Founder Chris Crowell planned the Belize resort as an off-the-grid jungle retreat with limited impact on the surrounding environment. The lodge's electricity is drawn from a combination of solar panels, batteries, and generator. Composting toilets return nutrients to the soil through self contained banana plantings rather than a traditional leach field which prevents waste water from contaminating the nearby Moho River.



Only organic methods and local plant species are used in the vegetable garden which produces nearly 50% of the fruits and vegetables used by the Cotton Tree Lodge kitchen. The garden is also used by Sustainable Harvest International, an NGO that teaches environmentally sustainable agriculture techniques to local farmers.

Crowell has done his best to incorporate the local environment into the lodge's activities. Guests are encouraged to take advantage of the swimming, kayaking, and bird watching along the Moho River which abuts the Cotton Tree Lodge property. Guided medicinal plant walks led by a local bush doctor teach the benefits of plants found on the Cotton Tree Lodge grounds and in the nearby jungle.

Guests are also encouraged to participate in the effort to keep their Belize resort vacation as ?green? as possible. Guests are asked to be mindful of electricity and water usage. Additionally, guests are assigned a reusable water bottle to refill with purified water for the duration of their stay.

Cotton Tree Lodge guests typically purchase an all-inclusive package that includes accommodation, meals, on-site activities, and day trips to local natural and cultural sites. Scheduled trips might include hiking through the jungle, diving from waterfalls, snorkeling, or exploring caves. Cultural excursions include Mayan ruins, Garifuna drumming, and trips to village homes to learn about tortilla making or chocolate making.

While this Belize resort is marketed as a ?green? resort, Cotton Tree Lodge is a luxury property and keeps guests comfortable in private, handcrafted cabanas with traditional thatched roofs, rosewood detailing, private bathrooms, ceiling fans, and comfortable queen or king beds. In-house systems ensure that fans, lights, and hot and cold running water function all night without interruption. Private porches with hammocks and river views give guests a great vantage point from which to enjoy the natural beauty around them.