PLACENCIA, Belize -- Little inns and resorts dot the Caribbean
shore from Hopkins to Placencia on the southern coast of Belize.
The newest in deluxe lodgings along the shore is the Turtle Inn
here, which opened this month.
This is a second coming for Turtle Inn, which is owned by movie
director Francis Ford Coppola. Two years ago, Coppola opened the
original Turtle Inn -- renovated and refurbished -- one mile north
of Placencia.
A year later, Hurricane Iris swept the property into the
sea.
Coppola rebuilt the resort, which now offers visitors to the
southern "Belizean Riviera" a new place in the sun.
All of Turtle Inn's cabanas and villas are located on the beach
with sea views. There are 11 thatched-roof, Balinese-inspired
cabanas, each with private garden and outdoor shower.
Decorated with artisan-crafted furnishings, all accommodations
have a private bathroom, queen-size bed and pullout sofa bed as
well as spacious decks with hammocks and lounging chairs.
In the six large villas, an indoor/outdoor living room separates
the two bedrooms. When Coppola is not in residence, his two-bedroom
Pavilion Villa -- packed with crafts from Bali -- adds a private
swimming pool to the mix.
Dining options include the Gauguin Beach Grill, which serves
fish at the water's edge, and the dining room, whose menu features
seafood as well as the choice of traditional Coppola family dishes
that include Neapolitan pizza fresh from a wood-burning oven.
Also featured is the sunken, sand-floor bar serving cocktails
and Niebaum-Coppola wines.
Turtle Inn's dive shop offers tours to the famed Blue Hole for
snorkeling or scuba diving as well as sea kayaking, fly-fishing and
sailing. Excursions for nature lovers include the Monkey River Boat
Tour and treks to the Cockscomb Wildlife Sanctuary and Jaguar
Preserve.
The resort shares a private Inlander aircraft to transport
guests from sister property Blancaneux Lodge in Belize City to
Placencia. Regularly scheduled flights are available daily.
Nightly room rates, including breakfast, range from $200 to $275
for two at beachfront cabanas; beachfront villas run from $400 to
$475 for four; seaview cabanas for two range from $175 to $250; and
seaview villas for four run from $400 to $450. The Pavilion Villa
costs either $650 or $750, depending on the season.
For reservations or more information, call (800) 746-3743;
e-mail [email protected] or visit www.blancaneaux.com.