A dramatic hideaway in a rainforest wonderland. In the early 1980s, Francis Ford Coppola visited Belize, immediately fell in love with the location, and purchased the abandoned Blancaneaux Lodge. For more than a decade the hideaway was used as a family retreat before Francis opened his tropical paradise to the public in 1993. Blancaneaux Lodge is a 20-room luxury hideaway where waterfalls tumble into turquoise pools above the jungle canopy. Its remote mountain setting allows guests to explore the ancient civilization of the Maya and to return to their own thatched roof dwelling, rich with Guatemalan décor and nestled in the foliage of the Mountain Pine Ridge Reserve.

GARDEN VIEW CABANAS – Nestled in our beautifully manicured gardens, the comfortable Garden View Cabañas showcase native arts and antiques, features a queen-size bed, large screened-in porch with hammock, and will transport you to an exotic, tropical paradise.

HONEYMOON CABANAS  – Perched over Privassion Creek waterfall, the Honeymoon Cabaña offers the ideal getaway for a romantic Belize honeymoon. The cabaña has a huge private deck overlooking the falls, and stairs allow you to walk down closer and relax in private lounge chairs. Once you reach the banks of Privassion Creek, stop at our Belize spa for a rejuvenating massage. This cabana features a queen-size bed, ceiling fan, sofa, and Guatemalan décor.

Riverfront Cabañas – All Riverfront Cabañas at Blancaneaux Lodge feature an expansive deck ensuring a spectacular view of the Privassion River. Our Belize luxury accommodations are elegantly themed with native art and local textiles and offer a queen-size bed and hand-painted tile bathroom.

LUXURY CABANAS  – Since we opened the Luxury Cabañas in Belize in early 2008, they have quickly become the most sought-after accommodations on the property. The two Luxury Cabañas offer a secluded setting at the far eastern end of the property overlooking Privassion Creek and feature their own private plunge pools, king-size beds, Guatemalan décor, and a second shower outdoors.

FAMILY CABANA  – A queen-size bed, sleeper sofa, and a twin bed highlight the spacious Family Cabaña. A large screened-in porch overlooks the beautiful gardens of our Belize family hideaway, which may also be viewed while idly swaying in the room’s hammock.

TWO – BEDROOM VILLA – Skirting Privassion Creek, these roomy 1,600 square foot villas feature a large comfortable open-air living room with a small kitchen. Off the living room are two luxurious bedrooms, each with its own full bath. These dwellings are preferred by families or couples traveling together. Enhance your Belize luxury vacation by staying in Francis Ford Coppola’s Villa featuring a spacious open-plan living area, dramatic views, and Francis’s personal touch of fine art and antiques.

FRANCIS FORD COPPOLA’S VILLA  – Enjoy dramatic views from the elevated open-plan living area, take a dip in the private plunge pool, or relax on the hardwood sun deck set in a lush tropical garden. This Villa features a small kitchen with an Illy espresso machine, refrigerator, and wet bar. A hand-carved antique dining table with seating for up to 14 people overlooks the tumbling waterfalls and deep rock pools of Privassion Creek. Our luxury accommodations in Belize include two large bedrooms, each with a spacious bathroom featuring showers with hand-painted tiles and a Japanese tub.

The eclectically furnished Villa combines regional antiques, Guatemalan fabrics, artisan masks, and hand-carved figurines. Francis’s personal art and antiques are displayed throughout, adding a unique touch to an already comfortable and stylish environment. The Coppola Villa also features luxury in-room amenities including monogrammed bathrobes and wine glasses, locally produced organic bath products, goose down or hypo-allergenic pillows, iPod docking station, Wi-Fi Internet access, and a Shell phone intercom system linked to the hideaway’s front desk. The Francis Ford Coppola Villa has a full-time attendant to anticipate your every need or to arrange an evening barbeque next to the pool. The attendant is on-call using a walkie-talkie radio system. Book Francis Ford Coppola’s Villa for an unforgettable luxury vacation in Belize. Upgrade your stay to our finest accommodation – the Enchanted Cottage. This Belize luxury dwelling is the ultimate retreat, with spectacular panoramic views and an emphasis on luxury.

ENCHANTED COTTAGE – Blancaneaux Lodge’s ultimate retreat reflects Francis’s desire for a haven in which to reflect and create. The cottage at our Belize boutique hotel sits atop a steep forested bluff offering panoramic views over the tumbling waterfalls of Privassion Creek and the distant jungle-clad Maya Mountains. With an emphasis on luxury, this stone cottage embodies the quaint elegance of a Belize boutique hotel, featuring a bedroom with a king-size bed, writing desk, and fireplace. The bathhouse provides understated luxury with under-floor heating, open fire, shower, Japanese tub, and steam room. There is a second half-bathroom in the entry of the cottage.

The cottage includes a kitchen with a wine cooler, Illy espresso machine, breakfast bar, and a heated slate floor. Adjacent to the kitchen is an airy day room with a sofa bed, large coffee table, and comfortable armchair. Screened doors open onto the hardwood deck and the infinity pool. The Enchanted Cottage is secluded and surrounded by lush tropical gardens and spectacular panoramic views. After you explore Belize activities, unwind in your personal hammock. The cottage also includes a full-time attendant to light fires, cook breakfast, prepare cocktails, and anticipate your every need. The attendant is on-call using a walkie-talkie radio system. An abundance of luxury in-room amenities is available for all of our guests.

DINING

MONTAGNA RISTORANTE – Enjoy classic Italian cuisine in a tropical setting at our Belize restaurant. Our menu features traditional Italian dishes with a special focus on Coppola family recipes, drawn from their history in the southern region of Basilicata, Italy. Pasta, fresh fish, and braised or grilled local meats are all prepared with herbs and vegetables from our own Belize organic garden. Our Montagna restaurant also offers made-to-order pizza, cooked in an authentic brick oven.  Our dining room sparkles from candlelight and is decorated with handmade wooden furnishings, colonial-era antiques, and Guatemalan fabrics. An open veranda offers moonlit views of Privassion Creek.

GUATEMALTECQUA RESTAURANT  – Our poolside Belize restaurant specializes in the cooking of Guatemala, a mildly spiced cuisine that draws on Mexican, Caribbean, and Maya traditions. Local favorites include Salpicon, shredded beef salad flavored with sour orange and cilantro, Jocon, chicken cooked with green herbs and spices, and Rellenitos, a delicious dessert consisting of plantains filled with sweetened black beans.

JAGUAR BAR – After a day of Belize vacation tours and activities, the Jaguar Bar is a perfect place to relax. The hand-carved slate bar, ceiling fans from the set of Apocalypse Now, framed photos of archaeological digs, and handmade furnishings create a truly eclectic atmosphere. The Jaguar Bar offers a selection of fine wines and classic cocktails including favorites such as mojitos and daiquiris, as well as our very own Jaguar Juice, a potent concoction of local crab liqueur, aged rum, and fresh pineapple juice. To taste the delicious and authentic flavors of Belize, be sure to visit Guatemaltecqua, our poolside Belize restaurant.

GARDEN SPOT – For a truly unique dining experience, join fellow guests for a “convivial dinner” offered twice weekly in the organic garden.  The experience starts with cocktails offered upon arrival at the garden to sip and savor while touring with the head gardener to learn about the organic farming practices and to see all that uniquely grows here in our verdant environment.   Then join other guests at a communal table located on the open-air porch of the thatched roof kitchen within the organic garden.  There you will dine on a three-course meal that is completely vegetarian featuring a soup course, salads, and stir fry dishes. Even omnivores have expressed that they fell in love with the vibrant flavors found in the freshest of ingredients harvested minutes before serving.  The only decision to make is what wine to have pre-ordered to enhanced this delicious meal shared among new friends.  (The garden spot dining experience is also available as a private experience: please ask our concierge for more details while on-site).

WATERFALL SPA

Set on the banks of Privassion Creek, our Waterfall Spa offers a variety of treatments, wraps, and massages, as well as access to our rejuvenating hot pool overlooking cascading waterfalls. At the request of Francis Ford Coppola, our Belize spa specializes in the art of Thai massage and features a professionally trained staff that has studied ancient techniques at the Sacred Wat Pho Temple in Bangkok. With a hot pool heated solely by hydroelectricity, spa treatments that use locally sourced organic ingredients, and an open building design utilizing natural light, the Waterfall Spa is eco-luxury at its best.