04/30/2021

The Gold Standard Place to Stay in Belize: Colorful Matachica Resort & Spa

Have you ever stayed at a colorful beach resort before? I hadn’t until I discovered Matachica Resort & Spa, which is an exquisite beach resort with a vibrant charm in Ambergris Caye, Belize. With its 32 unique beach villas and casitas, each named after a fruit and adorned in a different color, Matachica offers a one-of-a-kind stay. Instead of saying “I’m staying in room 3208”, Matachica guests will say “I’m staying in Grapefruit.” It is such a fun-lighthearted concept. I’ve stayed at many resorts around the world, but Matachica’s design is truly unique. Get ready to experience a delightful blend of sustainability and luxury, where the burst of color adds an extra touch of brightness to your vacation!

The Casita Experience

We indulged in the enchantment of the pink casita (my favorite color) named Dragonfruit and it was the cutest room ever! Matachica was recently redesigned with purpose in mind and it’s totally evident in the casita. Everything inside was so well thought out, from the murals to the artisanal pieces to the really good smelling toiletries (the brand of the toiletries was called Haeckels which I never heard of but I am going to get myself some of their soap). My favorite part of the casita was how the spacious interior and tall roof created an airy ambiance that invited relaxation. Each casita also has its own patio with a hammock, where you are able to unwind and soak in the views of the ocean and the other colorful villas. I was tempted to spend the whole time at my casita because of how nice it was, but I couldn’t miss out on enjoying the rest of the property.

Exploring the Resort

When you are finally ready to leave the the comfort of your casita, Matachica offers a paradise waiting to be explored. Immerse yourself in lush surroundings adorned with palm trees and vibrant foliage. Matachica boasts a unique pier with sunbeds, where you can bask in the serenity of the ocean. I loved relaxing out there because it felt like it was just me and the ocean. There was a nice gentle breeze the whole time I was there and that was great for keeping the bugs at bay. I normally get bitten like crazy by mosquitoes anytime I’m somewhere tropical, but not at Matachica! It was such a relief to be able to walk around the tropical paradise freely without the fear of bug bites.

Indulging in the Resort’s Culinary Delights

Prepare to be amazed by the food at Matachica because it is unBelizeable! I am a huge foodie and it takes a lot to impress me with food, but Matachica did it. The renowned Mambo restaurant, led by former chefs from The French Laundry and Bouchon, presents a menu that combines Belize’s unique flavors. Don’t miss the tantalizing tacos, bursting with a sweet and tangy essence and juicy meat. Make it a point to visit for Taco Tuesday, even if you’re not staying at Matachica. And don’t forget to try their delectable coconut mojitos at the charming tree bar.

Things to Do in Ambergris Caye, Belize

Matachica offers a myriad of activities both within the resort and beyond:

Relax & Rejuvenate

Matachica has a chic pool onsite with the hot tub inside the pool – such a pretty design! They also have a spa where you can get delectable treatments like a Mayan Coffee Scrub and Chocolate Wrap.

Do Water Activities

Dive into the exciting water activities that Matachica has to offer, including kayaking, paddleboarding, snorkeling, and jet skiing options.

Do Non-Water Activities

Explore Matachica’s amenities, including bicycles, shopping stands with crafts, and engaging activities like cornhole. Interact with the adorable resort dog, Taco, and have some fun!

Snorkel & Swim with Sharks at Holchan Marine Reserve / Shark Ray Alley

Matachica offers its own boat tours to take guests on adventures. The tours are group tours, but you can pay more to book private tours if you wish. We did the group tour to go snorkel and swim with the sharks and it was epic! Did you know Belize has the world’s 2nd largest barrier reef?! I had no idea, but it was awesome to snorkel there. There were so many fishies, corals, a few stingrays, and a couple of turtles. The guide will go in the water with you and lead you to all the marine life. After snorkeling, they’ll take you to swim with sharks. The sharks come up to the boats because the boats feed them, so it’s a guarantee you’ll see lots of sharks. I’ve swam with sharks in the Bahamas before, but it was much cooler in Belize because you’re actually in the middle of the ocean in the wild with the sharks. Also, don’t worry if you can’t swim because they give you life vests. After we were done swimming, Matachica served snacks and fresh baked goodies. The baked goods were so good I wish I had more.

Drive a Golf Cart into Town

On the island of Ambergris Caye, golf carts are the main form of transportation and they make for a thrilling adventure! Matachica has golf carts that you can drive to town, which is maybe a 30 minutes drive according to Google, but it’s such a fun drive that it didn’t feel that long. Experience the local charm of the colorful downtown of San Pedro and soak in the vibrant atmosphere.

Visit Secret Beach

Secret Beach is the place to be on the island and Matachica happens to be the closest to it – only a 10-15 min golf cart ride. The water at Secret Beach is crystal clear and it’s super shallow so you can walk very far out into the ocean and just hang out there. There are restaurants around that all have beach loungers for relaxing and tables in the water. We went to Aurora restaurant because it was colorful, which is in theme with our trip.

Getting to Matachica Resort

Matachica is located on a little island off the coast of Belize called Ambergris Caye. To get to the island, you can take a 15 minute flight from Belize City Airport (BZE) to San Pedro Airport (SPR) with Tropic Air and it’s only $60USD one way. It’s probably cheaper if you book in advance (we booked literally right before). Once you’re in San Pedro, Matachica will pick you up with a boat at Amigos Del Mar dock. It’s a nice 10 minute or so boat ride with amazing views of the island and the barrier reef. They’ll ask what your favorite drink is on the boat and have it ready for you when you arrive at the lobby. I got a pina colada.

You can also get to the island via a water ferry which is $28USD one way. The ferry ride is 1.5 hours and the line for people getting on the boat was super crowded. It did not look comfy. It also doesn’t take you directly to Belize City Airport, so you’ll have to find a taxi to get there. I’d recommend taking the flight with Tropic Air.

The Resort Safety

You’re probably wondering if it is safe to travel to Belize and stay at Matachica during the pandemic. It is! Belize has a gold standard hotel list where only hotels that meet safety guidelines are included. Matachica is one of them and I felt so safe during my stay there. All the staff are wearing Matachica masks and there’s hand sanitizer everywhere. The resort itself is very spacious and like it’s slogan suggests, private by nature. The hotel can also arrange for a doctor to come give you a covid test for $75USD since Americans need a negative covid test to get back into the states. You get the results within minutes which is really convenient.

All in All

We had such a great stay at Matachica! The other guests that stayed there were awesome and so were the staff. It was just happy vibes all around and a nice way to safely travel again. Matachica also has a sister resort on the main island of Belize called Gaia Riverlodge that I’d love to check out the next time I’m in Belize. If you stay at Matachica, let me know what you think!

Check out Matachica’s latest prices & availability!