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Address
Lower Dover,
PO Box 346,
San Ignacio,
Cayo District,
Belize,
Central America.

Contact
+501 674-4200
LowerDoverBelize@gmail.com

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Lower Dover

5.0

Natalee Drapp

18:55 18 Mar 20

I stayed at lower Dover back in October 2019. Maddy was so kind to me my entire stay. Right after I checked in she put one of her dogs on the leash for me to take on a jungle walk while she made dinner. So fun! Maddy was so helpful with answering my questions and making recommendations. She set me up with a guide to go on the ATM cave tour; it’s a must do! She made me a delicious dinner the two nights I was there, and everything was very clean and working properly. Very happy with my stay, I would love to stay again if I find myself back in the area.

Aleksandra

02:34 11 Mar 20

The place is just perfect, a little paradise hidden between more frequently visited towns. It's right on the jungle border but not far away from the main road, so you can go anywhere around by bus. The owners are super welcoming and caring for everyone to feel at home. The food is great. The site has a bunch of colorful houses on shiny green grass and everything is spotless clean. I stayed in the dorm room with great beds, mosquito nets and enough space for everything. Exploring the forest and river there is enough of attraction to go but there is also the archeological site. I can't really think of a better place to explore the area. Thank you for everything!

Dorothy Nygren

16:19 05 Mar 20

A real hidden gem! This property is beautiful! I love the story of how this place came to be and Maddie is a genuinely lovely host! All the meals were delicious! (Breakfast and dinner available for $6/$12 respectively) they do meals all together so it's a great time chatting and getting to know everyone. So much space to wander around and really relax. Tours are easily set up to pick up from lower Dover and there are also some cheap options to explore on your own close by. I was only going to stay for a night but extended to the end of my trip, just loved it!

Jacqui Ollevou

09:10 04 Mar 20

Loved this place. A nice break from crowded hostels, great facilities and nice to explore the surrounding grounds. I recommend taking the walk down the the property, the locals are so friendly and welcoming for all visitors

Victoria Rick-Holien

16:58 25 Feb 20

I have never been so at home, somewhere so far from home. The location is absoutely incredible but the best part of this place is easily Madeline. Her hospitality, delicious cooking, and genuine care for her guests is remarkable. Lower Dover is now a second home to me, and I will surely return as many times as possible! I highly recommend if you want a beautiful jungle oasis, this is the place for you.

Katrina Laube

23:13 15 Feb 20

Such a beautiful property - so peaceful and feels very rural, even though you are actually quite close to urbanization. Excellent facilities, delicious burrito night, and trails leading to a beautiful swimming spot on the river. Maddy was super helpful with recommendations and answering any questions we had. Would love to come back one day!

Jacob Skwarcan

02:40 06 Feb 20

Out of all my travels and hostels I've stayed at, Lower Dover is by far the best. Maddy does a great job of making you feel right at home and sharing her wealth of knowledge with you. The property itself was incredible; if you want a quiet, nature-filled getaway this is the spot for you. Solar-heated showers (how awesome??), friendly dogs running around, and wildlife all around you make this place amazing. And the home-cooked meals Maddy offers are absolutely incredible!! You will not regret staying here.

liam watson

02:30 30 Jan 20

Lower Dover is the perfect base to tour the ATM caves, San Ignacio and their very own Maya Ruins in the backyard, along with a swimming hole along the river for a refreshing dip. Maddy is the most accomodating host I’ve ever had and does everything possible to ensure you have a great stay. This place is a must do if you’re on your way from the Belize Cays to Guatemala.

Fork- a-nature

21:14 10 Jan 20

Incredible hostel with a beautiful complex in the jungle. The ruins behind the field station are extensive and quite impressive (look for huge rock mounds). The owner serves delicious local breakfast and dinner, with great conversations with your hostel mates coming easily

Gemma Briggs

14:37 10 Jan 20

Lower Dover is a hidden gem with primary forest accessible by bus. The Mayan ruins are breathtaking and the family managing them does a fantastic job of conserving them. Home cooked meals are delicious and family style, and there's a great community of travelers. Mosquito nets too. Everyone who visits Belize should come!

Logan Dirkx

22:29 04 Jan 20

I had an amazing stay at Lower Dover. Maddy is a welcoming host, the property is pristine, and the history is enchanting. Do not miss an opportunity to stay here as you pass through Belize!

Hortense Le Bourhis

14:43 01 Jan 20

Very charming place, comfy cabins in the middle of nature. Maddy, the owner, is super welcoming and helpful. I recommend +++

Guillemot le bourhis

12:58 28 Dec 19

Warmest welcome and beautiful place to stay ! The owners welcome you into their home, assist you in every way, the property is worth a visit and the cabins are very comfortable. Perfectly situated to visit the ATM caves. 10/10 recommend !

John McGavisk

18:04 19 Dec 19

5 Star Restaurant Delicious Meals created from local ingredients by a guru passionate nutritionist. Strongest WiFi for research, work or education - encompassing entire property. Friendly, frugal, compassionate & well educated staff. Accommodations to meet even the most demanding globe trotters. Based on a 5 Star rating - I personally award them 100 stars.

Anna Dorosh

23:26 18 Dec 19

I began my first solo trip ever at Lower Dover, and my experience there was an overwhelmingly positive one. As a well seasoned traveler, the bar was set pretty high for accommodations, but I was still nervous to be traveling alone as a young woman. Maddy provided a wonderfully homey atmosphere, that made me feel safe and secure in continuing my 17 day trip through Central America. The home cooked meals provided were so delicious, I was more than happy to spend each meal dining at Lower Dover with Maddy and the other guests. I spent 4 nights at Lower Dover, diving (quite literally) right into the ATM Cave tour the day after my arrival. Maddy arranged the tour, and given Lower Dover’s perfectly convenient location, my small group was able to be the first ones in and out of the caving adventure and it was hands down one of the most remarkable experiences I’ve ever encountered! A must-do for sure. GO CHECK IT OUT FOR YOURSELVES - Lower Dover is the vibe!

Phoenix Starllen

03:11 18 Dec 19

Best hospitality I’ve ever had! Maddy the owner is the nicest lady who did everything she could to make everyone feel happy and welcome. Delicious home cooked meals, beautiful area, wonderful place to visit. Perfect location for if you’re planning to do the ATM caves. Beds were comfy. All together a wonderful experience had by myself and everyone staying there.

Clare Blencowe

01:46 16 Dec 19

We had a brilliant stay at Lower Dover! Maddy is an amazing host and the food is just incredible. Not only this, the trip to the ATM caves is fantastic. We were the first group inside the cave and had the main chamber to ourselves. You can also take the pet dogs for a walk through the Mayan ruins on site. It has easy access to San Ignacio and Maddy is very knowledgeable about cheap, local transport to other destinations. Make sure you book this place if you planning on staying in the area!

Elaine Casey

08:21 07 Dec 19

Fabulous place, I booked for two nights and wanted to stay longer but I had to move on. From the minute I arrived to the minute I left I felt totally welcome here. It's so peaceful and quiet and at night you can see millions of stars. Madeline is a fountain of information and knowledge about the area and the country. There are some lovely trails you can walk and even some Mayan ruins and you can either cook yourself or eat what's cooked in house and the menu changes daily. I cannot recommend this place enough and it's amazing value for the price.

Anka Mizerska

23:36 25 Nov 19

Amazing place with an amazing, chill vibe. You feel like home the second you enter. Delicious food, common area with pool table and good guide books. The owner is super helpful to arrange the best trips possible. Like ATM cave early in the morning, before everybody else, so you skip crowds and enjoy having this magical place all to yourself. This experience is impossible to describe. You really MUST SEE it! Honestly, I don't think we would have such a great time in the area if it wasn't for the Lower Dover.

mason dixon

18:33 30 Oct 19

best hostel in Belize. this place offers nice hiking trails, a personal swimming hole, delicious home cooked meals, hot showers, and last but certainly not least Mayan ruins on the property!

Parrish Brady

02:49 12 Oct 19

I have stayed at the Lower Dover hostel several times. I am an entomologist and this property has a wonderful diversity of insects and a nice stretch of forest with several different aquatic, forest, and meadow habitats. The variety of herps in this area always excites me and invites me back. The hostels are clean and charming, and the host is very knowledgeable about the area and very helpful and accommodating. The ruins on the property are amazing and thought-provoking to walk through. The hostel is in close proximity to many larger archaeological sites and other habitats.

Donte Whitaker

22:54 11 Oct 19

This location is a must stay! The grounds are well kept, it's a beautiful set up, there is lots of space, and the host is amazing. They have internet, food, showers, and the host knows a lot about the area and how to help you get to where you need to. She offers to cook meals that are good and locally inspired. That and the drinks she offer are well priced. It was nice because we were busy all day and would not have to worry about dinner because she would have it ready for us. The location is near a lot of cool Belize interest and Lower Dover it self has some archaeological interest. I greatly suggest staying here for your vacation or if you are just passing through.

Nick Norris

01:56 01 Oct 19

Maddie (owner) was absolutely fantastic! I showed up at Lower Dover with about a two days notice and once I got here I was instantly amazed by both the staff and the location. Maddie helped me jump on a tour to ATM Cave with a few other guests and also helped me grab a tour to Tikal on the following day. And after sweating all day in the sun on tours it's great to be able to jump in the water and go from a swim right next to the dorms! Plus her dogs were able to take me on a tour of the ruins on the property. Lower Dover is hands down one of the best hostels that I've ever stayed at.

Kevin Nguyen

14:19 31 Aug 19

Lower Dover is the place to stay when hanging around for the attractions in Belize! It's near everything : Xunantunich, ATM Cave, Blue Hole. The place is a gigantic field with multiple dorms/private chambers for either the backpackers or a family to sleep. There's hot showers. You have the option to have homemade food made for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Maddy is also really sweet. She helps the travelers with daily plans, makes reservation for us if needed. I had a blast living in this luxury hostel instead of heading to San Ignacio for a basic cheap hostel for the same price. Thank you for everything Maddy! I definitely recommend this place to everyone heading to Western Belize.

Johannes Louis

13:52 21 Aug 19

Beautiful place, great to relax... Take a swim in Belize River around the corner or visit the Maya ruins on the premise. Maddy is a great host, very knowledgeable about the area and making sure you'll have all you need during your stay. Highly recommended!

Emily Basham

02:18 20 Aug 19

We had an excellent experience staying here. We selected the Rasta room which had A/C and the innkeeper Maddie helped connect us with a great tour guide for the ATM Cave. The hostel campus had a great vibe bringing together travelers around the world but the best part for me was THE FOOD. Excellent local meals that accommodated meat eaters and a vegetarian. We had a great tour of the archeological site from our host and truly enjoyed every minute here.

Veronica Lopez

17:28 19 Aug 19

It's a magical place! One can swim, hike, visit the on-site ruins, or relax in a hammock. The staff is super welcoming, friendly, and made our stay even better. The food was amazing, all the flavorful goodness one would want after a day at the ATM cave. Really miss the sounds of nature at night.

Shannon Mullin

18:46 12 Aug 19

We absolutely loved our stay at Lower Dover! Maddy was so helpful in planning our itinerary and with any questions we had. She knows so much about the area and its history. Talking to her during the delicious breakfasts and dinners was definitely a highlight of our trip. If you have the chance, take a walk around the Mayan ruins on the property with Maddy and the dogs. The hostel is beautiful, the location is breathtaking, and the open-air showers were incredible. You should 100% stay here!

Holly Allen

17:53 08 Aug 19

Maddy and her staff are the most wonderful hosts! We had such a comfortable, safe, homely and welcoming stay here after 2 weeks of travelling around central america. All the rooms and showers are very spacious and the property sits on top of a Mayan ruin so there is loads of surrounding land to explore with a river 5 mins away for you to take a swim. The hostel is very close to the ATM caves and only a 20-30min bus ride outside of San Ignacio.Maddy is super knowledgeable and will be able to give you excellent advice and guidance during your stay with her. Nothing is too much hassle. Maddy and her staff are incredible cooks and have served delicious, nutritious and well thought out meals made from fresh produce grown on site. She has even been kind enough to pass on some of her recipes!! We have loved our stay at Lower Dover and would recommend to anyone craving some home comforts whilst travelling through this area. There is a reason this is voted number 1 hostel in Belize. It is truly one of a kind and we are so grateful we could experience it. Thank you Maddy!

Colton Mewbourne

13:03 08 Aug 19

An amazing, one of a kind experience! The people were all so nice. The entire property is an ACTUAL MAYAN SITE. You can hike, swim, play with the dogs. I sincerely hope I have the chance to come back. Love you guys!

Aleah Cordoba

01:30 06 Aug 19

Oh my gosh Lower Dover is absolutely INCREDIBLE. Madeline is a perfect host, she was like our mom, taking care of everything we needed, feeding us delicious food, and showing us around her 100 acres of jungle forest with her lovely dogs. Very clean and quaint and colorful, I especially like that it's.right on the Belize River so we spent an afternoon swimming in our own private watering hole. Madeline books all the best tours directly from the hostel with the best guides and super good prices. GO TO LOWER DOVER!

Simon Blurton

14:01 18 Jul 19

Beautiful grounds. They can cook for vegans too.

hezekia bartolo

03:20 12 Jul 19

Serenity very eco friendly and vegetarian meals served to guests

Kerry McFadden

18:27 16 Mar 19

Everyone at Lower Dover was really cool and welcoming. The food was delicious and there is some cool stuff to see on the large property. We took a walk to the on-site ruins and riverbank with the friendly dogs and had a lot of fun. Stay here if you can!

Jeannine Anderson

15:40 14 Feb 19

Spectacular setting, not too far off the beaten track, with gracious hosts and easy connections to daily outings to ruins, caves, tubing. Great place to just stay put and watch the bird and wildlife or enjoy a walk on jungle trails to the ruins located on the property, or nap in the hammock house. They'll feed you fresh homemade breakfast and dinner, with reservations, and they keep a fridge stocked with cold beer, soda and estate grown and fermented hibiscus wine. Wonderful.

Nicole Nilsson

00:26 12 Feb 19

Amazing place in the jungle definitely one of my all time favorites! Which other hostel in Central America can boast about having Mayan ruins and a river on the property AND trained awesome dogs to walk you around this huge property! The family that lives there are the best too, very helpful

susan taylor

05:34 22 Jan 19

Lower Dover is a two thumbs up place to stay ?? Maddie has it together , with charming cabanas delicious food and tasty hibiscus wine. Perfect place to use as a base for side trips or just stay on the property for relaxing and a good time. Well done!

Lexmy

01:15 30 Oct 17

Such a hidden gem in the midst of nature while also on a 10min walk from the main road! And Maddy - the owner - is really a sweet heart who took such good care of us! We stayed in a private cabaña which was probably the nicest place we've stayed at; had amazing sweet potato curry with lots of veggies and delicious breakfasts that Maddy made for us; walked along the trail; saw the ruins; swam in the little lake; and spent time on our veranda on some rainy days. Very much recommended!

A. Jampen

12:24 13 Apr 17

Eine schöne Anlage etwas ab vom Schuss. Aber innerhalb von 10min Fussmarsch ab der Hauptstraße zu erreichen. Die Preise für Essen und Getränke sind etwas teuer, daher habe ich selber gekocht. Die Besitzer sind freundlich und hilfsbereit. Auf der Anlage hat es einen Trail, einen Fluss zum Baden und auch eine kleine Maya Ruine.

Ysabella Schneider

17:02 06 Dec 16

Loved the family at lower dover. Awesome site highly reccomend staying at this hostel if in the area

Tara McGowan

03:51 24 Sep 16

This place was amazing. Maddy and her family could not have been more friendly. We were two very tired travlers who made errors when booking (wrong date so just showed up unannounced!) and Maddy accommodated us without question also helping us book our tour to the Aim caves. The grounds are beautiful and we loved the guide dogs who accompanied us whilst we explored the nature trail and Mayan ruins on site. Room was very comfortable and clean. Highlight of our stay here was sitting in the porch in the dark and watching the fire flies sparkle!

Lower Dover Belize

07:26 09 Nov 14

Beyond fantastic! Cool, clean cabanas, nearby waterfalls and jungle trails. Be sure to take the tour of the on-site Maya ruins & jungle medicine trail. There are high end, mid level and budget cabanas plus hostel like dorms. We took the bus to Unitedville from the BZE airport but other guests arrived via taxi. Even though Lower Dover is only a few minutes off of the main highway, we were impressed by it's deep jungle vibe & the amount of wildlife we saw....yes even toucans! Their tour of the ATM Cave was the highlight of our trip in Belize. One of the best vacations my boyfriend and I have had together.

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