Fodor's Expert Review Macaw Bank Jungle Lodge

This small, laid-back eco-lodge on 50 acres adjoining the Macal River is for travelers seeking a no-frills spot where you can hear the jungle hum outside your doorstep and where the air bristles with the promise of bird and animal sightings. Six simple and comfortable cottages, lighted with kerosene lamps, are spread around the grounds for privacy. You can hike to the unexcavated Mayan site of Tipu, or schlep yourself down cut trails to the river for swimming or canoeing. All tours are outsourced to local guides. Farm-to-table, mostly organic meals are served in a thatched, open-air palapa.