The roosters sometimes were a little annoying

This was such a great stay! The hosts were so nice and accommodating. You can hear the sounds of the jungle in the property and the river is a walk away and fun to jump in. I worked remotely for two days from the bar area outside - Wi-Fi was very very reliable and decently quick too. I had no problem taking calls with videos.

Stayed in April 2024

The food was not bad, but felt pricey for what it was since you are stuck there. It’s difficult to leave without a car / waiting to see when the chicken bus comes.

Super unique place to stay! The grounds are awesome - swimming in the river and exploring the Mayan ruins. The owner created a podcast to guide you which was really helpful. Our room had hammocks in a fenced in patio which was perfect. Air conditioning worked well! Helped us organize an ATM and Caracol tour.

Stayed in April 2024

This a a very unusual and unique place to stay. The little cabin wasn't expensive, the restroom was outside in back, all very nice, clean and updated. Great location, excellent trails on a river with a swimming area. Beautiful jungle area where they are actually excavating a new Mayan ruin. You can go on a trail and look at what they have uncovered so far. Lots of animals on the property which give it a hobby farm feel. The host was driving hikers to the bus stop and being really helpful. They even had coffee ready in the kitchen early in the morning.The food was really good and the people working were really friendly. Everything was really clean, definitely a hidden gem. We went somewhere else for a few days and wished we would have stayed at Lower Dover!

Stayed in March 2024

- All was amazing :) Definitely recommend!

- Amazing staff - Adorable and well kept bunkies - well maintained and cared for land & animals - Food and drink onsite - website and blog information (easy for travellers) - RUINS! With audio tour on Spotify - River locations to swim! - Animals

Stayed in April 2024

If you’re a light sleeper, bring ear plugs because the wildlife is noisy! All part of the experience of staying in the jungle though.

I had a great stay at Lower Dover. Dinner and breakfast were really good and nice to eat with other travellers. Really nice to go for walks in the jungle and swim in the river. All staff were very helpful. Would definitely stay again!

Stayed in April 2024

Ac is a tad bit warm and struggles to cool even with fans.

Off the path into the jungle area by a big flowing. River. True farm and camp feel.

Stayed in April 2024

Nothing! Everything was charming! Maybe just a suggestion: you are in the jungle so bring ear plugs if you are a light sleeper like me ;)

Omg I would have spend a week there! Such a nice, cozy, beautiful place in the nature to relax! The staff is lovely, you feel at home as soon as you get there! Our Aqua Cabana was wonderful wow!! 🤩

Stayed in March 2024

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Wonderful place in the middle of the jungle and surrounded by Mayan ruins. Very special! Where else can you find this? The staff is super friendly and helpful. It’s super clean. Amazing family diner en breakfast.

Stayed in March 2024

Some faucet handles and ceiling fans didn't work, but generally well maintained.

Great staff, very helpful, beautiful property with lots of places to wander and swim. Nice summer camp feel, sharing meals with other interesting travelers from many places.

Stayed in March 2024

The property is amazing, with trails to walk through the jungle, Mayan ruins, and a river and creek for swimming. The food was delicious and it was fun eating at a communal dinner table with other guests. I stayed in a cabin that was very comfortable and had a porch as well as a screened in area for relaxing. I met some wonderful people, both guests and staff. It is a very unique and special place and I would absolutely return!

Stayed in March 2024

Lower Dover is a gem in Belize! It is situated around the jungle and very close to the ATM caves. Maddy and her family are so welcoming, full of knowledge of the area and Belize, and the ruins that are being excavated on the property were cool to see. We stayed for a few days over Christmas and it was such a memorable experience!

Stayed in December 2023

Location is top tier, we get to go the sleep and wake in the jungle. There are many trails around the camp where you can hike, go for a swim or just discover the ruins. Staff is friendly and helpful (Maddy drove me back to the bus stop), food was tasty, there is hot and drinking water, beds are comfortable ! I highly recommend you to stop at Lower Dover, you won’t regret it :)

Stayed in February 2024

The Lower Dover Jungle Lodge is literally located on a Mayan site. When we approached it, immediately brought to mind the hippie era of the 60s and 70s. The cabins are colorful and the meals, communal-which we really enjoyed. It is owned and operated by an American geographer and his wife. They are very knowledgeable about the area and took the time to share a bit of it with us. They created walking paths throughout the site that someday will be excavated. Our room was amazing given the price and we were able to see canaries and parrots from it. The room was very clean and comfortable.

Stayed in February 2024

Wow, what a wonderful place - sat amidst nature, this place has it all. On site walking trails where you can see unexcavated Mayan ruins, close to the gorgeous river with little pools to cool off in, delicious home cooked meals. Maddy and Katja were wonderful hosts and can help arrange all tours. It is also easy to take the public bus to San Ignacio and the border. For travellers looking for an escape and a quieter hostel, I highly recommend!

Stayed in February 2024

We loved the place! Very traveller friendly and for us as a couple we stayed in the Wild Kabana and it was the first time people had stayed in it as guests! It’s got a more privacy as it’s further away from the other rooms, and it’s next to their own creek you can swim in. We were given headlamps and power banks too as the place is very Eco-friendly and they use mainly solar power to power the electricity. The Wild Kabana didn’t have any electricity but it has its own private toilets and it wasn’t a problem at all for us. They serve homemade dinner and breakfast for a low fee and it allows people to get to know each other over dinner in the communal dining room. The hosts and other staff were lovely and let us leave our bags while we went to a local tour at the ATM caves. Also if you like dogs, you’ll love it here! They’re very friendly. If you don’t, they won’t bother you much unless you want to say hello to them.

Stayed in February 2024

There was nothing I didn't like, so just going to continue instead here with the review that got tragically cut off for being too long: The sleeping accommodations in even the bunk house were more than I could have asked for. Sparing a few too-early cockadoodledoos, the sounds of the property that permeated the walls had a dependably pacifying effect. An orchestra of croaks and bleats would emerge along with spectacularly starry skies each evening that the sun would set.  There are few hostels worth planning a trip around, but Lower Dover achieves that rare distinction. It's a hostel that all others should strive to live up to.

On the rural outskirts of Belize and near San Ignacio town is a hostel like few others. Built on the grounds of ancient Mayan ruins and equipped with a series of trails and streams meandering between the decayed, old structures of a bygone time, it's a property that's equal parts historic and idyllic. Communal dinners - announced nightly with a quaint bell - bring together like-minded travelers from all across the world in exchanges of stories, words of caution, and tidbits of advice for the next off-the-beaten-trail adventures. In only a week staying at the hostel, it's hard to deny some enduring friendships I managed to forge. It's an environment that cultivates connections in a way that hostels with a hundred times the turnover struggle to achieve. From the moment I walked through its gates, it was clear that I'd stumbled onto a tropical paradise. Katya kindly showed me the ropes of the loveably eccentric grounds, that came equipped with everything from chickens, turkeys, flowing streams of lightly nibbling fish, and a delightful menagerie of dogs to be walked through the property's sprawling grounds on happy whims. Arriving at the hostel with an unexpected injury that curtailed some of my travel plans, the hostel keeper, Maddy, did everything she could to not only ensure I found the feasible activities that could reasonably be done with a broken toe, but even allowed me to make use of the property's hammocks during the healing process. While I'd hoped for a physically testing first few days of my trip, I'm glad I got to spend so much of my downtime here. To simply lie in the sun and breathe in all of the unfamiliar facets of this new Belizean environment was enough to make me more than content in diverting course.

Stayed in January 2024

Bring earplugs for the roosters that start at 3am XD, otherwise nothing bad to say.

Location was terrific! Close to ATM cave, San Ignacio, Xunantunich and Tikal ruins. Breakfast and dinner are delicious and served daily, they will cater to dietary needs. Maddy is wonderful and so are her team and her dogs. So much to explore and do on the property as well. Hope to come back someday.

Stayed in January 2024

Off of beaten bath, so drive to other ruins and attractions takes a while.

Wonderful staff. Great meal options available. Deep and incredible knowledge of the local area.

Stayed in January 2024

Our stay at Lower Dover was extraordinary. Maddy, the host, took really good care of everybody. You could tell that the Lodge is her passion. We recommend everybody going there, who is seeking a great travel experience. The location is perfect to explore the sites around the area (especially if you are interested in the ATM Cave Tour). You can reach Lower Dover easily with the local bus. Otherwise Maddy will help with other arrangements. Breakfast and dinner are optional but very well worth it, at is is freshly made and very delicious (there will always be vegetarian options). If we ever happen to be back in Belize, we will definately visit again.

Stayed in January 2024

Maddi and Bill are masters of creating a family atmosphere. I've felt so welcome! They take care and they put their heart and soul into this beautiful place ! Jungle, Maya ruins, a great place for everybody who loves nature and culture.

Stayed in January 2024

nothing

Lower Dover is the most interesting place i stay on this trip. It is a quiet jungle lodge，clean，comfortable ，with adoralble animals . Host Mandy and her family are super nice，help me so much during my stay，thanks to Mandy‘s help，i got the last chance to join ATM cave tour，which i highly recommend to all my friends.The breakfast and dinner they provide are natrual ，healthy and delicious，must try. i met four othet guests here ，we always had happy dinner together. Fantanstic！

Stayed in December 2023

We liked everything

Everything is close by, on top of Mayan ruins. Super close to the ATM cave. Bus stop is really close to take the local bus where you need to go. The rooms is comfortable, the food is amazing, the staff is even more wonderful. Miss Maddy is quite the human, she was so incredibly helpful..it felt like she is a close aunt that just wants to take care of you and make sure you’re fed, healthy, getting best deals and experiences. I really couldn’t have asked for a better place to stay. This set the tone for my trip to Belize and my sister and I are overflowing with joy.

Stayed in December 2023

This place is very special if you’re looking for something a little different. The ATM tour was easy through the lodge and was excellent. The dinners and breakfasts were great, and you can also bring your own food in if you prefer to save money. If a peaceful and potentially quiet stay in the jungle isn’t your thing, it’s probably not for you - there may not be many other guests there at the same time.

Stayed in December 2023

The location was just perfect, super easy to get to on the bus from Belize city or belmopan or San Ignacio. If you want to be in the jungle it's perfect, you're off the main road and there's plenty of paths out the back to really explore! Also it's literally about 10 minutes from the ATM cave and the lodge takes care of reservations for you to just get picked up right at the entrance of the lodge so it's perfect. Plenty of wildlife around too.

Stayed in November 2023