If you're looking to enjoy a quiet and beautiful place that is *not* over-run with tourists, look no further. Nathalie, who is exceptionally friendly and welcoming, has created quite the experience on her property, for travelers of all sorts. It's great to meet and chat with others in the common room, and use the hammocks. The kitchen is simple (2 gas burners + pots/pans) yet enough for making most meals you might be considering. Wifi was very strong out here. Nathalie's cooking was excellent. At the time of my stay, dinner was $20BZ and breakfast $10BZ. I also appreciated the reasonable rates for bicycling, whether a full day, half-day, or just into town. About a 10 minute walk into town, and perhaps a 15-20 minute walk to Crabby E's (the one restaurant I frequented due to its menu, friendliness, and wifi). During my 5 nights, I only noticed one small spider inside the cabana, along with a small frog who must have hopped in right when I opened the door. There were a number of mosquitos (probably due to the proximity to the trees), but the fan and the net helped. You will see geckos from time to time in the space. There is definitely not much space in there—maybe one foot on three sides of the bed. You definitely have the feel of camping a bit, even with the cabana. So if you're game for roughing it, you'll enjoy this spot. She does have larger places on the property, so if you have more people (or want more space), I'd inquire about them. Sarteneja is SUPER relaxed. Possibly one of the quietest fishing villages I've been to. Not much in the way of tourism, though there are several hikes and spots you can check out. Nathalie can help you arrange a guide. It's definitely a great place to just hang out. Always felt very safe.

Nathalie is super friendly and a prefect host. The bungalows are small but absolutely beautiful. I would definitely come again.

Really enjoyed my stay here. Natalie is a lovely host and the guesthouse provided everything I needed, from bikes to hire, breakfast, and extra blankets when it was a bit cold.

Hi! I was in Cozumal and didn't know clearly how to get to Sarteneja. Nathalie gave me so many good tips so finally I could enjoy of her beautiful and quiet place. Backpackers paradise is a great place sourrounded by nature. Sarteneja is extremely beautiful and perfect for a few days of relax and also to get to know the way locals live.

Staying in the forest at Backpacker's Paradise is an adventure. The road out to Sarteneja is bumpy, sometimes muddy, and if one's coming from Corozol, involves two handcrank ferry crossings. The adventure continues when you arrive, and observe the animal life running around Backpacker's; from the farm horses to the geckos. The only downside to this is the bugs, but that's to be expected, just bring bug spray. The room we stayed in was small, as pictured, but had multiple electricity outlets as well as a fan. It did have some geckos and bugs, but that's how it goes out there. The communal area is nice with outlets, surprisingly good wifi, and a basic kitchen. Any question we had Nathalie promptly answered and she offers many services such as laundry and vehicle storage while we headed to the Cayes for a few days. My boyfriend and I would stay again if in the area.

Natalie keeps a clean, trendy place and is always on top of everything. She was extremely knowledgeable about the area, has a ton of contacts and will go out of her way to help you. The area surrounding the cabanas is fantastic, theres fruit trees everywhere and subsequently an amazing amount of wild life. I would recommend backpackers paradise to anyone looking for the 'real' Belieze. This little village isn't San Pedro it's the legitimate deal, with sweet, genuine people and an ocean/jungle experience that's rare and raw.

I loved this place. It's quiet,rural, clean, affordable, and friendly. If you need a place to slow down and relax... it's perfect. If u want action, probably not. I would definitely stay here again. Sarteneja was good to me.

Backpackers Paradise is defenetly worth a visit! Sarteneja is a super sweet and beautiful little Village , that you can perfectly explore by the bikes you can rent from nathalie. The cabanas and bathrooms are smal but clean and cosy. Every room inkluding the comunal areas is moskito protectet. Still some moskitos slip through the doors so you should defenetly bring Moskito protection and if you have the space a moskito net might be a good idea. There is a funktional communal kitchen , but no oils or spices are provided. Nathalie is a really nice host!! She helps with everything you might need. We had a great time and would defenetly stay at backpackers again.

Perfekt. Absolute nette und so hilfsbereite Menschen. Es war einfach wundervoll bei Nathalie.

This is a really special place and Nathalie is a great host. She was super helpful in advance with information about travel, and was always on hand during our stay when we had questions or needed help. The grounds are beautiful, filled with birds and gorgeous old mango trees, and it was really soothing to hear the horses just outside the cabin. The dogs are gorgeous. Our little house was nice and cool at night. Sarteneja itself is very sweet and maybe the only place in Belize where the sun sets over the sea. Take insect repellant if you go when there may have been rain - I *never* normally use the stuff but was forced to buy some from the local shop for going to the jungle. Could've stayed for weeks.

We booked in advance for four nights. Sarteneja is very quiet and there is not so much to do if you don't book a tour. But the tours were quiet expensive so we just did one. (Jungle Walk - was very intresting and Leo, the guide knows a lot). But the people in Sarteneja are very friendly. It is save and the food was cheap and good. There is NO ATM! So take enough cash with you. To the cabana we had: it was very small but ok for a couple. The shower had just cold water so we used always the public shower. We had some strange stains on our blanket. Also there was a fire in the middle of the place all day (and night) long and we had all the smoke in our cabana. The kitchen was small and not very clean and not well equiped. Can't understand why there is no hot water. But the backpackers is well located in the jungle, very quiet and nice. You can take oranges from the tree or other organic foot for free. Also you can rent bikes. Nathalie was a very friendly and helpful person. She makes everything that you feel comfortable.

Nathalie is great and very accommodating. The place is secluded and simple. The rooms are not fancy, but very clean and the surroundings are a perfect blend of nature and peace. Bring cash, since there are no ATM machines in that town that accept international cards. Take the bus, it is better than driving there like we did. The water is beautiful, the towns people are wonderful. Very peaceful place. I met many writers spending their time there to write in the midst of nature.

Highly recommended. The property was great, and the rooms were clean and cozy. Nathalie went way out of her way to make us feel welcome and answered any questions we had with a smile. We will definitely return.

Very peaceful and relaxing stay. The Cabin is small but perfectly formed and we found it very comfortable.

Nathalie was very helpful - she let me know to take a boat to her place, the shape of the roads and such. All her descriptions were very accurate. She supplied bikes to tour around the village.

Parfait pour se dépayser. L'endroit est calme et très reposant. La location de vélos permet de se déplacer facilement et ainsi découvrir ce village des plus atypique. Nathalie est de très bon conseil et connait parfaitement la région. Superbe expérience!!

Nathalie fue muy amable y nos ayudó con todo lo que necesitamos, desde dónde comer hasta organizarnos un transfer para ir hasta Orange Walk Town. La cabaña está en buenas condiciones y es acogedora y limpia. Los fogones van bien si quieres cocinar algo rápido. Nosotros fuimos en época de lluvias con lo que había muchos mosquitos por todas partes, osea que hay que ir cargado de repelente.

Natalie was really helpful before and during the stay. The house was exactly as expected. I loved all the different brightly coloured birds in the trees and the cattle egret hitching a ride on the horses on site. The people of Sarteneja are all very friendly and it's a great place to chill out.

Excellent value for money, a quiet and peaceful location in a perfect village...the real Balize experience!

Natalie and Steve really seemed to be working hard at improving the place. Some of the buildings on the fringes are in disrepair but I understand that is currently beyond their control. We loved being immersed in nature. Natalie and Steve came and got us to show us us interesting things that showed up such as the little cat-eyed snake and the toucans. Also helped us set up a tour. Thanks so much for your hospitality!

Nathalie was very attentionate from the beginning. She gave us clear directions to get to Sarteneja from Belize city. She helped us settle in comfortably when we arrived. Suggested good restaurants and things to do around town. Very quiet and peaceful evenings. The canopy of stars was breathtaking. Heard wonderous wildlife sounds throughout our stay :). It was a great opportunity for us to disconnect from our busy lives back home. Couldn't have asked for a better setting. Bugs were not much of a nuisance just the regular dose of noseeums. Although there were opportunities to socialize with likeminded backpackers Nathalie made sure to respect our privacies. She cooked up excellent breakfasts. French toast and pancakes were amazing. Couldn't get enough of the coffee either ;). I should have brought back some of that local honey with us to Canada. What Natahlie promotes on her listing is spot on and then some! Another satisfied traveller. We would definatly come back when the opprtunity shows up.

I loved everything about our stay at Backpacker's Paradise. First of all, Sarteneja is a beautiful town with wonderful people. It's small and not very touristy, so I felt like we got a very authentic cultural experience. It's also relatively easy to access by bus from Belize City, or by boat from San Pedro. Backpacker's Paradise was just a short walk from the town, and Natalie was an amazing host. She offered recommendations and provided us with plenty of information about how to get to the places we wanted to go. She also cooks an amazing breakfast! The house was also perfect - the kitchen allowed us to do a little of our own cooking, and although it was quite simple, it offered exactly what we needed. I can't recommend Backpacker's Paradise enough.

È un posto magnifico in mezzo alla natura e gli animali e Nathalie è una persona fantastica

We had a great time at Natalies. The little house was perfect for us but could easily take a family and the kitchen was easy to cook in. The place was only 2 min from town as well which was great

Staying in Natalie's place was really nice. I would recommend the little house cabana at the back of the grounds.

Nathalie is a fantastic host! I spent a week in Belize and realized I wasn't acclimated to sleeping in a humid environment yet. My reserved time at Nathalies Backpackers Paradise was toward the end of my travels. So I visited Nathalie to inform her I hadn't adjusted to the climate and wouldn't be able to stay with her. I needed to find air conditioned accommodations. Nathalie was very understanding and very helpful in finding a hotel for me. While visiting her place, she gave me the vip tour of her tropical organic garden. She really is a very caring host. The only thing I regret is not having the time to go back and visit with her again before I had to return home.

Natalie 's place is just outside of town - an easy walk. The cabinas are basic and comfortable. There is a large screened in common areas with refrigerator, small gas stove and utensils for cooking. Natalie is very helpful. We were very comfortable here. Thanks Nat.

Backpackers and Nat are great. It is basic but has pretty much everything anyone travelling simply would need. Our cabin was a good size for two, shower was as hot as needed and the site quiet. It is a few minutes to walk (or bike) into town, but if you are not up for a little walking or cycling then Sarteneja might not be for you. Stars arf incredible at night and the occasional sound of a horse outside your window in the morning were great.

I stayed in the 'Little House' and it was great. Perhaps the highest praise I can give is simply to say that the description in the listing is accurate. The Little House was clean and well maintained including tight construction and screening on the windows with integrity. These things seem more important when you are backed up against the jungle. On the first morning, I saw a small garden snake come out of the brush and climb the outside wall looking for a way in through the screen in the window! I don't think there was a way in, but I shooed it away anyway. It may have been interested in the vocal gecko (small lizard) that seemed to share the house with me. Once, upon turning on the light in the middle of the night to read, the gecko came out on top of one of the walls and seemed to scold me with its vocalization, perhaps for waking it. The energy here is also really good because of the other guests and the opportunity to interact a great deal in the communal kitchen. While the house has a sink and offered some cups and dishes, and a screened porch, to use for eating a snack or a meal, it doesn't have any cooking. However, the communal kitchen is perfect for that if you wish to cook. Nathalie was very helpful. She has help running the place, which is constantly being cleaned and maintained. She knows the village and much about things to do and how to get here and there. Understand, Sarteneja is remote. It is reachable by roads that are dirt and extremely difficult because of potholes and sugar cane litter (you travel through miles of sugar cane fields in one spot to get here). There is bus service, but learn from my experience: the bus doesn't run on Sundays. If you read that there is 'sometimes' a bus on a Sunday, assume that it is not running. There is also the 'Thunderbolt' boat that offers a very viable alternative. The village will tug at your heart. There is no traffic. You will need a bicycle to go back and forth, so plan on budgeting for renting one from Nathalie. Whether day or night, you will only hear the sound of tires crunching on the gravel when you ride into town and about town; maybe a rooster crowing, a dog barking or someone's stereo if it is light out. The town has stores, including a 'super mercado', and a handful of bars and restaurants. This is a real getaway. Enjoy.

Lovely host, very friendly and welcoming, great place to stay. Nice private room with en suite. Very pleasant stay, would thoroughly recommend. Thanks Natalie!

!Bad experience alert! Due to a bureaucracy problem at the border of Mexico/Belize, we were unable to leave Mexico and arrive to Belize, and we needed to cancel the 4-day reservation. It was on the same day we were supposed to arrive, and Natalie told that she's unable to issue refund for us, and if we wanted to come later - we can, but we couldnt leave Mexico so this was irrelevant for us. Then we even met a girl at our hostel who was going to Natalie's place, so we called and asked whether she could use our reservation instead - and the answer was NO. This reservation was unrefundable and untransferrable, although we know that other places with flexible cancellation policy tend to be more consideting in these situations. So basically we just lost a full payment for 4 days. Before ordering this place - check whether you agree to the cancellation policy, because in case of unexpected events you might be feeling disappointed, and lose your money.

Nathalie is an amazing hostess and her organic farm is a real treasure. We felt at ease and welcome during our stay and Nathalie was very helpful. The cabanas were clean and Nathalie was extremely responsive to any needs or questions we had about the area. She helped arrange tours and various activities during our stay and has bicycles you can rent at a great price to explore Sarteneja. It is a fishing village with great people and accessible to San Pedro via water taxi or Orange Walk/Belize City via bus. We had an awesome visit during our stay and would highly recommend Nathalie and the backpacker hostel.

We loved so many things about this place that we extended our time here. Nathalie responded quickly to all of our questions including helping us figure out bus and water taxi schedules. The rooms are clean and the communal kitchen /chill space is great. We were able to buy fresh chicken and eggs from the near by farms. She has bikes you can rent also. Sarteneja is a peaceful quite get away. The people are friendly and the food in the village is authentic. The ocean is a 20 minute walk away and swimming off the piers is beautiful and refreshing. We definitely plan to stay here again!

Nice stay at Nathalie's, she is very friendly and easy going. Everything went smoothly.

Thanks for a wonderful time

Best place to stay in Sarteneja. My room was cozy, clean and the bed was extremely comfortable. Warm shower and great wifi! I'd definitely go back.

Nathalie's place is beautiful, quiet and relaxing. I felt right at home in one of her cozy cabanas and enjoyed cooking in the communal room. Nathalie's organic coffee was a great way to start my day. A hot shower felt good at the end of the day exploring Sarteneja village and Shipstern Conservation Area. Nathalie is kind and welcoming; a lovely human being. I highly recommend her place to anyone looking for an off the beaten path experience in Belize.

If you're looking for an isolated getaway community, Orchid Bay is the place. An interesting blend of visitors and residents, it was very quiet, with great dinners at the Tradewinds. The pool is nice and the view is great. We would stay there again!

From the moment we arrived we were welcomed into Stephen home and made feel as a friend and resident in the community. Stephen's house is gorgeous and is more than we expected. We would recommend this rental without hesitation.

Beautiful place with amazing views! Food provided was great and their family was very friendly!

The Crimson Orchid Inn, an artfully designed and tastefully appointed bed and breakfast, is tucked inside an ambitious new development along the stunning blue waters of Corozal Bay. Stephen and Laurene Honeybill, the innkeepers, will make you feel that living in a tropical jungle is not just possible, but desirable! Whether you are sipping a drink under the palapa on the roof, or you've slipped down to the little bar along the beach, your senses will be overwhelmed with delight.

WOW, what can I say, other than we were so enchanted by this AirBnB. It was, by far, the nicest place we stayed in Belize during our week-long trip across the country. Stephen and his lovely wife were wonderful hosts. We hope to come back soon!

Excelente para desconectarse y relajarse! Toda una experiencia! La casita es fantastica! Muy recomendable!

Our stay at Orchid Bay was wonderful! Thank you Karen and Pernell for your responsiveness, helpful tips, maps, directions, suggestions etc. Without all that I am sure we should have been lost...on several occasions. The casita was exactly how it was described. The home was very clean, spacious and comfortable; it fit our family of 5 perfectly. David at the Trade Winds restaurant was also a great resource. (This was also true of all the other Orchid Bay residents.) David and his wife are both valuable assets to the tourists staying in Orchid Bay. They stayed late at the restaurant to a accommodate us, the food was delicious and they were generous and friendly. We felt welcomed. I'm sure this was in the information provide by Karen and Pernell, but reiterate, rent a four wheel drive car if you are staying in Orchid Bay during the rainy season. All in all great place!

Everything was as represented. Beautifulcasita with beautiful views! Highly recommend!

We enjoyed very much our stay in Orchid Bay, is quite a remote spot that will guarantee a relaxed stay. The house is just as described, very beautiful an comfortable. Karen and Pernell were always answering all our questions and very flexible and comprehensive. The place is safe, quiet and beautiful.

Amazing home in a wonderful community. Well provisioned with tons of outdoor activities at your disposal. The restaurant/bar has fantastic food and is very reasonable pricrd.

I stayed at Karen and Pernell's casita from November 27th until December 2nd with 3 other friends. I will start with the owners. Before we even arrived, Pernell went above and beyond to make sure our stay was absolutely perfect. He was so helpful with everything under sun, not just the accommodations, but also with directions and advice on anything we needed. I still can't thank him enough for all his help. The accommodations were spectacular! Right on the water, very clean, very spacious and very nicely decorated. All the people there, Kathi, David, Roger, Grande and everyone else were exceptional. They were also more than accommodating and incredibly friendly. We'll be keeping in touch with all of them and plan to visit again definitely!

What a great place to stay. The Casita was exactly as it was in the pictures. I didn't bother taking pictures of it to show people because I'll just show the ones online. David (the property manager) and his staff were wonderful in providing everything we needed. The restaurant was great and we ate every meal there or ordered it to go and ate at the casita. We had a wonderful time! Its off the beaten path but if you want a nice place to relax, this is the place to go. There was a meteor shower while we were there so we floated in the pool and watched the shooting stars all night. It was amazing!

The house was beautiful and in front of the beach. Orchid Bay is very quiet and you can relax a lot. Karen & Pernell we very nice to us and helped os a lot to reach the house. The driver who brought us from the border of Chetumal to Belize is called Hilario and was very sympathic. The owner of the restaurant, David, was very nice to. We loved to stay there. I could come back again.