The Origin Story

A stay at The Trek Stop has more history than your average hotel.
Tino Penados started out as a primary school teacher in San Jose Succotz. The last thing he expected to be doing was tourism. Until he met UCLA student Jason.

Jason was doing archaeological fieldwork in the village through UCLA when he met Tino. Smith loved working in San Jose Succotz and Belize so much he convinced his parents, John and Judy, to come for a visit. They fell in love with Belize just as their son did, so much so they made Belize their winter home. Tino was introduced to John and Judy through their son, and the couple instantly hit it off with him.

Eventually, they decided they wanted to do more in Belize. They recognized the potential the country has for both American tourists and backpackers and wanted to set up a place for all groups to stay. They knew it would be a lodge, nothing too fancy, but a place for tourists to be surrounded by nature. Thus, the idea for The Trek Stop was born.

John and Judy recognized their business needed the expertise of a Belizean, so they asked Tino to join them in their business venture. It took some convincing, but eventually, Tino was on board.

“I thought it was a scam,” Tino said. “Then I saw their start-up deposit and realized ‘Oh, they’re serious.’”
Tino lived in San Jose Succotz his whole life and John tasked him with finding the perfect land for their business. He settled on an old mango grove turned into second growth rainforest- the perfect place for the nature lodge.

With the land settled upon, building began. They settled on the name The Trek Stop. Because of the properties location between the Guatemalan border and the coast of Belize, the name is an homage to all the backpackers who stop to stay there. The Trek Stop would contain a few cabins, space for tenters, disc golf and a butterfly garden. Tino, John, and Judy didn’t want The Trek Stop to be a typical tourist experience, and the business needed to be sustainable for long after John and Judy left.

To accomplish this, certain features were added. Rainwater showers, compost toilets, and solar heated amenities are available to name a few. This kept costs low and sustainability high.

“We recognized that these amenities were not for everyone,” Tino said. “But for those who like them, they love it here.”
The business, however, was more than just a few cabins. The Trek Stop became known for the colorful owner who could share stories and invite guests into the culture.

As time passed, John and Judy realized that they could not stay business owners forever. Their retirement was fast approaching, and Tino had to be ready to man the business on his own. With John’s sudden passing in 2009, Judy stepped down and Tino bought her out of the company. He was now the sole business owner.

Luckily, Tino was not in it alone. His daughter, Denny, had grown up around the business.

“Originally, I wanted nothing to do with the business. I wanted to leave and do my own thing,” Denny said. “But after a while, I realized that I missed it. I wanted to help grow the business that grew up with me.”

Denny had worked in tourism outside of The Trek Stop, and she saw the landscape changing from where it had been when the business first opened. The Trek Stop had to adapt to the tourism market in Belize.

“We have added a lot in recent years,” Denny said. “The restaurant, the pool, more cabins and some with indoor plumbing. We have changed a lot!”

Tino sees the change his daughter is bringing as a positive thing. He appreciates the care she has for the business and hopes to one day pass it on fully to her.

“I am close to sixty, I am ready to retire,” Tino said. “I know Denny is ready for this.”