Condé Nast Traveler today announced the results of its annual Readers’ Choice Awards with GAÏA Riverlodge and Matachica Resort & Spa recognized as the #5 and #10 Hotels & Resorts in Central America. This is the second consecutive year that both properties have made the prestigious list.
More than 800,000 Condé Nast Traveler readers submitted responses rating their travel experiences across the globe to provide a full snapshot about the places they can’t wait to return to next. The Readers’ Choice Awards are the longest-running and most prestigious recognition of excellence in the travel industry.
“We feel very proud that our two boutique Belizean properties have been recognized by the esteemed Condé Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice Award for a second consecutive year,” says Daniel Lighter, owner of GAÏA Riverlodge and Matachica Resort & Spa. “Given the challenges that we, and the tourism industry as a whole, have faced over the last year, this recognition feels particularly meaningful. Thank you to all of our valued guests who voted and made this possible.”
GAÏA Riverlodge is an unexpected oasis surrounded by the dramatic Five Sisters Waterfalls of the Privasson River. The property offers an exotic jungle getaway while still maintaining relaxation as the top priority. One of only five properties in Belize to be Green Globe Certified, the hotel prides itself in upholding the highest standard of sustainability and preserving Belize’s natural beauty. The hydro-powered lodge’s accommodations include personal cabanas with mountain and waterfall rooms, suites with breathtaking views and a villa. GAÏA Riverlodge is home to an organic garden that provides the fruits and vegetables to its restaurant as well as Matachica’s.
Matachica Resort & Spa is perfectly located along a remote stretch of beach and is a stone’s throw from the world’s second-largest barrier reef. The hotel’s open-air communal spaces and 32 private and secluded casitas and villas are perfect for social distanced travel. The design of both properties allows guests to feel a true sense of privacy that enhances their ability to disconnect from the world and reconnect with nature and themselves. The award-winning Mambo Restaurant and new Mambo Bistro offer Belize cuisine with a French twist using local ingredients and fresh breads baked on site. The Jade Spa offers Belizean treatments including Mayan Coffee Scrubs, Sea Clay Body Masks and Papaya Facials.
Both GAÏA Riverlodge and Matachica Resort have completed the Gold Standard Recognition Program from the Belize Tourism Board (BTB). The 9-Point Program enhanced the tourism industry’s health and safety standards by adapting new behaviours and procedures to ensure both travellers and employees are confident in the cleanliness and safety of Belize’s hotels and restaurants. Both properties went through the declaration process and achieved “Tourism Gold Standard Recognition” certificates. Additionally, GAÏA Riverlodge and Matachica Resort have fully vaccinated staffs and offer on-site testing for travellers.
