Hi! I’m Loran Nordgren, the owner of Casa Hokol Kin (* Mayan - Beautiful Sunrise), my 4 four bedroom home away from home in the warm and friendly Central American country of Belize.

I’m not going to tell you much about Belize, Ambergris Caye, or San Pedro, or why you should come here. I figure you made that decision and now you’re looking for a place to stay to suit your needs. And maybe, my place will do just that. You’ll decide.

I’m often here alone, but I’ve also had a houseful of kids and grandkids. My home can sleep up to twelve (if they know each other pretty well). My place is one of four private homes about five miles north of San Pedro Town on the island of Ambergris Caye. Each one is clustered around this beautiful pool. Sometimes the water is so warm, I don’t want to get out. We call our little community Los Encantos, and it sure is peaceful here. The wonderful barrier reef is less than half a mile from our front door! But let me tell you about my home.

From my front door, it is 20 steps to the pool and 80 steps to the beach and the Caribbean Sea. There are two floors. The great room is on the upper floor--living room, dining, and kitchen all in one. There is a large TV set with satellite and a DVD player for movies or listening to your favorite music. Wireless computer access is also available. The kitchen is fully equipped with fridge, freezer, stove, dishwasher, coffee maker, and even a good microwave oven. And do try our Belizean coffee. “It’s good from the first to the last drop.”

As you can see from the pictures, I like the color orange and colorful Mexican tile. There’s a bath with a shower off the great room and another down the hall. And that’s how you get to the two upstairs bedrooms. The first has a comfortable king size bed, and I forgot to mention there are individual air conditioners in each room. The second bedroom, in the rear of the house, has two queen- size beds, offering possibilities for a couple with one or two kids. 

The veranda is where I spend a lot of time enjoying the hummingbirds and orioles that come to my feeder.

On the first floor level, is my large 14-foot x 24-foot master bedroom suite -- a most comfortable and pleasant place to escape for reading and quiet time away from the “maddening” crowd. The bed is a California king. The master bedroom also has its own colorful and large bathroom! I love it!

And here is a surprise! There is a small and cozy attached apartment on the lower level with its own private entry! The apartment includes a small living room with a queen-size sleeper couch, a small bedroom, with twin beds, and a private bath and kitchen. Teenagers love it!

And then there’s the beach and the private Palapa pier. Are you a bone fisherman? The flats in front of our house are just about the best there is for bones, unless you take a boat with a guide to the mangroves. About three years ago, one of my son’s college friends caught a 15-pound Barracuda off the pier casting a Johnson Silver Minnow. Not to be outdone, my son caught an 8-pounder just minutes later. The Palapa at the end of the pier is a good place, with a cup of coffee, to start the day and watch the sun come up. If the clouds are right, the colors of the sky where it meets the sea can be spectacular.

My house is kept nice and clean by a wonderful Belizean family who live on the property, taking care of our beach and pool. Sergio, Rachel, and Little Sergio are always present to be of help to make your stay a pleasant one. And, as I’ve said earlier, I assume you’re coming to Belize and Ambergris Caye and know what you want to do when you get here. May I suggest that you buy the latest edition of Fodor’s “Belize and Guatemala Travel Guide.” It will tell you all you need to know about Belize before you get here. If you are scuba divers, there are dozens of qualified PADI dive shops to choose from. Many of my friends and family have been pleased with the convenience and quality offered by Genie, friendly owner of Coral Divers. He's nearby. He makes it fun. I would be happy to put you in contact with him if you are interested. I go fishing for snapper and small grouper. A great way to spend the day and have fresh fish for dinner. Francisco “Pancho” Verde, my fishing guide, is like family. His boat is clean and he knows that “to catch fish, you gotta go where the fishes are.” If you would like to contact Francisco or any of the other guides I have used, please ask for their contact information so you can call for reservations and costs for half-day or all-day, and ask their advice on where to fish. They furnish all fishing tackle.

BELIZE, AMBERGRIS CAYE, AND MY HOME IS NOT FOR EVERYONE! Don’t come here for golf, tennis, pristine Florida-type beaches or cheap prices. DO come to Belize and my house for:

• A small, but beautiful beach 80 steps from my front door 
• A large, clean, never crowded pool 20 steps away 
• The best water sports in the world 
• The most friendly people 
• Peace and quiet

• 4 Bedrooms (each with their own A/C)
• 4 Baths
• Veranda
• Private palapa pier
• Salt water pool
• Living room
• Dining room
• Fully equipped kitchen (fridge, freezer, stove, dishwasher, coffee maker, & microwave oven)
• TV
• Satellite
• DVD player
• Wireless Internet access
• Private transportation by land and water taxi from San Pedro Airport on arrival and departure to my home
• Maid service every other day
• Laundry service on request
• Bottled water
• Sunshine, sea, coconut palms, peace, and harmony

• MINIMUM STAY: 6 nights 
• Deep disounts for Last Minute Travelers 
• If you forgot to make your reservations or just want to get away NOW in the next 30 days or less, call and get a discount of 15 to 25% off the published prices. 
• Ask about long term summer rentals. 
• PLEASE NOTE: There is a 9% hotel tax 

Rates:

NIGHTLY RATES FOR CASA HOKOL KIN

• 2 STARS: ** Includes two upstairs bedrooms, two baths, and a great room for up to 6 persons. 
• 3 STARS: *** Includes all of the above, plus the downstairs master suite with bath, for up to 8 persons. 
• 4 STARS: **** Includes the above, plus the private apartment, ideal for two, but can sleep up to four. Total maximum number occupancy, including apartment and four bedrooms is 12 persons. 

 Christmas-Holiday Season December 18th, 2009 to January 2nd, 2010:

• 2 STARS **: Two bedrooms $395 per night 
• 3 STARS ***: Three bedrooms $450 per night 
• 4 STARS ****: Four bedrooms $495 per night 
• MINIMUM STAY: 6 nights 

 Winter Season November 20th, 2009 to December 18th, 2009/January 7th to April 20th, 2010

• 2 STARS **: Two bedrooms $350 per night 
• 3 STARS ***: Three bedrooms $395 per night 
• 4 STARS ****: Four bedrooms $450 per night 
• MINIMUM STAY: 6 nights 

 Spring-Summer-Fall April 21st to November 20th, 2009

• 2 STARS **: Two bedrooms $295 per night
• 3 STARS ***: Three bedrooms $350 per night 
• 4 STARS ****: Four bedrooms $395 per night
• MINIMUM STAY: 6 nights 

How do you get to Ambergris Caye and Casa Hokol Kin?

Gateway cities with daily, non-stop flights to Belize City:

• Houston: Continental Airlines
• Dallas: American Airlines
• Miami: American Airlines
• Atlanta: Delta Airlines
• Charlotte, N.C.: U.S. Air 

To get to San Pedro, Ambergris Caye:

• Maya Island Air and Tropic Air depart frequently from Belize International and Belize Municipal. It’s a 15-minute flight. 
• Note: If there are four or more in your party, consider taking a taxi to Municipal. The airfare is much less, but do the math first.

How to get to my Casa Hokol Kin & Suggested 6-day itinerary for first time visitors:

DAY OF ARRIVAL AT SAN PEDRO:  It will probably be Armando who will meet and greet you at the airport. He’s a big man, long hair, sometimes brusque, but always accommodating, and a real nice guy. Consider having him take you grocery shopping just a stone’s throw away from the airport. And if you like chicken on a spit, Ali Baba is very near the airport and roasts them, well seasoned, for take out on your very first night. Grocery shop by email before you arrive. New! Mata Grande Grocery less than 100 yards from my house. Owners Jason and Mandy from Seattle have opened a small grocery store and delivery service. They will take your order via the internet and stock the fridge with your favorite food and beverage before you arrive. A much needed and welcome service. Something to consider.  Please ask me for their email if you are interested in this.

Then, Armando will take you to his boat for a 15-minute enjoyable ride on the Boca Del Rio River out to sea, but inside the reef, north to Los Encantos Villas and my home, Casa Hokol Kin. Sergio, our resident caretaker, will meet you at our pier, assist you with your luggage, and help you get settled in. If it’s not too late, a swim in the pool or the sea before dinner is highly recommended.

2ND DAY:  After a long day of travel, most folks want to relax and unwind. Enjoy the sun, the pool, and the sea. We seem to have two kinds of guests: some like home cooking, some enjoy dining out. Some of the best restaurants in the country are just a stroll down the beach (or a ride on the sea by water taxi, as some prefer to do). Breakfast at Journey’s End Resort, a ten minute walk (left foot in the water) is the best option to cooking at home. The other nearby restaurants are first class—pricey and popular. Reservations are a good idea. Consider Rojo tonight—very romantic and a 15-minute walk north (right foot in the water). And don’t forget to bring a flashlight! Order a frozen mojito and an appetizer or two before you order your entrée.

3RD DAY:  If you like the sea—consider this above and beneath the water adventure: Go fishing inside the reef for delicious snapper and grouper, snorkeling with rays and timid nurse sharks at Shark Ray Alley. Have lunch and a brief visit to Caye Caulker, and when you return, your fish will be filleted at our dock and ready for a delicious and wholesome dinner that night. Call Pancho or one of the other guides listed earlier. It’s one of my favorite things to do. (It’s a good idea to bring your own mask and snorkel. I’ve got plenty of fins).

4TH DAY:  Mayan ruins, Howler monkeys, Jabiru storks, wild alligators, rainforest jungle. The best nearby Mayan ruins is Lamanai and the best guide to take you there is Daniel Nunez. He and his wife own Tanisha Tours. This is an all day Indiana Jones adventure. A very early morning departure from our dock, and then your party and a few others will travel in a large, fast speedboat to the mainland. Up a river with birds and monkeys and wildlife everywhere, spying at you from the mangroves and you at them (bring binoculars). And finally, to partially excavated Lammani. Trees and vines grow from temple tops and sides covered with vegetation--And no tour buses, just ruins and the slowly advancing forest. You’ll be exhausted and enriched at day’s end with enough memories for a lifetime.

5TH DAY:  The best time to go to San Pedro Town is mid-afternoon on Friday or Saturday. The front street, usually crowded with too many taxis and golf carts, is closed to vehicles after 6 PM. There are many low-cost, good restaurants and bars. Shopping, especially for carved wooden bowls, make practical souvenirs. And pub-crawling can be fun. Why not make a day and night of it?

6TH DAY:  I hope you can stay longer, but if not, why not just kick back, take a swim in the sea at the end of our pier, enjoy the pool, work on your tan, finish that book, and start thinking about home or that three day trip to the mainland. Someone once said “we make our own good times—a nice setting makes it easier.”