Copal Tree Farm
Farm-To-Table Sustainability
At the heart of the lodge lies Copal Tree Farm, Belize's first certified organic farm. Here, we cultivate indigenous crops such as coffee, cacao, sugarcane, and vanilla, embodying our commitment to promoting sustainable economic prosperity in Southern Belize through responsible agriculture.
At Copal Tree, nature and wellness are deeply intertwined. Our certified organic farm and lodge garden produce the majority of the ingredients served in our restaurant, grown right here in nutrient-rich, chemical-free soil.
From sugarcane and cacao to fresh greens and eggs, nearly everything is cultivated on-site. With abundant gardens, fruit orchards, and sustainably raised livestock, our vibrant farm supplies the majority of the seasonal cuisine enjoyed by our guests year-round.
Join our farm team for a visit with our friendly chickens and sheep. Discover the garden, where we grow fresh limes, coconuts, pitaya, and a wide variety of tropical and medicinal plants. It's a space to see, smell, and taste the vibrant ingredients that inspire our flavors.
We harvest 140-150 pounds of fresh lettuce each year
Our hens produce 50-75 eggs daily
Our signature hot sauce is crafted from garden-grown habaneros
We nourish our soil with organic fertilizers, like compost & on-site manure
Our natural insect spray is a homemade blend of neem oil, water, garlic, & Jack-Ass Bitters
The Cacao Nursery: Belize’s Largest Organic Criollo Plantations
Nestled behind the main vegetable garden and shaded by a sweeping thatched-roof palapa, our Cacao Nursery is a thriving sanctuary for thousands of grafted cacao plants. Each tree is carefully nurtured before being transplanted into the lush jungle understory that surrounds the lodge.
Like a vineyard, cultivating organic cacao requires patience, typically three to five years before the first harvest. In 2013, we planted 83 acres of organic Criollo cacao, making Copal Tree one of the largest cacao plantations in Belize. The nursery also grows aromatic spices like cardamom, nutmeg, vanilla, and allspice, enriching the farm’s diversity.
The Sugarcane Fields: Produces Award-Winning Copalli Rum
The sugarcane fields on Copal Tree Farm are home to the vibrant black and red heirloom cane, the key to Copalli Rum’s award-winning flavor. These sugarcane varieties are prized for their rich, flavourful juice and are grown organically, without pesticides or GMOs.
Hand-weeded and harvested, our noble sugarcane is cultivated with a light touch, minimizing disruption to the surrounding ecosystem. As a result, jungle wildlife like jaguars, monkeys, and birds continue to thrive here. Our regenerative farming practices support this biodiversity by working with nature, not against it, letting the land flourish just as it was meant to.
