolutely the perfect way to mark a milestone...

Our trip to Belize was a great, beautiful adventure. To start, we booked our entire trip through Muy’Ono and we couldn’t have been happier. We elected to embark on the Sea to Tree package staying at Sweet Songs Jungle Lodge and then making our way to Thatch Caye. |Our trip began after landing in Belize City airport. Our shuttle driver greeted us right after customs and we took the shuttle to Cayo right outside San Ignacio. For first two nights we stayed in the Singature treehouse and moved over the third night to the Premier treehouse. All three rooms were gorgeous, clean, thoughtful, and fun. We chose to do the ATM caves our first day and we have not stopped talking about them since, most likely our highest recommended excursion. Our tour guide was named Gliss, drivers Smitty and Lily who provided an outstanding lunch. We don’t want to tell all the caves secrets, but the description is what it says plus so much more! Next we explored Xunantunich Mayan ruins with Carlos, who not only the provide a fantastic tour with so much knowledge and understanding of the Mayan culture, but he also joined us afterwards for Disc Golf at a local course called Trek Stop, where we played a full round with the owner Tino! We opted for the all-inclusive package and thoroughly enjoyed our meals at Sweet Songs set up restaurant style overlooking the jungle. Sweet Songs is a dream come true resort if you’re looking for jungle, flora, animals, river, with a touch of luxury. We visited the Botanical gardens, canoed the river, hiked the trails, and lazed by the pool sipping on Belizean rum tropical drinks. |Our sorrowful last day at Sweet Songs welcomed our next adventure to Thatch Caye. We were driven over to Stann Creek right outside Dangriga passing through rain forest, small towns, and then taking a boat to our new island home for five days. We checked in with Luis who explained the general schedule of the island and greeted by Pico and Marley, the island pups. We stayed in the Penthouse where we were woken up by the sunrise every morning and basked in the sunsets at the Starfish Bar every night. Our first night, we were gleefully volunteered to debut our singing voices by Kamau for Saturday karaoke night! Belting out Bublé at the Coco Lounge was a welcome surprise to acquaint ourselves with fellow visitors and staff. At the beach, we had easy access to paddle boards, kayaks, a small catamaran (more on this later), and snorkeling gear! We boated our first official morning to the Barrier Reef with Raphie, Ricky, and Raphael’s son (H). My boyfriend’s go-pro was excellent at capturing the vibrant reef, tropical fish, sting rays, and other sea creatures. We loved it so much we opted for the night snorkeling the following day to see another world under the surface. Breakfast was buffet style with Oscar then Jose manning the egg and waffle station. Lunch was typically served by plate at the family-style picnic tables but we had the surprise of a bar-be-que on the beach for lunch one day with all the tables moved for the chow down. After hours in the sun and happy hour drinks at the bar we gathered for dinner where we chatted with staff, Monique and Avelino (Jr), and other travelers. Thrilled to say we often stayed late after dinner talking amongst ourselves and playing games with like-minded couples and a few solo travelers talking about our excursions, cheers to the fisherman for the awesome catch-of-the-days prepped and grilled for dinner by the chefs! Serenity Point was a scenic location for our outdoor couple massage hearing waves crash against the shore and pelicans diving for their breakfast, thank you Reina!|Suffice to say, we had a blast, simply relaxing, reading on the beach and drinking the fantastic creations by Daniel, the best bartender in Belize! I’d be amiss if I didn’t mention that Dan could easily see I was excited to try the island catamaran (with no sailing experience) and he ended up taking us out on a trip then when he trusted us to not capsize he kept an eye on us from the beach. |After reflection, I would recommend our vacation to anyone. Muy’Ono was amazingly impressive at organizing our travel, every excursion was outstanding, and every staff member friendly creating an exotic vacation that felt comfortable, safe,...