Lush foliage surrounds the accommodations at Jaguar Paw Resort.

Howler monkeys make their home in the jungle surrounding Jaguar Paw Resort, located about an hour west of Belize City. So, if you’re freaked out by screams in the middle of the night (or during the day for that matter – that’s when I heard them), this in-the-middle-of-nowhere resort likely isn’t for you. But if you’re game for a little bit of adventure during your Belize vacation, and don’t mind thematically decorated rooms (most of which have nothing to do with Belize or the local culture), consider Jaguar Paw.

There are 16 rooms at Jaguar Paw; three have double beds and are appropriate for families of four. They are housed in four, one-story, stuccoed, nondescript buildings that are connected by stone-and-cement walkways (the property is not friendly for wheelchairs or other guests who might have trouble walking on rough surfaces).

It's hard to tell where the fake jungle ends and the real jungle (outside the window) begins.

Each room is decorated in a different theme, such as Jungle, Southwest, Asian, English, Tropical Mediterranean and African. Some have glow-in-the-dark stars on the ceiling, and one is simply called the “shell room.” (If you’re not booked in the shell room, ask if you can see it if only to check out the bathroom whose walls are covered completely with shells.) The owner, American Donna Young, collected furniture and accents from her worldwide travels to decorate the rooms — including a Japanese kimono, African tribal masks and Native American wall hangings.  The bed/living area of each room is spacious, and the bathroom… not so much.

Exterior of a building housing guest accommodations.

Amenities at the resort on 200 acres include a restaurant and bar, as well as a small, pretty pool totally enveloped by foliage. I liked the small building with floor-to-ceiling windows located off the outdoor dining area; it serves as a comfortable gathering spot for guests.

But what really draws visitors to Jaguar Paw is the amazing array of outdoor activities and adventures:

A 45-minute zipline tour features five different runs through the jungle and ends with a rappel descent. It’s a great introduction to ziplining — not too long and not too short. I saw children as young as eight participating, though preschoolers can ride with guides to enjoy the fun.

Cave tubing through tunnels filled with stalactites and stalagmites, waterfalls… and bats. It’s a short hike — while carrying your innertube — and then about an hour’s ride down the river in chilly water. No worries about separating from your group; when I tubed with other travel writers during my November trip to Belize, we hooked legs and arms in a “tubing train” to stick together down the river. (A bonding experience for sure.)

One of seven platforms used on the zipline tour at Jaguar Paw Resort.

Rappelling down a sheer limestone cliff

Rock climbing up four limestone walls — each of varying difficulty.

“Jumble Tumble,” where you’re enclosed in an 11-foot-diameter inflatable ball and rolled down a hill. Go wet — with water sloshing around inside to make it more slippery. (Personally, just writing about this activity — also called “zorbing” in other parts of the world — makes my 40-year-old back hurt, but I bet my kids would love it.)

Activities cost extra, outside of the room rate (which ranges from $150 to $220, depending on the season). If you plan a trip to Jaguar Paw, be aware that the activities at are a very, very popular shore excursion for cruisers docked in Belize City. Up to 1,000 cruise ship passengers descend on Jaguar Paw midweek to zipline, rock climb and cave tube. If you can, book your activities around the crowds.

I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Jaguar Paw for a couple of nights during a week-long Belize family vacation — especially for unpretentious folks who don’t plan to spend a lot of time in their room. In an ideal world, I’d combine two nights at Jaguar Paw — featuring at least two days filled with fun outdoor adventures — with a stay at the beach. After all, this landlocked ColoradoGal likes her beach time!