Eco-Tourism in Belize: Private Conservation at Chan Chich Lodge
Deep in the Orange Walk District of northwestern Belize, Chan Chich Lodge stands as the sole lodge within a 30,000-acre private rainforest reserve.
Owned and managed by the Bowen family since 1984, the reserve shows what eco-tourism in Belize can look like under private stewardship: a gated sanctuary where wild cats and canopy birds roam freely from end to end.
A Purpose-Built Haven
The land was historically logged by the Belize Estates & Produce Company for mahogany and tapped for chicle sap. Left largely unmonitored, an unexcavated ancient Maya city on the land was being looted. In 1984, the late Sir Barry Bowen purchased the estate, and he came to see that the best way to safeguard the ruins was to keep people on the land.
Construction began directly on the ancient plaza, and on December 4, 1988, Chan Chich Lodge opened its doors to its first seven guests. The strategy worked: the looting stopped. Today, every stay continues that work, and the lodge's history tells the full story.
Wildlife and Biodiversity
Wildlife ranges freely throughout the reserve. All five of Belize's native wild cat species, the jaguar, puma, ocelot, margay and jaguarundi, have been recorded on the lodge's trail camera network.
For birdwatchers, the reserve's eBird hotspot (L10348352) lists 371 species, with iconic resident birds like the Keel-billed Toucan and the Ocellated Turkey recorded in every month of the year. Guided walks and drives take guests through varied ecosystems, reaching Chan Chich Creek, spring-fed Laguna Verde, Laguna Seca, and the dramatic Escarpment. Our wildlife page, birding guide and full bird checklist cover each species in detail.
Private Land Beside the Belize Maya Forest
Chan Chich is privately owned rather than a national park, so the Bowen family decides how the land is used and who comes onto it, and entry is by permit at the gate. The lodge sits on Gallon Jug Estate, home to the airstrip for charter flights, and the reserve borders the vast Belize Maya Forest. In April 2021, a coalition that included Gallon Jug Estate and The Nature Conservancy protected all 236,000 acres of that neighboring rainforest; the Conservancy's announcement lists the partners, and our Belize Maya Forest article tells the full story.
The Bowen family's conservation work and the lodge's day-to-day practices are on our sustainability page.