Matachica Beach Resort and Spa

We were met at the airport by the hotel and taken by golf buggy to the pier for our 10 minute boat transfer to the hotel.

On arrival we received a friendly greeting and complimentary drink of choice which was a nice touch. The hotel provides pre breakfast tea or coffee delivered to your cabin at a time of your choosing, again a nice touch as is the nightly turn down service.

Our accommodation was a seaview cabin, spacious and beautifully appointed with quality toiletries and complementary bug spray to repel the sand flies.

We arrived on a Tuesday when the hotel was promoting ‘Taco Tuesday’ which meant 2 for 1 Margaritas and Tacos at US$3 for 3 tacos. It’s obviously very popular as there was no seating space at the bar for newcomers or in the surrounding bar area. Live music was enjoyed by some but not those looking to enjoy peaceful rest.

There were two dining options at the hotel. A bistro and a more formal dining experience; we opted for the latter on our first night. The menu in Mambo the more formal restaurant was heavily biased toward seafood/crustaceans and dishes are prepared in advanced so no option to have any variations to the dishes. Service was professional but not personable. Both our dishes of Belizean chicken and seared tuna were excellent and beautifully presented.

Food and drinks were expensive compared to local restaurants clearly taking advantage of captive customers; however the quality and presentation was high. Menu prices and excursions incurred an additional mandatory 15% service charge and 12.5% government tax applied. At 8.30pm the restaurant was emptied of guests.

Breakfast was included as part of our meal plan with plenty of choice. If you have an early departure before breakfast the only take away food option offered was a peanut butter and jam sandwich.

The main town of San Pedro was not within walking range. A round trip in a taxi costed c.US$100. Many guests hired golf buggies to get around which worked out at a similar price.

We enjoyed a couple of nights stay just to relax on the beach but service at times was hit and miss, food and drinks were expensive and we felt our money could have been better spent elsewhere.

My wife and I had a very relaxing 4 days at Matachica resort. We were treated wonderfully by everyone from the front desk welcome by an always smiling, always helpful Heidi, to the beach staff that went beyond duty to retrieve my wife's wind-blown sunglasses from the bottom of the pier, to the owner of the resort, who did not let us leave our dinner table without his fabulous chef's desserts (Stephen, the pastry chef, also happens to be his son, and trained at the Culinary Institute of America). Stephen also contributed each morning to the sumptuous continental breakfast with different, innovative pastries, and he made his own ice creams and sorbets (we tried two, the best mango sorbet we have ever had, and a great banana ice-cream).
The cabanas were very comfortable and supplied with every amenity, and the service included nightly desserts from Stephen. There was only one pool, but large enough for this relatively small resort and very clean, with an integrated hot tub. Free canoes were provided to take guests to the barrier reef. The snorkeling there was very nice, to the extent that our guided paid snorkeling trip to the "shark alley" area did not provide a much greater display of marine life. There were nurse sharks and sting-rays and colorful fish 1/4 mile from the hotel reachable by canoe. One suggestion to make guest snorkeling easier, would be to place a small platform near the boeys, away from the reef, so as to assist with disembarking and embarking from the canoe without even disturbing the ocean floor. Another suggestion would be to pioneer the use of less polluting electric boats for the frequent short trips into San Pedro or even more importantly, to the various reef locations. The staff allowed us to tag along on rides to and from San Pedro when guests were coming or leaving, so we chose not to rent the ubiquitous golf carts that crowded that small town.
We would gladly recommend this adults only resort to visitors looking for a relaxing few days and some really good food.

Matachica is absolutely gorgeous. Just a short boat ride from San Pedro Town, it feels beautifully removed from the hustle and bustle — peaceful, private, and effortlessly chic. The setting is stunning: white sandy beaches, incredible shades of blue, and that perfect barefoot-luxury vibe where everything feels relaxed yet refined.

The food was outstanding — genuinely some of the best we’ve had in Belize, and we’ve lived here for 15 years and work in the hospitality industry. We couldn’t fault a single dish. There was great variety, everything was fresh, and all dietary requirements were handled seamlessly. We were completely wowed.

The service and attention to detail truly set Matachica apart. Warm, friendly, intuitive hospitality paired with thoughtful touches — handwritten notes, fresh cookies and recipe cards, lovely turndown service, and beautiful flowers. It all felt effortless, personal, and incredibly well done.

We loved our three days here and only wish we could have stayed longer. If you’re coming to San Pedro, we highly, highly, highly recommend Matachica — 100%.

We also strongly recommend doing the beach-and-jungle split stay with Gaïa Riverlodge for the ultimate Belize experience.

A full 100% recommendation from seasoned industry locals living in Belize for 15 years.

We had a great four nights stay at MehtaChica combining it with a three nights stay at Gaia River Lodge celebrating my 70th birthday . The service, accommodations and food were all great. The resort had a great combination of laid-back luxury that we were looking for. The Concierge was very helpful and the activities were well planned and executed. Particular shout out to Victor who helped on our fishing trip and drove us on both boat and car into San Pedro. He made us feel comfortable and cared for, and we found him very insightful and intelligent.

Wonderful place with an amazing staff and very good food. Rooms are spread out in a lovely garden. A place for relaxation 30 minutes with a golfcart from San Pedro. The premises qre kept very clean. Highly recommend if you want a place out of the center.

Great hotel with fantastic staff. Our sea breeze casita had everything we needed and it was equipped to deal with any mosquitos and bugs however we didnt have any issues with either throughout our stay. Bar staff were friendly and knowledgable and we thouroughly enjoyed our rum & tequila tasting sessions. Whilst at Matachica we arranged a trip over the blue hole which was superb and a private snorkelling trip and visit to Caye Caulker. Victor our captain and Mauro were brilliant. Hol chan & shark ray alley did not disappoint.

Very nice stay at Matachica, we specially enjoyed the people working in the hotel, who made their best to satisfy our requests. Special thanks to Khar, Jeremy and Luis! And of course to all the persons we don’t remember the name!
The only negative point, and therefore we don’t give the five stars, is the prices at the restaurant. Breakfast, despite very good, is not at the level of the price we pay. I have been traveling all around the world, but I never paid USD 18.- plus taxes for an omelette. One tea: USD 5.- plus taxes…! At the level Matachica aims to be, that should be corrected and they should offer a real breakfast to their guests.
For the rest, we highly recommend Matachica.

Fantastic location, great accommodations and staff. Pleasant with no children running around. Concierge services were extremely helpful and excursions easy to book.

My husband and I stayed at Matachica for a week, the first week of January, to celebrate my birthday. We had an amazing time! The resort is beautiful and well maintained. Staff were all so friendly, helpful, and attentive. Shout outs to Lilian at the spa, Lance at the Tree bar, Julio, Jose, Gustavo, Josue, and Moses at the Mambo restaurants and bar! All the staff were outstanding and I wish I remembered everyone’s names. The only problem we had was our hot water heater going out but maintenance had it replaced within 2 hours. We will definitely return, Matachica is paradise!!

This is, hands down, the nicest resort I have ever been to. The staff and the location are what make this hotel the amazing place that it is. It is relatively easy to access while still feeling remote and peaceful. Even though the resort was fully booked, it felt like we were the only couple there. The staff took time to remember our preferences and make our experience personalized and special. It was worth every penny we paid. Grounds were clean. Food was amazing. Spa services were delightful. The ambience and vibes were tropical perfection without feeling hokey. We will absolutely be making it an annual vacation to this resort. I am counting the days till we return in 2027.

Our stay at Matachica was unbeatable. The service and hospitality was top notch. The roots and resort were well kept, tidy, and welcoming. The food was delicious! We recommend the spear fishing tour with Job. It was fantastic and the lobster we caught was cooked by the chef at the restaurant. Heidi at the front desk was friendly and helpful throughout the entire stay. Lance took care of us at the bar and out by the pool. He gave use great recommendations for local food spots and where to visit. Overall, I cannot recommend this resort enough and we will certainly be back to visit.

Fabulous trip with the family - our 4th time to Matachica (and third to Gaia). Beautful accomodations, wonderful staff who were all kind, friendly and accommodating. It was a great family time together with much to do or nothing to do but relax and enjoy its each other's company.

Our family of five stayed at Matachica for seven nights over the New Year's holiday. Som of us snorkeled, did scuba diving, spearfishing and sea kayaking. Others merely relaxed on the loungers at the dock which extended out to the ocean and by the pool reading and chilling. The food at both restaurants is OUTSTANDING. I've never ever stayed at a resort where every meal was. so consistently delicious. The accommodations were wonderful and we had restful sleep. The staff goes above and beyond -- the concierge set us up for great excursions. We enjoyed getting to know Lance, Julio, Archie, Gustavo and so many more. Thank you for a wonderful holiday!

Stayed two nights. It was neatly decorated , peaceful and nice with a hammock on the front porch. Staff brings coffee each morning. You definitely get your zen here

My first room “mandarin” was filled with flying insects all around my bed, nightstand, and couch. (They came twice to remove them ) I was told they don’t bite and it was normal to see so many.

Second room, the “raspberry” was very nice and rarely any insects so that clearly wasn’t true. The staff was friendly except Heidi…… I walked through front desk twice behind two other couples and a single guest that did not look like me. They were all greeted expeditiously. I even went back to the lobby with me being the only guest just to see if it was an oversight…. I walked around the lobby seeking the restroom and she didn’t bother to look up…I did tell her about it and she apologized with the excuse “busy with checkouts and she didn’t see me” By the way the guest she greeted were not checking out just walking through to breakfast like me…..Then she made the comment to me “wasn’t I supposed to be at another resort” Wow! For context: (The other resort was less expensive but it got doubled booked so the owner was nice enough to book me here) I wouldn’t call this place luxury or costly justified. It is their idea of luxury. (I wasn’t seeking luxury on this solo trip either)….Overall it was nice. Peaceful and Quiet.
Dear Heidi:
I’m well traveled and have been at the best of the best hotels/resorts. This is an opportunity for you to be inclusive to all guests. I get that I stood out with only two brown guests being on the resort but that’s even more reason to be equally polite like your peers.

We enjoyed an amazing week at Matachica. Every single aspect was superior. The property is gorgeous. We were able to enjoy a few nights in a beachfront casita before moving to a sea breeze. Each of the rooms was vibrantly decorated, and the porch swings were delightful. With all of the small details, Matachica truly stands out. The morning coffee service and the turndown service with the adorable cloches of cookies…perfection The spa services were opulent and immensely soothing, and the housekeeping was flawless. Matachica really sets itself apart with all of the little touches. The coffee service in the morning and the darling little close shoes of cookies during turndown service. Housekeeping was impeccable, and the spa services were luxurious and incredibly relaxing. I spent a lot of time perusing the gorgeous travel photography books in the lobby. We enjoyed a few excursions with Captain Charlie and encountered an abundance marine life. Fish, dolphins, barracudas, sharks, marine turtles, and stingrays. It was unbelievable! The availability of sea kayaks to snorkel with the stingrays and clip on the buoy was fantastic. I also cannot overstate how wonderful the food and cocktails were. Each meal was excellent, colorful, creative, and fresh. We were informed that the owner's son is the exceptionally talented pastry chef. That pecan dessert will be in my dreams along with the little coiled roll of buttered pastry with a dash of pepper. The music at the restaurant was amazing! I was thrilled to receive the playlists. We deeply appreciate everyone who made the first week of the new year unforgettable. We are planning to return next year and stay a few nights on the sister property before heading back to Matachica because we were absolutely delighted with our trip and all the staff members we met.

Everything was good , hotel staffs were super friendly and the resort itself is cozy. The room is a bit small but function and comfy.

The only issue was a breakfast. I think there are 2 breakfast options , full and continental which when I book a room I didnt remember which one that i booked becuase I thought the beach resort should have the same and proper breakfast.

And we found out that our continental breakfast was small in portion and no variety. If you want anything else you have to pay extra. Which I think the hotel should quit this kind of things. This is a beach resort which guest normally have breakfast at hotel and you still charge it. That was a big disappointment.

There are many guests complain about this and hotel should change this policies. You can just charge the room rate with full breakfast and that’s it.

Matachica is located outside San Pedro, on Ambergris Caye. It is a beautiful location and only a 15 minute Kayak ride to the barrier reef, where you can snorkel and dive. The casitas are very charming and spacious. The restaurant serves delicious food for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and there's a separate fancier restaurant with incredible desserts and a lovely dinner menu. Staff at Matachica are all top-notch. They're warm and friendly, incredibly professional and helpful. They attend to every request immediately and greet guests always with a smile.

We stayed at Matachica for our honeymoon and we couldn't have had a more incredible experience. They picked us up from the airport, drove us to a boat, and brought us to the resort. They met us in reception with a welcome drink and gave us a tour of the property.

The staff are unbelievably attentive, kind, and there are no words to describe the service. They make it a point to know every guest's name and their dietary needs. My husband can't have dairy so they even made him a special breakfast pastry to accommodate his needs.

As for staff shout outs, we could name every person we met and tell you something they did that was special. However, Jose, Josue, and Archie were particularly incredible. We enjoyed having a drink and chatting with Archie, learning about his heritage. Jessie in housekeeping decorated our room for our arrival and kept things clean and beautiful for our whole visit.

And the FOOD!! Everything we ate was delicious and packed with cultural flavors. However, if you get the chance to do the Captain's Table, absolutely do it. The menu was unbelievable and you get to experience social dining hosted by one of their staff members who teaches you about the special dishes and their place in Belizean culture.

We also highly recommend the Hol Chan snorkeling trip. Henry and Charles were such pros. They taught us what to do and took very good care of us in the water. We saw so many incredible and thrilling animals!

Thank you to the whole team who helped us enjoy our stay. We could not be more grateful.

Sam and Paul

Everything

Our stay at Matachica was fine, but we wouldn't come back. The view from our Casita was nice. But there were slimy bugs and bird droppings in the room every morning. We could hear people in the hottub talking and music from the pool, but it was generally quiet most of the day. The staff were nice or at least polite, particularly the spa and front desk staff. The spa treatments were relaxing. We enjoyed a fun and informative tour of the Mexico Rocks with Henry and Charles. And Jeremy at the concierge desk was helpful. But everything else was underwhelming. The food at the restaurant was bland and overpriced. If we could do it over, we would have just rented a golf cart on Day 1 instead of trying different options at the restaurant. My husband and I were on our honeymoon and wanted a relaxing stay without having to think about much. But after a couple small ~$100 basic, unseasoned meals and weak cocktails, we had to bite the bullet and get a golf cart. With a 20-minute drive we could get food with twice the flavor for half the price. The biggest disappointment was the handling of weather issues. Our sunset snorkel was cancelled due to weather and rescheduled for a morning tour, which wasn't the end of the world, but certainly was not the romantic sunset swim we anticipated. And we finished early due to the rain, so had to quickly eat and only had time for one drink of the beer, wine, and sodas that should have been included in the tour. It would have been nice to be offered a sunset boat ride or something on a day with better weather for the experience. But the biggest disappointment was our private pier dinner, which was supposed to be a romantic meal to cap off our honeymoon. The dinner had to be rescheduled because of the rain, which wasn't a big deal. But on the date of the rescheduled dinner, we shared the Pier with another couple...so it wasn't a private dinner. Then, before we got drinks and appetizers, it started to rain. So we relocated to....the restaurant, which was neither private nor on the Pier. We just wish there would have been a better backup plan, like a private dinner in our casita. We tried to make the best of it, but we were really looking forward to a nice, romantic evening. Then we were offered an "upgrade" to a villa two nights before our departure, which we declined because it would be inconvenient to move at the end of our stay. But we ended up overhearing another couple asking for our room (by name) and the woman had been outside of our Casita talking loudly on the phone (despite ample seating elsewhere). So it felt like we were being pushed out on our honeymoon, which sucked. Would not recommend.