Jungle-covered hills of the Maya Mountains in Belize

Mopan River Resort · Belize

Khi & Mackenzie

We're getting married in the jungle of the Cayo District — where the Mopan River bends past the ruins, and the howler monkeys wake you before the sun does.

The dateComing soonPlease hold off on booking flights until it's set.

Our story

Their story is still being written here — Khi and Mackenzie will share it soon. What we can tell you is that when it came time to pick a place to say their vows, they didn't choose a ballroom. They chose a river, a jungle, and a country that has always felt a little like home.

We would love for you to make the trip and be there with them.

The venue

Mopan River Resort

Tucked into the forest on the banks of the Mopan River, just north of Benque Viejo del Carmen in Belize's Cayo District. Thatched palapas, river frontage, and jungle on every side — about ten minutes from the Guatemalan border and twenty-five from San Ignacio.

A heads up: much of the property is still under construction, so on-site rooms are extremely limited. Most guests will stay nearby — see Where to Stay for options a short drive away.

Finding it
The resort has no official street address. Head to Benque Viejo del Carmen, Cayo District, and follow the river road north — see the map below for the exact spot.
Nearest town
Benque Viejo del Carmen — 5 minutes
Aerial view of Mopan River Resort's thatched cabanas surrounded by jungle beside the Mopan River
The resort from above — jungle on one side, the Mopan River on the other.

Getting there

Flights & the drive west

Step 1

Fly into BZE

Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport in Belize City is the only international airport in the country. Nonstops run from Miami, Houston, Dallas, Atlanta, Charlotte and Newark, so most guests will connect once.

Step 2

Head west

Benque Viejo is about 2 to 2.5 hours west on the George Price Highway. Book a shared shuttle ahead of time (roughly $75–$125 per person), rent a car, or take a 20-minute domestic hop to San Ignacio (Maya Flats) airport.

Step 3

Settle in

Most guests stay in Benque Viejo or San Ignacio and drive over for the day. Taxis between the two towns are inexpensive, and hotels can arrange rides.

Flying from Florida

MIAMiami, FL

Miami International

To Belize City (BZE)
Daily nonstops on American — the easiest route to Belize City.
On to San Ignacio (TZA)
Tropic Air hop from BZE (~20 min), or a 2–2.5 hr shuttle west.

~2h 30m nonstop to BZE

FLLFort Lauderdale, FL

Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood

To Belize City (BZE)
Seasonal nonstops on Southwest; otherwise one stop via MIA or ATL.
On to San Ignacio (TZA)
Connect to Tropic Air at BZE, or drive/shuttle to Benque.

~2h 40m nonstop to BZE

MCOOrlando, FL

Orlando International

To Belize City (BZE)
Seasonal nonstops; reliable one-stops via MIA, ATL or CLT.
On to San Ignacio (TZA)
Aim for a BZE arrival before 3pm to catch the last TZA hop.

~3h nonstop to BZE

TPATampa, FL

Tampa International

To Belize City (BZE)
One stop via MIA, CLT or ATL — no nonstops.
On to San Ignacio (TZA)
Same-day TZA connection works if you leave Tampa in the morning.

~5h total with connection

Flying from D.C. / Baltimore

IADDulles, VA

Washington Dulles

To Belize City (BZE)
Connect via IAH, ATL or CLT; best early-morning departures.
On to San Ignacio (TZA)
Morning departure lands at BZE in time for an afternoon TZA hop.

~7h total with connection

BWIBaltimore, MD

Baltimore/Washington Intl

To Belize City (BZE)
Connect via CLT, ATL or MIA — Southwest and American both work.
On to San Ignacio (TZA)
Plan a TZA hop only with a pre-3pm BZE arrival; otherwise shuttle.

~7h 30m total with connection

DCAArlington, VA

Reagan National

To Belize City (BZE)
Connect via CLT, ATL or MIA; shortest overall itineraries most days.
On to San Ignacio (TZA)
Book TZA as a separate Tropic Air ticket with 2+ hours of buffer.

~7h total with connection

Domestic hop: San Ignacio (Maya Flats)

TZA — San Ignacio Airport at Maya Flats is the closest airstrip to the venue, about 20 minutes away. Tropic Air flies there from BZE in roughly 20 minutes, which turns the long highway drive into a short flight. Worth it if you're arriving late or travelling light.

On the map

Find your way around

Pan and zoom to get your bearings. Click any marker for details — the venue, the nearby towns, the ruins, and the airport you'll land at.

Loading map…

  • Mopan River Resort

    The venue — on the banks of the Mopan River, just north of Benque Viejo del Carmen.

  • Benque Viejo del Carmen

    The closest town. Groceries, ATMs, restaurants, and the Guatemala border crossing.

  • San Ignacio

    Cayo's hub, ~20 min away. Most hotels, tour operators, and the Saturday market.

  • Xunantunich Maya Site

    Ancient Maya city reached by a hand-cranked ferry. El Castillo is 130 ft tall.

  • Philip S. W. Goldson Intl (BZE)

    Belize City. Everyone flies in here — then about 2.5 hours west by road.

Where to stay

Rooms in the Cayo District

Mopan River Resort is still being rebuilt, so only a handful of guests will be able to stay on the property. Happily, the Cayo District is full of good options within a short drive — from simple guesthouses in Benque to full jungle lodges along the rivers.

The neighbors

Wildlife you'll meet

You are staying in a rainforest. That is most of the charm, and all of the noise.

A black howler monkey resting high in the branches of a jungle tree

Howler monkeys

Belizeans call them baboons. They are the loudest land animal on earth — a troop can be heard three miles away, and their dawn chorus sounds less like a monkey and more like a jet engine arguing with a lion. The first time you hear it at 5 a.m. you will be certain something enormous is coming for you.

It isn't. They're leaf-eaters, they weigh about twenty pounds, and they stay in the canopy. Look up and you'll usually spot a dark shape draped over a branch, entirely unbothered. Bring earplugs if you're a light sleeper — and then take the earplugs out, because you flew to Belize to hear this.

A jaguar resting on the forest floor among palms

Jaguars

Belize is home to the world's first jaguar preserve — the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary — and the country has one of the healthiest jaguar populations in Central America. They are here, in these forests, genuinely.

You will almost certainly not see one. They are nocturnal, solitary, and want nothing to do with a wedding party. The realistic way to see a jaguar up close is at the Belize Zoo, a wonderful stop on the drive between Belize City and Cayo, where every animal is a rescue.

Keel-billed toucan

The national bird. Noisy, ridiculous, everywhere at dawn.

Iguanas

Green ones in the trees, big grey ones on the riverbanks. Harmless.

Bats

They come out at dusk over the river and eat the mosquitoes. Be grateful.

Bugs

Bring DEET or picaridin and long sleeves for evenings. That's the whole trick.

While you're here

Make a trip of it

El Castillo pyramid at Xunantunich with its carved stone frieze against a blue sky
The Xunantunich Maya site surrounded by green lawns and jungle trees

Xunantunich

Ten minutes from the venue. Cross the Mopan on a hand-cranked ferry, then climb El Castillo for a view into Guatemala.

Cave tubing

Float a river through limestone caves on an inner tube. The classic Belize half-day.

ATM Cave

The Actun Tunichil Muknal cave — a serious hike and swim to Maya ceremonial remains. Unforgettable, not for everyone.

Kayak the Mopan

Rentals right in Benque, five minutes from the resort. Easy water, big trees.

San Ignacio market

Saturday morning is the big one — produce, food stalls, and the whole district in one place.

Belize Botanic Gardens

Orchids, medicinal plant trails and birds along the Macal River, about 30 minutes away.

The Belize Zoo

Right on the highway between Belize City and Cayo — every animal is a local rescue, and it's the one realistic place to see a jaguar. Perfect stop on the drive in.

Good to know

Questions & Answers

English is the official language, so you can get by anywhere without a second language. Benque Viejo sits right on the Guatemalan border, so day to day you'll hear a mix of English, Spanish, and Belizean Kriol — but nearly everyone is fluent in English. If you don't speak Spanish, it will not be a problem.

Yes. U.S. citizens need a passport valid for the length of the stay. No visa is required for tourist stays up to 30 days. There is a departure fee that is usually already included in your airfare.

The Belize dollar (BZD) is pegged at 2 BZD to 1 USD. U.S. dollars are accepted almost everywhere — hotels, restaurants, taxis, and even roadside fruit stands. Bring smaller bills for tips and cash-only vendors, and expect cash to be king outside of larger hotels and restaurants. Most ATMs in San Ignacio accept foreign cards, but it's wise to bring some cash with you.

Warm and humid year-round — typically 75–90°F. The air is thick and lush, and you can expect a mix of sun, cloud, and occasional rain. Afternoon showers are common in the wet season (June–November) and usually pass quickly, leaving everything greener. Evenings are warm but can feel cool after a rain shower. The jungle is muddy after rain, so waterproof shoes and an umbrella are never a bad idea.

Think lightweight, breathable, and quick-drying. Linen or cotton shirts, shorts, a light rain layer, and a sturdy pair of shoes for uneven ground. Sunscreen, bug spray, a reusable water bottle, and a wide-brimmed hat are essentials. For the wedding, plan on tropical semi-formal: lightweight fabrics and flats or block heels rather than stilettos, since the ground is grass and gravel. Bring a small flashlight if you're staying at a jungle lodge, and don't forget earplugs if you want to sleep past the howler monkeys' 5 a.m. chorus.

Stick to bottled or filtered water, which is inexpensive and available everywhere. Ice at hotels and restaurants is generally made from purified water.

Most U.S. carriers offer a Belize roaming pass, and eSIMs work well. Wi-Fi is available at essentially every hotel, though jungle lodges can be slower than you're used to.

Belize City (BZE) to Benque Viejo del Carmen is about 2 to 2.5 hours west on the George Price Highway. Options are a pre-booked shuttle (easiest, roughly $75–$125 per person shared), a rental car, or a short domestic hop to Maya Flats airstrip near San Ignacio.

Yes. Mopan River Resort sits on the far side of the Mopan River from Benque Viejo. The resort runs a barge that ferries guests across; it operates regularly and is perfectly safe, so you won't need to wade or swim. Just bring a sense of adventure.

The Cayo District is a well-traveled tourist area and generally very welcoming. Use the same common sense you'd use anywhere: don't leave valuables in cars, use licensed taxis and shuttles, and stick to well-lit areas at night.

Details are still being finalized, but plan for tropical semi-formal. Lightweight fabrics, and flats or block heels rather than stilettos — the ground is grass and gravel.

Yes! Please let us know in your RSVP who is coming so we can plan properly.

Khi and Mackenzie are still locking it in. This site will be updated the moment it's set, so check back — and please don't book flights until then.

RSVP

Opening soon

Because this is an international trip, RSVPs will open as soon as the date is locked in — with plenty of runway to book flights. Check back here, and we'll reach out directly too.

Registry

Coming soon

Your presence in Belize is genuinely the gift. If Khi and Mackenzie put together a registry, it will live right here.