Maruba Jungle Spa

Belize’s Jewel of the Jungle

By Belkis and Rob Kambach

Rejuvenate, restore and pamper your overworked, neglected body with an escape to an oasis in the heart of the Mayan jungles of Belize. You’ll be surrounded by a private 1,000-acre reserve where the spirit of the ancient Mayans still echoes. In this exotic, hedonistic retreat time stands still amidst the splendor of tropical flowers, birds and wildlife.

Belize greets its visitors with the promise of unforgettable adventure rivaled by no other country. Where else, in the span of a single day, can you walk among ancient Mayan ruins, trek through a lush rainforest jungle and explore the longest barrier reef in the Western Hemisphere? 

Dabbling its toes in the Caribbean coast of the Central American isthmus, southeast of the Yucatán Peninsula nestled between Mexico and Guatemala, this small Central American-Caribbean nation has more in common with its island neighbors than with its fiery Central American next-door neighbors.

English-speaking (with a Caribbean lilt), Creole-dominated and with a coup-free history, this pocket-size eco-heaven has an atmosphere so laid-back it's almost comatose--if it weren't for the Belizean mosquitoes. Belize shares a colorful and diverse culture and languages with a friendly populace of barely 200,000, consisting of a harmonious mix of Mestizos, Indians, Creoles, Mayans, Garifuna, Spanish, Mennonite, Lebanese, Chinese, and Brits (left over from the country's days as British Honduras). Due to its racial harmony and religious tolerance, all have blended successfully in this melting pot and adventurer's paradise. Best of all, this peaceful neighbor is barely a two-hour travel from four major U.S. Gateways.

Most travelers flock to Belize for the excellent fishing or scuba diving. However, this time it was Belize's inland frontier, with its intoxicating melange of lovely Mayan ruins, untouched rain forest and a jungle spa, that brought  us here.

Set amidst pineapple fields and coconut palms, Maruba fulfills every fantasy of what a jungle spa should look like, combining an exotic mix of Mayan, safari and wildlife design. Red hibiscus and masses of hanging lobster claw (Heliconia rostrata) tumble and bloom, and humming birds swoop from high jungle canopies. Spending a weekend here you’ll enjoy all the sights and sounds of the jungle.

Maruba Jungle Spa is more than a traditional spa, offering an alternative to regimen and routine, blending a jungle setting with fitness, beauty and nutrition. The result is a dreamy, romantic, totally relaxing and artistically natural environment. The adventurous nature of the jungle provides the backdrop for the African theme of Maruba where dense vegetation accentuates its spirit.

Maruba spa packages and treatments

Belize may seem like an unusual place to go for rejuvenation of body and spirit, but Maruba offers a distinctive nurturing alternative to your local gym, offering exotic indulgence for both body and soul.  Here you can indulge in a wide variety of spa treatments amidst exotic birds and Belize’s unique fauna.  Maruba's natural spa treatments are derived from ancient techniques which incorporate natural products from the surrounding jungle. 

The spa program was conceived by the owner, a talented  innovative Belizean physician who has a deep interest in the local ecology. A leading physician trained in Switzerland and the UK, his Maruba concept melds alternative health (both physical and spiritual) through the curative powers of nature with science.  His children, talented artists and interior designers, created Maruba with their very personal architectural style -- an  eclectic, exotic  mix of Mayan, Creole and African design. 

Your treatment begins the moment you enter the large, candlelit room, where a waft of incense piques your senses, a warm breeze flows through softly draped windows, and quiet mood music plays serenely, accompanied by the songbirds outside. Consider a full body massage with wonderfully scented aroma therapy oils, a facial, or maybe a Mood Mud Pack (your entire body painted with different exotic colors of special mud blends), each with its own invigorating qualities.

Then take a refreshing dip in the swimming pool with its waterfall that blends seamlessly into the garden. After dinner relax, then soak in the warm, Japanese mineral bath, ahhh.... turn your face to the sky and count (if you can) the stars that pepper the Belizean jungle sky. Here an evening of star gazing becomes an unforgettable experience.

This remote place on the Mayan trail is certainly not your typical American-style spa. There is no gym, no cardiovascular equipment, so don’t expect a lot of trendy frills or lush comforts. However, do expect to be pampered with body treatments and stress-reducing full body massage, steaming tropical herbal wraps, seaweed body wraps, sea sulfur and clay body packs -- all set outdoors under a canopy of palms. Maruba makes their own natural body products from exotic aromatherapy oils, mood mud for the face, body and hair, Marubian incense, and herbal gourmet teas are used in their spa treatments.

On safari to experience Belize's celebrated three 'R's:
Ruins, Reef and Rainforest

Get in shape with a guided Maruba jungle safari hike, trek or horseback ride. Maruba’s fabulous touring opportunities make the spa a great base for exploring outlying locations like: Belize's ruins--besides being a naturalist's paradise, Belize is also an archeologist's dream come true. Belize was once home to more than a million Mayans, and thousands of years later, over 600 jungle-veined ruins remain as testament to the inventive Mayan civilization.

Easy and fun to explore, they loom out of untouched jungle floors. Ruins are comfortably accessible as  half-day tours. During your stay you can visit two Mayan sites: the nearby Altun Ha, cloaked by rainforests, a ceremonial center founded in 200 B.C. and home of the largest jade head of the Sun God ever found. A hand-cranked wooden ferry carries you across the Mopan River to Xunantunich (Stone Maiden), Belize's archaeological pride and most visited Mayan site.

The ruin is impressive: the 1,000-year-old central pyramid is the second-tallest structure in Belize. The site flourished as a ceremonial center for many of the country's estimated one million Mayans and is thought to have been abandoned after an earthquake damaged it around 900 AD. Maruba also has safari expeditions to mysterious Lamanai, the ancient Mayan Temple of the God of the Submerged Crocodile, the longest occupied Mayan site ever excavated.

Belize's Reef lies nineteen miles offshore. This 180-milelong Barrier Reef is the world's second largest expanse of coral after Australia's and the largest barrier reef in the Western Hemisphere. It’s a snorkeling and diving heaven teeming with life.

Get a taste of Ambergris Cay’s snorkel-appeal and sign up for a snorkeling expedition to Hol Chan Marine Park, where the highlight for novices is the chance to swim with sharks, literally. At Shark Alley you can put your masks to proper use and bob the ocean surface spending the day snorkeling over the reef. The interaction with these toothsome creatures is fantastic. Guides jump in and grab a nurse shark (with two hands around the head), bringing them to the surface and rolling them over so you can scratch their belly.

Having seen “Temptation Island” on TV  you’ll want to step into the spotlight where the series started at:  Mambo, the incredible restaurant at Mata Chica Beach Resort with a high thatched ceiling and vibrant art from the Americas covering the walls. Quite a treat, and the food is among the best and most innovative you’ll have during your stay. 

Belize's Rainforest: half of little Belize is covered by dense jungle. These tropical forests provide habitats for a wide range of animals. The country is home to 4,000 species of tropical flowers, including 250 kinds of orchids. It harbors over 500 species of birds that soar through Belize's vine-trailed jungles, including fruit-loop keel-billed toucans (Belize's national bird); jabiru stork, the largest flying bird in the Americas; the rare agami heron; hummingbirds; neon-green-painted parrots; and an abundance of macaws, heron and snowy egret that delight sharp-eyed eco-travelers. At the spa you can take guided jungle walks, go canoeing and bicycling, explore nature trails and bird watch -- all perfect for working up a good sweat, after which you can treat yourself to the cooling Mood Mud Pack and then a revitalizing dip in Maruba’s pool after a hot day of adventuring.

Belizian  and Maruba’s Nouveau Jungle Cuisine

Traditional Belizean staples are rice and beans, often served with chicken, pork, beef, fish, vegetables or rat (you read right). Exotic traditional Belizean foods include armadillo, venison and fried paca (a small brown-and-white-spotted rodent similar to a guinea pig) that outraged the Brits when served to their queen during her visit to Belize, and newspaper headlines in the UK read: "Queen Fed Rat." If you want to try a royal rodent for dinner give paca a try, but not after you've already seen one alive. You may never be able to take a bite if you've seen one of these beauties scurrying around. 

Restaurants serving travelers feature fresh fish, and the ones catering to Belizeans serve chicken with rice and beans and fried yellow and green plantain chips or coconut milk to add  tropical flavor. Belize serves up great drinks like coconut-infused rum punch and coladas, and one brand of beer, Belikan. Breakfast  is served in the dining room under a large, round, thatched palapa, decorated in jungle colors. Spa-goers can get a good start to their day with huevos rancheros, Belizean eggs (scrambled with onion, bell peppers and tomatoes), fry jacks and an endless juice supply from just-picked fruit. Recipes from Maruba have been featured in Gourmet magazine.

Maruba is a quirky, alternative place that sings with nature, a place where even Tarzan and Jane would feel at home. This spa is not for the pampered traveler -- it is for those who fancy a little bit of adventure and don’t mind a bit of roughing it along the way.

Maruba dares to be different. Whether you are seeking adventure or pampering, your stay in Belize will be a memorable experience. A visit to a Belizean spa would be the ultimate way to cap off your island adventure or jungle trek, preparing you to return to the real world.

For more information:

The Belize Tourist Board Central Bank Building, Level 2 Belize City, www.travelbelize.org  golda@travelbelize.org   Ph: 011-501-2-31913/31910 / Fx: 2-31943. A valid passport is required; for US citizens, a visa is not.

Belize Embassy, 2535 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20008, (202) 332-9636.

When to go

With a subtropical climate, Belize’s temperature averages 79 degrees but can range from 50-95 degrees. Weather is hot and humid but comfortably offset by tropical sea breezes. July through November marks hurricane season. Rainfall is a whopping 13ft a year, most of it falling between June and November. The best time to travel is the dry season between December and May. 

What to pack

Informality is the norm. Humidity, averaging 85 percent, makes packing anything more than T-shirts, shorts, and a raincoat superfluous. Although the tendency is to dress for temperature, long-sleeve shirts and long pants provide better protection against the sun and the almost ever-present mosquitoes.  Take rain gear no matter when you go.

Health

No inoculations are required, but travelers to jungle areas should consider anti-malaria measures. Malaria and Dengue fever are both found here, though they're fairly uncommon. Anti-malarials are recommended for jungle stays (the reasonable alternative — which we prefer — is to make sure you're not bitten: cover up at dawn and dusk, and use plenty repellent).

Getting there

American Airlines (800) 433-7300 http://www.aa.com  offers daily air service to Belize City.  Belize is a two-hour direct flight from Miami, Houston, or New Orleans.  A $20BZ ($10US) tax and a airport security fee of $2.50BZ ($1.25US) are charged when departing by air from the International Airport to any destination, foreign or domestic

Getting around

Belize has  two paved roads and no rail network, so it depends heavily on tiny prop planes that fly frequently to air strips around the country.  There are domestic airports in Belize City, Gallon Jug, San Pedro. Most other roads are narrow one or two-lane dirt roads, often impassable after heavy rains. Car rentals cars can be rented in Belize City.  For lack of time we flew in to all three destinations in Belize. Tropic Air (800) 422-3435. Maya Island Air (800) 521-1247

Belize’s Spas

Maruba Resort & Jungle Spa http://www.maruba-spa.com  is an easy 30 mile drive on a paved road from the Belize International Airport. You can arrange for Maruba to pick you up. Mile 40-1/2 Old Northern Highway Maskall Village, Belize Tel: 501-3-22199 / Fax: 501-2-12049 maruba@btl.net 

In the US: PO Box 300703 Houston, TX 77230 Tel: 713-799-2031 / Fax: 713-795-8573. Rates range from US$150--$300 for the jungle suite. Meal plans are extra but a wise choice as you are in the middle of nowhere. Inquire about 2,3 & 5 night, tour & spa packages accommodate thirty-five guests at a time which ensures privacy and exclusive individual care.  Maruba is the best known spa in Belize but...
Chaa Creek Cottages & Spa http://www.chaacreek.com   is a lovely spa P.O.Box 53  San Ignacio, Cayo Belize Tel:  501-92-2037 / Fax: 501-92-2501 chaacreek@btl.net.
Royal Mayan Resort & Spa http://www.royalmayan.com  Belize’s third spa New Area, Benque Viejo Del Carmen Cayo District, info@royalmayan.com  (888) 271-3483 Fax: 305-969-7946.  Much of Belize is still a bargain but the average resort in Belize has 12 rooms and therefore, you must reserve well in advance.

Maruba’s Adventure Packages & Tours 

Horseback Riding (1 1/2 hours through Jungle) $28.00/person. 
Altun Ha $28.00/person.
Lamanai (lunch included) $80.00/person.
Jungle River Boat or Canoe Ride $35.00/person.
Rain Forest Medicinal Safari Hike $25.00/person.
Mainland Safari $130.00/person.
Cave Tubing $125.00/person
Belize Zoo $60.00/person
Airport transfer: $50/person, round trip.
Belize Zoo http://www.BelizeZoo.org  belizezoo@btl.net(501)081-3004. 
Diving the reef Spa can arrange diving (or snorkeling) excursions, equipment rental and instruction, or you can book independently. Diving & Snorkeling at 
Hol Chan Marine Reserve Shark Ray Alley 25$ Aqua Dives: http://www.aquadives.com aquadives@btl.net Airport Transfers are $90 per person R/T for those not on one of the Adventure Packages, Spa Packages or Honeymoon Packages.

For a  taste of Belize

Recommended restaurants:
Chateau Caribbean http://www.chateaucaribbean.com  6 Marine Parade PO Box 947 Belize City Tel: (501)2-30800/ Fax (501) 2-30900 chateaucar@btl.net  try their Coconut soup, and tropical fruit lobster salad.
Mambo: Mata Chica Beach Resort's http://www.matachica.com  San Pedro, Ambergris Caye matachica@btl.net  Phone: (501) 21-3010 /FAX:3012 Accessible only by boat, Mata Chica offers 11 individual bungalows decorated with one-of-a-kind murals.  Also available: a 42-foot, four-stateroom catamaran anchored offshore, which is especially targeted to  honeymooners.

Shop to your hearts content

There's no better way to revive memories than with a few well-chosen hand-carved slate or Ziricote wood carvings from Belize, check out their crafts too. Tip: prices are less expensive out of Belize City. Bringing the Belizean taste home Mary Sharp’s hot sauces.

What to read, etc.

Ecotourism in Action by Meb Cutlack,
Hey Dad, by Emory King (available locally) is an anecdotal account of Belizean life written by an American expatriate. 
The Maya by Michael D Coe,
A Forest of Kings: The Untold Story of the Ancient Maya by Linda Shele and David Freidel. 
Time Among the Maya: by Ronald Wright.
The movie Mosquito Coast based on the book by Paul Theroux was partially filmed on the river that runs through  Belize City.
Guidebooks: Central America on a shoestring (Lonely Planet );
Central America Handbook, The Rough Guide all cover the practicalities  Cookbook: U Toucan Cook Belizean (available locally)

Where to browse

Some of the best web sites on Belize include: Guanaland: http://www.sanignaciobelize.com/  For Iguana adoption and release http://www.ambergriscaye.com 
http://www.belizezoo.org/ 
http://www.belizenet.com 
http://www.tbcnet.com/dyaeger/susa/tropwing.htm 

Becoming an unwilling blood donor in Belize

The jungle is never a comfortable environment for a human, but it can be made bearable. Mosquitoes rule the jungles of Belize through sheer number. Found in every continent in the world with the exception of Antarctica, the 2,500 species identified to date all must have time shares in Belize. 

Having endured the usual itchy tribulations in many of our journeys, we had the foresight to bring and liberally apply insect repellent from hair to toenails, none of which worked in Belize. The pests found all our blood vessels and drank liberally of our blood. These wicked ones proved impervious to the strongest repellents we brought with us such as Off!, Herbal Armor and a personal mosquito contro force-field. We even tried jungle salve by Rosita Arrigo (Belize's Mayan Goddess of healing). DEET insect repellent might be the only thing to work in these jungles. The mosquitoes kept us constantly slapping ourselves on legs and arms in a demented parody of a Garifunda dance.  

It is truly hard to understand these complicated vampires. Forget for a minute the mated female is the one that bites, the itching, bumps and irritation, they are by far the deadliest critters on the planet, spreading such maladies as malaria, yellow fever and dengue. To find a truly effective weapon against these bloodsuckers try www.mosquito.org   for the word on the latest repellents.

Photographs: Rob Kambach, Mud treatment photos: Courtesy of Maruba Jungle SPA