On my second day in Cayo district Patrick and i decided to check out Five Sisters Falls and the Lodge under the same name right above it in the mountains. Five Sisters is one of the many waterfalls in the Mountain Pineridge area.

This is the "better" of the two roads to Five Sisters but "better" does not mean it is a smooth ride up there

We had to get a ride up the mountains in a pickup truck and that itself was quite the adventure because there are two roads leading up there and both are rocky and bumpy. We took the better one from Santa Elena leading up past Cristo Rey and San Antonio, two cute little villages amidst jungle, trees and a few farms here and there.

The ride to Five Sisters Lodge took us a lil more than an hr from Santa Elena and we shared one or the other moment of “wow” on the way marveling at the lush vegetation and hoping other drivers would get back on their side of the road. Since the road is so bumpy whenever there is no other trafic you use whatever side is best. But beware, just around the next corner there could be a big truck coming up the hill or a smaller and faster SUV that needs the space in their lane.

Once we arrived at Five Sisters Lodge we were greeted by Xavier, the manager of the property who toured us around on the Lodge’s grounds and showed us where to find what. When we arrived at the Restaurant we started to hear the gushing water. When we stepped out onto the sundeck we took in a scenery that is very hard to match.

beautiful Five Sisters Falls

To our left, we saw pine forest mountains. Looking to the right, we saw the broad leaf folliage of the jungle and down below us were the waterfalls that gave the eco-friendly lodge it’s name: Five Sisters, due to it being five waterstreams falling down over the rocks.

The Lodge features cabanas and a river villa and the guests can choose between “mountain view” or “waterfall view”. Our sweet little cabana had the name “Roaring Creek”, and rightly so i would say. From it’s patio we had a great view down to the waterfalls, as well as the surrounding pine forest.

Soon after settling in it was time to have dinner and our waiter Dan greeted us with a perfectly set, beautifully decorated and candle lit table on the separate deck outside next to the restaurant. Since this is a very silent and remote location i decided to spend the rest of the evening enjoying the quiet and reading for a bit but soon enough the constant calming sound of the waterfall had lulled me to sleep.

The next morning started with a hearty belizean breakfast of scrambled eggs with tomatoes, refried beans and fry jacks, some fruits and goooooood belizean grown coffee served outside on the deck again. Temperatures were still moderate so we decided after breakfast it is time to walk down the 300 steps to the falls.

sitting at Five Sisters Falls

And it was well worth it. The Lodge has a lil area set up by the waterfalls were you can lounge in a hammock and listen to the streaming falls, the birds calling in the trees and the occassional woodpecker. The lady who cooked our breakfast told us that there is a jaguar who comes down to where the private villa is by the river but we were not lucky enough to spot it there.

After i had made Patrick walk up the 300 steps with me back to the restaurant i changed my mind and we walked back down half way to go on the nature trail which leads around Five Sisters Lodge through the jungle. You start out amidst pine trees and the trail leads you alongside the stream that forms Five Sister Falls and as it continues you can see the vegetation change to broad leaf jungle with all the Mayan medicinal plants marked alongside the way.

As i was about to give up on ever seeing a jaguar in the wild it crossed our path! Just like that. It was a good distance away and i didn’t dare to move in order not to scare it away which is why i couldn’t get a picture of it. The jaguar did take notice of us, looked our way and then continued his way back into the jungle. It was one of the most magical moments.

yummy bugs! lizard and his breakfast at Five Sisters Lodge

As we continued the trail we spotted several other animals including the Lodge’s local coatimundi “Buddy” and a few spinytail lizards catching grashoppers (huge grasshoppers!). After the 45 minute walk we were soaked in sweat but happy when we arrived back at the entrance area to Five Sister’s Lodge.

My HOT tip, when you walk the nature trail and come to the stream, cross over and keep walking until you reach the secluded waterfall. It is called “Skinny Dipping Falls”, wanna guess why?

One piece of advice: DO NOT forget to come “armed” with bugspray. We were moskito food despite bugspray but it makes it a lil more bearable. Also, the sandflies were out in the afternoon and you might be more comfortable wearing longsleeves and pants. Nevertheless, the trip to Five Sisters Falls was one of a kind and if you are in Belize it is a MUST SEE!