Portofino Beach Resort Reviews

Guest Comments

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Below is a selection of reviews from our TripAdvisor account.
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Tripadvisor
EXCELLENT
874 reviews on
URSULA A
URSULA A
2021-12-20
Awesome stay at the Portofino! Great trip and cannot wait to go back to the Portofino! The food at the restaurant was superb - and the servers and staff were super friendly. The team that took you out on water excursions were super helpful and friendly. We booked a snorkeling trip at the Mexico Rocks and got to see beautiful fish and reef. We booked a fishing trip with another outfitter but would have booked through the hotel if we had known that it was available - we didn't do as much research beforehand. Looking forward to our next visit!
Angel
Angel
2021-12-17
Perfect place to get married (and just visit in general)! My now husband and I started coordinating with Portofino about a year and a half ago to plan our destination beach wedding ceremony! Portofino was incredibly informative, communicative, and accommodating throughout the entire process! Even through COVID, they kept us up to date on requirements and also assisted with coordinating transport from the international airport to the island and then to the resort itself. The day of the wedding was absolutely PERFECT, words truly cannot encompass how happy we were. Stephanie was a star with all things wedding related. She even helped me get local goodies to add to our guests’ welcome bags. Bellini was also amazing with all the coordination leading up to our arrival, particularly with the room block and following up with each of our guests to ensure all things were ready for their arrival. The resort as just a place to vacation was also great. We stayed in the Seahorse Suite and then the Honeymoon Suite after the wedding, and both were so spacious and truly added to the tropical beach resort vibe. The staff was so generous and most knew us by name! The food was absolutely delicious! Each night they had a different dinner special. Also highly recommend the lobster bisque as a starter. Drinks were yummy and reasonably priced. We stayed and relaxed on the beach and by the pool but our bridal party went out on a boating excursion and also had a lot of fun. To sum it up, I can’t recommend Portofino more, especially as a wedding venue! Definitely hope to visit again and do more activities next time!
Marci
Marci
2021-11-17
Exceeded our expectations! A friend and I spent a week at Portofino in November and loved our time there ... we already wish we could go back! We stayed in a Colonial Suite which was spacious and quiet. The convenience of everything—from airport transport to planning day trips to our COVID tests before departure (done in our rooms with immediate results)—was perfect for our first international trip since the pandemic began. The resort's COVID protocols made us feel safe, but weren't intrusive. There's a dive shop right on the resort's dock and it was very simple to plan snorkeling or a boat trip to nearby islands. We loved the guides who genuinely seemed to enjoy their jobs. The restaurant was exceptional—everything we ate and drank was delicious and they even have a vegan menu. We were surprised—in the best possible way—by how friendly the staff and other guests were. Portofino feels like a find as it's well north of San Pedro ... we wanted to relax and restore which we definitely did, but we also met new friends which made our trip extra memorable.
Joanna A
Joanna A
2021-11-16
ABSOLUTELY AMAZING If you are looking for a place to really enjoy yourself, relax, and be surrounded by beauty...look no further than Portofino. Beautiful beach, amazing pool, beautiful landscaping and amazing food. The chef there has an amazing gift leaving us wishing some days we had multiple stomachs to keep trying dishes. The staff at the resort is friendly and welcoming. You can tell they take pride in their work and are a great bunch of people to be around . They were always "one step ahead" and made reservations, excursions, and rentals super easy. You MUST get a drink from Alexander at the bar...do not even bother with anywhere else on the island for the best drinks and bartender. We will DEFINITELY be back as this was a trip we will be thinking of for a long time!
n2antiques2
n2antiques2
2021-11-05
A fantastic vacation at Portofino Beach Resort!!! What a pleasant surprise for us! 6 of us went to Portofino Resort 10/2 -10/8/21 to celebrate a friend’s 60th birthday! We just happened upon this resort while researching resorts in Ambergris Caye. Online it looked great, reviews on different sites were positive, and offered an all-inclusive package. Our friend and birthday girl communicated with Raul and before we knew it, we headed to Portofino. The resort was small (17 rooms), a gorgeous setting with a great pool, fabulous restaurant and their Green Parrot Bar. The people working at the resort were so friendly, courteous and very accommodating. They went out of their way to make this vacation and birthday celebration one to remember. We could not say enough about their food! Fabulous!!! Breakfast, lunch, dinner and the bar drinks!! The fact it was a Gold Medal resort also made it easy for the Covid testing to return to the U.S. How convenient and easy!! We were so happy being there. The excursions were tops, especially the fishing, snorkeling, lunch excursion. My gosh - what an experience and I highly recommend that you do that excursion. We rented a golf cart for a day to cruise into San Pedro town and go to Secret Beach. All in all - do NOT hesitate to plan a vacation at this resort. It will truly be a memorable experience.
Roberta S
Roberta S
2021-11-03
Memories are Made at Portofino We chose Portofino to celebrate my milestone birthday. It was the best decision I made in choosing a Belizean resort. My adventure began with Moh picking us up from the airport. Our transfer to the resort was by boat which allowed us to take in the beautiful waters and coastal properties. Upon arrival at the resort, we were greeted by our names. For a minute, I felt like royalty. I chose to stay in the Barracuda room because we wanted privacy in the event we sat on the porch. Best room for us. It was located right on the beach and across from the pool and spa area. Many thanks to the staff for decorating our room. It was a welcomed surprise. Everyone on staff was great. I truly appreciate that they were accommodating and took the effort to memorize the guests' names. I took advantage of tours with the Dive Shop. We did a half day fishing trip which was fun. Any fish you catch you can keep and bring back to the restaurant to cook for you. My sunburn was painful but well worth it. 🙂 Roberto at the dive shop also proved to me that non-swimmers can snorkel too. I also opted for a mini spa day. The massage and facial on the beach were extremely relaxing. The food and drinks were fresh and on point. No complaints at all. Kudos to the chef, wait staff and bartenders. If you are not allergic seafood, it is a must to try everything on the lobster menu. You would not regret it. If you like coconut water, always start your day with a fresh coconut. To wrap up our trip, we had dinner on the beach. The staff will set up a table on the beach for a private dinner. For us, it was a nice ending to a perfect getaway. I also had the pleasure of meeting local author Marlon August who wrote My Life & Travels in Belize. Such a great read! I will definitely stay again at Portofino. Next time, my stay will be longer and I will be a swimmer. Overall, if you want a quality stay with down to earth staff, Portofino Beach Resort is the place to be. Couples, singles and friends are welcomed. Many thanks to Bellini, Raul, Ivan, Jerry, Justin, James, Orlando, Orlena, Roberto and Ted for having a role in my planning the trip and our stay. If I may have forgotten someone, please charge it to my mind and not my heart.
Sharee B
Sharee B
2021-10-26
Secluded, beautiful, amazing staff We had an excellent stay at Protofino. From booking to checking out, it was amazing. The staff there was truly the highlight among just being at a beautiful place. But the staff, paid attention to detail and really put a personal touch during our stay. I made sure to get the staff's name because that is how wonderful they are! Orlene, Orlando, Alex, Marlon, Chocolate, Will, Austin, Jerry, Moe, Lorraine, Isadora, Sandra, and the gentleman that served us breakfast each day that I forgot to get his name. Each of them were amazing and so nice! We really enjoyed ourselves in Belize and will def be back to do more exploring since we weren't able to - babymoon! When we do come back I refuse to stay anywhere else but Portofino! Oh tip - unless you like mosquitos, don't go during rainy season (especially if pregnant), they will eat you alive! Other than that, I can't say it enough, the stay was amazing, staff was the best staff I've ever experienced at a resort, and the food was really good! Pick here if you go to Belize!
Angela B
Angela B
2021-10-25
The best on the beach! We choose this place based on the reviews and pictures and it looks just like the photos. We want to check out a new place next time visiting Belize, but it will be hard not to go back to the Portofino. The restaurant was so convenient, even if you want the continental breakfast on your way out to explore for other food. We did eat there/at resort a lot because it was good and fun! I can’t say enough about our trip. It was literally the funniest and we stayed in the tree house (Jasmine) and it was so cool. Huge deck fully fit tied and a hammock. The pool was beautiful and the access to anything water is right there at the shop. Only advisable thing is if you clan pair up to go out on boat activities as otherwise you pay for the whole boat as a couple. Something we learned, but we weren’t pinching pennies on this trip. There were a lot off other cool people visiting the resort. It was so fun!
adrienne holden
adrienne holden
2021-10-13
Best Vacation Ever! I just want to say I now Belize why people come back to Belize. This vacation was literally two years in the making. We were originally supposed to take this trip two weeks after the World shut down for COVID-19. Not only did Portofino hold up to their end of the bargain with 2 years to travel, but they made our dreams come true. We purchased the all inclusive 5 days, 4 nights with 2 adventure activities. I have not felt this relaxed in years, like 8 years to be exact. Below are the details of why I will send all my friends to Portofino if they travel to Belize. 1. Staff: all the staff were extremely friendly, provided great advice and left me wanting for nothing. Orlene always greeted us with a smile and had a back up plan of there was anything that went wrong. Ivan is the most entertaining and exceptional being I’ve encountered. From drink recommendations to local history to jokes and meal service. 2. Food: this tiny resort is putting out 5 star cuisine in a tiny kitchen that had my mouth watering at every meal. Steven you’re amazing! From almond crusted snapper, to creole lobster, baby back ribs, and smoked habanero sausage it all tasted delicious. We started off our morning with fresh Belizean coffee, fresh fruit, and veggie, cheddar omelette and fry jacks accompanied by a bit of heat with the habanero sausage. Lunch was juicy jalapeño cheddar burger or blackened snapper on a sesame Hawaiian bun and fresh watermelon. The list goes on with available options. Dinner is a three course meal with sautéed spinach, chicken, mango and sliced almonds in a light vinaigrette. The main included lobster creole with roasted peppers, tomatoes, and garlic over coconut rice. For dessert I was tantalized by bananas foster (sautéed bananas with coconut rum, cinnamon) over homemade vanilla ice cream. Not to mention the unlimited local drinks during your stay. I loved rum before, but now I appreciate it even more and the local +501 and Belikin beers are amazing. 3. The activities: arranged by the resort after you select what you’d like. We chose snorkeling at Hol Chan and Sting Ray Alley. The most breathtaking views of all species of fish and the coral reef. Our guide Chocolatè was phenomenal. He made sure we saw everything we asked for, including an enormous pool of nurse sharks and sting rays. The tour to Xunantunich of the Mayan ruins was unBelizeable! Even though there was a brief thunderstorm our tour guide aka Jack Sparrow was extremely knowledgeable about literally everything. I feel like I’m one with nature again. The last stop for tubing was breathtaking. I felt humbled by the enormous stone formations in the caves and the crystal clear river. Victor you get an A+ for your skills and helping us get back on time for our taxi back to San Pedro. All couldn’t be done without Amigos Del Mar salvaging our tour (we were in a time crunch and tourism has slowed down so we didn’t have a group. They go out no matter what and made our excursion happen VIP style. Antony on the boat and Joe behind the wheel for car transportation. We appreciate you!) 4. Experience: this vacation helped us press the reset button and experience so many things for the first time! We feel relaxed and recharged ready to conquer the rest of the year. 5. Accommodations: this quaint resort was perfect in the age of Covid. At max capacity it only hold 30 people. Everyone knew our name, face and story. They catered to us reconnecting, unwinding, eating, drinking and laughing. Our room literally walked right out to the beach and ocean. We watched the sun set from hammocks on our porch and in the water. We enjoyed morning workouts on the dock. They made our beds, brought fresh towels, water and local soaps, shampoo, and conditioner daily. Everything is fresh and recycled making it very green/environmentally friendly. Thank you Portofino I can’t wait to tell all my friends about you. La isla bonita! A perfect hidden treasure
SuzanneAdventurer
SuzanneAdventurer
2021-10-13
Like a Beautiful Private Island stay! My dear friend booked most rooms at this resort to celebrate his 50th birthday and what a glorious place to gather! The island is beautiful and honestly the staff was very accommodating and friendly. My friend and I stayed in the toucan suite which was spacious, had comfy beds a nice shower and every room is close to the pool, beach, restaurant and I'd go back in a heartbeat! They have the beautiful Hamic's where you can lay on them and be in the bath water warm ocean. It was so nice to dine by the pool, plus the resort cooked up delicious fish that some of the guests caught on their fishing tour. It was super easy breezy to stay here and everything was clean and special. It was delightful to eat breakfast upstairs and have a view of the pool and the ocean. This is a fun trip for romantic couples as well as friends or family. Do yourself a favor and book a getaway at Portofino!