If a Belize Adventure vacation is in your schedule, then you will almost certainly go to the Toledo District in South Belize at some point, and if you are going to be anywhere near Punta Gorda, then you must ensure you book into the Hickatee Cottages for at least a couple of nights. This is more than a bed and breakfast inn because it also serves dinner, but it is a definite must do, and comes at USD60 per night double occupancy.

Hickatee Cottages is a very comfortable, extremely attractive jungle lodge with outstanding hosts called Ian and Kate.

It is difficult to believe that this inn is less than a mile and a half from laid back Punta Gorda Town, because it is very much in the jungle.

The three cottages on the property are very Caribbean style, and very comfortable clean rooms with nice verandas, where you can sit with a coffee in the morning, and listen to the sounds of the jungle waking up, and perhaps even see a family of howler monkeys ambling through the grounds. You will almost certainly see and hear loads of parrots and toucans. You will find there are lots of little extras, like extra fluffy towels, insulated water bottles to take out with you, and huge umbrellas, because when it rains here in south Belize, it rains!!

There is a plunge pool to refresh after walking one of the inn's nature trails. You can use the inn's bicycles, which by the way are free, to go exploring, or visit Boom Creek Village, take a canoe trip on the Moho River, or take one of the range of tours of the District. There is indeed plenty to do and see, and it's not far from the Southern Cayes, so if they are part of your Belize Adventure Vacation, then Hickatee Cottages is an ideal stopping off, recharge your batteries point

The food is home cooked at Charlie's Bar, and much of the ingredients come from their own farm, or the market at Punta Gorda. This is a great bed and breakfast establishment that also serves up great dinners as well, with three dinner choices. If you want to eat out, then the owners will ensure you pick the right places to eat.

One of the great joys of Hickatee Cottages are the owners Ian and Kate who seem to know everything about everything in this region. This means that you will be directed to everything that you think you want to see, and even more importantly things and places you didn't know about, but end up jolly glad you found out about. Not only is their knowledge supreme, so are their contacts, so they will set up your excursions as well. You won't need or want for anything, during your stay here.

It is difficult in a short article to do justice to Hickatee Cottages, and there is a thought that what is now a place to unwind in the middle of a Belize Adventure vacation, that is so much more than a bed and breakfast inn may become unavailable due to popularity. Whilst that would be no more than it deserves, this home from home, place of calm, comfort, and discovery and adventure all in one, would in a perfect world be kept a secret, known only to a trusted few.

Ian and Kate deserve the recognition that they run the best inn in South Belize, if not all Belize, and the custom this deserves. You can be certain they will not allow the atmosphere and ambiance to change at all.