Our Story

The Story of Chaa Creek

The story of Chaa Creek began in 1977 when two young travelers stumbled upon what would later become their adopted home.  In those days most business was conducted around bar room tables in Belize City and it was there that Mick and Lucy Fleming ran into the owner of an overgrown 140 acre farm on the Macal River in the Cayo District.

They soon moved out to the jungle property and within a short while the land was producing home grown vegetables.  In those days the farm had no road access so the Flemings transported their produce by dugout canoe to the ready markets of San Ignacio Town, much as the Maya had done 1,000 years before.

The little farm was soon producing milk, yoghurt, cheese and eggs; as well as two baby Flemings. When other travelers heard about the farm they would often trek out to visit, sometimes staying to lend a hand. As more visitors came, the Fleming’s one room farmhouse became smaller and smaller and the idea was launched to build a guest cottage from materials found on the land.

Chaa Creek Cottages, the first jungle lodge in Belize, opened its doors in 1981 and over the next few decades growth has kept pace with the ever increasing number of visitors.

The Chaa Creek road was built by the British Army Corps of Engineers in 1983 and was accompanied by the addition of a dining room to cater to the six existing cottage rooms.  Two years later indoor plumbing was installed and a further six cottage rooms, a 6,000 gallon water tower, staff quarters and a gift shop were built.

The year 1987  brought electrification to Chaa Creek which meant that washing machines replaced scrub boards, a deep freezer saw the end of salted blocks of ice and a submersible water pump retired the gasoline engine relay pumping system.  A batch of new canoes took guests on excursions down the Macal River.

The luxury of a hot water shower was introduced in 1988 while an ice machine helped make the perfect margarita for guests who relaxed on the deck of the bar.  The cottage rooms had grown by four to a total of 16.  To round off the year an office was built and outdoor lighting was installed in the gardens.

All of the cottages were upgraded in 1990 and a new business office was established in nearby San Ignacio Town. In order to accommodate horseback riding and hiking, nature trails were cut through the forested property which had by now expanded to 330 acres. The property was officially designated a private nature reserve.

By 1992 there were 26 members of staff in residence at Chaa Creek. Infrastructure was upgraded and a new horse corral was built for the increasing number of horses. Chaa Creek also played host to a team of archaeologists who were invited to investigate the ancient Maya sites that dotted the property. Their reconnaissance mapped out over 70 ancient sites.

The Chaa Creek Natural History Centre was established in 1995 to become the first one of its kind in Belize. The Centre houses interpretive displays of the local flora, fauna, ecosystems and geology of Belize. Maya archaeology exhibits display  ancient artifacts recovered from within the reserve and offer interpretive views of the life and culture of this early civilization. There are also anthropology exhibits depicting the life and culture of the modern Maya. Natural resource conservation and ecology exhibits offer educational information to the hundreds of local and international students that visit the facility.

In 1997 the Macal River Camp was constructed along the banks of the Macal River just downstream from the Lodge.  This facility is totally solar powered and consists of ten raised platform screened cabins with its own kitchen and dining area.  The camp was built to accommodate student groups and provide an option for the more budget conscious traveler.

Further building and renovations in 1997 resulted in a total of 21 cottages at Chaa Creek including a Luxury Suite and a Jacuzzi Suite. 1998 saw the addition of electric lighting to replace kerosene lamps and fans for added guest comfort.

The Spa at Chaa Creek was constructed in 1999 and offers our guests a complete line of professional and refreshing spa services while enjoying a panoramic view of the majestic Macal River valley and the Maya Mountains beyond. Next in 2000 came the opening of The Conference Centre at Chaa Creek.  This beautifully designed structure was put in place to provide a facility for both local and international conferences, meetings and social functions.

Two spectacular Tree Top Jacuzzi Suites overlooking the Macal River were constructed in 2002 to replace two of the older cottages which were taken out of service. 2003 saw the addition of the expansive Orchard Villa and the Sky Room with its enchanting view of the river valley. This expanded the accommodations inventory at Chaa Creek to a total of 23 outstanding cottages, suites and villas.

The construction of a fully equipped carpentry shop was completed in 2003.  This provided Chaa Creek with the ability to design and manufacture our own furniture and other items of wood construction that are found throughout the property.  Expansion and improvement of the trail system within the now 400-acre Chaa Creek Nature Reserve was completed in 2004. With over 10 miles of well-maintained trails, the Nature Reserve offers our guests exceptional opportunities for naturalist hiking and birding as well as horseback riding.

Next to come was the Chaa Creek Stables which opened in 2005. This functionally designed structure houses our equestrian centre and provides our guests with an enhanced and professional riding experience.

Our cottage accommodations have also benefited from annual renovations, and during 2005 and 2006 a complete remodel took place. All rooms and suites now have large new bathrooms, many with outdoor walled showers, al fresco Jacuzzis, and spacious private sun decks for wildlife viewing.

In January 2009, the guests of Chaa Creek were treated to the cooling luxury of a 56,000 gallon swimming pool. This eco-friendly infinity pool was built with both adults and children in mind. Its bi-level configuration allows for swimming and paddling pools, as well as generous lounging space for dining, sun bathing and relaxation.

2010 added more infrastructural advancements by securing direct electrical lines from the national provider, BEL, as well as upgrading telecommunications internet symmetry with Belize Telecommunications Ltd. The following years continued the evolution with the renovations of several rooms and by adding the purchase and renovation of a San Ignacio townhouse to host the iconic Guava Limb Restaurant & Cafe in 2012. The award-winning café, along with a new bakery facility at Chaa Creek, has produced mouth-watering delicacies for the most discerning of tastes for Belizeans and visitors alike.

The most exciting new entries onto the Chaa Creek landscape are the strikingly beautiful Ix Chel Villas set within their own secluded private gardens with private plunge pools and jacuzzies. The two state-of-the-art Villas are comprised of two suites each that can be booked together for family travellers or independently for honeymooners. A private butler attends to the villa guests activities requests, needs and desires.

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  • 1977

    Mick and Lucy arrive in Belize, meet up with Hugh Clifford at Central Farm

    Rent apartment under Don Emilio's barber shop in San Ignacio Town

    Meet Jack Garden at Belleview and contract rental of 137 acre bush land

    Begin to farm, transporting produce by rented dugout canoe and horseback

    1978

    Bryony Fleming born

    1979  

    Purchased tractor from England

    belize story bryony born
  • 1890

    Purchased Ford Pick Up

    1981

    Purchased 137 Freehold Acres.

    Built First (dirt floor/stick wall) Chaa Creek Cottage (Rooms 5 & 6).

    1982

    Built 2nd Chaa Creek Cottage (Rooms 1 & 2).

    Piers Francis Fleming Born

    1983 

    Built 2 A FRAME COTTAGES (Rooms 7 & 8).

    Built Dining Room.

    Constructed New Chaa Creek Road

    belize story purchase ford truck
  • 1984

    Remodeled Cottages 1 & 2 to replace bush sticks with stucco…walls.

    1985

    Built Cottage #5 (Arch Windows).

    1986

    Built 2 more Cottages #6 & #7 (Rooms 9, 10, 11, 12).

    Constructed Gift Shop

    Constructed General Shed Infrastructure

    Purchased Land Rover from England.

    Purchased Canoes and Trailer

    belize story purchase new canoe
  • 1987

    Built ferros Cement Kitchen Store Room, built garage and work shed.

    Electrified Chaa Creek Kitchen.

    1988

    Built 2 more cottages #8 & #9 (Rooms 13, 14, 15, 16).

    Built Gate house (3 Rooms).

    Built Bar, Front desk office, store rooms.

    Tiled floors in all rooms, Dining Room and bar.

    Remodeled Dining Room, replaced Stick walls with cement Block Stucco.

    Installed Hot Water in all rooms.

    Electrified Kitchen, Bar, Office.

    belize story replaced wooden sticks
  • 1989

    Built Bar deck.

    Put in cement walkways.

    Built 2 more cattle grids.

    Purchased (1977) Toyota Pickup Truck (4-Cylinder)

    1990

    Replaced and upgraded furniture & mattresses in all rooms.

    Purchased house in San Ignacio & renovated into office space

    Purchased Panades Land (65 Acres).

    Purchased Joe Cal’s Land (13 Acres).

    Instituted Horseback Riding.

    1991

    Built Chaa Creek Residence House.

    Upgraded saddles and riding equipment.

    Purchased (1979) Toyota Pickup Truck (4-Cylinder).

    belize story bar deck
  • 1992

    Built Tower House Cottage (Room 17).

    Built Stables, Corals, Garden House.

    Purchased (1990) Chevrolet Suburban.

    Purchased two (2) (1986) Isuzu Troopers (Diesel, 4-Cylinder).

    1993

    Built butterfly house for Charles Wright

    Started butterfly farm with Charles Wright

    1994

    Built mountain bike shop & purchase 14 trek cromoly mountain bikes

    Started in house guided bird watching activity  

    belize story purchased suburban
  • 1995

    Built natural history center

    Built Macal river camp

    1996

    Introduced sunset canoe tours and Creatures of the Night guided hikes

    1998

    Built rooms 20/21

    Ran electricity to rooms (until now still with lantern light)

    1999

    Built spa 

    Purchased Maya farm -65 acre 

    belize story purchased 365 acres
  • 2000

    Purchase 16 canoes/paddle/life jackets

    Build first ever wooden canoe Young Ting for Ruta Maya River Challenge

    Renovate Chaa Creek San Ignacio office and upgrade equipment

    Belize Tourism Board Hotel of the year 

    2001

    Built room 9and 10 & woodshop

    Built wooden canoe slinky ting

    Purchased 2 hand held radios for communications

    Purchased KIA van for doing tours

    Purchased 1 new van

    Caribbean tourism organization Caribbean Sustainable Tourism award  

    belize story woodwork shop
  • 2002

    Purchased Ixchel Property

    Built house at Maya farm /opened Maya farm

    2003

    Built Spa villa

    2004

    Put in trail system for hikes, bikes and horses

    Purchased glass crusher & camp truck

    Open river trail to camp

    2005

    Built new horse stable

    belize story built horse stables
  • 2006

    Purchased Los Cedros - 10 acres

    Renovated room 1-2-5-7-8-11-12-13-14

    Upgrade to energy saving bulb

    2008

    Built swimming pool

    Re-thatched room 16-17

    Started to upgrade beds in rooms to king size

    Purchased new saddles, helmets and pad /blankets for stable

    2009

    Green Globe certified

    New web site avatar

    belize story built eco infinity swimming pool
  • 2010

    Renovated compost shed into a store room

    Purchased 2 seater mule

    Purchased 1 new van

    2011

    Built river dock at Macal river camp

    Re-thatched rooms 9-10-20-21 

    Purchased 2 new vans

    belize story bought 2seater mule
  • 2012

    Purchase town house and renovated into the Guava Limb Cafe 

    Build new horse corral

    Repaired nature reserve bride

    Constructed cement pathway to room 15

    Redoing website

    Fox news eco friendly stays in Belize

    2013

    Opened Guava Limb Cafe in San Ignacio Town

    Began offering Barton Creek Tours with CC guides

    Repaired and painted John Boat for River Safaris

    Renovated and Remodeled Bar and bar patio

    belize story guava limb cafe