Our Toucan Ridge Ecology and Education Society (T.R.E.E.S.) Review
An honest review of the Toucan Ridge Ecology and Education Society (T.R.E.E.S.), a field and research station, and one of the best eco-lodges on the Hummingbird Highway.
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About T.R.E.E.S.
Nestled in the foothills of the Maya Mountains in Belize, the Toucan Ridge Ecology and Education Society (T.R.E.E.S.) is a grassroots, biologist-managed conservation organisation operating a research and education centre. What’s really unique about it is that it’s also one of the best jungle lodges in Belize, offering guests the opportunity to stay in the middle of the rainforest while supporting vital conservation work.
The 200-acre property is home to tropical rainforest and organic orchards, the most beautiful backdrop. T.R.E.E.S. embodies a new culture of sustainable tourism and community living that sets it apart from other lodges in the region – you’re not just staying in the jungle, but you have the opportunity to learn about and contribute to the conservation of Belize’s incredibly diverse flora and fauna.
Whether you’re a researcher, educator, student, or simply a tourist who loves the environment, here you’ll find cosy cabins and activities tailored to ecological exploration. The site welcomes everyone, including individuals, groups, and partners, offering an immersive, personalised rainforest experience.
We had the pleasure of staying at the Toucan Ridge Ecology and Education Society, which was a highlight of our Belize itinerary, and have compiled everything you need to know before you go into this honest review.
More from the Hummingbird Highway
Where is T.R.E.E.S.?
The Toucan Ridge Ecology and Education Society occupies around 200 acres of lowland tropical forest in the Maya Mountains. It sits centrally and is easily accessible halfway along the Hummingbird Highway, Belize’s most scenic drive.
T.R.E.E.S. connects directly to highland jungle trails within the Sibun Forest Reserve and provides barrier-free access to a biodiverse ecosystem. It’s also a short drive from nearby attractions like St. Herman’s Blue Hole National Park and Billy Barquedier National Park.
The closest town to T.R.E.E.S. is Middlesex, which is just behind the car on the map below.
Staying at a Field Centre and Research Station
T.R.E.E.S. operates as both a field research station and an ecolodge, offering comfortable lodging at affordable prices.
It works to protect Belize’s natural environment and cultural traditions by bringing people together through conservation, education, and community projects. The centre creates opportunities for learning that are open to everyone, with hands-on training in areas like organic farming, wildlife, and rainforest research. It also serves as a meeting place, hosting workshops and conferences for students, researchers, nonprofits, and government groups who share a passion for protecting the environment.
Visitors often stay for a week or more, helping out with farmwork on the property. Volunteering isn’t a requirement of booking, but would be something you can take part in if you’re staying for a longer period and have free time.
Rooms at T.R.E.E.S.
T.R.E.E.S. is one of the best places to stay in Belize if you’re seeking a jungle experience on a budget. Accommodation ranges from private and conjoined jungle cabins with shared facilities to private houses with full facilities.
This variety welcomes everyone from solo adventurers to academic groups, offering multiple comfort and privacy levels. Guests can book via an online reservation and payment system on the T.R.E.E.S. Website, on Expedia, or on Airbnb, and group bookings come with tailored meal and lodging package options.
T.R.E.E.S. Jungle Cabins
The jungle cabins at T.R.E.E.S. offer rustic yet comfortable immersion in the rainforest. These cabins are designed with different animals and plants in mind. Each is painted a bright colour, with themed name plates and furnishings like curtains. They share external bathrooms and showers a short walk away. The cabins are:
The cabins have similar layouts, some individual units, perfect for couples, while others are conjoined, perfect for families or groups travelling together. The beds can be arranged bunk-style to sleep up to 5 people, or the upper bunks are folded up to create more space, leaving a double bed made from two singles.
We stayed in the Coati Cabin, which was super comfortable. It was a single unit, so we had our own wooden deck and private space, perfect for the two of us.
T.R.E.E.S. Houses
As well as the cabins, T.R.E.E.S. offers two house options, perfect for longer-term stays in a homelike atmosphere.
La Casita, ‘The Little House’, offers a private deck with a view of the waterfall, private bathrooms, and a kitchenette with a stove-top burner, fridge, coffee-maker, and cooking implements. Sleeps up to 3 people, with two single beds that can be turned into a double, and a futon.
Jaguar House is another standalone wooden home near the road, set in a private, fenced yard, with views of the mountains. It’s furnished with a full kitchen, dining and living room, and private bathroom, as well as a screened-in veranda and deck with hammocks.
T.R.E.E.S. Room Rates
The cabins typically start at around $50 USD a night, while the houses are around $90 USD a night.
All rates are in US Dollars (USD), and visitors can reserve using the online booking and payment system. Credit card payments incur a 5.5% service charge that is added to the total cost of your booking. You can avoid this fee by paying in cash when you arrive.
Group-friendly pricing, discounted lodging, and meal packages can be arranged for long-term guests and educational and research groups, especially Belizean residents.
Food and Drink at T.R.E.E.S.
Meals are served at the on-site Toucan Café, with a menu that accommodates a range of dietary preferences and restrictions.
The food reflects a blend of local Belizean and international cuisine, and we were pleased to find plenty of veggie and vegan options.
Purified drinking water is available throughout the property on tap, so you can refill your reusable water bottle.
The Toucan Café
The Toucan Café is T.R.E.E.S.’ in-house restaurant. It’s the main dining hub for both casual visitors and interns, providing nutritious food within the forest setting. It’s open from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM, and is a popular stop for those driving the Hummingbird Highway, as well as guests.
The café serves coffee, smoothies (which can be made alcoholic), and local Belikin beer, as well as juice of the day, made with fruit from the site. Meals range from light bites like bean fritters and cheesy plantain bites to hearty dishes of tacos or burgers and lighter salads and quiche.
The café doubles as a social space, and staff are adept at catering to group events and special retreats. We picked up some handy tips about driving in the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve from some fellow travellers.
T.R.E.E.S. Kitchen
A small communal kitchen is available for guests who prefer to cook for themselves, providing flexibility for self-catering. It contains a tea and coffee station, containers for guests to keep food in, a microwave, a washing-up station, and recycling and composting bins.
Facilities at T.R.E.E.S.
Facilities at T.R.E.E.S. are basic, made with sustainability in mind. They’re perfectly adequate, ensuring you have a comfortable stay. We’ve delved into each facility at T.R.E.E.S. in this section.
T.R.E.E.S. Communal Areas
The centre is fitted with a central hub that acts as the home base for your stay. The communal areas are designed for collaboration and relaxation, including a spacious dining hall, an indoor lounge area, and a gift shop.
As the WiFi doesn’t extend to the cabins, the communal areas are the best place to connect online. We spent a few hours at dinner doing some work and organising our photos and videos.
T.R.E.E.S. Library
A small but thoughtfully stocked library offers nature guides, science and biology references, and Belizean natural history books available for guest borrowing. It operates under a community model, and guests are encouraged to leave their finished books behind, contributing to the Community Library Project, providing access to books for use by locals. In addition, T.R.E.E.S. provides computer access and after-school tutoring to local schoolchildren, enhancing both guest and community learning opportunities.
T.R.E.E.S. Yoga Studio
T.R.E.E.S. features a dedicated yoga platform, also known as the Possum Pad, designed as an open, nature-immersed pavilion perfect for yoga or meditation sessions. The studio is thoughtfully placed with views of the misty mountains, offering a peaceful space where the sounds of the jungle enhance your practice. We spent a glorious half hour one morning stretching out our worries before embarking further up the Hummingbird Highway.
This versatile structure doubles as a multi-purpose pavilion and events stage, suitable for yoga, gatherings, or performances by local musicians.
T.R.E.E.S. Bathrooms
Bathroom facilities at T.R.E.E.S. are practical and well-maintained, featuring both indoor toilets by the cafe and outdoor toilets adjacent to cabins. All toilets are flush toilets, fed from a rain collection system, and are gravity-fed to avoid pumping.
T.R.E.E.S. Showers
Showers at the centre are accessible and functional, with both hot and cold water facilities. They’re set in three cubicles set in the rainforest and are gravity-fed from an eco-friendly rainwater system.
The water from the sinks here is purified, so is fine for brushing your teeth and drinking.
T.R.E.E.S. Gift Shop
T.R.E.E.S. has a small boutique gift shop, where you can purchase local crafts and souvenirs. Items include art from local artisans in the community, jewellery, paintings, woven baskets, wood carvings, and traditional musical instruments. There’s also some T.R.E.E.S-branded paraphernalia, including t-shirts, long-sleeve tops, and postcards featuring local wildlife, as well as useful items like eco-friendly sunscreen, bug repellent, toothpaste, batteries, and towels. By purchasing a souvenir here, you’re ensuring your money supports the local community.
Activities at T.R.E.E.S.
A big appeal of staying at the Toucan Ridge Ecology and Education Society is access to a range of outdoor experiences. The centre is pioneering ecotourism, with a range of nature-based tours and self-guided activities on offer.
Some of the recreational and educational activities on offer include guided bird watching, stream ecology exploration, night walks, herpetological surveys, waterfall hiking, and swimming in jungle creeks. There are also playing fields for games like soccer, volleyball, croquet, and bocce, along with board games and the library inside. T.R.E.E.S. even has a stand of communal wellies, so you don’t even need to bring your own hiking boots.
The site is expansive, with multiple natural swimming holes along Dry Creek, networked hiking trails, and an organic lime orchard alongside mango, avocado, cashew, and guava trees. A small river runs through the property with a refreshing swimming hole just a 5-minute walk from the cabins.
Often, the centre will put on evening activities for anyone staying at the lodge who might be interested. We were offered an ecological nightwalk for $100 USD for a group, so if 4 people signed up, it would be $25 USD per person, and less if more signed up.
Hiking in T.R.E.E.S.
T.R.E.E.S. is home to a vast network of hiking trails, with one long trail that takes 5-6 hours return. It leads to the Sibun Forest Reserve and up to a 3-tiered 92-metre (300ft) tall waterfall, which you can access via a guided hike ($50 USD per person).
If you want to explore alone, you can opt for the 2-hour-long loop that passes through a gorge, along Dry Creek, and offers plenty of natural swimming opportunities.
T.R.E.E.S. Tours
As well as the organised and impromptu group activities, T.R.E.E.S. offers a variety of day-trip tours, making it a great base for excursions throughout the surrounding area. Beyond the centre, staff can help arrange tours to popular landmarks via local operators, from spelunking in the iconic ATM Cave to exploring some of Belize’s Mayan ruins.
T.R.E.E.S. Conservation Activities
Conservation lies at the heart of T.R.E.E.S.’ mission, including ecological research, community education, and sustainable development. The centre maintains active field studies, specimen collections, and scientific permits, supporting wildlife and habitat monitoring. It also empowers local communities through organic agroforestry training and sustainable livelihood projects, including capacity-building in guiding, farm management, and environmental assessment.
To engage guests with its work, T.R.E.E.S. offers a schedule of conservation-focused activities, from bird banding to turtle tracking. You can simply sign up with a staff member to join in, and there’s a small fee for each activity.
How to get to T.R.E.E.S.
The Toucan Ridge Ecology and Education Society sits at Mile Marker 27.5 on the Hummingbird Highway in Middlesex, Belize. It’s most easily accessible by renting a car, but it’s also possible to reach it via public bus or private transport. Driving in Belize is pretty easy, with a handful of highways connecting major towns.
If you’re driving in Belize, you can follow the George Price Highway west from Belize City or east from San Ignacio, before connecting onto the Hummingbird Highway. From southern destinations like Placencia and Hopkins, you can take the Southern Highway north to Dangriga and connect onto the Hummingbird Highway.
A taxi directly from Belize City airport to T.R.E.E.S. will cost approximately $150 USD. From Dangriga, which is the end of the highway and has a domestic airport, it’s around $50 USD.
Buses running between Dangriga and Belmopan are best for passing T.R.E.E.S. They’re not the most reliable, but the journey shouldn’t cost more than a couple of dollars.
Things to do near T.R.E.E.S.
While T.R.E.E.S. itself offers ample activities and tours, its central positioning also allows easy access to other attractions across Belize. It’s easy to access a range of Belize’s best activities, including inland tours, Mayan ruins, cave tubing, ziplining, and wildlife reserves. T.R.E.E.S. can assist in planning logistics and transportation for your own trips, or you can join their tours for a seamless experience.
The Hummingbird Highway offers a variety of natural attractions, including some of the best nature reserves in Belize, like St. Herman’s Blue Hole National Park.
At either end of the highway, Dangriga offers access to some of Belize’s best islands, including the gorgeous Tobacco Caye, while Belmopan is the gateway to San Ignacio and its Mayan ruins, including Caracol, Xunantunich, and Cahal Pech.
T.R.E.E.S. Sustainability Initiatives
Environmental responsibility is woven into T.R.E.E.S.’ infrastructure and programming. The station uses eco-friendly initiatives like rainwater catch systems and supports organic agriculture through onsite orchards and demonstration farms. Its education programs promote agroforestry and sustainable livelihoods, while the lab and trail infrastructure are designed for low-impact research and ecotourism.
We honestly love what the Toucan Ridge Ecology and Education Society is doing. Making ecotourism accessible and affordable to everyone, providing the opportunity to engage in conservation and education, and offering the opportunity to stay in the jungle in Belize without tourist-centric amenities or luxury price tags is just fantastic. Their ecotourism model is groundbreaking and something we think the world needs more of. If you’re travelling in Belize and are looking for somewhere to immerse in the jungle while learning more about nature and giving back to the local community, this is the place for you.
Book your stay at the Toucan Ridge Ecology and Education Society
Have we convinced you to visit this incredible project and ecolodge? Here are the details you need to book your stay:
Read next:
A Guide to Driving the Scenic Hummingbird Highway
How to Visit St. Herman’s Blue Hole National Park
Dangriga Travel Guide + 12 Best Things to Do
10 Best Jungle Lodges in Belize
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