No Ordinary Village Life
Reading through the history of Ramon’s Village I got to know about how the resort (originally Ramon’s Reef Resort) was built in 1961, only to have been destroyed by Hurricane Hattie the night after its completion. It sat in ruin for 20 years after that, until a group of investors built 10 cabañas, dug the sand out of the pool, opened the restaurant and resumed business. Throughout its history, Ramon’s Village has grown alongside the development of San Pedro Town, captivating the hearts of those who have basked in its environment and lured many to the enticing island life of Ambergris Caye.
Under the helm of Mr. Richard Headrick since 1987, many great changes have transformed this once small resort that rested just outside the village boundaries of town to now being nestled in the heart of San Pedro and claiming its iconic presence as a jungle paradise on the beach. Today, the final touches of a one million Belize dollar renovations are taking place.
“We want everyone to know that Ramon’s Village Resort is better than ever,” said Mr. Headrick. “And Ramon Nuñez and his excellent staff are more excited than ever about the future!”
This past weekend the staff of Ambergris Today was picked up by the Ramon’s Village island limo and we checked in for an overnight stay so that we may experience the charm, comfort and commodities that the resort has to offer. Our reservations:
Dorian Nuñez – Presidential Suite
Delsie Graniel – Mini Suite Beachfront
Gerry Badillo – Guest Suite Beachfront
Sofia Muñoz – Beachfront Unit
Perlita Zapata – Honeymoon Suite
Checking in!
Attention to detail is exceptional at Ramon’s Village; landscaping plays a very important roll to the look and feel of the resort. Lush greenery and colorful flowers create intricate pathways that lead to the main office and branch out to all the 61 luxurious cabañas (8 – 2 storey buildings (with 30 rooms) and 31 individual cabanas) that lay inside the 2.5 acre property; a lush jungle Paradise by the sea indeed. Beach front, seaside and garden cabañas, Honeymoon Suites, International and Presidential Suites, provide secluded hideaways for those who are ready for relaxation. With a staff of 70 all Belizean employees, everything at Ramon’s Village moves like clockwork to make your stay the most pleasant one from beginning to end.
Room Upgrades
You’ll marvel at their authentic thatched roof, air-conditioned cabañas that look wonderfully Polynesian from the outside, with charming wooden and wicker furniture inside. There’s nothing quite like listening to the wind rustling through a thatch roof, as I entered the Presidential Suite I was taken away to another place. The majestic suite is tastefully decorated with rustic furnishings and décor. A gigantic bed sits in the middle of the room which amenities also include a kitchen, dining room, living room, bathroom and a large verandah overlooking the Caribbean Sea.
As I opened the French doors to the verandah and let the Caribbean breeze fill the room, I was reminded that I do live in Paradise and thought of my staff having similar experiences in their cabañas.
Renovations at Ramon’s Village are very close to completion. All rooms have gotten a fresh paint job with the floors getting a new coat of varnish. New stainless steel hardware, refrigerators and new linen have been added to the rooms. The outside of all the buildings got a fresh stain along with all the woodwork in the cabañas. The beachfront cabañas and suites got upgraded with new French type doors and window treatments.
The suites, which are amongst the finest in the country, got the same upgrades plus new bed frames and refurbished furniture, flat screen TVs are on their way. Perlita and her husband Jose Luis, enjoyed the pleasures of Ramon’s Honeymoon Suite that got new custom made furniture, new doors, a spacious veranda and private hammocks. New lounges, chairs & tables on the deck, pool floor got resurfaced.
Breakfast
As the clouds gave way, the sun gave presence to a spectacular morning the following day. After a night of blissful slumber amongst the sound of crashing waves, the whistling of the tropical breeze and the sway of palm trees, our morning perk came with breakfast at Ramon’s restaurant that has just recently been renamed Pineapples. Their menu has been totally revamped; offering some of the best food money can buy on this island. Some of the featured specials at Pineapples are the Pineapple Explosion and Steak on a Stone. (Dorian’s Angels of Ambergris Today have already had the privileged of sampling the new menu. The article and pictures are available at Ambergris Today Online). The delicious breakfast buffet on the restaurant’s outdoor patio got our energies going as we took the day to enjoy all the other amenities of the resort.
Just Relaxing!
We chilled poolside on the new lounge chairs which offer more comfort, an easy zzz’s. Rey Ramon, the pool’s giant Mayan stone-carved statue, overlooked the patio as we enjoyed the morning by the 80ft lagoon-style beachside pool, browsed through souvenirs and trinkets at the gift shop and took some drinks at the famous Purple Parrot Bar.
At the beautiful stretch of 500 feet of white sandy beach, guests basked in the morning sun as some children played in the sea. Going up the dock, we stopped at Ramon’s Dive Center that now boasts a giant flat screen TV which displays all the underwater adventures; it is the starting point for great scuba diving and snorkeling adventures. Its fleet of six 24-foot and 34-foot dive boats plus the 42-foot Miss Gina are all getting a new paint job and proper upgrades along with the pier.
Checking out
My review can definitely go on for much longer as I can put myself to describe every single aspect that makes Ramon’s Village a remarkable pioneer in the tourism industry in the country and an exceptional get-away for all those looking for paradise. But as the saying goes, “A picture is worth a thousand words”, I invite you to visit Ambergris Today Online to experience Ramon’s Village through the eyes of our camera lens. The pictures will complete my article on this one-of-a-kind resort on Ambergris Caye.
Everything from the service, the food and the rooms were exceptional and of the high standard that we expected from such a prestigious resort. We had an excellent time.
Services at Ramon’s Village include:
Gift Shop
Room Service
Vehicle Rentals
Laundry Service
Communication
Restaurant & Bar
Dive Shop
A $500,000 Belize dollar ad campaign for 2010 has been launched with ads in several national and international publications. Ramon’s web-site has been completely redesigned and on-line reservations are now possible to book rooms. www.ramons.com
