| Black Rock Lodge | Lee ~ Sarnia, Ontario, Canada |
May 2009
Our visit here started off on a very sad note with the death of a close family member, so our first comments are appreciation for two staff members in particular at Black Rock Lodge. Nadia, at the reception desk, showed the highest compassion and professionalism when she assisted us with all of our phone calls back to Canada, in re-arranging our flights with American Airlines ( which was a trying experience), and delivering the e-mail to us that informed us of my mother’s death the night before we were to fly home. In addition, Nadia held me, cried with me and brought me a candle to light in our room as a tribute to my mother. Giovanni provided me with access to e-mail so that I could keep in touch with my family members regarding my mother’s condition and our plans to return home. With the assistance of Nadia & Giovanni, the experience was much less traumatic than it could have been. Thanks to both of them that words cannot express.
The ride to Black Rock Lodge from the main highway is about 1 hour of very bumpy road with lots of twists and turns, so if you are prone to seasickness, take something before you embark on the journey. The lodge is approximately 2 ½ hours from the airport. The 14 cabins are located on beautifully landscaped grounds and the lodge itself is situated high up overlooking the Macal River and Black Rock canyon. There are birds of every size & colour here, so if you are a birder, this is the place for you. We did hear some howler monkeys briefly off in the distance.
The restaurant / bar area is open air. Breakfast and lunch are ordered from a menu while the dinner menu is posted and you make your choice early in the day. Dinner seating is “family style” where guests can meet others and share the experiences of your day. We found the breakfasts and lunch to be a little mediocre given the prices, but dinners were good. . We got a packed lunch for our return trip to the airport which was very expensive ($12 US for a sandwich; the water and dessert promised was not in the package) given the quantity & quality. However, this was our only complaint about Black Rock Lodge. Black Rock is off the grid and creates its own electricity, solar water heating and composts all of its waste They also have a garden nearby where they grow some of the ingredients used in their restaurant.
Black Rock Lodge is an absolutely beautiful and serene setting for a vacation. There are enough activities and excursions to keep you busy if you choose to be. If you just want to rest & relax, watching the birds and listening to the sounds of nature are great therapy. We look forward to returning to Black Rock in the near future to continue our Belize experience.
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